The Best of Looking Back and Counting Down in Review

I forgot that along with Christmas decorations comes the beginning of the season of looking back. I have already read various versions of the "Best Books of 2007" and the "Best Movies of 2007." I think this is actually a good thing. If we don't stop at the end of the year and look back a lot of stuff just fades away without another look. I enjoy this on a personal level. As a pastor, I have a number of end of the year things that cause me to look back. I just filled out my required annual continuing education form and it reminded me of some of the stuff I learned this year. I always include a section on some of the books that I have read. I am always pleased that I have read a lot, but always a little displeased that I don't remember more of what I have read. I am sure it is in my brain somewhere.

So, as we make the mad dash toward Christmas and New Years, think about this:

What did you learn this year?
What was the coolest thing you experienced?
What did you really want to do that you didn't?
Who are you really glad that you now know that you didn't know last year?

I am sure there are more questions to think about. But start with those.

peace,

will

I Just Love Stuff that Makes My Brain Hurt

It seems it possible that we can affect the Universe, including how long it will exist, simply by observing it. I realize that my child may act differently depending on whether or not he thinks I am watching but that fact subatomic particles and quantum systems may exist in different states depending on whether or not they are being observes is really difficult to swallow. I love it though since it reminds me that I am not nearly as smart as I think I am.

Check out the article:

Mankind 'shortening the universe's life'

"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened."
-Douglas Adams, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

peace,

will

Back on the blog

For my regular readers, you may have noticed that I have been a little lean in posting lately. I could list a million excuses but I realized the other day in an email exchange with a friend that blogging is really just a matter of discipline like anything else. It is sort of like exercise. If you are on a program and you miss a day and you don't get back to it the next day it becomes more and more likely that you are off for good (or at least until you commit to starting again.) The weblog is the same sort of thing. It is most fruitful when I post something every day. If more than two days go by, the next post seems exceedingly difficult.

Anyway. Happy Thanksgiving. I hope everyone had a chance to relax and spend time with family. And I hope you aren't suffering at the mall today.

peace,

will

This Sunday's Sermon

I had some free time this morning so here is this week's sermon online before you can even hear it live. (No guarantees it will actually sound like it reads, but you should get the point.)

Sermon #52 - "Never Enough... Always Enough"

peace,

will

Where did the week go?

I just looked at the weblog and realized I had not posted since last Sunday. This week was a blur. I was at Mount Wesley on Monday and Tuesday for my next to last Covenant Connection retreat. I usually try to get ahead before I go away for two days but I think I went away a little behind. The rest of the week was spent just trying to catch back up. Or at least trying.

peace,

will

Time Change

If we set the clocks back one hour this morning, why did I wake up at 3 a.m.? I got a free hour of sleep and wasted it. Does that mean I won't have an hour to give up in the spring?

peace,

will

I am pretty sure there is no silence left.

Some people are wired to crave some amount of silence in their lives. There are others who do whatever they can to fill every moment with sound. I am the silent type.

Of course, we have a two year old at home, so I don't expect and awful lot of silence in my home, but I am noticing that anything resembling silence is become harder and harder to find. Even after the boy goes to bed, silence is hard to find at home. Especially when it is cooler and we can open the windows, the sounds are endless. My neighbor's dogs bark 24/7. People tend to mow and trim from about 7 a.m. until about 9 p.m. It seems more and more people have large diesel trucks with sound levels that rattle the windows.

My office is not a whole lot better. If you are ever in the church during the day, stand near my office and be still for a moment. Unless it is lunch hour and nap time for the childcare center kids, you will be surprised at the sound level. There is a small fan in my office which has nothing to do with circulation. The sound drowns out the other sounds when I am looking for something resembling silence. Our sanctuary is probably one of the quietest places I have found. However the peace is easily broken by a down shifting truck, a loud motorcycle or a police of fire siren.

Probably the quietest place I can find is in the cab of my truck. If I turn off my iPod... and my phone.

peace,

will