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We are finally getting around to sending out our Christmas letter. It's been our tradition to send black and white pictures on plain paper along with a brief glance back at the year. If you want to see the color version of our letter you can click here to take a look. Merry Christmas to you and have a Happy New Year!
Like everyone else I've been watching the news about the destruction that followed the earthquake near Sumatra. My heart and my prayers go out to those who have suffered such a terrible loss even as I pray for strength for the "angels of mercy" from various countries in the world who now respond in practical ways. I am confident that our newly forming congregation will find ways to respond to the need as well.
Prior to Sunday I had been thinking a lot about those who have little in this world because I've been listening to the new album by Caedmon's Call titled, "Share the Well" (buy the CD because the liner notes are very helpful). The music issues a refreshing call to seek justice. These are words from "International Love Song,"
you know a perfect love is a world without hunger /
I've never seen it / I've never heard of it before /
but I keep looking for / a world without hunger
Let's do more than just look for it (obviously, the whole of the song calls us to something more than just looking), may these recent events prompt us to action.
We had a wonderful celebration last night at the Ladera Ranch School. Thanks to all who helped make it a Christmas to remember: Chris, John, Kevin, ChrissAnn, Kim, Don, Megan, Kelly, Mala, Lynnette, Gail, Susan, Kristen, Charlotte, Robert and Susan, and all the youth and children who participated in the "pageant." In the next few days I'll round up the pictures from the various sources (if you took some good ones please send them to me) and then I'll post in an album for all to enjoy. Merry Christmas to all!
Tonight we opened presents as a family. I got a lunchbox from Mackenzie, a screwdriver set from Matthew and a shirt from Andy that says, "Baseball Dad." Joy gave me a framed poster from the movie "The Endless Summer."
We open presents earlier than most because the next few days are filled with responsibility. This allows us to enjoy time together without me having to hurry out the door. After dinner we're heading out the door to look at lights in the neighborhood.
I'm looking forward to our second celebration of Christmas Eve as a new congregation. We are blessed to be a part of this community.
On Monday a team of talented artists assembled in the Wright garage to layout the sets for the Christmas Eve service at Village Presbyterian Church. Thanks to Gail, Mitch, Jonathan, Corrisa, Matt A, Joy, Matt W, Andy and Mackenzie. It wouldn't have happened without the effort of the whole team. Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of what to expect on Friday.
Gail roughs out the plan in pencil.
Andy begins work on the stable.
Mitch starts on Bethlehem.
Joy and Jonathan concentrate.
Matt applies blue to the stable.
Cryssa adds the stars. 
The city nears completion and the day is almost finished.
This morning I calculated the total miles I've swam this year and I'm at the 193 mile mark. Prior to this month, September was my biggest month with 36,100 yards. This month I'll be swimming much farther in order to reach my goal. I write this not just to brag about my yardage (obviously, I'm doing that) but I also know if make my goal public there's a stronger chance that I'll reach it. My body needs regular exercise and swimming has been a great way to get it. I also find that some of my best ideas come to me in the pool. And the fragrance of chlorine on my skin after my swim, it's yet another bonus! Seriously, the smell of chlorine for this ol' swimmer is like the smell of the grass for someone who loves baseball.
Here's my commitment for 2005: 200 miles more! It's the only way I know to really enjoy my 40s. I'm committed to making this a decade of heath and fitness. If you ever want to join me in this effort just grab your trunks and goggles and I'll see year in the early morning!
This morning a small yet faithful band of disciples gathered at the home of Dave and Mala Goddard for a short prayer retreat. The purpose of this brief "retreat" was to help us to focus on the significance of the coming Christmas celebration. After a short introduction we spent an hour in silent reflection. Participants were encouraged to read Scripture, pray, listen, journal, reflect, be still or whatever else seemed appropriate (someone even had a go at the swing in the backyard and it wasn't me). After the hour we gathered together again to debrief the experience. I was so encouraged by the insight of the group. When you set an appointment with the Lord you can be sure the Lord will meet you in a significant way. The way I described my hope for the morning to the group is that I wanted to make sure there was enough "white space" for God to set the agenda for each of us. Too often I think we try to fill the air with too much talk when God is trying to get us to listen. And after this morning, all I can say is "Wow!" It really happened for us. The stories that came from the group reminded us all that God is in charge. I look forward to the next time we can be together like this again.
And by the way, if you're wondering about the title of this post, "24 Fitness," let me explain. I was simply asking people to set aside (2) two hours (4) for God in order to maintain spiritual fitness. Hence the name, two-four fitness.
A few years ago (or so it seems) Joy and I went out to see a movie with friends. That night we saw “Edward Scissorhands” (1990) and I really enjoyed it. We were all talking about the movie later over dinner when someone said, “I thought the movie was fake. Like, where did he get those huge blocks of ice?” My response was something like this, “This guy had scissors and knives for hands…and you think the ice was the fake part?” I realized that night that we all watch movies from different perspectives. For the past few Fridays I’ve been listing mostly serious films but that’s not the only kind of story I enjoy. Here’s a quick list of four fun films. These can be watched and enjoyed without having to discover the deep meaning in every scene. The first on the list is an older film from 1979 but still on my list. It’s called “Breaking Away.” The title refers both to growing up (something I was busy doing when I first saw the film) and to bicycling (something I was also doing a lot of at the time). Second on the list is “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” (1986). Ferris has long been the standard for cool for me. And as I’ve said before, the scene inside the Art Institute of Chicago is my favorite. Third on the fun list is “The Princess Bride” (1987). This film contains a long list of quotable lines including, “as you wish,” “no more rhymes now, I mean it,” “anybody want a peanut?” and, of course, “inconceivable” (spoken with just the accent on the final syllable). The final film features Bill Murray, “Groundhog Day” (1993). You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and you’ll have fun with these four films. So what’s on your fun list?
In Sacred Rhythms: Finding a Peaceful Pace in a Hectic World, Christine Sine offers this suggestion for creating a healthy spiritual pattern for our lives: “divert daily, withdraw weekly, maintain monthly, and abandon annually.” (123-24). How does the rhythm of Jesus determine your day? Consider this pattern as recorded in Mark 1:35, “In the morning, while it was still very dark, Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.”
I know this is a theme I often return to but I'm unapologetic about it. In fact, I believe my primary task in the life of this new congregation is to focus our attention on the Word of God (and not just on Sundays but we must learn to listen throughout the week). A few weeks ago, I handed out a reading guide for the season of Advent. The typical day includes two readings: one from an epistle (a fancy word for the letters found in the New Testament) and a reading from one of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John). I must admit that I have had to catch up a time or two during this season but the short readings make it relatively easy. The reading for today, from 2 Peter 1, included these words, "I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you." It made me think about what we are doing to establish ourselves in the truth at Village Presbyterian Church. Peter expresses his confident that the people to whom he is writing are well aware of the issues he is writing about it. Moreover, he is confident that they are established in the truth that is in Jesus Christ. Once again, I want to commit myself to laboring to that end here in this community. I want our lives to be shaped God's Word for us!
If you'd like to learn more about the practice of prayer and the discipline of daily reading, join me on Saturday morning for the "24 Fitness" mini retreat from 7 to 9 a.m. Send me an email if you're interested and I'll send you more information.
