Santa was good to me this year. He's actually good to me all year round, so Christmas can be a little anti-climactic some years. And even though we know it's not about the "stuff", it does give us the chance to make someone smile. I suspect even those participating in the Advent Conspiracy gave and received a gift or two.

We did some creative regifting this year. I had bought an iPod Nano a few months ago to use at the gym. Shaniah really wanted one, and she wanted the red edition, only available online. Time and money got away from me, so I got a neat red cover for mine and got her a new set of headphones to go with it. Maddy got Shaniah's Shuffle, which she was thrilled with. I just use my iPhone at the Y now. I'm so deprived.

Our family gift was the Wii. It's been funny. I think I've seen four pictures that our friends took on Christmas morning with their kids holding their Wii box. The kids all have this perma-smile on their faces and a glazed look in their eye. Maddie was so excited she almost had to change her pullups. That's a different kind of "Wii".

I had arranged for a spa treatment for Lynn at the Elmwood Spa in Toronto. They had some really good deals in conjunction with the Delta Chelsea, so the whole family got in on that one.

Lynn got me a nice sweater vest. Not sure when I took a liking to those, but I did. This is a nice brown one. Maddie likes to rub my belly and comment on how soft it is (the vest). I also got an 8-cup french press, coffee grinder, and a pound of Sumatra beans from Starbucks. Enjoying a cup right now ;-).

So it's been a very good Christmas. Enjoyed the programs offered at a few churches (ours and Lynn's parents) and had some good reconnections with family.

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I thought this was awesome! The company I'm partnering with built a website for Ice Culture, and this is what they do. The website is great, and the company is totally chill. (Psssst. If your church needs a cool website like this, drop me a line ;-)

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We shot this video for www.propertyguys.com. Sue shares why she loves being a Private Sale Consultant.

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A video we made for www.propertyguys.com. Do you think she likes her job? We'd like to film more like this for people that are passionate about what they do.

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I find myself in a unique situation. Some might call it frightening. I find it mildly stimulating.

We are in the process of raising support to become full-time missionaries with HCJB Global Canada. As Jesus used his voice (spoken word) and hands (healing and compassion) to make a difference, HCJB seeks to do the same through media and healthcare. We are "supported" through partnership with individuals and churches that share the same vision, and it can take up to a year, sometimes two, for that support to come in.

Obviously I have to provide for Lynn and the girls during this time, which brings me to the point of this post. I've never been unemployed, having pastored for 15 years, and I have done a variety of other things, from detailing cars to serving subpoenas and divorce petitions, to shooting video and building websites. But what do I do now? I'm not looking for a new career per se, as I hope to be full-time with HCJB by this time next year.

I have a few great opportunities. One with REM Web Solutions, offering effective and easy-to-edit websites to churches, and the other with Celebrating Life as a wedding and funeral officiant. Both utilize my life-experience and skills.

If you had a year to do anything, what would you do?

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I've decided to specialize a little and create a blog dedicated to my media work, website and video. You can find it here, and feel free to subscribe if you have an interest in maximizing media!

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"You can do it!"
"You're awesome!"
"You have made my day!"
"I couldn't have done it without you!"

None of these phrases take longer than a few seconds to say, but their power is immeasurable. And when someone affirms you with them, you never forget. Mark Twain said he could "live for two months on a good compliment. Proverbs 18:21 says that our words "have the power of life and death." We prove this every day.

Maddie is our little extrovert. Like most nine year-olds, she has her moments. But for the most part she brings sunshine into any room or circumstance. I was laying on the couch after a stressful day this week. It was around four o'clock in the afternoon. Maddie purposefully walked across the room, threw herself on me and said, "You're the best Dad ever. I love you." A hug and peck on the cheek and she was gone. Mission accomplished. No one told her to do it. She doesn't get a bonus in her allowance because of it. She just did it. And it changed my week.

When you have the opportunity to do so, are you an encourager? It really doesn't take that much time or effort. But it's power is almost beyond description.

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