Gift giving

Talked with some guys over Thursday breakfast, and one had an interesting tradition. The adults don't exchange gifts, but they get together to provide gifts for a needy family. The justification is giving gifts between them has become too mechanical with a wishlist and pretty much just shopping for someone else. I like the idea of giving to a needy family for Christmas very much. It seems more like what Christmas should be about. It shouldn't be a chore to buy a gift for everyone on your list. They don't really even need anything, and it is reciprocated anyway, so over all there is no net change.

Tis the Season

Well, it does seem to be a season where things become very busy. This morning I had my quiet time and saw that it had been over a week since I had it. I also thought about how I haven't been doing well with my scripture intake. Anyone else having trouble keeping their priorities straight?

So now I'm going to try and get back to spending time with God and His word. Things have been busy with Christmas parties and also a few times of me being sick which wasn't pleasant.

Hope everyone is having a good time this Christmas season. For some deeper thought, why do we celebrate Christmas or birthdays in general? I haven't researched it much, but it isn't from the Bible that I've seen. Going through the gospels this month looking at the Christmas stories. Read Mark 1 this morning and that is what made me wonder about celebrating Christmas.

True Knowledge

During my time in God's word this morning I read Colossians 3. Specifically what stuck out to me was verse 10, "and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him-- ".

This stuck out because another memory verse is 2 Pet 1:2-4

So now I'm curious, and run a search for "true knowledge" on biblegateway.com

1. Colossians 2:2
   that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself,
   Colossians 2:1-3 (in Context) Colossians 2 (Whole Chapter)
2. Colossians 3:10
   and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him--
   Colossians 3:9-11 (in Context) Colossians 3 (Whole Chapter)
3. 2 Peter 1:3
   seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
   2 Peter 1:2-4 (in Context) 2 Peter 1 (Whole Chapter)
4. 2 Peter 1:8
   For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
   2 Peter 1:7-9 (in Context) 2 Peter 1 (Whole Chapter)

Interesting, so let's try a search of knowledge, this may be a bit long. 153 results found. A couple are from Genesis dealing with the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But over all the Bible seems to be in favor of knowledge. So why is blind faith a term that is associated with Christians? This should not be the case.

On a completely different subject, had a great ride into work this morning. A bit foggy, but over all good. I over dressed for the temperature, but that is just because I'm out of practice I think. I pulled over after the first 2 miles and took off my jacket, I still had a long sleeve base layer with a t-shirt over it.

Hope everyone is having a good day and spending time reading God's word as well as talking with Him.

The Family

Slow Fade by Casting Crowns

I am part of a wonderful family. My dad is there for me, and he taught me to be a man. So what can I do to improve upon what he has given me, and pass it on to my children?

I'm thinking one good thing would be a clear picture. So this would be modeling. I should be the one he wants to be like, not some athlete.

I also need to point them towards Jesus, and a lot of that should be done in modeling too.

I think most important to model is having time. A model needs to be observed. If I model a busy life where I don't spend it with my kids I am just wasting my life.

A Passion for Riding

I don't think I have this. I enjoy riding, and I really don't like driving, so it is a wonderful mode of transportation. But I don't think I really enjoy just getting out and riding by myself. If I went out to ride with friends/family that is different, because I enjoy spending time with them doing whatever.

Now someone with more passion for riding then me is Jason Kearney. I think my desire is more to avoid the car. If I was closer I think I'd prefer to run/walk, but a bike gives me speed. It has other advantages as I think about it. A disadvantage is cost and time. Besides the initial cost of the bike, you need equipment for it, such as a pump. As far as time go you need to maintain the bike. This wouldn't be a big deal if I actually got rid of the car, but with a car and bike, the bike is just another vehicle to take care of. But as I thought about that, if I ran then I would have to take better care of myself, I wouldn't want to damage my knees. With a bike my knees are pretty safe, if the bike fits properly.

I didn't have a lot to say, but felt I should post before it becomes foreign to me. Maybe I just need to ride with others more often to build the passion. My little girl is almost 1, so now I need to get some infant bike helmets and we can go riding as a family.