Sweet empty cup

I am returning to the idea of Resolutions, Anti-resolutions, planning not resolving anything, or whatever else the internet wants to call it. This time I am declaring my need to fast. In years past I would stop drinking coffee, coke, or smoking my pipe. This Lenten season I am seriously considering giving up spending money out side of food, gas and housing. But like any radical change, it isn't the fast that counts, but how it changes my behavior afterwards. I have found some tips here and here. Oh yea, this book has something to say about money too.

A friend of mine

Welcome to Parkland. I live here. The taps here are humble but reliable. Come for a visit.

I bet I can make your head ich.

 We have uninvited house guests.

Twenty-10

Four-ish years ago I went to a church conference. The central topic was prayer. I liked it, though I think the pastor miscommunicated some of his heart, but that post is for someone else to write about. The second most important lesson I took from him was the disciple of making lists. And the idea stuck. Since that conference I have come up with one item for the list per year I am old. Here are the first two of said list.

1. As much time as I have left on earth, I want to have Jesus disciple me in a life of identifying with him first. This means, putting my role as husband, father, YFC missionary, collector of crap, coffee snob after Jesus. This is not as easy, as I have become quite an idolater of my time.
2. I would like to begin to learn how the Psalms point to Jesus.
3. There is a growing suspicion that I live my salvation by works. This year Jesus needs to lift this burden from me by his grace. I hope that I will be able to worship Him more fully because of it.

There are other ideas floating around, and I might even share some of them, but for now, this short list makes a good start.

Hazards of Analogue Data Storage

My journal was stolen from the back seat of my car. I guess I didn't lock the doors. What they stole was a bright red backpack. Maybe the thief thought there was a shinny lap-top or ipod to run off with. What they got was the 5 years of me I was keeping that book. Stoopid thief. I know Jesus knows what the last 5 years was like, but I would like to keep some of it in my memory too.