Pigeons

This week's Bible reflection from Luke 2:22-40 (New baby visit etiquette) provides good beginning advice in a year-beginning sermon for New Year's Day at Union Congregational United Church of Christ in Somonauk, IL.
"Pigeons" text
"Pigeons" podcast

New Year's Resolutions 2009

Here we go!  This list looks pretty similar to last year's -- today I'm feeling persistent and determined.  

I’m going lose weight – and keep it off.  25 pounds to start

Better eating habits, more exercise and a pledge to fit into my 36 inch waist jeans!

I’m going to finish the editing and artwork to have “Gross Theology” ready for publication

I’ll start right after getting home from vacation.

I’m going finish recording the song, “No More Trying” with members of my family and some of their friends.

Never got finished with this one last year – so I’ll do it this year

I’m going to record and release “The Man with the Guitar” Christmas songs record.  

This one never got rolling last year, so now I’m planning a November 1, 2009 release

I'll report on these at the end of the year!

Up to 11 - New Year's Resolutions 2008

No -- I don't have eleven of them. I just didn't get to writing these down until today, the 11th. Here are my New Year's Resolutions for 2008:

I’m going to lose 32 pounds

How? nothing magical – I plan to eat healthy, (but less) be active and keep track of my progress, I’ve just begun this one and I’m down 2.5 pounds. I guess that means now I have just 29.5 to go!

I’m going to produce the opening sequences, closing credits and 7 episodes of "The Man with the Guitar" video series.

This has been a slow-moving project – but I have been able to move ahead a little in the past few weeks. I plan now to release the first episode in March, 2008

I’m gong to record the new song, "No More Trying" with members of my family and some of their friends.

I wrote it last year but never got to laying down the music tracks or recording vocals. This one is scheduled to be complete by April.

I’m going to record and release "The Man with the Guitar" Christmas songs record.

I plan to have this ready for a November 1, 2008 release.

I'll check in on these at the end of the year!

On the ninth day

I got around to making my New Year's resolutions!

Here they are:

I resolve to get better connected with my (growing up too fast) children.

• I want to have more conversations with and more time spent with my children this year. I have to be intentional about it for it to really happen --so this in not only a resolution, but a pledge.
  

I resolve to read more books.

• I read a few last year, but I know I can read more! I've set a goal of at least a dozen this year (Way more than I've read in the past -- way less than a lot of you read)

I resolve to preach more.

• This one isn't really fair to say. I start as pastor at Union Congregational Church on February 5 -- so this one is definitley going to happen.
  

I resolve to get a new (to me) car.

• My 1990 Lumina APV is older than my oldest child.
  

I resolve to produce the first (and more) episodes of 'The Man with the Guitar' video series.

• Last year I recorded a record (on CD and available for digital download from most of the major online music stores) and I also recorded the theme song for the show. I'd like to get at least 4 short episodes done in 2007.

At the beginning of 2008 I'll check these again.

6 days late

I didn't do much blogging in the last quarter (OK -- the last half -- or was it the first half of the new fiscal year?) of last year. Sometimes this is fun -- other times it feels tedious. When it feels tedious, I don't write.

With that in mind -- here are some resolutions for 2006.

(I realize that resolutions can happen anytime and the milestone of a new year seems like a sorry excuse to decide to do something that I've put off too long, but I'm such a "stick with the fads" person, so here goes!)

I'm gonna write more
(Maybe some blogging, maybe some magazine articles, maybe finish a book project I've had for awhile . . . I'll be non-committal in my commitment)

I'm gonna record some children's songs -- and maybe even some other songs.
(I don't mean off of CD's or off the radio, I mean songs that I wrote or songs that are in the public domain. If I record enough of them, I think I'll make a record)

I'm gonna rest
(I'm planning a 6-week sabbatical during Lent. It's kind of funny -- a pastor giving up church for Lent)

I'm gonna lose weight and get in shape
(I've heard that before. I've even done it. It's hard to be consistent with a boring, healthy lifestyle.)

I'm gonna give more to charity.
(Here are some of my favorites: Church World Service, The United Church of Christ, Sojourners, Scouting for All, St. Matthew UCC)

I may add to this list . . .