joy and peace to the world.

Happy Christmas Eve. Tomorrow we will celebrate the crux of Christianity-- God coming to earth. To our earth, into our world. God Emmanuel takes on a new meaning through the coming of this man, as he now has walked in the ways of the world and experienced our same struggles.

This was my second year of celebrating Advent. Though I do not like over-ritualized acts of worship, I do appreciate the longevity of the season. I am now forced to dwell on Christmas for a month instead of just one day. As we focused on hope, joy, love, and peace each week, I tried to thoughtfully dwell on how Christ changes those verbs (?) for the world. Christians must look at joy and love differently than the world, right? How? How do I live this out?

Christ has come to redeem the world. How then shall we live?

These past two weeks have boldly affected my future-- my career, my living situation, and the way I want to live out my Christian faith. As I have repeatedly read through the Proverbs this semester, I have really witnessed Christ as my confidence, as he guides my path and prevents destruction of my own doing. In the midst of learning how to live redemptively, I have been thrown into "real life" at high speeds.

As I have needed to discern good career opportunities, pray for solid housing arrangements, and visit my long-distance community, I am learning what it means to live as Christ in these situations.

Christ has come to save the lost. How then shall we live? Christ has come to help the hurting. How then shall we live?

As I make an official move to Washington DC and start my first job with an ideal organization, I marvel at how perfectly orchestrated all of the arrangements have been. I can't help but think that God has ordained the "big things" of life, and now it is my responsibility to live Christianly in these circumstances. I have worked hard to place myself in the right places to get into the type of job I want, but I never thought something like IJM would come so soon-- I credit that to God. And now he is handing it over and saying "how then shall you live?"

I pray to live thankfully, hospitably, humbly, boldly, kindly.

As we finish the season of Advent, I hope to take the lessons I have learned during this time to my new life. Living in remembrance of the love, hope, joy, and peace of Christ.

Cheers. And Merry Christmas.

my cup overfloweth.

This Thursday I celebrate another American tradition. Today, however, I sit and reflect on something much greater than that: this life of abundance.

I was blessed to visit Midtown this past weekend and participated in a Thanksgiving prayer service. Though we did offer prayers of Thanksgiving as a community, we concentrated on God's faithfulness and prayed for lives of selflessness.

God's faithfulness. Such the stark contrast with our inept ability to live selflessly. Though, during this season in my life, I am most thankful for the people who have given me a glimpse of this enduring and deeply profound attribute of our God.

I celebrate life--new hope and new life given to friends near and far. I am thankful for the ability of my friends and family to grow and thrive in new surroundings and communities.

I celebrate sacrifice, especially as I realize what my family has done to provide stability and love through uncertainty.

I celebrate reunions. Maintaining faraway friendships proves difficult, but looking forward to the simple and sweet reunions bring joy during the mundane.

This season I celebrate energy and diligence. Thank you, Lord, for providing both to myself and others as we diligently try to discern your will.

I celebrate honesty and learning to love and grow in communities near and far.

New opportunities, new personalities, and new glimpses of the Kingdom fill my days. Yes, I am thankful.

Thank you to the dear friends who have challenged me to be more faithful, and who help me celebrate God Emmanuel.

Cheers.

mira!

A couple cool videos from the web.

I love having a little brother. I now know how plays rank on the Buehrle Meter.

Lady Gaga seriously knows what's up. Love this rendition.

An oldie, but Dove's Campaign For Beauty still intrigues me.

This is probably the most popular wedding video on the web right now.

Cheers!

dream it, do it.

I am home. Resting in my own bed, sleeping more than six hours a night, and delighting in streets not crammed with tourists or hotels rampaged by high schoolers.

'Twas a great summer. I met some fantastic people, visited the beach a few times, learned a few things about time management . I think I understand middle school students a little better, can pretty much show you the whale trainer signals, and learned to love Chick-Fil-A.

And now I am home, or, another in-between. Stoked to make the move to the District in less than a month.

In the meantime,

I am addicted to coffee. Especially rich coffee served with these.

Still have a weird thing for bird-inspired art. How about this beautiful bird necklace?

Jill Thomas' photography makes me wish I was cool enough to own a Polaroid Camera.

I can't get over a recent pull toward adoption. Christianity Today's article nailed it.

Beautiful Bookshelves. Yes, please.

Cheers.

kick-butt person of the day: Nancy Birdsall

i want to be her.

Check her out @ http://www.cgdev.org/content/expert/detail/483/

family dynamics.

Our family dynamics are most easily studied through the game of baseball.

Jonathan, the fellow I call my little brother, is now playing on a traveling league. The past 12 years of his life have revolved around the game-- from hitting practice with my dad, to fielding with Nathan and lifting specifically for the sake of bulking his hitting muscles.

More than anything else he pursues and studies, he knows the complete intricacies of baseball. He knows more about the timing of the pitches, more about the discipline of sliding correctly, more about the feel of blisters on his hands from too much practice. He gets it.

So, watching him play is kind of a celebration for the family. We celebrate with his successes, and get even more disappointed when he can't play or fails to get the ball over the shortstop.

Last night, the kid went up to bat, facing a left-handed pitcher. Thrown, the ball hit the dirt, hit the catcher's chest pad, and then in the boy's face. Being the cool and collected player that he is, Jonathan turns to the ump and says (I find out later) "Do you mind if I'm bleeding?" The ump's responds, "Not unless you do."

It was awesome, watching my parents react. My mom does her motherly freak-out, hands in the air, "Oh John, was it his eye? Is he ok? Is he bleeding?" I should note here that the family always sits on the third base line, meaning there was no way we can see if he is indeed bleeding. My dad stands up, almost frustrated, then begins to walk slowly over the fence.

Mom freaks out, dad gets frustrated, and here I am, on the edge of my seat, almost praying, but more so impressed again by the boy's ability to maintain the awesome baseball-player manner. He walks over to the dugout, drinks some water, spits, and then walks back. Blood on home plate, he goes to bat again. Awesome.

Mom continues to freaks out, dad proclaims the situation ok, and I watch another conquered road bump.

class flower: cactus.

- Small town celebrations are quite the experience. Way to go, little brother, for (almost) leading the graduating pack of 2010. He's pretty darned cute, too (http://mountvernonnews.com/local/10/05/29/99-graduate-from-east-knox).

- I miss Midtown. Good call, Christianity Today, for running a fantastic article on the importance of an intentional church community.http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/may/29.43.html

- This was one year ago this week. Red Square, attempting to go to a Synagogue. Sigh, I miss exploring Europe.

And, you're right, the Cactus is NOT a flower. But, the graduates argue differently. Way to go.

top 5.

1. Quote of the week: "He found himself understanding the wearisomeness of this life, where every path was an improvisation and a considerable part of one's waking life was spent watching one's feet." --Ralph, Lord of the Flies

2. Current Fear:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/01/photogalleries/amphibian-pictures/.

3. One of the many reasons birds are so cool: (fast forward to 6:06) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1A3ql9GFYA

4. Maybe the most anticipated part of the summer:

http://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/

5. Pretty cool thoughts from some pretty cool ladies: http://blog.christianitytoday.com/women/

currently...

reading: http://www.themidnightcry.com/s_7.asp?n=13

watching: http://boybrains.com/

listening to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNfWC4Sgkcs (arcade fire, rebellion)

writing: Abolish the Modesty Panel.

this life is absurd.

procrastination.

Cool things:

Still a passion: http://www.bankerswithoutborders.com/

Thanks, Jordan: http://badassoftheweek.com/

Next year: http://www.mapquest.com/maps?1s=VA&1y=US&1l=37.56855&1g=-78.525398&1v=STATE&2c=Waterloo&2s=NY&2y=US&2l=42.904701&2g=-76.863098&2v=CITY#b/maps/m:map:4:40.341759:-79.488278::::::1:1:::::::::/l::::VA::US:37.56855:-78.525398:state::1:::/l:::Philadelphia:PA::US:39.952202:-75.1642:city:Philadelphia+County:1:::/l:::Waterloo:NY::US:42.904701:-76.863098:city::1:::/l:::Cedarville:OH::US:39.744202:-83.808601:city:Greene+County:1:::/io:1:::::f:en_US:M::/bl:/e

Countdown: 12 days.

makes my heart burst.

I am in Yellow Springs at my favorite local coffee shop.

A little girl, probably around the age of 4, and her cousin are here. Making their way through the massive amounts of people, they're throwing and retrieving their recently made paper airplane. She, in a leotard, skirt and tights, and him in cool pajamas and socks, are the most adorable things I've ever seen.

"Come on," she says to Isaac. "Let's play Peter Pan."