Should We Move Past the Creation Debate?

"God cannot, and will not, be proven or disproven by how we got here. Lesslie Newbigin put it like this, “Christian faith is not a matter of logically demonstrable certainties but of the total commitment of fallible human beings putting their trust in the faithful God who has called them.”"

Read full article: Should We Move Past the Creation Debate? 

***

Life won't begin at your next milestone.

"If we view today as less than tomorrow, we choose to live in the imagined picture of a story that hasn’t happened, sacrificing joy and adventure that could be ours in the present. We get caught in the idea that this is just the green room, and if we plan well and press on, we’ll eventually walk out on the other side and a great narrative will unfold." 

Read full article: Life Won't Begin at Your Next Milestone

***

Snow day.

I love snow. Here in Indiana we are experiencing a blizzard of sorts, or at least more of a blizzard than I have ever seen.

***

It's kind of funny really. You would think that people here in the mid-west would be used to snow in large amounts, but the Kroger shelves would indicate otherwise. They are nearly empty, due to everyone getting ready to hunker down with copious amounts of bread in order to survive the sub-zero temperatures set to hit Indy tomorrow morning.

For Monday: temps up to fifteen below : wind chill in the negative FORTIES!

Me? I prefer to just drink copious amounts of coffee, read books, plan some lessons, and snuggle up to the quiet comfort of the falling snow outside in our winter wonderland.

***

Oh, and while I remain inside in an effort to keep my slight cold/sore throat combo from becoming a full blown laryngitis situation, my roommate is outside building a tropical snow(wo)man to keep us dreaming of the sun and warmer days.

***

Two thousand fourteen.

Here are my goals for 2014!

+ Daily prayer & Bible reading. If we're being totally honest, this is always at the top of my "New Year Goals" lists. I will not even pretend like I am good at this (hence why it is once again #1 on my list), but it is still something I value and want to be more intentional about doing. If you have any Bible reading plans that you love, please pass them along!

+ Set a monthly budget. My roommate is SO GREAT AT THIS, and since I obviously just want to be like her in every way possible, I am making an effort to budget more regularly. :) In all seriousness, this is something I have tried to do now that I'm an official grown-up, but it seems a tad overwhelming. I'm looking forward to seeking some guidance on the topic and am actually excited to keep up with a budget plan!

+ Visit 3 new states/cities. Pretty self-explanatory. (Note: I have no idea if 3 cities/states is too many or too little, but next year I'll adjust if necessary.) Some of my ideas include: Oregon, Seattle, Boston, California, Colorado, and/or Edenton (small town in NC where my friend works!). Some places I would love to revisit include: Charleston, Chicago, Nashville, and DC.

+ Eat healthy & exercise regularly. I'm joining a gym which should make this a lot easier, and I won't feel bad about not wanting to venture out in the snow to get a jog in. I am also considering training for another half-marathon, but I haven't fully committed to it yet, so this idea will remain off of the official goal list :)

+ Join a small group. It is much harder than I realized to meet people my age where I live. Hopefully this will help! (And will also help with the first goal on the list.)

***

***

It's a new year.

Well, it's officially 2014 and I still can't decide if I'm excited or in denial. I think more the former.

***

At the start of each year, we tend to make resolutions and lists. January 1st marks the beginning, and for many, the chance to start over, hit the refresh button, and be the person we wish we had been during the last year. This time it's for real. I'm serious this time. All things I have said before and honestly, I have been finding myself saying it again this year. 

Why do we say these things? 

Something about those words just doesn't sit right with me.

***

In light of the New Year, I have chosen to not only make a list of goals, but I am choosing to also celebrate 2013. It certainly was a BIG and exciting year, and rather than thinking about all I wish I had done, I want to remember it as a time of fullness and blessing. 

My life in 2013:

+ I landed a grown-up job!

+ I spent time with 3 kiddos who are more family than just another baby-sitting job.

+ I enjoyed spring break with my closest friends.

+ I ran a half-marathon.

+ I graduated from college.

+ I bought a car.

+ I moved to a new city.

+ I made new friends.

+ I visited 3 new cities (Tulsa, St. Louis, Indianapolis).
+ I started graduate school.

+ I taught high schoolers for a whole semester. (Whew!)

More importantly:

+ I learned to really value friends & family.

+ I learned how to say goodbye. 

+ I learned to understand the importance of keeping in touch.

+ I started learning how to ask questions and how important it is to really understand/value grace.

+ I learned more and more about relying on God's purpose and plans: "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." Proverbs 19:21

+ I realized (for the 100th time) that I am not perfect - but my God is perfect.

2013, you were too good to me.