With Thanksgiving less than 24 hours away, it got me thinking about the holiday lineup of games that will be made viewable to myself.  It got me thinking about which of the next three holidays has the best slate of games, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Day.  It’s a valid question indeed.

Lets start with Thanksgiving.  As we all know, Thanksgiving is always known for their NFL games and turkey legs.  This year’s lineup is very questionable though.  Detroit always plays a home game, which in itself makes it less than exciting, the Lions host the Green Bay Packers.  Then Oakland travels to Dallas for the Cowboys annual turkey day game.  I know Cowboy fans are excited about this (Jesse) but not so much for me.  The final NFL game of Thanksgiving day features the New York Giants traveling to the struggling Broncos.  To me this is the game with the most intrigue.  Thanksgiving also has two NBA games scheduled, and both are good games.  Orlando Magic at the Atlanta Hawks then the Chicago Bulls at the Utah Jazz.

Next lets focus in on Christmas day.  Christmas day is all about the NBA, and the NBA on ABC.  Five games are scheduled and all are on either ABC or ESPN.  The Quartet of games is headlined by Lebron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers traveling to play Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.  The other headline game is a big Eastern Conference game between the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics.  Other games include the Heat vs the Knicks, the Clippers battling the Suns, and the Nuggets playing the Blazers.  One NFL game is scheduled for Christmas day, the Chargers travel to the Titans, and the game can be found on the NFL Network.

Finally lets look at the games on New Year’s Day.  College football is well known for hogging up the television time when the new year hits.  The biggest two bowl games on New Year’s Day include the BCS Rose Bowl and BCS Sugar Bowl.  Teams are still being determined. Other bowl games include the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl, the Capitol One Bowl, and the Outback Bowl.  One NBA game is being televised nationally, and that game features the New York Knicks playing at the Atlanta Hawks on NBA TV.

So looking at those three days, to me it’s really not even a toss up to which day of games I am looking forward to the most.  I am extremely partial to the NBA and basketball, so I am very excited about Christmas day and that Lebron Kobe game, but that’s not the best day of this bunch. Nothing beats the college football bowl season, and with two BCS games on the dial, it gets even better.  The Rose Bowl looks like it might be a Ohio St. Oregon matchup that would be a really great game.  The Sugar Bowl with include either Florida or Alabama (loser of SEC title game) and most likely Cincinnati.  I won’t be tuning into that NBA game but New Year’s Day gets my award for having the best day for sports viewing.

Bob Stane, who everyone knows from all the great music he produces at the Coffee Gallery Backstage and the comedy he set loose at the Ice House for years, is making more than anyone else could out of his “fork in the road” on S. Pasadena Ave. I’m heading there today for a photo myself to catch all the action. Just read on and be amazed. Then give him a hand with food and decor!

Bob Stane Says:  Today, we have two sermons in one.  Double your pleasure, double your fun.
Both have the subtle thread of volunteerism running through them.  Oh, Bob, you have started your novel.  No Chuckie and Chuckette,
I have not.  Wait for it.   Here is the fun part.  As you know, we scored big with THE FORK.  It ran on TV all over the country and was featured in The Chicago Tribune, with color photo.  (Internet Version).  Also The Los Angeles Times featured us with a half page as
did The San Gabriel Tribune.  It went on and on and is still a “happening” event. The door is only slightly ajar. The demons are peeking around the corner.
The conquest of the media world is only a greedy grasp away.  I can almost taste the heady essence of complete power.
Of course with absolute power comes absolute corruption.  Well, I can’t be perfect.  Stay with me on this one.
We are starting The Fork In The Road Gang with everything that goes along with belonging to, and  flaunting,  a snooty and exclusive  organization.  A fraternity  that is much too good for such as I.  But that will be worked out.
You, however, are invited to join.  Can you feel that warm tingle go up and down your spine?  Delicious.
Read the copy about the food drive.  There is a lot more opportunity for future glory in this than you might think.  Then go down to the next item of forkiness  and absorb the hint of evil that goes with ongoing holidays and Pasadena events.        Oh, yes, yes, yes.

 
THE FOOD DRIVE:  (Good deeds, etc. The Holidays are here)
“Put The Fork In Hunger”  food drive to benefit Union Station Homeless Services.  Largest Food Drive Ever!
 
This Saturday and Sunday from 8 to 4 P.M.  Bob Stane, Ken Marshall (The Coffee Gallery Backstage) and Philip Coombes(AgentPhil.com) will be launching Pasadena’s largest food drive ever! benefiting Union Station Homeless services.  Union Station Homeless Services  will be feeding more than 5,000 people in the park on Thanksgiving Day and any non-perishables you can drop off at the fork this weekend will be greatly appreciated and much needed.
The food drive will be taking place at The infamous “Fork” located at the “fork in the road” where St. John and Pasadena Ave. meet. (or divide depending if your cup is half full or half empty) This is just South of Huntington Hospital and Bellfontaine.  (From now on, this piece of dirt is dubbed, “Fork  Plaza”). Please look for the volunteers wearing bright Orange shirts.  Simply go slow, roll down your window and give your non-perishable food items to the volunteers with outreach bags.

We are also looking for volunteers (anyone? anyone?) to help on both days of the event, Hint:  students  looking for  service hours.  For further information or to volunteer, please contact Philip Coombes at Phil@AgentPhil.com or call 626 644-3227.  (do not call Bob Stane, phone or e mail Phil.). Adults welcomed and needed. Call now.
Easiest route is from Arroyo (Pasadena Freeway).  Go west on Glen Arm.  Go north on Pasadena Ave.  Admire fork. Volunteer or drop off food.  Go around the corner, park, and gaze. Think about the audacity and the work and imagination that went into this stunt. Now your appetite is whetted.  You are doomed.  However, if Glenda, The Good Witch shows up you may get away with it.
Mapquest. Type in 866 N. Pasadena Ave. Pasadena, CA.  The Fork lives to the left of this address.
=======================================================================================================

What’s next, Bob. Exploit me, take full advantage.  “See World Conquest.”
The Fork In The Road, at Fork Plaza, has only started to infect the community.  So much potential  mischief, so little time.
Get this insight.  “The Fork and Fork Plaza” are new players on the Pasadena scene.  New and shiny. Just right for seasonal exploitation.
The television cameras are waiting for the close up, CB.
We need a Santa hat for the top of the fork.  There will be lights (we hope).  Other wonderful decorations and “inspired” things might happen or appear. The top of the fork is 24 inches wide.  Just right for some sewing genius who can make a hat or ?  A craft project or do you have a huge Santa hat in your garage?  Ideas welcomed.  Ken will install, do not
climb any ladders.
All right, Bob, what do you really want to do?  Spill your guts.  O. K., you got it out of me.  What I really want is to get The Fork featured in The New Year’s Day parade television coverage and as a feature, on TV, during the football game, January 1, both.  That will require ideas.  And a crown on the top if the fork.  See “crafts.”  Want to see your work on TV?  Sure you do.
Now, Bob, how are you going to get it on TV on New Year’s Day? Answer: Remember, The Fork is a new player and the TV commentators have about worn out anything else that might be spectacular in Pasadena.  That leaves The Fork and my festering imagination to supply (safe and sane) visuals.  The Rose Court?  Maybe.  The Cheer leaders of both football teams?  Dancers? Perhaps.
Actually, there is much more but I cannot tell you as I need to reserve much of the ideas to seduce the TV channels.  I have great visuals in store. Can’t give it away. So cool.  You will be proud of me.
Hint:  I may need someone to craft a large pie.  Envision a round wash tub (tin/zinc) cut down (shortened) to pie size.  Then a pie crust (made of?).     Oh, yes, a pie.  That warm tingle is, again, going up the spine.  You will think of better things than I.
Now you can contact Bob Stane.  Think outside the pie:  bstane@earthlink.net
This is going to be good.  (or as Terry Southern wrote of Guy Grand’s escapades in his book “The Magic Christian,” “it cost him a pretty penny to get out of that one.”).

Today’s factoid will again be building off the revelation of my former days of cutting the movie ads out of the newspaper and plastering them across my wall.

If a studio indulged me with several full-page color ads, I often devoted an entire door to a certain movie.  I remember having “Shrek 2″ and “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” doors in the summer of 2004.  The “Shrek” door was even complete with a themed 12-month calendar that was thrown in the Houston Chronicle on New Year’s Day.

The Pulses Festival will take place on January 3rd of next year in Gagliano Castelferrato, in the province of Enna.

For those who are going to celebrate the New Year’s Day in a Sicily hotel or in any other accommodation facilities, this is a very good occasion also to spend a good time also in the following days.

This festival, which is dedicated to the tastes and the typical local products of Sicily, will celebrate three kinds of pulses (chickpeas, lentils and beans), traditionally cooked with pigskin in big saucepans called “quadaruni”.

For this festival great quantities of pulses are eaten so a huge organizational effort is needed and numerous people are involved.

Besides pulses, other typical Sicilian products can be tasted, such as white cassatelle with almonds, gnucchitti of cooked wine produced from prickly pear juice, porchetta, cold meats and salami, oil and jams.

New Years Day is an American rock band formed in 2005 in Anaheim, California.  The band was compiled after bassist Adam Lohrbach left his original band, HomeGrown  and met vocalist Ashley Costello and guitarist/keyboardist Keith Drover.  The three began rehearsing songs with lyrics that were heavily influenced by the members’ shared emotional experiences.  Lohrbach and Costello had both recently been though difficult break-ups and arranged their sound and lyrics around their situations.  The group soon added guitarist Mike Schodden  (formerly of Wakefield) and Drummer Russel Dixon and took the name New Years Day. 

The band primarily used the social networking website MySpace to promote themselves and due to their popularity they landed a spot on The MySpace Records Volume 1 CD. 

They were signed under TVT records, after declining an offer from Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy’s Decaydence Records Label. 

The band released first self-financed and self-produced debut album entitled “My Dear” in May 2007 featuring collaborations with Reel Big Fish and Motion City Soundtrack. 

Tracks on “My Dear” would serve as the perfect remedy for anyone dealing with a tough situation involving a lover.  The lyrics are easily identifiable and it is an easy listen from start to finish.  New Years Day  is one of the better female-fronted bands in this genre. 

Ashley Costello's "emo princess" stature has magnetted girls to her style.

This is their first video for their single:  “Ready, Aim, Misfire.“  This video won an award on the  MTVU “Freshman Face” poll and was added to the channel’s playlist.

A lot of my friends can’t believe that the day after Halloween all of the pumpkins and skeletons have instantly transformed into turkey posters and Christmas balls. But I absolutely love it.

There is nothing better than walking through the streets (or the sidewalk in front of your dorm) bundled up in a cashmere scarf past Christmas lights twinkling on railings and storefronts. After spotting wreaths hanging from lampposts in my ‘hood I spent my weekend sipping hot cocoa, flipping through the holiday edition of my favorite mags and watching Thanksgiving inspired recipes on the Food Network. It was my very own glorious holiday bubble.

And then, like that, it burst.

I opened my computer to find an email from my friend trying to figure out our plans for New Years Eve. Which is nearly 7 weeks away. SEVEN! New Years?! You mean the celebration that is on December 31st?! Is she for real?

First of all, there are two very important holidays between now and NYE. Neither of which I have planned, and both that I love more than any other. Why rush the most glorious time of year? When New Years Day rolls around you are only left with nothing but a massive hangover and memories of a holiday season passed. New Year’s marks the end of the holidays and sends you packing up your suitcase and heading back to school for a new semester of essays and homework and stress. The decorations vanish, the cheer disintegrates and you’re left with nothing but dread for the next holiday: Valentine’s Day.

But that’s not even my biggest issue.

I don’t even know what I’m going to do tonight let alone 7 weeks from now. And why spend so much time planning a night that will inevitably end up sucking? Let’s be honest: NYE is often a bust and it’s only more of a letdown when you make grand plans months in advance. You build the whole fantastic plan up in your head only to find that there are no cute boys to kiss at the party and the champagne runs out at 11.

Plus, some of the best parties and New Years activities pop up in the weeks before the day, which you have to decline since you’ve already promised a friend of a friend of a friend that you’d attend the gathering in her parents’ basement. Awesome.

Ugh. Why doesn’t everyone put the NYE planning on hold and revel in the prolonged holidays? The Thanksgiving break where you spend 5 days straight in your PJ’s eating turkey and stuffing sandwiches; and the Christmas break where you have three glorious weeks of shopping for gifts, catching up with your high school friends over latte’s at Starbucks (or shots at the bar), and having a tree glimmering in your front window.

2009 isn’t over yet, so leave me alone and let me enjoy it.
We’ll discuss NYE at a more appropriate time… like mid-December.

Photograph – Jamie Cullum

Photograph by Jamie Cullum

Her name was written on the photograph,
right next to her red, sunburnt face,
it all had happened in that long tall grass,
about a mile from her old place,
I can’t remember how it started and if it lasted that day in the sun.

We said that we were going to study hard,
we held our books instead of hands,
she held a blanket over cans of beer,
I can’t deny I was so full of fear.

It’s just another story caught up in another photograph I found.
and it seems like another person lived that life a great many years ago from now,

When I look back on my ordinary, ordinary life,
I see so much magic, though I missed it at the time.
when I look back on my ordinary, ordinary life,
I see so much magic, though I missed it at the time.

And there’s the first time that I tried that stuff,
I think I look a little green,
I remember throwing up behind a bush,
and I found it hard to use my feet,
and who’s that easily led little boy who’s really off his head?

It was the same night that I kissed that girl,
the tall one with the auburn hair,
I remember laughing coz to kiss me,
she had to sit down on a chair!
she tasted like the schnapps she’d drunk,
and the cigarette she’d stolen from her mum.

And it’s just another story caught up in another photograph I found.

When I look back on my ordinary, ordinary life,
I see so much magic, though I missed it at the time.
When I look back on my ordinary, ordinary life,
I see so much magic, though I missed it at the time.

When I look back on my ordinary, ordinary life,
I see so much magic, though I missed it at the time.

I’m getting a haircut on Saturday. Yay! Having shorty-short hair again will make the whole working-out-on-my-lunch-break thing so much easier. One less thing to worry about in my scramble to get back to the office on time!

In other lunchtime workout news, today’s was a Tired Workout. That’s the kind where you really have to mentally prod yourself to put in your allotted time. I was on the elliptical, doing my thing and listening to my music (a tasteful potpourri of Cameo, Cut Copy, and Prince), but I didn’t feel into it. That’s okay, I cranked out my 30 minutes and that’s another 270 calories burned.

Sometimes I need to remind myself: You don’t have to be into it all the time, every day; you just have to do it.

I’m looking forward to the holidays. It’s weird because I went through quite a grinch phase for a good number of years. But now I’m quietly happily brewing holiday thoughts. Maybe it’s because I finally have a small dog to torment with Santa outfits and other alarming couture this year—bwahahaha!

I am trying not to get obsessive about losing X amount of weight by X date, but I had mentally set a mini-goal to get down to 175 lbs by New Year’s Day. I could still make that happen, but last week’s 1-lb loss (as opposed to 2 lbs or even 1.5 lbs) was a little smaller than I will need most weeks to beat that challenge successfully.

Even if my weight isn’t quite down to 175 lbs on New Year’s Day, I can’t wait to start 2010 having left the uncertain 180s behind! It’s just this thing I have, see.

How are you doing? Do you have any official or unofficial goals to accomplish during this last part of 2009?

New Year’s Day, Katherine is still at Sybil’s house, who is her best friend (Erica’s cousin). The three had spent the night enjoying the New Year’s with a fondue party, where Michael and Katherine met for the first time.

Katherine is in the kitchen, enjoying a breakfast bun. However, she very purposefully removes each raisin from the bun with the utmost care and patience before ingesting any of it.

Discarded Raisins

 It is at this moment that Michael rings the doorbell, and as he let in,  he walks into the kitchen and says hello to Katherine. He then proceeds on to the basement to collect some of the C.D.’s he left the night before. Katherine joins him as she takes hers as well, and the two have their first date when he asks her to hang out for a while. They take his car to a path near the hospital, and cuddle up to one another as they walk in the snow and talk with one another.

This scene in the kitchen is a plant. Michael had just met Katherine, but the raisins picked out of the bun and piled up on the side of the plate became an ingrained fixture in his memory of her. Months later, the two are very serious, and taking a trip together with Michael’s sister and her husband to go skiing.

Michael makes Katherine breakfast, and passes her the plate, adding,

 “No raisins.”

Katherine is completely taken aback by this gesture, and Michael reminds her…

“New Year’s Day…remember?”

It is at this point that the payoff is executed. The seemingly insignificant motion that Katherine made of picking out raisins, has suddenly attained a lot of meaning-it depicts Michael’s love and adoration for Katherine, in that he recalls such a little thing, and indulges it for her happiness.

1/17/89

Dear Journal,

I went to Pennsilvania and it was fun. There was a boy my age there named Wallace who gave me a tape. Tiffany.

Tomorrow night I am going to sleep over Rose’s and stay at her house for Thursday and Friday. I am not really mad at Rose but we get along pretty well.

Today we are going on a trip to prospect park. I am going to be partners with Nisa and Jessica.

I am glad things are working out well for me.

Art by DoA

I still remember that cassette, covered with green and blue marker squiggles to the point where you could barely make out the song titles. That weekend, I played that Tiffany tape so many times, I think by the end of my stay Wallace was happy for me to take it off his hands. I wouldn’t be surprised if to this day he shudders every time he hears “I Think We’re Alone Now.”

There have been numerous pop culture debates over the years. Coke vs Pepsi. PC vs Mac. In terms of music there’s been The Beatles vs The Rolling Stones and Blur vs Oasis. In the late 1980s there was a media imposed rivalry among two teen pop sensations: Debbie Gibson vs Tiffany.

Back then, numerous teenybopper magazines had charts comparing the blonde from Long Island and the redhead who got her start singing in shopping malls. As if we had to choose. While I discovered Debbie Gibson first, I wore out my copy of Out of the Blue and was thrilled to find another singer in the same vein. Back then, my main source for discovering music was Casey’s Top 40, which could be tedious considering all the commercials, the hit songs I wasn’t crazy about, and all those request letters Casey Kasem read on the air. Being handed a tape that contained songs I instantly loved was like magic.

While I have a tendency to be pretty damn gullible, I saw the Debbie Gibson versus Tiffany debate for the marketing ploy that it was. Why did one have to be better than the other? Why did we have to choose between them? Yes, Gibson wrote her own songs and had more Top 10 hits, but Tiffany had a bit of an edgy rasp to her voice and wasn’t afraid to sing her guts out to make “Could’ve Been” the heart-wrenching ballad that it was. Tiffany also gets bonus points for doing a cover of U2’s “New Year’s Day” with Front Line Assembly in the late 199o’s.

In the end, Debbie Gibson may have had more career longevity, but both she and Tiffany have a special place in my childhood and musical history. So let’s call it a tie.

Today is September 1. Here in the Philippines, as early as September 1, most Filipinos think of Christmas.

Some radio stations play Christmas song. Some business establishments, including department stores and supermarkets do play Christmas songs. Some people think what gifts they give to other people. Some people think what food to be served during the Christmas Eve, especially during the Christmas Day itself.

There are times that the leftover food from Christmas, are eaten during the New Year’s Eve. And if there are still leftovers, it will be it during the New Year’s Day. Sometimes, the leftovers are eaten, after New Year’s Day.

Well, these are some of the practices here in the Philippines.

Today is September 1. Here in the Philippines, as early as September 1, most Filipinos think of Christmas.

Some radio stations play Christmas song. Some business establishments, including department stores and supermarkets do play Christmas songs. Some people think what gifts they give to other people. Some people think what food to be served during the Christmas Eve, especially during the Christmas Day itself.

There are times that the leftover food from Christmas, are eaten during the New Year’s Eve. And if there are still leftovers, it will be it during the New Year’s Day. Sometimes, the leftovers are eaten, after New Year’s Day.

Well, these are some of the practices here in the Philippines.

Romans 7:21-25

Description – Communion Meditation for January 1, 2006

Well, it’s New Years Day 2006. Isn’t it hard to believe that six years have now passed since we welcomed the year 2000 and wondered if our computer systems were going to crash because of Y2K? But here we are, by God’s grace and love, entering another new year.

What kind of a year do you want 2006 to be for you? What kind of a year do you want 2006 to be for your family and friends? What kind of a year do you want it to be for your church?

A year ago, we began 2005 with a series on experiencing spiritual breakthroughs and I trust that you had some important spiritual breakthroughs in your life this past year. Not because I did a sermon series but because you sought God and can now look back and see progress and growth and change that has come from the Lord.

This year we begin our time together with a series that I pray will truly help each one of us grow in our faith and relationship with the Lord and in our relationships with others as well as with ourselves.

It is a Bible based (and I want to make that clear upfront) series using the 12 Steps, developed by Alcoholics Anonymous, as a set of guides for dealing with the ‘ruts’ in our lives. I am calling the series, ’12 Steps to a Better Life.’ Now (and I will remind us again next week) this is not a series about addiction to any one thing, but about how the pain, frustration, and powerlessness in those ‘ruts’ we all deal with from time to time can be dealt with through the power of God in our lives.

This morning, however, I want to prepare us for communion by reviewing our main text, which will also be a part of next week’s sermon. But first, some interesting items related to New Year’s resolutions.

Kimberly and Albrecht Powell recently listed the following top ten New Year’s resolutions on the website about.pittsburgh.com. (Overhead 1)

Spend More Time with Family & Friends

Fit in Fitness

Tame the Bulge

Quit Smoking

Enjoy Life More

Quit Drinking

Get Out of Debt

Learn Something New

Help Others

Get Organized

Then at the website, goalsguy.com (I’m serious! There is a website by that name!) there is this list of the following New Year’s Resolutions: (Overhead 2)

1. Lose weight

2. Stop smoking

3. Stick to a budget

4. Save or earn more money

5. Find a better job

6. Become more organized

7. Exercise more

8. Be more patient at work/with others

9. Eat better

10. Become a better person

Did you notice some similarities between the two lists?

Heath issues are present on both – weight loss, giving up smoking, etc.

Financial issues as well – debt reduction, budgeting one’s money

Personal enrichment also appears on both lists – become a better person, be more patient, help others, and learn something new.

These are great goals for 2006. In achieving them life can be better! Ah, the work of achievement – now there’s a challenge to our resolutions and the resolve to achieve our resolutions. I also found out some interesting things on the web about the resolve to achieve our New Year’s resolutions.

On the American Psychological Association website, an article by Sadie Dingfelder, in the January 2004 issue of the APA publication, Monitor, addresses the work of Dr. John Norcross from the University of Scranton, regarding the issue of what people do to successfully achieve New Year’s Resolutions and here are a few excerpts from the article of Norcross’ findings:

(I have to read the opening paragraph, first) ‘Lose weight, quit smoking and exercise regularly–these are America’s top three New Year’s resolutions, accounting for nearly three-fourths of the goals adults undertake Jan. 1, according to University of Scranton psychology professor John Norcross, PhD. “However, ‘Get along with my mother-in-law’ comes up more often than you would expect,” he muses.’

The study goes onto say, ‘While type of resolution, age and gender did not predict success, the successful resolution-makers employed strategies such as stimulus control–for example, avoiding a smoky bar after resolving to quit smoking–and reinforcement, or behaviorally contingent rewards. Unsuccessful participants tended to use what Norcross terms “consciousness-raising strategies.” Some, for example, might have taped pictures of tar-blackened lungs to their office walls in an effort to kick the smoking habit. Additionally, Norcross found that self-efficacy, or the belief that one can effect and maintain change, also predicted resolution success.

So what have you resolved to do differently this year? Is it an achievable goal? Does it deal with character issues? Does it deal with spiritual issues?

Our main text for this morning may seem at first glance a downer of a text for New Year’s Day, but the human condition is the same this year as it was at 11:59:59 last night.

We need to remember that Paul wrote a great deal of what we now call the New Testament. We also need to remember that his missionary work brought the good news of Jesus Christ to places that took it to other places, that took it other places, and on and on to us.

So, here is the leader of the Christian faith bearing his soul to the believers in Rome that he struggles with sin and the power of sin in his life. We should be encouraged and challenged, not discouraged, by his honesty because it is this kind of honesty that can, and has, produced tremendous change in our lives (and the lives of others) as we have allowed God’s power to work in us.

The sin that Paul speaks of is both a particular act as well as an attitude that we constantly do battle with. We may not call it ‘sin.’ We may call it a ‘problem,’ or ‘a personality quirk,’ or a ‘vice.’ But it whatever we call it, there are these ‘ruts’ we face in life that give us problems – in our work, in our relationships, and in ourselves.

Now Paul is not specific about his ‘ruts.’ But, in the context of this passage, we see that he is addressing the issue of the religious law that had been an important part of his life. This law included parts of what we now call the Old Testament that included the Ten Commandments. This law dealt with both your relationship with God and your relationship with people.

Let’s hear the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20: (Overhead 3)

Do not worship any other gods besides me.

Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish.

Do not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

Honor your father and mother.

Do not murder.

Do not commit adultery.

Do not steal.

Do not testify falsely against your neighbor.

Do not covet your neighbor’s house. Do not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else your neighbor owns.

Talk about some New Year’s Resolutions! Here are some great (and yes, challenging ones) for us to resolve to do this year!

And talk about some of the ‘ruts’ we find ourselves in when these important commandments are not kept! Whoa!

Do your resolutions for 2006 include some important, and even eternal, ones that are about faith and God? Do they address the ‘ruts’ that you find yourself in? ‘Ruts’ that find you looking up for help and not just answers to?

That is why we are going to have this opening series for 2006 because I believe that God wants to help us get out of our ruts and live the life that He has created us to live. A life that is possible because of communion that celebrates and remembers in the great affirmation of faith and confidence in the Lord that Paul shares in our text for this morning:

Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

As we begin 2006, we do not know what lies ahead. We take this year, as we did 2005, one day at a time. Let’s take it one day at a time with the Lord beside us and within us. I can think of no greater way to begin a new year than with a time of confession to, communion with, and resolution to the Lord. Bring your ‘ruts’ and bring yourself to the Lord this morning. He wants both and wants to change both. That’s His New Year’s Resolution. That’s His eternal resolution. Amen.

Sources:

http://pittsburgh.about.com/

www.apa.org/monitor/jan04/solutions.html

Scripture Passage- John 17:9-11

Description – 2006 New Year’s Eve Sermon and Communion Meditation

(Slide 1) Well, this is the time of the year when many people decide to make and carry out resolutions for the New Year. Have you come up with one or two that you want to accomplish? I thought about some like, ‘doing a better job of picking up after myself at home,’ or ‘eating less chocolate,’ or ‘playing less Flight Simulator,’ or… but I know myself too well (and so does Susan).

At the website, poemsofquotes.com, I came across some very interesting (and printable) thoughts about New Year’s Eve, New Year’s and New Year’s resolutions.

Bill Vaughn was quoted as saying, “Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up late on New Year’s Eve. Middle age is when you’re forced to.” He also said, ‘An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.’ Finally, someone named anonymous said, “A New Year’s resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other.”

I also encountered in my web search, the website qotquestions.org which had a web page that asked the question, ‘What sort of New Year’s Resolution should a Christian Make?’ (Slide 2) Then, in an article about New Year’s resolutions published almost two years ago, Rob Moll wrote, “New Year’s Day, as we know it on January 1, was only adopted in 1752. At that time, Puritans eschewed New Year’s celebrations. Rather, they encouraged their children to meditate on the year past and the one to come.” That probably seems foreign to our ears but I think that Communion is always a perfect time for personal reflection especially at the end of the year.

This morning we are going to take some time for a few moments in reflection and prayer. In your bulletins you will find a blank half-sheet of paper. In a moment, I am going to give you a series of questions to respond to that only you and the Lord will know the answer to as no one will be asked to share their answers.

(Now, some of you may wish to use the right side of your brain and draw some pictures in response to the questions. That’s fine… I think that we have crayons up front.)

As we spend time in reflection… let’s do so by beginning with prayer…

(Slide 3) Now here are some questions for your reflection, I will pause between each slide and allow you some time to respond…

(Slide 3a)

1. What has been the highpoint of your life this year?
2. What has been your greatest challenge or disappointment this past year?

(Slide 4)

1. What verse/passage of scripture has been the most helpful to you?
2. What verse/passage of scripture has challenged you?

(Slide 5)

1. Which of your relationships has grown the most this year?
2. Which of your relationships needs some work?

(Slide 6)

1. In what area(s) has your faith in and relationship with Christ grown this past year?
2. In what area(s) would you like to see your faith in and relationship with Christ grow this next year?

That half-sheet is for your reflection and safe-keeping. Let me share with you a response to that question, ‘What sort of New Year’s Resolution should a Christian Make?’ at qotquestions.org

“So, what sort of New Year’s Resolution should a Christian make? I cannot answer that question for you. My advice to you is this: (1) Pray to the Lord for wisdom (James 1:5) in regards to what resolutions, if any, He would have you make; (2) Pray for wisdom as to how to fulfill the goals God gives you; (3) Rely on God’s strength to help you; (4) Find an accountability partner who will help you and encourage you; (5) Don’t become discouraged with occasional failures, instead allow them to motivate you further; (6) Don’t become proud or vain, but give God the glory. Psalm 37:5-6, “Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.”

As we move closer to communion this morning, I want to have us turn to John 17 for a few moments and consider what is traditionally called ‘Jesus’ high priestly prayer,’ as Jesus’ resolution for the disciples and us who follow them in faith’s footsteps. We begin at verse 9.

(Slide 7)

My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. And all of them, since they are mine, belong to you; and you have given them back to me, so they are my glory!

(Slide

Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and care for them—all those you have given me—so that they will be united just as we are.

(Slide 9)

Now down to verse 20, “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony.  My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father—that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.

In Jesus’ final moments of freedom before He is arrested and crucified, John records a very personal scene between Jesus and the remaining disciples (Judas has gone to betray Jesus) and we read Jesus’ words to the disciples and the prayer that He prays to God the Father in the disciple’s presence.

What we hear Jesus pray for and what we hear Jesus tell the disciples centers around the Godly resolution or desire to obey, love, and be in unity. Jesus knows what they will face – the same things that He has faced. Some will die at the hands of others and some will die of natural causes or old age.

But they will face the beatings and the mockery and rejection because of the message that they give and the One whom they represent. So Jesus prays for their unity so that others (you and me) will believe and follow.

In other words, I think that we can safely say that Jesus’ resolution for the remaining eleven and those who will believe their message of forgiveness can be simply stated as a resolution (Slide 10) that ‘they not give up’ but they remain faithful to Christ and one another. In fact, Matthew concludes his gospel account with Jesus saying, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

As we take communion together on this final day of 2006 and on the threshold of 2007, I want us to remember and believe, believe with all of our heart that God has not given up on us and that through the power of the Holy Spirit we can resist the temptation to give up on the faith in and relationship with Jesus Christ. His promise of being with us, and the announcement of the Holy Spirit’s coming to help us, is just as true and real at the end of this year as it was when Jesus uttered these words. (Slide 11) I challenge us to make our core resolution for 2007, ‘following and loving the Lord with all of our heart, mind, soul body and strength and our neighbor as our self.’ Amen

(Slide 12) Let us prepare for communion.

Sources:

New Year’s funny quotes sources are cited in the text.

Moll quote is from the article “Put Christ Back in New Year’s Resolution.’ It can be found at http://lists.christianitytoday.com/t/5517032/4803013/124428/0/

New Years Day…Aug, 12. 2009

Most of us use Jan. 1st as a starting point to begin a workout regimen, begin new eating habits, stop smoking, get organized, get out of debt, you name it…

What’s so magical about January 1st that we assume anything we commit to on that date will change our life or habits? I read that approximately 92% of New Year’s resolutions have fallen by the wayside within 90 days. I applaud the 8% who stick to it.

Every day is New Years Day. Today is August 12, 2009 and it’s the only August 12th until 2010 so every day can be viewed as New Year’s Day.

When you lose the initial enthusiasm for your resolutions how do you feel? I used to feel disappointed in myself. Then fall into the trap of “well, I didn’t succeed in losing that 40, 25, 10 or last 5 pounds so I might as well eat the quart of ice cream in the freezer before it goes bad.” Not exactly the way I foresaw my progress on Jan. 1st. Sound familiar?

My new (and I believe, more productive) perspective is to see every day as a chance to start fresh; a clean slate on which I can write what I want to accomplish that day. That’s enough. If I look too far into the future it’s overwhelming, too big and too scary but viewing my plan just for today brings everything into perspective and more do-able.

Here are some ideas to help you along the way:

1. Each evening before bed write down what you want/need to accomplish the next day. Please schedule in some time to eat and give yourself a little break in the day.
2. Keep your goals attainable so you’re not setting yourself up for failure.
3. Review your list frequently during the day and tick off or line through each item as you complete it (that makes me feel good.)
4. If you don’t get everything accomplished just move it to the next day. You’ll get a sense of how much you really can get done in a day.
5. If you did get every task on your list completed, reward yourself!

The idea here is to keep moving forward. Don’t let the (inevitable) roadblocks stop you completely and give up. I’d love for you to share your goals and successes with me ~ I LOVE to celebrate wins and it feels good to hear someone else praise your successes.

So, on this August 12, 2009 I say HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Janaury 1st 2009 – Edinburgh

So new years day. Its all pretty much a big haze. We don’t get a whole lot done today. We kind of laze about and do nothing til the two girls are like “We’re going for a walk to Arthurs Seat, join us!”

I was pretty keen to go up, but somehow in my sleep I managed to get a cramp in my leg.  But I hobble along anyway.

Its a fairly long trek, takes a few hours. On the way we spot the triathlon – do not know why you would want to do any sort of sporting activity on the day after new years, idiots. and some nice scenery on the way up. Its quite rugged, suprisingly.

About an hour and a half into it we reach the top. After ditching the jacket and jumper cause I was getting that hot. But the view is amazing. Its a clear and picture perfect day. But its not long til I am rugged back up. And chill with this amazing view that we have.

We walk back down a different direction to what we came. And end up by this ruined church that is perched on the hillside with sweeping views. Amazing. And then we hear big thuds and crashes on the lake below.

On further investigation the whole lake is basically frozen except one bit. And everyone is basically throwing rocks onto the ice and making this booming sound as they get stuck. We all give it a good try and basically get a big enough rock that it smashes through the ice. It was rather fun.

After a bit of crappy dinner, I think it was microwave pizza yet again we go out in search of an art festival. We don’t actually find it and end up walking around the castle and hill down on the streets with some nice lit up views of the castle.

Edinburgh has got to be one of the prettiest and spookiest sort of cities going around. Its got that old town feel to it, and that misty haze about. Love it.

We end back at the hostel and watch a movie with the girls. Im pretty sure I fall asleep whilst the movie is on and wake up about 10 minutes from the end. Oh well.

I wanted to do this after the Boston Bruins were knocked out, but I was unhappy, and lazy, so I’m going to do it now. I want to go over the top 3 games I attended this past season. I was able to see quite a few games this year, in a few different venues, so this is not limited to Bruins games alone, instead games I attended around the league.  So, before the announcement from the NHL this afternoon, here are my top three games of the season, feel free to post yours:

3.

The third best game I saw this season is actually a tie. It’s a tie between the Redwings/Bruins game on November 29th and the Blackhawks/Bruins game on March 7th. I have these at a tie for a few reasons and on my top 3 games this season for another. First of all, in general, the reason these games are on my top three are because this is something the NHL needs to do on an annual basis. The NHL needs to renew the rivalries of the Original 6 teams. Although people say the Original 6 is no big deal and yada yada yada, it’s the heritage of the league. It’s a shame that teams in the Western Conference  only see Eastern Conference Original 6 matchups maybe a few times during the season, and vice-versa.

There was a rumor going around that the NHL was going to reserve a certain number Saturday’s this next season so Original 6 teams can play each other. I think the NHL should do just that, bring back the original “Hockey Night in Canada” that many older fans can relate to. In doing so, it will also create more interest for younger fans looking forward to these matchups.

On another level, the reason these two games were my favorite of the season is because they were both statement games for the Bruins. When the Redwings were in town, it was early in the year and the B’s were starting to go on a roll, not to mention trying to roundout an almost flawless November. The Garden was buzzing that night and the B’s put it to the Wings 4-1. Not to mention the Stanley Cup defending champion Red Wings with names like Zetterburg, Hossa, and Datsyuk firing away.

As for the Chicago Blackhawks/Bruins game, it was played in early March when Chicago was surging and the Bruins were coming off a loss to the Flyers, and a real tough loss against Phoenix. It was another statement game, not to mention it was Recchi’s second game in a B’s uniform. Boston was able to get back on its winning ways by shutting down the likes of Versteeg, Kane, Toews, and Sharp. Although Kane had an absolutely monster bomb to make things interesting.

2.

The second best game I was able to see this year was easily the Dallas Stars taking on the Boston Bruins on November 1. There are a million reasons to absolutely love this game, there’s a good reason it wasn’t number one, which you’ll see shortly. Anyway, what’s better than having a Saturday night game with a couple of good friends in town? NOTHING! So lets start on the warm side of the glass to break this game down. I had some buddies come in from out of town for this one, so right off the bat you knew it was going to be a great night. And after the night we had for Halloween it’s amazing that we were up for boozing that night, but that’s what champions do. But, on to the action, this was the game that single handily brought the Bruins together and made them relevant again in Boston. This was nothing but an old fashioned hockey game that pleased the blue collar city of Boston. Hits and fights galore, all of which got the Bruins faithful behind their team. Not to mention after the fourth round of Bud Lights all children sitting in Loge 19 left with a free education of vocabulary they were not going to receive in grammar school the following Monday. After this game Boston went on a 12-1 run for the month of November to catapult them to the top of the Eastern Conference.  Treat yourself to this video in order to refresh your memory of this game, and tell me this wasn’t the turning point of the season:

1.

So, the best game I was able to attend this year is hands down the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field, played on New Year’s Day. I don’t know if you were there, or are planning on going this year, but it’s something every hockey fan has to do. Furthermore, it’s something the NHL has to do on an annual basis. Lets start with the NHL first, I don’t care what ESPN has to say about the game (they think the game should be reserved for special occasions), it’s something that the fans demand, and it’s something to draw attention to the NHL. Give it to two rival teams and let them have it out, outdoors at an unorthodox venue. It’s also a chance for two teams to renew a rivalry, or continue one, in some throwback jerseys on a cold New Years Day.

From a personal standpoint it could not get any better. As a huge Blackhawks and Cubs fan, I had the nostalgia of Wrigley with my favorite pro team, the Blackhawks. Not to mention facing the team I hate the most, the Red Wings, in some disgustingly awesome throw-back jerseys. Plus the teams did not mess around, they were there to win and take 2 points from a division rival.

On top of that, I was sitting on the Wrigley Roofdecks with all the beer I could drink and food I could eat. I would also like to point out that the feeling around the stadium was electric. People were ecstatic to get this game underway, and when the two teams walked out of their respective dug outs, the place erupted, plus they had goal horn from the United Center blaring. Although Chicago ended up giving up the lead and losing, it was a game I’ll never forget, and cannot wait to do it again this year.