Why do we, as humans, spend so much time taking the mystery out of faith. Isn't faith based on mystery? How can we even try to understand God, and yet we spend time trying to do just that. We take the mystery out of sacraments. We take the wonder out who God is and what he's done. We have to try to wrap our little finite minds around the infinite. We want answers! Sometimes when we don't have the answers we doubt and sometimes lose faith! Huh? How does that make sense? Faith is about the wonder, the mystery. It's part of the beauty of it! I've been trying to recapture all the wonder and mystery of it all. It's been an exciting journey!

I moved recently and yesterday's mail included a card from a local church. Now I suppose if I just moved into town it would be nice to get information from churches with their times listed. That would be helpful, however my problem with this card is that it says their church isn't churchy!? Why do we, as the church keep trying to pretend we're not churches, we're not ministries, that we can only reach people if we aren't what we are? We are churches, we are the church, let's stop pretending and start acting like the church!

Seems like a good day for a new start. Why is it that a new year means a new start. It's really just another day, isn't it? Everyone is setting goals/resolutions/whatever name you want to call them. I guess I'll set a few as well, join the crowd.

Family:
I've been so busy between school and work and then add housework etc. that I have many excuses for missing games, meets etc. I say no to my kids a lot. I'd like to work on that.

Friends:
I'm missing old friends and just making new ones. I need to work on both old and new relationships.

Ministry:
It's been a tough road for more reasons than I can count. I don't have any answers, but I know some of the issues. I need more volunteers and I need to do more ministry with and for parents. Prayer will be a much bigger part of my ministry moving forward.

School:
After 4 years of seminary, taking one class at a time, I'm burned out. I have considered taking a semester off, but I'm afraid I'll never go back if I do that. I'm going to attempt to put forth the effort that I know God wants of me.

Personal:
Time to stop being a fatty and get my butt moving and my eating habits in line with health.
I have always felt inadequate at my ability to pull scripture out of my head. I can quote verses, but I can't tell you chapter and verse. I'm going to work on putting more scripture in my heart and mind.

It's been amusing to move from a large metropolitan area to a small town. I love how everything closes when it snows. I love how the ticker at the bottom of the TV screen includes a flower shop that is closed. I'm amused when libraries close early. Not so crazy about the efficacy of the snow plows. Back in the Chicago area we had great service and streets were cleaned quickly and well. Not so much down here. I love the extra snow days my kids get! They do too!

Overall I pretty much like it here. There are certainly differences. Like the number of miles I put on my car driving to Walmart, the mall, a movie, out for dinner etc. But then again I love that I can't just walk to Walmart. I have to think about it first and make a list. It's not as easy to just run and pick up something I've forgotten.

I received an email from the dean of students at North Park Theological Seminary restating the policy on plagiarism. It's really sad that a seminary where people are training to serve the Lord and work for the Glory of God need to be reminded not to cheat! It's sad that this is a problem at all anywhere, but even more disturbing that it happens in seminaries everywhere! Integrity is vital to people in ministry. I'm just sad to see the things of this world overtake the importance of the kingdom!