Going off-road…the weekly 4×4

1.  i know this is going to sound pretty looney,  but this whole business of a week of 70-degree temperatures in north texas the week before christmas is lame.   i didn’t move from sunny southern california to have this kind of weather for the holidays.   i want bone-chilling cold.   i want the blizzard we had last year.   i want sand all over the roads.   i want blue northers blowing in and crazy wind chill.   this is winter.   i want a sleigh ride,  not a tan.

2.   speaking of christmas,  i gotta admit that this whole stink some churches are making because there are businesses are requiring their employees to say “happy holidays” instead of  “merry christmas” is ridiculous.   no wonder the church has a PR problem these days.   we have more important things to do…

3.   staying with the christmas theme…it’s heart-breaking the number of people who struggle when the holidays roll around.   i’ve talked to more people this year who are empty…depressed…going through the motions…numb (all their words),  than ever.   we need to walk with each other through this.

4.   my two-and-a-half week old cough has moved from annoying to disturbing.   can’t believe i didn’t talk to the doctor about it when i had my physical last thursday.   speaking of the physical…

1.   “phase one”  of my old man physical went pretty well.   he told me he was impressed at how healthy i am,  even though i’m about 25 pounds over my college football playing weight 35 years ago.   i told him i was kinda hoping he would tell me i was dying, or something.   maybe that would get my butt in gear to start working out hard again.   let’s hope the next two phases are as promising…

2.   great christmas dinner with NP young adults.   i really like those guys.   can’t wait to see what NP leadership looks like under their shepherding in years to come.

3.   after years and years of struggling with my understanding of the passage on mustard seed faith (matthew 17:14-20), it was awesome to study through it this past week in sermon prep…and finally reach a reasonable conclusion!   it was good to be able to preach through a difficult text with a measure of boldness.

4.   i am unbelievably grateful and encouraged by the number of faithful people who serve at NP week in and week out,  to make sure that the details of our sunday mornings run smooth.   nursery workers,  children’s teachers,  children’s church team,  building set up,  sound,  vpu,  the band,  communion servers,  greeters…and more.   simply great.