Reflections on New Years Eve

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, 
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

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It is Thursday morning December 31st, 2015 and I am sitting at my desk sipping on some Earl Gray tea while reflecting back upon the past year. One benefit of taking as many pictures as I do and keeping them well organized is that with a few clicks of a mouse I can easily look back over the past year and see the things that were deemed photo worthy. I also keep a written calendar/planer on my desk that helps me keep track of the less photo worthy events. Between these records I can look back over the year and be reminded of just how many lives Tammy & I have been blessed to be a part of this year.

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Holidays with friends & family

Birthdays with friends & family

Saturday morning coffee & conversation with a close friend

Day trips to 30A with Tammy

Sunday morning involvement at First City Church

Trips to the beach with family

Weekends Away with Tammy

Mid-week Small Groups with First City Church

Weddings for friends and friends of family

Trips to Disney World with family

Butterflies, lots of butterflies, with Tammy

Gardening with Tammy

Medical/health issues and challenges for friends & family

Saturday morning coffee with my parents

Bike rides after work with Tammy

Rec sports (t-ball and soccer) with the nieces and nephews

Breakfast dinner with family

Piano recitals by the nieces & nephews

Fall fishing trips with my father-in-law & brothers

Sunday brunch with friends & family

Staff & Shepherd involvement with First City Church with Tammy

Work trips to Ft Worth, Orlando & Crystal City with coworkers

Home Improvements both minor and major with Tammy

Graduations, both high school and grad school friends & family

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As I look back on the list above, the photos I have taken, and the monthly calendar I have kept a few distinctive themes emerge. My wife, my family, my friends, my church family, my God.

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I am blessed beyond measure!

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And while God was not specifically mentioned in any of the items above His presence is in each of them and I count it a blessing to have been able to share life with so many during 2015.

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Grace & Peace to All

Advent Season 2015

Thanksgiving Day is a fading memory, Black Friday is over, college footballs "rivalry weekend" is over and Cyber Monday renewed the Holiday buying frenzy, but a few days ago on Sunday November 29th 2015 the first Sunday of the 2015 Advent season quietly arrived unnoticed by many people. All of the days I referred to are creations of men to focus our attention and produce a strong feeling/emotion/reaction towards a particular event. One day to "give thanks", another to promote buying stuff, another to continue to promote buying stuff but on-line and the last to celebrate the arrival of a baby. 

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The word advent is based on the Latin word adventus meaning "arrival" or "approach". The Advent Season is a time, a four week window leading up to Christmas Day, when Christians are encouraged to focus on the arrival of Christ through His birth in Bethlehem almost 2,000 years ago.  Christians of many traditions are also reminded of His anticipated second arrival. (aka the Second Coming of Christ) and the eternal consequences facing believers and non-believers.

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"Can Christmas still change the world?"  

I believe that the answer is a resounding yes!

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Worship Fully

Spend Less

Give More

Love All

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Grace & Peace