See Ya Next Year!

Sunday Night Check-In for December 29th.

It’s time for the Sunday Night Check-In. Thanks for joining me for a few minutes - especially our 31 new subscribers this week. Glad you’re here. Feel free to say howdy in the comments. I’ve already used that “see you next year” dad joke. It never gets old. Well, I should say, I never get tired of saying it. As the calendar begins anew in a few days, I see many posts out there sharing their top ten lists of 2024. I’m not going to do that. But I might share a few things…

According to the stats, the top post of the year was way back in February and was called A Walk in the Woods. I enjoyed looking at the photos in that post (and I enjoyed taking them too!).

One of my favorite moments in the past year was the publication of my first book, Jesus Likes You. It has been #1 on the Amazon best seller list a couple of times. Earlier this month I gave away almost 800 copies of the ebook! That post reminded me of the wonderful reviews people wrote after reading. It also reminded me that my newest book is coming in January at some point!

This is kind of like watching someone else’s vacation slides, isn’t it? I won’t continue. In the poll last week I asked about … polls. 42% of you love them - and I’m with you. 33% hypocritically answered that you ignored polls (ha!). 25% claimed to not know I had a weekly poll. And only 12 votes this past week. That’s not up to our standards! This week, I want to ask you about resolutions!

If I kept all the resolutions I have made over the years, I would be thinner, smarter, and better in most every area of my life. However, with all good intentions, I generally do not do well with them. I think we need to move past the “new years” part and just make some plans for the days ahead. Maybe once we break them, we feel like we have a year until we make them again!

At Forsythe Church of Christ this morning we talked about the first people who loved Jesus. Aside from his parents, there were the shepherds, a devout man named Simeon, and a prophet named Anna. We know so little about the early years of Jesus’ life, but Luke tells us about these who waited for and expected the Messiah. We also expectantly wait for Him and love Him. Sermon notes and audio can be found HERE. Of course if you subscribe to the Studies and Sermons from Forsythe newsletter, you already know that. This month we are collecting some supplies for the Wellspring Women’s Shelter. If you’d like to contribute, you can check out our Amazon Wish List for items to donate.

READING

Goodreads tells me I’ve read 103 books of my 75 book goal. I may possibly finish Kevin Gallant’s Beyond The Mark: Ashes of the Hero, but I’m not sure. It’s not my typical genre but you have stretch sometimes! Last week I did finish Mary Higgins Clark’s Silent Night: A Christmas Suspense Story. I do not like stories where children are in danger - but once I got started I had to finish. She is a great story teller. But when it comes to reading, I have to tell you, Louise Penny has spoiled me. Her attention to detail, descriptions of the places she takes her readers, is so precise. I can tell you what the dining room at the Bistro smells like and the meaning of the stained glass in the small church. I know that the artist Clara Morrow is going to have food in her hair. I know why Chief Inspector Gamache chooses the rookies he does, when no one else wants them. Penny leaves no stone unturned in painting the picture of the characters and settings. This year I made it through the 19 books in her Three Pines series and loved every minute of it. Now, though, when I read someone else I wonder about so many details left out of the story, details that allow us to feel that we know the characters and could visit their village. I really couldn’t choose a favorite among those.

I’m thinking about starting a series that my wife has already read through called the Mitford Chronicles by Jan Karon. I saw on Goodreads that my friend Jennifer is reading those and I know of others who have enjoyed them. I think I would enjoy reading about the adventures of Father Tim and the little town there. It begins At Home in Mitford. Has anyone enjoyed this series?

Two of the most impactful books for me this year were written by Dudley J. Delffs. Balm in Gilead: Healing for the Repentant Heart and A Repentant Heart: The Joy of Restoring Intimacy with God. Both are on the same subject. The Balm in Gilead is more of a small group study. In A Repentant Heart, my copy is about half highlighted. I may highlight the other half as I read it again with a friend.

On the Bible reading schedule I use, The Navigator’s Book At A Time approach, I will begin again January 1st. I use the Bible app - it lets us stay in touch and encourage one another as we read. If you want to send me a friend request there and join me and friends as we read the Bible together, please do! There are several reasons I enjoy this approach. One, reading through an entire book of the Bible gives you a clearer picture of the message. Two, it skips around the Testaments, so I do not have to wait until the Fall to start reading about Jesus! Whatever approach, try not to fall into The Spiritual Insanity of Daily Bible Neglect (Zak Mellgren nails it!).

PHOTOGRAPHY

I have no new photographs to share, Christmas was spent with family at home and I didn’t venture out to Black Bayou. A few favorites from the archive, though, may be in order. I was thinking about Robins today.

I’m looking forward to getting back out into the woods and bayous to take more photos in the coming months.

CHECK OUT THESE STACKS

• GeorgeAnn moved me with her post, A Candle, A Music Box, and the Presence of God: A Christmas Story.

• Lawson takes us on a journey with his post, Holiday Field Notes: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Montana.

• Chris encourages us with This Gift Will Change Your Life.

• Brandon Moore wrote a post that was subtitled: I hope you don’t have to read this. But Christmas for the Hopeless was so encouraging.

• Barbara Brown Taylor wrote When The Divine Came Down. If BBT writes it, I’ll read it.

• In Embracing the Silence: Navigating the Spiritual Challenge of Waiting on God, Brian Causer addresses one of the most difficult aspects of the life of faith.

• Adam encourages us to Unlock the Hidden Power of Gratitude. He’s right.

• I loved Neil’s photos in Raccoon: "Tree of Solitude".

• It’s been a while since I took a spiritual retreat, but I’m feeling the need for it. Greg outlines everything one needs to know in The Solitude Retreat Field Guide.

I’m very excited that about ten prayerful people have agreed to join me in writing The Holy Lens. That newsletter comes out every day at 8:00 am and is a photograph, passage, prayer, and prompt. It generally only takes a few minutes to read but it has become a meaningful part of my day. It’s great to have some new perspectives and voices and also, for me, some help. Why not join us?

The death of former President Jimmy Carter was the breaking news today. A peanut farmer from Georgia, he went from the Governor’s mansion in Atlanta to the White House in a turbulent time in America. Characterized by ethics, kindness, commitment to peace, and a 77 year marriage to Rosalynn, Carter is well known for his humanitarian efforts post-presidency. I didn’t this year, but some years around Christmas I read Christmas in Plains. I always enjoy his reflections of his younger years. I am grateful for his gentle demeanor and his Christian commitment that was evident in the actions of his life and as a Bible teacher in his church.

Thanks again for spending a few minutes with me. With Christmas and New Years coming mid-week, I see a lot of people have been like me - trying to remember what day it is. As we turn into a new year, I pray that you will experience a 2025 that is full of God’s richest blessings. One of my blessings is you. Thank you for reading. Work hard, rest well, and stay connected. The world needs you.

Check out my books available on Amazon HERE.

Me and this Carolina Wren say See Ya Next Year! (I couldn’t resist)