New Years & the Bible

So as you get ready to start a new year, what are you hoping to do? I don't like the word resolutions because, to me, resolutions seems doomed from the start. I have always heard of more people breaking their resolutions then following through on them. I know it's not the word's fault, but I avoid using it anyways.

Sunday night at church we talked a little about making sure your devotional life is improving as we head to the New Year.  In light of that, I thought I would share some online resources.  You don't have to use the computer to read your Bible, you could just grab a Bible and start reading.  Write down notes and questions on a scrap of paper.  However, if you're the type that likes to use your computer or handheld, read on for two sites that have lots to offer that might be of help.  These are two that I use, there's likely many more that are just as good or better...

Youversion
Reading Plans
Audio Bible, Study tools - Both are included in the browser window
Mobile Page

Bible Gateway
Reading Plans

Audio Bible

Study tools

Mobile Page

For what it's worth I will be starting one of the reading plans this week.  Maybe, even more than one.

Waiting in the van

So we had a to wait in the van a bit while Tara did some stuff.  So first we went to McDonald's.  Everyone did very well, but Olivia refused to eat.  That is until we got back into the van.




We had to wait just a few more minutes in the van, so I tried to take a few nice pictures of the boys... they're pictures anyways...

on social networking and lurking

I like the internet.  I like Facebook and other social networking sites.  But I sometimes wonder about it all.  It's cool to be aware of what's going on in other people's lives.  I love finding out about people who I once studied with, or went to church with, or whatever.  Sometimes though, we just get a very small piece of the story.  Like reading a newspaper story and having far more questions then when you started.  Sometimes you want to ask a question, but it's been awhile, and you're not sure how to get into those discussions with those old friends.  So rather than make a comment you lurk.  I do this ALL the time.  reading blogs, facebook pages, whatever; often wishing I could contribute something to the conversation, but feel like I am missing too much of the story to say anything.  Has this ever happened to you? -> You make a comment on something trying to join a conversation and others just seem to ignore that you said anything?  I dislike that, maybe it just says something about me.
So I (or maybe you) lurk and wonder.  I am not sure there's anything to do to fix it, but I felt like expressing.

today

Well, we finished another week.  This week felt long.  Had some great connections with people this week.  Got a few things done I've been meaning to get going.  We've had a number of unexpected gifts this week, more than a couple actually.  God is good.
At our evening gathering today, there was some good food, great people and the service, I felt, was significant.  So while I'm tired, wiped out really, it's good.
Rest tonight now, then tomorrow we drive to T-bay and Olivia has teeth yanked out of her head.  Will let that worry hit me tomorrow, now I'm going to veg.

Pictures of Life

(this is a duplicate post from my photoblog)

I've mentioned a couple of times about a project I've been working on.  It's as ready as it will ever be for the public.  It's a gallery of pictures (is this a surprise? probably not). First the pictures... then the details, along with how this might help you...




As some of you know, I'm a pastor.  I've noticed that in some churches it seems a struggle to find good photos to use as a backdrop on their powerpoint presentation, or to slip behind the words when lyrics to songs are projected for group singing.

Over the last few months I've been challenged by many things to try and find a way to help others with my photography.  So I started going through my photos to find images that would work for churches in what I've described above.  Started with over 200 gigs, first cut was just over a 1000 images.  This is a gallery of 200 images.  If you have been following my photography for awhile you'll likely recognize these photos.  They have been shared before.  I am proud of these images.

If you are apart of a church and would like to use these in your services please do so.  You can download them and size them to fit your screen and use them.  Technically I'm putting a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Canada License on these photos.  Click the link to learn more.  However I'm not real concerned with people knowing that I took the picture.  If you do use them, it would be nice if you could send me an email or leave a comment with that photo on the photo gallery page