Hijacking

OK- I've sort of hi-jacked the blog this week. Brandon is getting some posts ready for next week and they are really good so stay tuned!

Today is sort of a random update.....

• If I haven't said it enough- THANK YOU for reading and contributing to our blog. This has been a nice addition to our lives! It's amazing how much we feel we know all of you. The "connections" are irreplaceable as far as we are concerned!
• We have been told by some friends that they cannot comment on our blog....obviously I can't ask if that is you because you can't comment! But- if you are reading and have had a hard time commenting- will you send us an e-mail or a message on Myspace/facebook so we can check out why. That's something that will need to be remedied.
  
• Our nephew turned 16 yesterday- that will make you feel old! He'll be driving soon.
• Tomorrow is March 1st. MARCH 1st!!!! Time truly does fly when you are having fun! We have an extra day today so make it count!
  
• The Internet campus is going strong. We are meeting some incredible people. Our world is shrinking right before our eyes. God- you are seeing ALL of this? What a big God we serve!
• Blogger is not my favorite. It's been a great starting place but we're ready to move to wordpress or something more functional. Got any input?
  
• Spring Break is in 2 weeks (in Oklahoma). Any plans for you? We are planning some stuff right here in OKC but it's going to rock!! Having the boys here all day is awesome!

What's been going on in your life? Any cool or fun stories? Been reading any good books? Seen any good movies?What are you going to do on this extra day of the year?? Have a great weekend!

Weight loss tips 101

Ok, so, it's no secret I am trying to lose weight and eat healthier. I have a little "weight loss tips" section on my google home page.

Todays tip was:

"Eat more fruits and less deep fried foods"

Really? Seriously? I did not realize that! I'm so glad they told me because I was just about to eat a chicken fried steak and french fries with some deep fried oreos rather than my fruits and veggies.

Just had to laugh.

Do you have any "weight loss tips" for me? (I promise not to blog about them or make fun).

Spring cleaning (pt 3 of 3)

This is the last post in the Spring cleaning series....

Cleaning up our schedule:
We are taking a look at our schedule. Are there areas we can cut out? I think in certain seasons there are priorities that have to be made and then in other seasons, they will change. Our boys are not into sports yet but there will be a time for that!

Right now, it's all about birthday parties, friends, baby showers, church, school events, date nights, Spring break trips, Weight watchers, Life groups, Girls night out, guy time, mentoring, exercise, Bible study, blogs, entertaining guests, e-mail, financial planning, reading, weddings, family time, myspace, facebook, TV/movies, and just plain too much!

It's time to clean up the schedule. Even though there are friends we love dearly, we might have to opt not to attend their special event. We can still send a gift or let them know they matter. This is a hard one to cut out for me!I realize it has to be done. I need to take a serious look at our calendar and black out those things that can't be a priority in this season. We are planning on adopting and possibly going on a mission trip in August (I will tell more about that later). I just feel like we need to cut down on some of the fluff and work towards some more organization and better time management so we can do more with little. This is a re-grouping and preparation season for us.

Do you do too much? Do you have a hard time saying no? Do you need to say no? What makes your priority list? Any planning advice? Time management tips? What takes up your time?

Spring cleaning (pt 2 of 3)

I'm continuing in the "Spring cleaning" series.....

Cleaning up your home:
First of all, every time I think about the word housekeeping, it takes me back to Tommy Boy when David Spade stands outside the motel door and says "housekeeping" in a high pitched voice:)

But seriously, we are doing some major cleaning. We have been going through closets and cabinets. I did not realize all the JUNK we have! I have been in a throwing out mode. There are things I have been holding on to thinking someday I will use them. If I haven't used them in a year, I'm probably not going to be needing them. If I do, I can probably afford to buy one if needed.

I'm kind of a paper junkie. I have kept every bill and piece of artwork from the boys. It's been fun finding old pictures and keepsakes. I have filled up several trash bags of paper! We have the donation truck coming to pick up all the other stuff. I can't wait for it to be outta here! We usually give to Habitat for Humanity but there was another organization already coming to our neighborhood. We had enough to give to a friend having a garage sale as well. I'm hoping our trash is someone else's treasure.

Do you hold on to things too long? Are you a packrat? Do you have stuff in your garage or attic? Do you donate to a particular organization? Do you need to do some spring cleaning around your home? Please tell me I am not the only one!

Spring cleaning (pt 1 of 3)

This week I'm starting a 3 part series on "housecleaning" (it might not be what it sounds like so stay tuned).

Cleaning up our finances:
Well, it's time to do some major tweaking in our finances. We have pretty much always lived on a budget but I confess, I have been lazy in my bookkeeping. We have been putting just about every bill or expense on our credit card and then paying it off at the end of the month. It's been nice getting our "rewards" every month from our Discover card. Brandon is very frugal and is constantly coming up with ways we can save money as well.

After reading this post by one of my favorite bloggers, I have realized that the credit card has been too easy to use. Some months we spend more than we should. Other months we do great and stay well within our budget. Brandon has been talking to me about it for a while, so I'm taking the plunge. In honor of spring, we are going to do some cleaning up in our finances!

Starting this month- we are going back to the cash/envelope system. I'm a little nervous because you have to watch a little more carefully. It's been way too convenient to use our card. I'm excited to see some of the changes we are making and ready to see some money saved because of those changes.

Are you on a tight budget? Any money saving tips? Do you take out cash every month? Do you use credit cards? Do you need to clean up your finances? Tell us what works for you/your family. I'd love to have some insight (and encouragement:)

Got a question for you......

OK- so B and I are pretty new to the blogosphere. We are starting to get a little more comfortable, but still have those thoughts like 'Did that come out right?" or "Do you think this sounds good?". I'm so glad we have each other as a soundboard. We post on this blog about 5 days a week (Mon-Fri) and usually take the weekends off. We rotate posting just about every other day. You have read family stuff, deep thoughts, funny articles, Internet campus info, etc. Well, you know what you've read!

We have ideas and thoughts flying around in our head daily. It's funny how when you start a blog you begin to ask think "This is something I have to blog about."

So, I was curious. What would you like to hear more about from the Donaldson family? Do you enjoy the family posts? The deeper theological ones? Or a mixture of all of the above? Are you interested in hearing more about the Internet campus? Send some ideas, suggestions, or questions our way if you get a chance.

Thank you so much for sticking with us and reading! We are really enjoying being a part of the blogosphere:) Leave a comment if you find an entry you enjoy so we know who's out there!

The Inconsistent God vs. The Inconsistent God (3 of 3)

PART THREE - STEP OF FAITH

We have seen the two definitions of an "Inconsistent God." We have also seen that we have substantial evidence to consider as we decide which definition we believe. Of one thing we can be certain, only ONE idea can be true, and each of us live our lives in a way that exposes which one we believe.

To conclude, I would like to explain the role of faith. Putting your confidence in either idea of the "Inconsistent God" will require a step of faith. The role of argument and evidence can clarify and show us good reason to put our faith in one, but in the end that final step is a step of faith. This is the step many have not taken. There are many Christians who claim to be followers of Jesus, yet their actions expose a trust in something other than God. There are atheists who claim to believe there is no God, yet there actions and decisions will not follow through fully with that profession. Professing to believe, wanting to believe or hoping to believe is weaker than actually believing something. Believing it is resting in it. This is where faith is seen. You can say you believe that a chair will hold you up, but the way you sit in that chair will be an indicator of your faith in it. Your posture will give you away. The same is true about your faith. You will live what you truly believe.

I like the analogy of the bridge to show how faith and evidence work together. You can learn everything there is to know about a bridge; every detail, how much it holds, how big it is, what it is made of, where it leads. You can know everything about it and have good reason to believe your information is very accurate, but to take a step (even for a bridge expert) on that bridge and cross it is still a step of faith. Faith gets you to the other side. The knowledge and evidence gathered just helps you gain confidence in taking that step of faith. This is where I try to direct my discussions with people whose views differ. Talking and learning everything about a bridge is easy (and enjoyable for a few of us nerds), but taking a step on that bridge is a much bigger deal. It will define our morality, our beliefs, our actions, our lives.

How does this affect your life? your discussions?

College days...

We are driving to our college hometown tonight so Brandon can speak at the BCM (Baptist collegiate ministry). We have friends we get to see and catch up with. We get to see all the new renovations to the school. We will probably tell old stories and recall memories. Brandon and I met in college. We have so many wonderful memories and friendships from that time in our life.

For me, I grew up a lot there since I had to move away from home. Brandon also matured since he was going to school and working his first professional type job.

Even though it will be hard, I would love for my kids to get to "Experience" college like we did by moving into the dorms, away from parents. I'm just thankful we had great friendships to keep us on a good path! Brandon and I just look back on those days as golden. We had such a positive experience there. We had our share of hard times and disappointments, but those seem to fade away as you remember the good stuff.

Did you move out of your house to attend college? Were your college days "The good ole days"? Do you still keep up with your college friends and roommates? Did you pledge? Did you play sports? Tell us about your college days!

The Inconsistent God vs. The Inconsistent God (2 of 3)

PART TWO - EVIDENCE VERSUS PROOF

We saw in the first post how only one of the two ideas of an inconsistent God can be true. In fact, one must be true. Simply put, either there is a God that is a reality even though a mystery, or there is no God. They can't both be true. We can also determine that one is definitely true (there is or is not a God...simply put). Since the implications for each affect how we view the world and how we act, it is pretty important to find out which one is true. So, is there a way to know which is true? Can we be sure?

Here are some thoughts about proof versus evidence. There is no way to conclusively prove EITHER "Inconsistent God" to be true. Now this could be a little rattling of a statement for many of you, but here are some good thoughts to pull away from this. My personal belief is that definition number one is true, that there is a very real, very personal God. Many people who share that belief feel the need to be defensive about their belief in God. They feel the need to prove every aspect of His reality, but the burden of proof does not rest on definition one. Those who believe there is no God must share the burden of proof. They have some explaining to do. This is where sound evidence comes to play. This is not discounting faith (which is the topic of part 3). Instead, it is the ability to have foundations for your faith. This happens all the time. We can not conclusively prove the earth will continue to go around the sun tomorrow, but we have strong evidence to believe it will. We can weigh the evidence that is available. Of this there is plenty. For example, you will find compelling evidence that touches the intellect (logical arguments, scientific evidence, historical evidence, philosophical arguments, etc.) and the emotions (personal encounters and experiences). Each of these are valid and very telling.

Why is this idea of evidence so important to realize? Well, for me it has been a huge revelation. As a Christian, I believe in a God that loves humanity so much that He made a way for mankind to be connected to Himself, even though mankind had no way within themselves. I believe his fingerprint is evident throughout our world. I can't prove my view to be true to every person with a different view. I can offer my experiences and my intellectual evidences for what I believe to be true. I can talk with intellectual integrity using a mind that engages science, history, philosophy to support my belief. I can talk with confidence about my personal experiences, feelings, and stories. But, in the end, evidence and arguments do not prove God. They give us strong reasons to believe. I can and must leave the conclusion of the evidence with the person who asks. Each of us must draw our own conclusions and weigh the evidence for ourself.

Have you struggled with having an answer for someone? What is the strongest evidence which supports your belief in the "Inconsistent God?"

Do you like to move???

Do you like to move? and no, I'm not talking about moving meaning exercising (although it's a good thing if you do like to exercise). I'm talking about boxes, and dirt, and stress....you know- making a big move with a moving truck and all.

Well, apparently I do like to move, and I like to move a lot. We have been in our current home for a little over 2 years and I have that bug to move. I've been glancing at the paper, picking up flyers...just sort of browsing some options. The only problem is we are not planning on moving at all. We are planning on staying put. I mean staying put for 12 yrs and 7 more months so we can pay off this house! Why does that idea frighten me? Is it really about a change of scenery? Is it because once you live somewhere for a certain amount of time, you begin to notice all the things wrong with it? Hmmmm, inquiring minds need to know!

Let me do a quick rundown of our "moves". 1)We first lived in a duplex in Calera, OK. 2)Moved to Midwest City, OK a year later. 3)Moved to Northglenn, Co a year later. 4)Moved to Lakewood, CO six months later. 5)Moved to Del City six months later. 6)Moved to Oklahoma City one year later. 7)Moved to Edmond 2 yrs later. 8)Moved to La Habra, CA 3 yrs later. 9)Moved to Palmdale, CA 6 months later. 10)Moved to Monterrey, Mexico 11 months later. 12)Moved to "The Village"/OKC 2 months later. 13)Moved to Edmond (our current home) 4 months later. At least we are coming up on our 13 yr. anniversary so it's technically no more than once per year)

So..the longest we have stayed in one place, in one house, was back in 2001 when we lived in Edmond. We are creeping up on that and about to beat that time span. I think it's time for some re-modeling at least or I will be stir crazy. Got a house for sell??? hee hee

Makes me think of that song, 'Aint nothin gonna break my stride, aint nothin gonna slow me down, oh no, I've got to keep on movin".....

The Inconsistent God vs. The Inconsistent God (1 of 3)

PART ONE - ONE WORD, TWO IDEAS

I have to thank Jimmy's post for bringing up this word, inconsistent. I have been thinking about it's definition in the context of "An Inconsistent God." In this series I am going to look at two ideas from this one word and the crucible of faith it reveals. Sound fun? First, we will have a look at the definition:

Inconsistent
Displaying or marked by a lack of consistency, especially:
a. Not regular or predictable; erratic
b. Lacking in correct logical relation; contradictory
c. Not in agreement or harmony; incompatible
I really love the definition of inconsistent because it I think it accurately depicts two totally different ideas we all have of God.

1) Inconsistent God - (not regular or predictable; erratic; lacking in correct logical relation) This is the mysterious God who can never be fully understood or explained, who does not fit into our logical perspective...into our natural world. He is the one that created it and is far above it. He is the one who is omnipotent (all-powerful) and omniscient (all-knowing). He is somehow completely sovereign while honoring the free will of man. He is completely good but allows and lives with evil. He is the one who intervenes in humanity yet sometimes seems far away. His decision to do one or the other can never be predicted even close to 100% accuracy. He is perfect in all his attributes, even attributes that seem to be at odds like justice and mercy. Deeper understanding about him, leads to a deeper awareness of the depth and breadth of his mystery. He is the inconsistent God.

2) Inconsistent God - (contradictory; not in agreement or harmony; incompatible) This is the God that simply does not work. He is a contradiction when seen clearly. He is incompatible within his own definitions. He is a figment of the imagination of men to create some sense of hope or purpose outside of this existence. He is NOT reality, but available as a crutch for those in need. He is the inconsistent God.

I think this is one of life's biggest crucibles of faith...all in one word! In fact one of these definitions can catch most of the world's belief in God. The problem is many people will live a life that will jump back and forth between the definitions. Never sold out to one or the other. But both definitions cannot be true at the same time. Only one can be true!

Just went to church at 3am......

So, our church just started a new experience time beginning at 3am Oklahoma time. We began chatting at 2:30 am. I was praying people would show up. Let me just tell you, it was amazing. We had about 59 that stuck around for the entire experience. There were lots of others popping in and out throughout the hour.

I chatted with people from Morocco, Ireland, India, England, South Africa, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Ghana, and Turkey.

I began to tear up as I met all these people around the world as we experienced church together. All in seperate places but joined with one purpose/cause. That's what Heaven will be like. No matter where we are from- we are all united under the same God and Lord. We are all in this together!

Just had to share with you. If you ever want to come and check it out, we meet at 9am GMT.

Our next experience begins in about 5 hours so I better get some sleep.

5 reasons why we love each other (Pt. 5 of 5)

We have made it to Friday. Thanks for sticking with us throughout all of our loveliness and mushy-ness. Here is our last post on this topic (well, for now). Remember the marriage relationship is the most important relationship on earth. God intended it. Hold on to it. Fight for it. Cherish it.

Brandon has integrity! That's not just a word I give to anyone. He is honest (even when it hurts at times). He is real- you know when he is having a good or bad day. He has humility. People tend to throw the word "authentic" around, but Brandon truly is authentic and real. Our family vision statement is "Be true to yourself, be true to your faith." Brandon leads our family in this mission. He just does the "right" thing no matter what. In our finances, in relationships, in conflict, etc. I'm not saying he's a goody two shoes. When we were youth leaders, so many girls would say " I wish I could find a guy like Brandon!". I think it's because he is a true gentleman, but yet he exudes strength. He fights for what he believes in. This is all because of his integrity. He's a rare gem :) Keep it real, ya'll!! ~Christi~

Christi is such a tender and strong spirit with a depth of maturity she quietly exudes. I have watched her minister to women young and old, and she has this gift of loving them where they are and making them feel so encouraged and built-up. At the same time, she tenderly leads them to be better women and wives and mothers, and she does it all while building trust and security in them. She deeply cares for those she touches, and she spends great amounts of personal time to minister to them. All of those characteristics combined is a single gift that is rare. She never flaunts her wisdom or spiritual maturity. In fact, she would not claim it, but all you have to do is look at the people she has touched. God uses her in such a huge way. I have to be honest. It makes me so proud to be her husband. I really do love her more than a blog post could do justice.-Brandon-

Do you feel you have integrity? Is is something you are working on? Are you tender? Do you tend to have people pour into you or do you do the pouring? Does it make you uncomfortable to read about how others "love"?

God loves us all more than we can physically love a person. Crazy, huh?

5 reasons why we love each other (Pt. 4 of 5)

Happy Valentines Day! Today, we are at number 4.....I have a long story to post so stick around because it's funny. First things first.....here are a couple more reasons why we are Valentines:

Faithfulness
Christi has always been faithful to me in every way. It is amazing to have a wife that I trust in every situation. Not just the obvious ones (which is great), but Christi is adamant about talking highly of me even when it is one of those "bad" days. She continually has perspective and she is an example to those around her of speaking life into marriage and her husband. The blessing is I know her to be this way 100% of the time. How many husbands can say that? -Brandon-

Multi-Talented
I love that Brandon is good at just about everything he tries. Everywhere we go, he can find one way to relate to people. his friends nicknamed him "the Bridge" because he can usually understand where most people are coming from. He can help bridge the gap from one person to another. This man can sing, make straight A's, make me die laughing on a daily basis, be profound, play every sport.....I truly could go on and on. He's talented, you get it, right? I will end with a story from our honeymoon (and no, it's not that kind of story!)

We traveled to Cozumel in 1995 for our honeymoon. We looked like we were about 15 which is another funny story. We were able to go on an all inclusive vacation. The resort had tennis courts, swimming pools (right next to the beach), kayaking, sailboats.....lot's of things to do. Brandon had taken a boat and camp safety class over the summer to fulfill some credits. He decided to take the sailboat out for a ride. I stayed on the shore to sunbathe and to watch my man sail away.

He picked out the boat he wanted and the men asked if Brandon was sure he knew how to sail. He reassured him that he did (he had taken a class on it, remember?). So, off to conquer the ocean! He starts sailing and makes sure I am watching. He keeps going and going and going.....not turning back any time soon. The people around me start talking about him (how embarrassing) saying 'look at that guy! Where is he going?". I acted like I didn't know who he was (sorry Brandon). The men at the sailboat booth jumped on jet skis to go rescue Brandon. By this time, Brandon was out by the cruise ships and shrimp boats. He couldn't even see us! He said he could see where the water turns black. It even rained on him while we were soaking up the sun on shore. He was screaming for help but obviously we couldn't hear him!

The men reached him several minutes later. He said "I thought you knew how to sail?" Brandon told him he couldn't get it turned around. The man told Brandon to sit on the front of the boat and he was going to sail the boat back to shore. They hit a huge wave and Brandon went overboard. Brandon jumped back on the boat. I was still on shore thinking about whether I should go to our room and hide, or stay there and be supportive as a newly married woman. They arrived safely back at shore only after the men on staff had given Brandon looks of disgust and anger. Brandon walked up to me and just sat down. The people realized we were together so the whispers became very hushed. I didn't know what to say. The next thing I knew we were laughing about it. Brandon was telling me how scared he was and all we could do was laugh. We are still laughing about it to this day. My story-telling does not even give it justice.

Maybe I should change my trait to "he can do almost everything" since we now know he can not sail. Nah.....we will leave it like it is.

What was your honeymoon like? Where did you go? How long have you been married? If you are not married, where would you like to go on your honeymoon?

5 reasons why we love each other (Pt. 3 of 5)

Thanks for sticking around for our public display of affection!!Get a room already, right? ha ha
Here are some more reasons why we love each other.....

Beauty
"In your eyes...the light the heat" Yes, that is Christi and I's song...a little Peter Gabriel anyone? But it came about because of Christi. Christi is so beautiful, and the best way to explain is from the one body part that says it all- Her eyes. Just take a look some time. Don't worry that is legal, but be ready! The greenest most alive eyes you will ever see...I am serious! But also in those eyes you will see her beautiful soul. To know Christi is to love her. She is an incredibly beautiful person from the inside out. If you don't believe me, just look in her eyes. Christi, in your eyes, I am complete.-Brandon-


Ok pretty sure I am blushing right now....yep, def. blushing! Well, here is Brandon's for today. Can I get a do-over?? His was way better than mine :)

Brandon is disciplined. That might sound boring, but it's not! Brandon has many disciplines built inside of him. It's who he is. He constantly challenges me to be more and do more just by the way he lives his life. He is helping me eat better and just be healthier in general. He is helping me want to learn more. He helps me problem solve. he's very inspiring and challenging. He's not perfect, but he's usually striving to be the best he can be. He makes others want to be more. 'You were meant for more than you've allowed in your life"...that's from his song Trenches and he means it! Oh- i just love my man!!~Christi~

So, is your spouse disciplined? What feature do you admire in your spouse/significant other? Have you considered writing them a love note or two this week? What disciplines do you or your spouse have that inspire others?
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5 Reasons why we love each other (Pt. 2 of 5)

This is our second post on why we love each other in honor of Valentines day. Thanks for reading:) Why do you love your spouse/significant other??

Brandon is loyal! Brandon will never say a bad thing about his family or friends. He will stand up for them, he will be there for them. When you are Brandon’s friend, you are his friend for life. He talks highly about his leaders at the church, he speaks highly of me, and he speaks highly of his friends. Actually, he pretty much speaks highly of everyone and gives most people the benefit of the doubt. He doesn’t gossip! A secret is safe with him. Because of his loyalty, he can be trusted. I catch myself too many times hearing from Brandon how I should trust the Jesus in others instead of finding fault or doubting them. He's just incredible!~Christi~

Strength
Christi is not a huge proponent of change, yet Christi has moved to Colorado, California (with two small boys), and Mexico. She has moved at least 15 times in the last 10 years. We have been on quite an adventure, and to be honest, I would have NEVER made it without her. God has given her this strength for our family when change is at its peak. She is always organized. She is our stability. One story: In California, a few weeks after we had arrived, I came in from school one night. Christi asked me how I was doing. I began to weep in her arms...like can't catch your breath crying. She held me real tight, and asked me if I remembered when God had clearly shown us that we were to move to California. That night she was used by God in a way I have never experienced before. Sort of hard to give the impact of that moment, but this sort of sums it up, " I love you, Christi, so much!"

Are you loyal? Would you say you have inner strength? Have any "defining moments" in your marriage brought out some of those traits?

5 reasons why we love each other (Pt. 1 of 5)

Since this week we are celebrating Valentines day, we thought we'd share some of the reasons why we are Valentines. It's basically love letters to each other so please bear with us and take a sneak peek into our marriage with our permission. Are you married? Engaged? Tell us about your significant other.

These are in no particular order and there are many more we could name....just thought we'd share 5 since it's a nice number and it fits into our weekly posts:)

Christi has a giving heart. She never stops giving. It is a built-in God thing. She is always getting me or the boys something. Even when our friends come over, she is sure to make their favorite dish...like some yummy guacamole, salsa, and home-made tea. She just gives of herself and her time to others first. She is the one who looks at me and says we need to give to this person or that mission or this cause. I have learned through the years that anytime she feels God is calling us to give to someone for any reason, we just do it. It is always the right thing. She has made my heart a giving heart. God used her to show me the joy and adventure of giving. I love it, and I love her. -Brandon-


I love Brandon's sense of adventure! He’s always looking for the next journey. He gives excitement and inspiration. He loves taking on new tasks and helping others do the same. He sees the big picture and so it helps him to rest assure. Brandon dreams big so it inspires and makes others do the same. He could never be called boring because he's usually always in the process of having some kind of adventure. Besides, he’s smoking hot so who wouldn’t want to go on an adventure with him?? (unless you are smokin hot as well and I'd have to veto that)~Christi~

Are you giving? Are you adventurous? What about your spouse/significant other?

Flowerdust much?

Our blogging friend, Anne Jackson, is heading to Uganda to make an impact with several other members of the blogosphere- stay updated by clicking on the picture below and checking out her blog this next week. They leave on Sunday Feb 10th and return on Feb.18th. Sponsor a child if you can as well:)

Global Picture

This is a map based on population. Each country is sized about their respective population, instead of by their land mass.

Here are some of my initial thoughts:

1. China and India definitely get your attention.
2. China is a major player in economy and manufacturing, but I wonder what is to come from China. I see China being the next country for a church revolution. The home of some of the next spiritual leaders. This is one reason I am very interested in what is happening in China. Lon has some interesting ideas about creativity from China.
3. India is so massive, yet it currently does not have much influence in world politics, economy, etc. I am curious how this will change in my lifetime.
   
4. Russia and Canada are not very noticeable on the map.
   
5. My neck of the woods is just a piece of a much bigger puzzle. My world is shrinking, and the world is becoming clearer.
   

What are some of your initial thoughts after seeing this population map? What do you think it means or could mean?

Most valuable possession?

We've been talking a lot about being thankful. I've really been thinking each day what I am thankful for. It's made me realize some of the things I put a high value on, and possessions that I don't even really care about (and should get rid of!)

So- let's say that your house was on fire, or a flood was coming and you had to grab a few prized possessions- what would they be and why? (and this is assuming that all of your family members and pets are already out safe so you can't pick them:) What material possessions do you value? Why?

Replacements

Do you have some things that you would like to get rid of? Bad character traits or habits you easily fall into?

I am reading through Ephesians, and noticed something. In Chapter 4 and 5, Paul begins to tell the church how to live out this Christian life, and many times he will tell them something to get rid of followed by something to replace it.

"put off falsehood" --> "speak truthfully to your neighbor" "Steal no longer" --> "work, do something useful with your hands"
"get rid of bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander, every form of malice" --> "be kind, compassionate, forgiving"
"not even a hint of sexual immorality, any kind of impurity or greed; nor obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking --> "rather [there should be] thanksgiving"
...just to name a few

Somewhere in these chapters, you will find your issue. I know I found some that are on my 2008 list to be rid of, but the focus is not what we lose but what replaces it. What will replace the thing you would like to get rid of? Maybe the reason we struggle is because we have not focused on the replacement.

This was amazing!

The NY Giants pulled it off. A lot of heart showed through:)

America- the land of the free

I live in America. I say I have a heart for so many other countries. I truly desire to Go and see places and meet people from all over the world. I think about what it would be like to live in another country. My picture is glamourized.

Today while in the lobby chat on the Internet campus, I met a man from Kenya. He was talking about the war going on in his country. He is taking refuge in a church and has been there for 2 weeks. He logged in from an internet cafe but had limited connection. He happened upon the Internet campus by accident but was so happy to find us.

As we talked for almost an hour, he began to ask us if we would invite him to America. He really wanted to "see" what it was like. He then began asking if we could help him financially. If I hadn't been talking for him for so long, I think I might have possibly shut him out at this moment. He is surviving right now. I am not going to send money but I did feel helpless. I wasn't quite sure what to do.

When I picture traveling to other lands- I don't picture war, and living in fear. When he pictures America, he sees prosperity and freedom (as well as safety). I am completely ignorant about what a life in poverty would be like. I have compassion but I don't think I would trade places for one second. I really am proud to live here (and thankful). It's not perfect and there are so many things that could change for the better- but overall I'm still proud and thankful.

I have so many thoughts going through my head that could probably provide several more posts but will stop for now.

What about you? Thoughts?

Super weekend plans?

Happy Friday to everyone! Just a quick entry about the weekend....

Tonight, Brandon is going out with his Fantasy football buddies and the loser of the league has to wear a dress. It's an UGLY dress too (Sorry Jeff!).

Tomorrow, we have our nephews birthday party and then the INTernet campus tomorrow night. (BTW- this Tuesday will kickoff the first Tuesday night experience so tune in at 8pm (central time)

Sunday is the SUPER bowl- who are you rooting for? Since Favre was beaten out (sad day) we are not sure who to cheer for. I mean I would love to see the Pats go undefeated- and Mr. Brady deserves it, right? But then you have the "underdog" Giants with Eli leading the way and that would be cool too. I guess for now we will just sit back and enjoy the show (along with all the funny commercials)

So- what are your weekend plans? Anything exciting? Fun?