Sean's Arrival Date

So, we know for certain that Sean will arrive back home in San Antonio on December 29th.

True, it's not before Christmas, but it is only two weeks away! It could have been February before they sent him home, so this is much better. We're both SO excited that we'll get to see eachother so soon!

BEWARE The Golden Compass

I'm not saying it is bad to question what we choose to watch, read, etc. It just seems to me that sometimes we really make ourselves look like fools when we put up such a fight. On the subject of atheism, author Philip Pullman had this to say on the Today Show...

As for the atheism, it doesn’t matter to me whether people believe in God or not, so I’m not promoting anything of that sort. What I do care about is whether people are cruel or whether they’re kind, whether they act for democracy or for tyranny, whether they believe in open-minded enquiry or in shutting the freedom of thought and expression. Good things have been done in the name of religion, and so have bad things; and both good things and bad things have been done with no religion at all. What I care about is the good, wherever it comes from.

It's a good thing that we Christians are here on earth or there would be nothing good here at all! Sounds ridiculous, no? As I have stated before, the God I love is big enough to use anyone(Christian or athiest)or anything for his purpose. I believe my God is so amazing that he can redeem all good things...even the good things that are done by people who we don't agree with. My God is so amazing that he is in all that is good. All that is good.

Here are some links to a few online articles discussing The Golden Compass in a fair, and level-headed way:
Christianity Today
Novus Lumen
Transformatum

Thoughts of the Season

Sean wanted me to post a few paragraphs from an article he recently read. I feel like this article is so appropriate, not only for the holiday season, but for all throughout the year. . .

It’s important that we recognize God as the ultimate Owner of all things and break out of the myopic mindset that allows us to focus solely on our own needs, wants or obsessions. Sounds pretty simple to me. But not according to some. For those who subscribe to the prosperity gospel, the Bible gives clear evidence of God’s plan to make those He loves truly rich. Like all lies, there’s a hint of truth in it, and precedent has paved the way with the likes of biblical heroes such as Abraham, Joseph and David—great men of God who also found themselves on the receiving end of a swollen bank balance. But if we think their story ends there, we deceive ourselves. If we roll over and give in to the theory that God will reward our faith with financial bounty, we become just another set of narrow-minded, self-obsessed believers. We see relationship with God as the path along which we must travel toward the prize of material reward—not the reward itself.

In Hebrew, the Old Testament uses a few words for the poor: anaw, ani, dal, ebyon, and ras. Between them, they define some fairly specific circumstances, like someone who is wrongfully impoverished or dispossessed; a beggar imploring charity; or a thin, weak, deprived peasant. By the time we get to the New Testament, the main word used for the poor is ptochos, meaning someone who is completely destitute and must take help from others. Ptochos is the Greek equivalent of ani or dal, which allows us to say that the main definition of the poor throughout Scripture relates to being of low economic status, usually due to some form of disaster or oppression. So if not having money is a concern to God, doesn’t logic dictate that those under His care should have it in abundance? Unfortunately, His plans are a tad more radical than this idea of rich Christians and poor heathens.

For more of this article visit this link: The Consequences of Prosperity

Christmas Apart

This is a first for us. Our first Christmas in 10 years decorating and celebrating apart. Danielle sent me a handfull of pics of her decorating our apartment back in San Antonio with Cooper the dog and Cali the cat. That's not the only thing she sent me. I recieved a surprise via snail mail. Inside a fairly large box I was shocked to find a complete "Christmas Decorating Party In A Box". Also included were a few items from the girls in our apartment office back home. Thanks ladies.

Enjoy!

Good News!

It's official! We're moving to Maryland!!

The Air Force graduate edcuation board selected to
sponsor Sean to attend the Uniformed Services
University of Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland
for his program of study in Nursing Anesthesia. The
program starts on June 1, so we will be moving
sometime in May.

We're so excited for this opportunity, both for Sean's
continued education, and for a new experience in a
different part of the country.

Also, for those of you who don't already know. Sean
will be home from Iraq by the end of December,
possibly by Christmas!