Archive for December, 2009

New Year’s Resolution(s)

31 December, 2009 · Filed under life

I have one big idea for this year, and it might sound trivial, but I think it’s actually really important.  So here it is….my new year’s resolution:

  • To keep track of what books I read. (start date, end date, memorable quotes, etc)

I did think of a few other resolutions that I might do, but I don’t want the pressure of being accountable for:

  1. Drink more black coffee
  2. Have one meat-free day each week
  3. Read more fiction
  4. Listen to some country music
  5. Play guitar in front of people more
  6. Run a few miles a week
  7. Go on a silent retreat 3 times over the year
  8. Take my wife on more dates
  9. See more movies at the Athens movie theater
  10. Use Bento, Omnifocus, or some other software to be more productive

Happy New Year!

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The Light Has Come

25 December, 2009 · Filed under worship

John 1

The Life-Light

1-2 The Word was first,
the Word present to God,
God present to the Word.
The Word was God,
in readiness for God from day one.
3-5Everything was created through him;
nothing—not one thing!—
came into being without him.
What came into existence was Life,
and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
the darkness couldn’t put it out.

6-8There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light.

9-13The Life-Light was the real thing:
Every person entering Life
he brings into Light.
He was in the world,
the world was there through him,
and yet the world didn’t even notice.
He came to his own people,
but they didn’t want him.
But whoever did want him,
who believed he was who he claimed
and would do what he said,
He made to be their true selves,
their child-of-God selves.
These are the God-begotten,
not blood-begotten,
not flesh-begotten,
not sex-begotten.

14The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish.

This picture is from our candlelight service at FBC Athens where we remembered the birth of the Life-Light.

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Away We Go

18 December, 2009 · Filed under family

I believe this is the first trip with FBC that the entire family has traveled together. I have been so blessed to travel to Mexico, Ethiopia, camp, and on several other ski trips but each time someone has stayed behind. Not tonight…
The bus ride is the only thing the kids have thought about all day. They have been so excited and so far they’re doing great. Hopefully we can get some rest tonight and work through a few coloring books in the morning.
No matter how they do, I am so glad to have everyone along for the ride. The kids can be driving me nuts, but the moment I am away from the family I miss them terribly. Look out Winter Park…the Stappers are coming for ya.

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Gumption

16 December, 2009 · Filed under life

gumption |ˈgəmp sh ən|noun| shrewd or spirited initiative and resourcefulness.

Two weeks ago, as I was registering for another semester of school, I noticed that I was not fully admitted into the MBA program at DBU.  In fact, I had a probationary admission pending an acceptable score on the GMAT.  I would only be allowed to take 12 hours of credit towards my MBA before I would have to take the GMAT.  This led me to the original admissions criteria for the program, where I found that I actually met or exceeded all of the necessary components.  (undergraduate grades, SAT entrance scores, managerial experience, size 10.5 shoe, O- blood type, you get the idea…)  So I sat down to write a letter.

I compiled my evidence, and succinctly presented my case to the graduate admissions committee.  It was compelling in my eyes, but the world of academia is oftentimes confusing and difficult to predict.  Days passed by, until I received an email today stating:

The Master’s Degrees Admission Committee granted your request to waive the GMAT requirement based on your work experience and current graduate GPA.  You are now Full Complete to the MACE/MBA Dual Degree program.

Great news!  To keep perspective, it’s not like world hunger was solved, but this is a major inconvenience out of my life and I am thrilled.  A friend of mine who I asked to proofread my letter asked me why I thought I shouldn’t have to take the test, and so he was the first person I called today.  I proclaimed my victory, and he laughed at my gumption and audacity.  He also reminded me that “A ‘No’ is always free.”

Ask a big question today.  Who knows what you’ll find…

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Any bands available?

15 December, 2009 · Filed under family

Erin and I are looking for any school band that would like to stop by our house around 8:00pm any day of the week. It seems that our son is unable to withstand the way your melodies beckon him to slumber. (see evidence below). It doesn’t matter whether you are junior high or high school so long as there are a large number of you and a fair assortment of brass, woodwind, and percussion. Payment will be made in smiles by my wife and me as opposed to the usual insanity and craziness found at an average nights bedtime. Anyone interested please leave a comment.

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Another Semester Finished

14 December, 2009 · Filed under Uncategorized

Today I wrapped up my last final for the Fall Semester. The grand total so far is 25.5 hours out of 69 hours needed for my dual degree (MACE/MBA) from DBU. I am only 3 semesters into the program, but this has definitely been the hardest so far. I don’t know if it was the coursework, driving schedule, or some other unknown cause, but I am worn out and weary from school.

When I decided to pursue a degree 18 months ago, I don’t think I had much of a plan. I was assuming that somehow things would work out, and I’d get through the program with a degree aka proof-of-intelligence certificate aka union card. If I had actually sat down and looked at my schedule, though, it would have been obvious just how crazy this pursuit would be. Before I was in school, like anyone reading this, my time was already full. I didn’t sit around for long periods of time wondering, “What is going to fill this block of time on Mondays?” Life was busy, and then I added a huge chunk of extra business to the mix. Somedays it’s all a tad overwhelming, and other days I’m glad that I decided to jump in the educational pool.

No real point to this post. Just wanted to document the occasion. Done with the semester…yahoo.

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Mandatory When Christmas Shopping

12 December, 2009 · Filed under family, life

I usually go with the gingerbread latte while erin prefers the peppermint white chocolate mocha. It’s amazing how a quick caffeine blast gets you through long lines and terrible parking lot drivers.

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Christmastime Is Here

11 December, 2009 · Filed under life

There has been a divine confluence of events this holiday season. It all started when I chose to write a paper on silence and solitude back in November. Well, it actually started before that when Erin and I decided to change our gift giving regimen this year. It just seemed like every year we got too caught up in which presents we still had to buy rather than remembering why we were buying them in the first place.
And now that I have finished my projecton silence and solitude I can clearly see that amid all the busy-ness what has been needed is a return to the roots of Christmas. I’ve done my best this season to resist stress and worry, instead opting for a peaceful quiet attitude. Not easy when there are papers due and tests to take. Or when my schedule gets out of hand. Or…(iinsert any reason here)

But deep down I know that a little peace and a little quiet and some time alone to reflect is preparing my heart to receive Gods gift this year. I hope that in the middle of everything going on in your life that you can find some time to escape and reflect.

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