Saturday Smile - March or January

Friday Favorites - Chili Cook-Off TONIGHT

Tonight I'll be at the Valley Chili Cook-Off! I'm entering two recipes in the contest. If you're looking for some fun and fellowship, you're welcome to join us. After the meal we'll have a good time of praise and music led by Jonathan Miller with others from the Valley Worship Team.

There's no cost for the event, but people are encouraged to bring a dessert to share.  Here is a list of all the different Chili's entered in tonight's cook-off.

TRADITIONAL CATEGORY - 
Everything but the Kitchen Sink Chili
Mom's Chili
TBT Chili
Porky's Knee-Slappin' Good Chili
7-Can Dump Chili
Chili for Sissies
Comfort Chili
Big Pot Chili
Brewed, Braised, and Bold Chili
Not Too Late Chili


SPECIALTY CATEGORY -
New Orleans Style Chili
MN Hotdish Chili
Honduran Chili
Southwest Chili
Winter White Chili
Sunday Outburst Chili


HOT & SPICY CATEGORY - 
Red Hammer Chili
Cheektowaga Chili
CC Five-Alarm Chili
Hot and Spicy Chili
Spicy Chicken Queso Chili
Hot Saguaro Chili
Emergency Room Chili
Blackstrap Chili

Thursday Thinking - Virtuous Millenials?

Very few things peeve me more than hearing someone saying, "Things are worse than they've ever been." It makes you wonder if the person talking has ever read a history book or seen any hard data (not media shock headlines) on disease, hunger, murder, etc.

This pesimism is particularly irksome when doomsayers project their fears and judgment on young people. "The kids these days! Right?"

Hold on a minute! The kids these days might be doing better than you think. Check out this editorial – "Are Today's Millenials a New Victorian Generation?" – from Michael Barone of the Washington Examiner. It's a short and interesting read and may give you a new perspective. a little hope, and a better attitude.

Are Today's Millenials a New Victorian Generation?
Public policymakers and political pundits tend to focus on problems — understandably, because if things are going right they aren’t thought to need attention. Yet positive developments can teach us things as well, when, for reasons not necessarily clear, great masses of people start to behave more constructively.

One such trend is the better behavior of the young Americans of today compared to those 25 years ago. Almost no one anticipated it, the exception being William Strauss and Neil Howe in their 1991 book Generations, who named Americans born after 1981 the Millennial generation and predicted that “the tiny boys and girls now playing with Lego blocks” — and those then still unborn — would become “the nation’s next great Civic generation.”

The most obvious evidence of the Millennials’ virtuous behavior is the vast decline in violent crime in the last 25 years. The most crime-prone age and gender cohort — 15-to-25-year-old males — are committing far fewer crimes than that cohort did in 1990.

Statistics tell the dramatic story...
READ THE COMPLETE EDITORIAL

Wednesday Words - For Love in a Time of Conflict

When the gentleness between you hardens
And you fall out of your belonging with each other,
May the depths you have reached hold you still.

When no true word can be said, or heard,
And you mirror each other in the script of hurt,
When even the silence has become raw and torn,
May you hear again an echo of your first music.

When the weave of affection starts to unravel
And anger begins to sear the ground between you,
Before this weather of grief invites
The black seed of bitterness to find root,
May you souls come to kiss.

Now is the time for one of you to be gracious,
To allow a kindness beyond thought and hurt,
Reach out with sure hands
To take the chalice of your love,
And carry it carefully through this echoless waste
Until this winter pilgrimage leads you
Toward the gateway to spring.

"For Love in a Time of Conflict" by John O'Donohue, from To Bless the Space Between Us, © Copyright 2008 by John O'Donohue.

Tuesday Tome - Book Club Starts Monday, Feb. 2

My next book club starts next Monday. I've have posted dates for the three sessions. We will be reading Tim Keller's book, Every Good Endeavor. To view the dates and get more information CLICK HERE.

Thanks to a partnership with MacLaurinCSF at the University of Minnesota, and a grant from the Kern Family Foundation, the books will be free for the first ten participants. If you would like to be a part of this reading group, please let me know and I'll get a book to you so you can start reading.

    Session 1: February 2, 6:30pm -
        Part 1, Chapters 1-4
 
    Session 2: February 16, 6:30pm -
        Part 2, Chapters 5-8

    Session 3: March 2, 6:30pm -
        Part 3, Chapters 9-12

Book Description from the publisher...
New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller shows how God calls on each of us to express meaning and purpose through our work and careers.

Tim Keller, pastor of New York’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church and the New York Times bestselling author of The Reason for God, has taught and counseled students, young professionals, and senior leaders on the subject of work and calling for more than twenty years. Now he pulls his insights into a thoughtful and practical book for readers everywhere.

With deep conviction and often surprising advice, Keller shows readers that biblical wisdom is immensely relevant to our questions about work today. In fact, the Christian view of work—that we work to serve others, not ourselves—can provide the foundation of a thriving professional and balanced personal life. Keller shows how excellence, integrity, discipline, creativity, and passion in the workplace can help others and even be considered acts of worship—not just of self-interest.

Monday Music - Putting First the Things that Last

I’m putting first the things that last–
I’m putting first the things that last–
I’m putting first the things that last–
I’m putting first the things that last.

Do not store up treasures on earth
Where rust and moth destroy;
Instead make purses that will not wear out–
For where your treasure is
Your heart will also be.

Don’t be afraid, the Father is pleased
To give you His kingdom.
Sell your possessions and give to the poor--
For where your treasure is
Your heart will also be.

I’m putting first the things that last–
I’m putting first the things that last–
I’m putting first the things that last–
I’m putting first the things that last.

"Putting First the Things that Last" by Dave Burkum, © Copyright 2003, from CSF Scripture Songs. CLICK HERE TO BUY OR LISTEN

Sunday Supplication - The Good News

O Lord, help us to answer the call of our Savior Jesus Christ. Help us to seriously and readily seek your will for our lives. Help us, by our words and actions, to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to all people. Help us to recognize the salvation he brings and to share that salvation with the world around us.

Thank you for the forgiveness and renewal you give to us through Christ Jesus.  Help us to be forgiving toward each other. And help us to become a redemptive and healing community. Help us to make a saving and healing impact on the world around us.

O God, life is often more than we can face on our own. Help us to navigate our way through our many challenges and conflicts. Help us to live with integrity and care toward others in authentic Christian fellowship. Help my church community to be an instrument of your grace, your truth, and your peace. Make us a blessing to our community and our world.

Through Christ, we pray. Amen.

Saturday Smile - "Thought Leaders"

Friday Favorites - Sarah & Travis Lockwood

I love what my friends, Sarah and Travis, are doing in Hastings. It's a bold and exciting vision that I believe will bless and strengthen the arts in that community. They've got my prayers, admiration, and encouragement. Kudos!

Sarah and Travis Lockwood are turning the former Guardian Angels Church in downtown Hastings into a music conservatory. The old church, built in 1865, will have practice rooms, a large performance space, a lobby area, and artists' studios for visual arts...

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE AND SEE PICTURES

Thursday Thinking - Television and Attention Spans

Slow TV is taking Norway by storm. It's more than a quirky innovation, it's a brilliant concept I hope will catch on in the USA. How can something seemingly so boring turn out to be so exciting?  Watch it and think about it.

Wednesday Words - Inscription for the Ceiling of a Bedroom

Daily dawns another day;
I must up, to make my way.
Though I dress and drink and eat,
Move my fingers and my feet,
Learn a little, here and there,
Weep and laugh and sweat and swear,
Hear a song, or watch a stage,
Leave some words upon a page,
Claim a foe, or hail a friend—
Bed awaits me at the end.

Though I go in pride and strength,
I'll come back to bed at length.
Though I walk in blinded woe,
Back to bed I'm bound to go.
High my heart, or bowed my head,
All my days but lead to bed.
Up, and out, and on; and then
Ever back to bed again,
Summer, Winter, Spring, and Fall—
I'm a fool to rise at all!

"Inscription for the Ceiling of a Bedroom" by Dorothy Parker, from The Poetry & Short Stories of Dorothy Parker. © The Modern Library, 1994.

Tuesday Tome - Story of Stories

Tomorrow night, we'll be getting started on new book in my Pathways Class at Valley Christian Church. The book is called Story of Stories: A Guided Tour from Genesis to Revelation. The idea is to help people see an overarching narrative that runs through the entire Biblical canon.

For years, the main focus of my Pathways class has been on reading through the Bible and journaling. We set goals for how much to read, how often to read, strive for consistency, and aim for quality and depth of experience as we seek to understand and apply what we have read.

With the start of a new year, I want to see if the literacy gained by reading Story of Stories will help those who haven't read the Bible feel more able to do so. My hope is that by getting a clearer overview of the Scriptures as a whole, they will get more from their personal Bible reading.

From the Publisher's Description:

The Bible contains many of the most memorable stories of all time--the great flood, David and Goliath, the empty tomb. These stories are packed with enough drama to astound and inspire readers on their own. Yet when read as parts of a larger, grander story, each of these stories reveals added depths of artistry and meaning. Still, it is easy to lose sight of how the Bible's narrative threads weave together into one great tapestry.

In Story of Stories readers join Karen Lee-Thorp on a guided tour of Scripture where she retells the Bible's major stories, draws out the significance of overlooked subtleties and shows how individual vignettes contribute to Scripture's overarching story of redemption. Readers will find a renewed appreciation for the breadth and depth of the greatest story ever told. Written with both individuals and groups in mind, this revised and expanded edition includes end-of-chapter reflection questions and a leader's guide for facilitating discussions.

Praise for Story of Stories...

"Karen Lee-Thorp invites the reader into the drama of the biblical story. Her masterful hand guides us to a clear understanding of the flow of the text, and we stand in awe as we see, perhaps for the first time, how the Bible truly is an organic whole with One Author." (Tremper Longman III, Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies at Westmont College)

"Story of Stories is one of the most valuable books I have ever used for helping new Christians grow. As they grapple with the complexities of biblical truth, this book can quickly give them the big picture. Karen Lee-Thorp has conveyed the dramatic plot that flows from Genesis to Revelation with keen insight and wit. I've lost count of how many copies I've given away." (Jim Petersen, associate to the general director of The Navigators)

"Most of our Bible originated in acts of storytelling, but somewhere along the line many of us lose the story line and end up with a file drawer full of doctrines and dates and study notes. But God, in his Scriptures, is first of all a storyteller, elaborating the plot of his saving ways among us and pulling our stories into The Story. Karen Lee-Thorp recovers the story for us." (Eugene H. Peterson, professor emeritus of spiritual theology at Regent College and author of The Message)

Monday Music - Stoplight Kisses

The Cactus Blossoms are currently touring in Europe with J. D. McPherson. I sure wish I could be over there to see one of those shows.

Sunday Supplication - The True Light

Almighty God, Your Son, Jesus, is the true light than enlightens all people. Help your church to be illuminated by your Word and Spirit. Help us to shine so brightly with the radiance of Christ's glory that he is known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth.

Forgive us our sins. Renew us by your Spirit. Show us how to act, think, and live as Christ.  As you have forgiven us, make us merciful and ready to forgive those who have sinned against us. Give us the courage and the grace we need to restore relationships, heal brokenness, sacrifice our rights, and humble ourselves in order that we might experience forgiveness and reconciliation in our families, our friendships, our church, and our community.

Thank you, O God, for the freedom from sin made available to us through Christ. Thank you for the saving and transforming power of your Holy Spirit. Renovate our hearts and minds. Help us to want what you want. Make us people who delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name.

Through Christ, we pray. Amen.

Saturday Smile - Hope this Really Works!

Friday Favorites - Valley's Chili Cook-Off

I'm looking forward to this year's Valley Chili Cook-Off! Cheri and I have several new recipes we're going to be entering into the contest.

There are three categories: Traditional, Hot-Spicy, and Specialty.  I'll be entering my Bloody Mary Chili in the hot-spicy category, and my Minnesota Hotdish Chili in the specialty category. Not sure what Cheri is calling her new chili, but I know it has lots of wonderful bell peppers.

It's only a few weeks away, so mark your calendars. Maybe you should even enter the contest. I hope all you Valley people and friends in the area will be able to join us for fun time. After the meal we'll have some good praise music led by Jonathan Miller and others from the Valley Worship Team.

Thursday Thinking - Neighbors and Terrorism

Tim Gombis teaches New Testament theology at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. He blogs at Faith Improvised where he recently posted about the importance of Christians being committed to loving our Muslim neighbors in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo terrorist attack.

For most of us, the situation in France is something we can't do much about. What we do right here in America is a different story. All of us must be careful to consider what we can do in our own lives–our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and marketplaces. How do we love as Christ loves? How will we treat and think about the Muslims in our own communities?

I'm attaching just enough of Tim's article to get you started. I hope you will click the link to read his short but very wise post in its entirety.

Loving our Neighbor in an Age of Terror
by Tim Gombis   

I had an interesting conversation with my son last night about the terrible violence in Paris. Among other things we talked about the increase of anti-Muslim sentiment in Europe and here in the United States. Life will be increasingly difficult for average Muslims who are law-abiding and peace-loving citizens of France, other European countries, and the U. S.

We wondered aloud about how to be faithfully Christian in a climate of violence, anger, confusion, denunciation, suspicion, and fear. Those are inevitable responses on the part of many citizens to what has happened. But what about Christians who belong to the Kingdom of God? How do we obey Jesus’ command to love our neighbor as ourselves?

CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING

Wednesday Words - Our Father

Our Father, whose creative Will
Asked Being for us all,

Confirm it that Thy Primal Love
May weave in us the freedom of
The actually deficient on
The justly actual.

Though written by Thy children with
A smudged and crooked line,
The Word is ever legible,
Thy Meaning unequivocal,
And for Thy Goodness even sin
Is valid as a sign.

Inflict Thy promises with each
Occasion of distress,
That from our incoherence we
May learn to put our trust in Thee,
And brutal fact persuade us to
Adventure, Art, and Peace.

"Our Father" by W. H. Auden, from For the Time Being, the "chorale" section of "The Summons."

Tuesday Tome - Story of Stories

I'm introducing a new book in my Pathways Class at Valley Christian Church tomorrow night. The book is called Story of Stories: A Guided Tour from Genesis to Revelation. The idea is to help people see an overarching narrative that binds the entire Biblical canon.

For years, the main focus of my Pathways class has been on reading through the Bible and journaling. We set goals for how much to read and how often to read, strive for consistency, and aim for quality and depth of experience as we seek to understand and apply what we have read.

This year, I want to see if the literacy gained by reading Story of Stories will improve overall Bible literacy. My hope is that by getting a clearer overview of the Scriptures as a whole, people get more from their personal Bible reading.

From the Publisher's Description:

The Bible contains many of the most memorable stories of all time--the great flood, David and Goliath, the empty tomb. These stories are packed with enough drama to astound and inspire readers on their own. Yet when read as parts of a larger, grander story, each of these stories reveals added depths of artistry and meaning. Still, it is easy to lose sight of how the Bible's narrative threads weave together into one great tapestry. 

In Story of Stories readers join Karen Lee-Thorp on a guided tour of Scripture where she retells the Bible's major stories, draws out the significance of overlooked subtleties and shows how individual vignettes contribute to Scripture's overarching story of redemption. Readers will find a renewed appreciation for the breadth and depth of the greatest story ever told. Written with both individuals and groups in mind, this revised and expanded edition includes end-of-chapter reflection questions and a leader's guide for facilitating discussions.

Praise for Story of Stories...

"Karen Lee-Thorp invites the reader into the drama of the biblical story. Her masterful hand guides us to a clear understanding of the flow of the text, and we stand in awe as we see, perhaps for the first time, how the Bible truly is an organic whole with One Author." (Tremper Longman III, Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies at Westmont College)

"Story of Stories is one of the most valuable books I have ever used for helping new Christians grow. As they grapple with the complexities of biblical truth, this book can quickly give them the big picture. Karen Lee-Thorp has conveyed the dramatic plot that flows from Genesis to Revelation with keen insight and wit. I've lost count of how many copies I've given away." (Jim Petersen, associate to the general director of The Navigators)

"Most of our Bible originated in acts of storytelling, but somewhere along the line many of us lose the story line and end up with a file drawer full of doctrines and dates and study notes. But God, in his Scriptures, is first of all a storyteller, elaborating the plot of his saving ways among us and pulling our stories into The Story. Karen Lee-Thorp recovers the story for us." (Eugene H. Peterson, professor emeritus of spiritual theology at Regent College and author of The Message)

Monday Music - Dear Emily

Dear Emily,
I read your letter.
I was taken by your
Wit and sensibility.
Your curiosity
Stood tall in every honest word.
But Emily,
The world is different now.
Your words committed into hands
Of those who cannot see.
The light's been put away--
A neighbor holds the lamp
To witness your good-bye.

Opinion is a flitting thing,But truth outlasts the sun.
If then we cannot own them both,
Possess the oldest one.

Dear Emily,
I saw your wonder--
The childlike awe you held
For garden bees and butterflies.
You looked beyond the scars
To find the place where meanings are.
So Emily,
You then retreated
To a private world--
Tradition could not swallow you.
Hidden behind your door
You looked beyond the world
Believing there was more.

Opinion is a flitting thing,
But truth outlasts the sun.
If then we cannot own them both,
Possess the oldest one.

© Words and Music by Dave Burkum, from Breath a Little Deeper. The chorus lyric is a poem by Emily Dickenson. Copyright 1997 by Dave Burkum (DBM&M, PO Box 18771, Mpls, MN 55418). CLICK HERE to Buy or Listen.

Sunday Supplication - Keeping Our Covenant

O Father, we ask that you would help all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus to live as your children. Help us to keep the covenant we have made with you, and help us declare with our words and our deeds and our lives that Jesus is truly our Lord and Savior.

Forgive us our sins. Renew us by your Spirit. Show us how to act, think, and live as Christ.  As you have forgiven us, make us merciful and ready to forgive those who have sinned against us.

Thank you, O God, for the love you have lavished on us, that we might be called your children. Help us to live as your children, to display your glory, and be a testimony of the difference you make in our lives. And as you are making a difference in us, help us in turn to make a difference in our world. Help us to be instruments of your saving grace and peace.

Through Christ, we pray. Amen.

Saturday Smile - Darth Vader Grand Slam

Friday Favorites - The Cactus Blossoms in Europe

My favorite local artists, The Cactus Blossoms, are touring Europe this month with J. D. McPherson. I hope they take and post a lot of pictures. Good luck, boys!

Jan 14 - Rotterdam, Netherlands
Jan 15 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Jan 16 - Hamburg, Germany
Jan 17 - Berlin, Germany
Jan 19 - Brussels, Belgium
Jan 21 - Paris, France
Jan 22 - London, United Kingdom
Jan 25 - Leeds, United Kingdom
Jan 26 - Manchester, United Kingdom
Jan 27 - Brighton, United Kingdom

Thursday Thinking - The Biblical Exodus Account

Patterns of Evidence is a project from local Twin Cities filmmaker Tim Mahoney. It looks interesting and I'm planning to check it out.

It's being shown as a one night event at theaters across the country on January 19. CLICK HERE for complete information.



From the Movie Website:

One of the biggest mysteries of the ancient world is the question of whether the historical events recorded in the Bible actually happened. The stakes of this question are extremely high because today’s world is so connected to the Bible. In fact, the Bible may have been the greatest single influence to shape Western civilization. For more than 1500 years, the West accepted the truth of the biblical accounts. Presently, these accounts form the foundations of faith for hundreds of millions of Christians and Jews worldwide. If these events never happened, are those religions are based on a gigantic lie?

Many of today’s tensions in the Middle East are connected to the Bible. The opposing camps in the culture wars can be defined, in large measure, by their views of what the Bible is - and what it means. When issues relating to biblical history come up, they automatically qualify as controversial - and the unveiling of new archaeological finds related to the Bible are met with an atmosphere of explosive apprehension.

The story of the Exodus has become particularly controversial. For more than 50 years, the vast majority of the world’s most prominent archaeologists and historians have maintained that there is no hard evidence to support the Exodus story. In October of 1999, the prominent Israeli archaeologist Ze’ev Herzog wrote in Ha’aretz Magazine, “This is what archaeologists have learned from their excavations in the Land of Israel: the Israelites were never in Egypt, did not wander in the desert, did not conquer the land in a military campaign and did not pass it on to the 12 tribes of Israel.”

The case against the Exodus appears to be so strong that even some religious leaders are labeling it as historical fiction. According to Rabbi David Wolpe, named the most influential rabbi in America by Newsweek Magazine, “The Exodus certainly didn’t happen the way the Bible depicted it, assuming that it was a historical event in any description.”

This is a dramatic shift from attitudes of just a century ago. In the Nineteenth and early Twentieth centuries, European pioneers of archaeology came to the Near East with a shovel in one hand and a Bible in the other. At first, their discoveries seemed to be very supportive of the Bible.

However, over the years, new findings and more exacting practices determined that the dates for many of the finds were actually from periods outside the biblical timeframe. In their zeal to prove their faith, it appeared that the previous generation had jumped to their conclusions prematurely.

Is the Exodus just a myth, or is it possible that the archaeologists got it wrong?

Wednesday Words - Splitting an Order

I like to watch an old man cutting a sandwich in half,
maybe an ordinary cold roast beef on whole wheat bread,
no pickles or onion, keeping his shaky hands steady
by placing his forearms firm on the edge of the table
and using both hands, the left to hold the sandwich in place,
and the right to cut it surely, corner to corner,
observing his progress through glasses that moments before
he wiped with his napkin, and then to see him lift half
onto the extra plate that he had asked the server to bring,
and then to wait, offering the plate to his wife
while she slowly unrolls her napkin and places her spoon,
her knife and her fork in their proper places,
then smoothes the starched white napkin over her knees
and meets his eyes and holds out both old hands to him.


"Splitting an Order" by Ted Kooser, from Splitting an Order (Copper Canyon Press) © Copyright 2014 by Ted Kooser, and from Valentines, © University of Nebraska Press, 2008.

Tuesday Tome - Splitting an Order

I have long been a fan of Ted Kooser's poetry. Maybe it's because he his writing references typical midwestern life. Maybe it's a Nebraska roots connection. Most likely, it's because I so love the way he manages to sparkle with life and truth and human empathy through simple and straightforward descriptions of the everyday things slip by most of us.

Thanks to my wife, Cheri, for this new book of Kooser poems, Splitting an Order. It was a perfect Christmas gift and I will enjoy it for years! In tomorrow's Wednesday Words post, I will share the poem for which the book is titled.

"Ted Kooser must be the most accessible and enjoyable major poet in America. His lines are so clear and simple."
—Michael Dirda,The Washington Post

“Readers [of Splitting an Order] will find ‘characters’ both strange and wonderful, animal or human. There is a sense that time is passing quickly and that everything worthy must be captured and savored, from an old couple lovingly sharing a sandwich to another sowing seed potatoes to a tribute to an old dog who waits as age and winter approach… Master of the single-metaphor poem, Kooser offers images that evolve, fluid and unforced.”
—Library Journal, starred review

"Kooser's ability to discover the smallest detail and render it remarkable is a rare gift."
—Bloomsbury Review

Pulitzer Prize winner and best selling poet Ted Kooser calls attention to the intimacies of life through commonplace objects and occurrences: an elderly couple sharing a sandwich is a study in transcendent love, while a tattered packet of spinach seeds calls forth innate human potential. This long-awaited collection from the former U.S. Poet Laureate—ten years in the making—is rich with quiet and profound magnificence.
– From the Publisher

Ted Kooser is the author of numerous books of poetry and prose, including Delights and Shadows (Copper Canyon Press), which won the Pulitzer Prize. A former US Poet Laureate, Kooser serves as editor for "American Life in Poetry," a nationally syndicated weekly newspaper column.

Monday Music - Your Word

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living, by living according to your word.

I seek you, Lord, with all my heart–
Don't let me stray from your commands.
I seek you, Lord, with all my heart–
Don't let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word–
Hidden your word in my heart–
That I might not sin against you.
I have hidden your word–
Hidden your word in my heart–
That I might not sin against you.

How can a young man keep his way pure?

"Your Word" by Dave Burkum from Fireside, © Copyright 2006 by Dave Burkum. CLICK HERE to listen or buy.

Sunday Supplication - Lead Us Too

O God, you used a star to lead the wise men seeking Christ to the place where he could be found. We desire that you lead us too. We seek to know you through Christ. Make us aware of your presence. Help us to find your saving grace and truth in Christ Jesus. Lead your Church, O God. Lead us to your son Jesus that we may worship him with our lives.

Forgive us our sins. Renew us by your Spirit. Show us how to act, think, and live as Christ.  As you have forgiven us, make us merciful and ready to forgive those who have sinned against us.

We thank you, O God, for your goodness to those who seek you. Give us the humility and the wisdom to seek you above all else. Give us the perspective and discernment to know what is true and what is real. Deepen our understanding of life. Help us to know what matters most.

Through Christ, we pray. Amen.

Saturday Smile - Resolution

Friday Favorites - Unbroken

My wife recently read Unbroken, Laura Hillenbrand's biography of Louis Zamperini. She enjoyed it so much that we wanted to check out Angelina Jolie's new movie based on the book. We were able to see it earlier this week in Omaha and we thought it was pretty good. The screenplay was well-written, the cast and the acting were solid, and cinematography was beautiful.

The film focuses mainly on Zamperini's time as a prisoner during World War II. That's okay for a movie, but there is a lot more to his story than that. So much more, in fact, that it would be unreasonable to expect a movie to cover it all. So, as is usually the case, if you like the movie, you should do yourself a favor and read the book.

Thursday Thinking - About the New Year

For years, Don Whitney's book, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, has been a helpful guide for many people who want to be more intentional about spiritual growth. Whitney gives a lot of suggestions for personal practices proven to contribute positively to healthy spiritual formation.

On this New Year's Day, I want to direct you to Whitney's article, 10 Questions to Ask at the Start of the New Year, which is available at the Biblical Spirituality website. Read through the list and give it some thought. Which of these questions do you feel you need to answer most?

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Ten Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year
by Donald Whitney

Once, when the people of God had become careless in their relationship with Him, the Lord rebuked them through the prophet Haggai. "Consider your ways!" (Haggai 1:5) he declared, urging them to reflect on some of the things happening to them, and to evaluate their slipshod spirituality in light of what God had told them.

Even those most faithful to God occasionally need to pause and think about the direction of their lives. It's so easy to bump along from one busy week to another without ever stopping to ponder where we're going and where we should be going.

The beginning of a new year is an ideal time to stop, look up, and get our bearings. To that end, here are some questions to ask prayerfully in the presence of God.

1. What's one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?
3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?
4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?
5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?
6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?
7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?
8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?
9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?
10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in 10 years? In eternity?

Click Here to Read or Download the Full Article with 21 More Questions