Answers To Your Questions: Part 1

Todd asked, What do you fear as an adult, compared to what you feared as a child?
As an adult I am afraid that I will grow up with such a sense of defeat. I saw this with a lot of older adults I knew. They'd complain about how they have no friends, have no life, have nothing, etc. but felt so defeated that they'd never do anything about it. They just resigned themselves that it didn't matter anymore. Or if they did try they gave up real quickly and gave pathetic excuses as to why. As a child other people scared me. No lie, I was so afraid of people that I didn't know how to act around them. I'd have a panic attack or something. I got picked on a lot as a kid so all I wanted was to be left alone, though I desperately wanted people to like me too.

• Todd, where do you see yourself in the next 10 years?

Steph asked, If God decided to answer three of your prayers (wishes), what would they be?

They'd be for the salvation of my loved ones, friends kids growing up in the Lord, joy and happiness. Usual stuff really.

• Steph, If you could have your dream job, what would it be?

Katie, asked, How would you define yourself using only FIVE words?

Odd, caring, tempermental, loyal, funny

• Katie, what would you say your strongest attributes are?

KrisT asked, What activities do you do that relax you after a long, hard day? and If your blog was actually your home, who would your next door neighbors be? Who's blog would be across the street? Who would you go to if you needed to borrow a cup of sugar? Who would be sooooooooooo noisy that you'd have to tell them to 'KEEP IT DOWN'?

I am an easy guy to please. I usually come home, put on the Simpsons and grab a glass of wine. I'd see us living on a cul-de-sac somewhere. So we'd all be facing each other. I think Preachrblog will be on the left and Caffeinated Adventures on the right, I'd also go to them for sugar. If anything you'd have to keep me quiet, especially if wrestling was on and Todd was over. Or if Eddo and Logan came over for a beer. You'd get ticked quick I think.

• KrisT, you asked me 2 questions, so I get to ask you two questions: What was the strangest way a guy asked you out? Who is the person you most admire?

UPDATE:

Logan asked, What is the biggest flaw that you see in Christians Today? If you could be any famous person who would you be and why?

Kristi asked, Is there something that your parents did that you swore you would never do, and now you find yourself doing it? What is it?

Shenna asked, What was your most embarrassing moment in life?

Eddo asked, Why did you start blogging and how did you hear about it for the first time?

Tuburculosis, I mean TB Vick asked, If you could choose only one of these virtues to define who you are as a person, which one would you choose?
Truthfulness, Faithfulness, Benevolence, or Nonmaleficence

Natalie asked, If you met the 18yr-old version of yourself on the street and went out to coffee, what would you talk about?

David W asked, If you met Jesus in person what question would you ask him?

There is still time to ask, it's over 2/3 so feel free to ask away.

Ask Me Any Question

Every so often I like to open up the opportunity for people to ask me any question that they want in order to get to know me better. And since there has been an addition of many new cube heads it'd be fun and interesting to do it again. The only rules are that for every question that you ask, which I have to answer, I get to ask you any question, which you have to answer and that you send all questions to my e-mail:

cubicle.reverend@gmail.com

All questions have to be in by 2/3/2006.

UPDATE:

• Todd asked, What do you fear as an adult, compared to what you feared as a child?
• Steph asked, If God decided to answer three of your prayers (wishes), what would theybe?
• Katie, asked, How would you define yourself using only FIVE words?
• KrisT asked, What activities do you do that relax you after a long, hard day? and If your blog was actually your home, who would your next door neighbors be? Who's blog would be across the street? Who would you go to if you needed to borrow a cup of sugar? Who would be sooooooooooo noisy that you'd have to tell them to 'KEEP IT DOWN'?
• Kristi asked, Is there something that your parents did that you swore you would never do, and now you find yourself doing it? What is it?

Guest Blog: Pastor Tom Chryst - Healthy Churches

Pastor Chryst at Preachrblog and I have had many discussions on the subject of Church growth, health, and doctrine over the past few months. The result can be found in this guest post he sent me. Be sure to check out his blog.

The Church Doctor - By Tom Chryst

Between my post criticizing The Church Doctor, and my recent conversation with C-Rev. himself, I got to thinking more and more about just what makes a church "healthy".My first answer is that this is no easy question. The approach of the Church Doctor, whichadministers tests and inventories telling what your congregation's "Apathy Quotient" is, andother like nonsense... doesn't seem the right way to go. Of course, this is trying to answer the question about a particular congregation, which is a different question from the state of a particular denomination, or the church in the U.S. or the world as a whole (una sancta). Many layers here.Need I remind us of the false metric of numerical growth or decline? Give me a faithful handfulof believers in a "dying" church in a "dying" neighborhood any day over a church bursting at the seams with thousands of hypocrites. Reminds me of a recent comment by a Lutheran Seminary prof:"remember one of the fastest growing cells in the body is the cancer cell". Quality, not quantity here, is what we want, folks. Of course both would be nice, but where should our focus be?Various commentators will offer opinions, of course, on what makes a healthy church. But most of the "evidence" is anectdotal. "The problem with the church today is [fill in the blank]" Usually, these kinds of statements are short-sighted.There's only one way to fill in the blank. The problem with the church today is SIN. It's nota very exciting answer, but it's the same answer it always has been. And likewise the solutionthat follows - the only solution for sin - is the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ who was crucifiedfor sinners.The church will rise and fall in places and times, and yet Christ's promise is that "the gates ofHell will not prevail against it". Sure, we will have our Elijah moments, when we think, "I'mthe only one left - and now they are trying to kill me too!" But God's whispering voice reminds usthat He alone preserves His church, and that He DOES it.

A Million Little Pieces Of Crap

Would you believe I still want to read the book? In spite of all the controversy this guy wrote something that really struck a nerve with people. That being said, what upsets me is it's hard enough to have credibility as a writer as it is without having people "embellish" the truth. I keep hearing how there needs to be a higher standard in publishing. My understanding of memoir was that it wasn't a genre meant to be taken as biography, but with a little more poetic license.

UPDATE: Read the article that got the fire started from The Smoking Gun.

Top 5 Friday - Songs You Wouldn't Admit To Liking, But Do

Are there songs that are a tad corny or wierd that you listen to secretly without admitting it? Are you a closet Britney Spears fan? Do you secretly have show tunes on your i-pod? Does Kermit the Frog singing "Rainbow Connection" still bring tears to your eyes? Here are my particular favorites:

1. Wayne Newton - Danke Shoen - What's not to love about the king of Las Vegas? Though he should lay off the face lifts, he's starting to look like seran wrap stretched over a raw piece of chicken.
2. Barry Manilow - Mandy - The guy has gotten a bad rep. over the years. He really is a gifted singer and songwriter.
3. Kenny Rogers - Through The Years - He is the gambler and has had a career that spans decades.
4. Dolly Parton - Coat Of Many Colors - She is another truly gifted performer. This song is beautiful and talks about growing up in a poor family.
5. America - The Last Unicorn - Kind of a cheesy movie, and the music suits the cheesiness.

New Look

Mad props to Eddo at Posted Note for this cool design.

A Clarification

Ok ok, I'm taking some heat for a comment I made. It isn't a complaint to have so many women around me. As I've just shown men are capable of behaving themselves for a certain period, then it's inevitable that we'll say and/or do something stupid. So we as men need to be around other men in order to get out the rude and annoying things that men are so capable of doing. I am glad to dote on you wonderful ladies and will gladly do so, but understand, sooner or later I am going to say something stupid.

The Many, The Proud, The Indiscriminate

As my good friend Millinerd has pointed out to me my blog roll is no longer the few, the proud.... but has now become The Many, The Proud... On top of that I have been wrestled into becoming a feminist. How has this happened? What started off as a desire to get a few womens voices to comment on this humble little blog of mine has exploded into a minor women's movement. I'm not complaining. It is the continuing metaphor in my life: being surrounded by women. Maybe it's time I made the requirements of being a Cube Head more stringent.

The Few, The Proud, The Cube Head

There are so many great writers out there who give a great account of their perspectives of life. I enjoy seeing how they take faith, art, family, etc. without being whiny or self-indulgent. They do it in the most artistic way imagineable both by the written word and through visual arts. What can I say, I know a lot of talented people. So what, you may ask, does it take to be a cube head? If you are a regular reader and commentor on this sight you are a cube head. Cube Heads are people who actually think about things, really stop and consider what they are saying before they speak. Usually. Not always. At least some of the time. You don't have to be a Christian or agree with what your faithful Cube Rev has to say. I very blatantly write as the perspective of a Christian. How else can I write? I'm not a 50 year old hasidic jew from the lower west side. I'm a 32 year old Irish/Sicilian/Canadian Christian who's mucked around New Jersey for far too long. This newest batch of Cube Heads are definately the rule, and not the exception. Bright, witty, well read, attractive both on the inside and out, and just all around cool people.

1. Verbal is such a gifted writer and has a great taste in poetry. She is also a very cool woman. She wears her heart just as much on her sleave as I think I do, if not more, without sounding self-pitying. It's poetic, meditative, and writing in the purest sense. Read her newest post on growing up in an extremist Christian home.
2. Astrid is a doll. She is too cute for words. Her blog are the daily adventures of a girl named Astrid as she makes her way through this crazy mixed up world. And she really does make every day life sound like an adventure.
3. The Bean Counter, another great writer. She is starting to see some success (deservedly so) as a writer. I am curious to see where her writing will take her. It is difficult to make it as a writer in any genre, but I think as her work grows she'll meet the challenge.
4. Searching For Complex Simplicit..... She lives up to her name. Her sight is searching for the very thing she says she is. She talks about very honestly her desire for a simpler life and how she can attain it.
5. Rotating Chaos What a unique voice! Wow, talk about talent. Her work is unbelieveable. She is equally as strong with the written word as well as visual art. She's from my necke of the woods in NJ so you know she's cool.
6. Miss Stephanie... is the first vocalist on the sight. Another great talent and wit. I took to her sight right away because of the slick look and who well it is written.
7. Kristi's Korner Ah to be young and bright eyed again. I love her sense of wide eyed wonder and joy. She's a real sweet girl, Loves the Lord, and a genuinely gentle soul.
8. KPINION is my buddy. She breaks my stones a bit, but I won't hold that against her. In spite of it she's a sweet girl and has a great wit.

Welcome to the cubisphere. Your t-shirts and identity cards will be in the mail shortly. As a cube head you are entitled to all the rights, priveleges, and perks assigned thereto. Including:

• Eating a cookie, when you feel like a cookie.
• Shaving your head, because the Cube Rev makes it look so good.
• Sleeping in on saturday mornings or watching saturday morning cartoons in your jammies for an obscene amount of time.

Welcome to the family.

Love

Dave, the cube rev

Book Review: Adonis - If Only The Sea Could Sleep

Adonis - If Only The Sea Could Sleep

I didn't notice the little subtitle when I bought the book at Adonis' reading. I was a bit ticked because there is a good reason why very few books are devoted to love poetry. It is difficult to write consistently a series of poems any subject let alone about love without sounding trite. Adonis proved me wrong. His poetry went beyond the puppy love that gives a warm fuzzy feeling and shows us the transendent nature of love. He even goes so far as combining the spiritual and erotic without making it cheap. The work is beautiful, stark, and to the point.

"Beginning Of Space"

The body of earth fortells fire,
water; its impending fate.

Is this why wind turns into palm trees
why space becomes a womn?

Ever More Tags

I've been TAGGED! By the wonderful, lovely, and talented Rotating Chaos.

Four jobs I have had (in chronological order)Clerk Typist / Cubicle Jockey for the State Courts and now a title company.
Barista, I make a mean cappuccino.
Video Store Clerk, does that make me a nerd?
Grounds keeper at a cemetery.

Four places I have lived (chronologically)Waltham Mass.
Erlton, NJ
Haddonfield, NJ
Barrington, NJ
How pathetic am I?

Four of my favorite foods:
Sushi
General Tso’s Chicken
Hoagies / Cheese Steaks
SaladsFour

TV shows that I like to watch:
Simpsons
Lost
Law And Order
Three Stooges

Four Movies I could watch over and over:
Station Agent
Big Kahuna
Smoke
LOTR

Four places I would rather be:
At a dinner table with a huge spread and several bottles of wine and a lot of peopleHeavenIreland
Italy

Four websites I visit:
http://www.illwillpress.com/
http://www.ticketmaster.com/
http://www.wrestlecrap.com/
www.amazon.com

Four people I would like to TAG?
Millinerd
Soul Of A Dreamer
Burr In the Burgh
The Word Of Todd

And You Chose

Here's the big winner. A great choice I might add. Eddo is the man. He came up with this in like 5 minutes.

Help Out The Cube Rev

Eddo from Posted Note has done a great job making some new templates for the blog, but I can't decide which one I like best and figured since you guys are the ones that have to look at this sight I'd leave it up to you. Whichever one gets the most votes will be the winnder.

The Secrets Are Out

They finally got us, all the little secrets of the Evangelical Church are being told and there's nothing I can do to stop it. Not only will you be able to pick us out in a crowd, but learn all our political and social secrets.

Check out this post from Looking Closer which brought it too my attention. I plan on getting this book, it looks hillarious to me. The book is brought to you by a great religious parody sight called Lark News. You have to check it out!

Here is a great article on Kinkade Envy . Man I'd love to write for these guys.

An E-mail to Frankie

Frankie asked me how I felt about having taken the off beaten path in life since I had so often encouraged her to do so. Here is my response which I e-mailed to her:

I am not sure how I can properly answer your question about how I feel about having taken the off beaten path in life since it’s a double edged sword. On the one side I hate and regret the bad decisions I made during those times wandering aimlessly from job to job wondering what I was going to do with my life. I reacted more out of fear and trying to keep from rocking the boat in certain respects when it came to my work, but I also pursued my faith (at times foolishly following any charismatic leader who came my way) and studying the craft of poetry. On the other a lot of positive things occurred which prepared me for my future vocation in the pastorate. I met a lot of great people, have some great stories to tell, and have a pretty positive out look on the future. St. Paul often used the metaphor of running a race which means looking forward towards the finish line and not back. As Jesus put it we are to focus more on eternal things. Try as I may I do so every often catch myself looking back to see how the other runners are fairing. Comparing myself to others. Am I where I should be? Why am I not married or in a career like most people my own age? Trying to see the other runners I instead focus on the road behind me seeing the turns I probably should have taken and wind up tripping on the stone I do not see. So in answer to your question my dear Frankie I am not entirely sure how I feel about it. Having taken the off beaten path is neither better or worse, but it did work for me. I can only imagine how I’d feel if I had gone to a four year school, gotten a career, etc. because I was studying something I hated and probably would have been excessively miserable. It has definitely given me a different story to tell which can both draw people to you and alienate you because you don’t have a lot of the shared experiences others have. There are times I wish I had done things differently, been more brave, not retreated into myself, gone another direction, taken the short cut. If I had, would I have met the people I met or had the opportunities I had taken? No. I’m not sorry. To a certain extent I am glad. For as I continue forward on the race I’ll keep striving for the prize and focusing my attention on the finish line.

Who Are You?

I am totally ripping this off of Pomomusings. Who are the Cube Heads? I want to know more about the people who read this little blog of mine. Here are the questions:

Name:
Age:
Profession:
Location:
What do you like most about The Cubicle Reverend?
What do you DISLIKE most about The Cubicle Reverend?
What question about life, God, faith, spirituality, etc..., troubles you the most?

Book Review: Out Of The Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis

Every so often I buy a book that sits on myself for years before I get the urge to read it. Something possesses me to buy these books that wait patiently for me to read them. Many years ago a friend of mine recommended C.S. Lewis' book Out Of The Silent Planet which I gladly bought, but then never left my shelf. I love Lewis' work from the Narnia Chronicles to his more religious works. I found it hard to get excited about reading a sci-fi novel written by Lewis. He's a brilliant writer, but if this book is unknown to the average reader then how good could it possibly be? Science fiction is hard to pull off. I finally read it. I wasn't dispointed by what I read. Granted it isn't as much fun as the Lion, The Witch, & The Wardrobe, or as intellectually probing as The Screw Tape Letters. Yet I was still drawn by the fact that Lewis uses almost every literary genre at his disposal to share the Christian entic with the reading public. This novel is no exception having the story of life on Mars mirror that of a type of heaven where all creatures comes to worship a God like being while communally using their various gifts for the common good. Sounds almost communistic. This was a much denser novel theologically speaking than his others and it drabs at times, but his poetic descriptions of the landscape and alien life makes up for it in such a rich beauty that is rarely seen in science fiction. Another short coming of the book is it felt awfully short. The drama and action stopped short to the point where I wondered, "That's it?" It is a worthwhile read as a unique representation of his work. I would't necessarily recommend it and do not think you would be outright missing out if you didn't. There are 2 other books in the series which makes me wonder if the other books make up for the short comings of this book.

Moron Of The Year

I knew from the beginning who Samantha Burns readers would choose as The Moron Of The Year, though I hoped I'd be wrong. Through her loss and desire to get closure in her son's death Sheehan has become a joke manipulated to the point where I do not think she realizes she has lost her soul and identity in the great political beast that consumes all in its path. Her crusade so far has not only cost her her son, but her husband as well who filed for divorce during her vigil. Loss has become a joke, misery a punch line. Congratulations to everyone pushing her cause forward and for those of us who watch the burning wreckage that is her life we turned another life into a prat fall.

Assignment: Send Us Your Cube Head Love

Have a digital camera, drawing, painting or any other type of artistic ability? Want to show everyone your Cube Head love? Then send me a picture of showing how you really feel about The Cube Rev and your fellow Cube Heads and I'll post it on the sight giving you mad props. Even if you do not have an artistic talent send something anyway. Send all entries to:

cubicle.reverend@gmail.com

Due to the difficulty of keeping track of any entries via the comments section and my e-mail please only send them to the e-mail address. Thanks.

Dave

Librarian In London

A good friend of mine is interning in London. Lucky devil. She is a fantastic writer and well worth the read. So check out her blog and send her some love. Trust me, it will be worth it.

Friendship In The Time Of Excessive Faith

This weekend was supposed to be a kick off meeting for a ministry that focusses on faith and art, something which I have a lot of passion about next to youth and college career ministries. So I was really looking forward to this. The ministry was to meet on Saturday night, but I had gotten lost and wound up arriving late to an empty and locked building. I wondered if I had the date wrong or if they had moved to another location. I drove home, mulling around my thoughts and I started to wonder why is it so much easier for people in a bar to connect and get together than it is for a group Christians. For whatever reason the bar culture fascinates me. I rarely go to hang out there on a weekend except to see my friends band perform. As a result I see a lot of the same people from time to time giving us an opportunity to talk and find out what's going on in our lives. From that train of thought I was reminded of a singles group I attended a few years back. I have come to really hate singles groups, and here is why:

The group I attended were a good group of people. Very nice guys and ladies. When the weekends came around they usually spent it going out to eat then going back to someone's house for a movie night. Every weekend it was the same thing we go out to eat then we go watch movies. Of course on occassion they'd really get crazy by watching movies then going out to eat. I enjoy movie nights, I find them to be a lot of fun, but I don't want to do it every weekend. I want to get out, go shoot pool, a coffee shop, anything. Movie nights make it hard for people to get to know each other, to talk, or even just shoot the breeze. So I decided to be proactive and recommend to a group of guys that we do a guys night out and maybe shoot some pool. Something other than movie night or play video games. We planned to meet at my house and figure out what to do next. My room mate at the time who was also a part of the group told me it'd never happen. He was right. That day I got calls cancelling sighting how they just wanted to go out to eat and then have a movie night. What started out as 8 - 10 guys wound up just being 3.

So what's the deal? Why is it so much easier to connect with people in a bar setting than with a group of Christians? I think the main reasons is there is a fear of opening up and showing the real us. We have gotten so good at playing Christian that we do not know how to be genuine and real around each other any more. Take us out of context of the church or Bible Study and that is when we are really vulnerable and risk lowering our gaurd. Alcohol does that quite easily and superficially. Where we have to work too hard in certain Christian circles, booze makes it so we do not have to work at all and creates a superficial relationship. We are also very clicky sticking to what and who we know. It's not to say that they are rude or mean, they can be nice, friendly, and a lot of fun to be around. You just have to break through the crust of years of memories and common interests to get in.

It is a shame things are this way. True relationships cannot be forced or made to last by artificial means. You saw that with Christ and The Apostles you see a great (if not the greatest) example of what it means to have a relationship with other Christians. It is reckless, it is foolish, it is passionate, it is centered on the Love of God with honesty, openess, and compassion.

Love
Dave

Cube Heads

I think you guys noticed that my links and blog roll look a little different. There's a reason for that. I have no idea what I'm doing and while trying to monkey around with the look of my blog I erased my list. So if I accidentally removed you and you are not on again I'm sorry, I didn't know your address and couldn't re-add it. That being said, I'd like to welcome the newest Cube Heads on the block.

1. This Adventure We Call Life - The musings of a young theologian in training. A passionate young man who has opinions on just about everything. I don't think there is much on the blogosphere written with as much passion as his posts are.
2. Idle Ramblings Of the LutherPunk - He's a punk, he's a pastor, he's a man of God. His perspective is extremely unique and one I can greatly appreciate. His honest about the highs and lows of his ministry offer great insight into the workins of a minister.
3. The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns - They are anything but crazy rants. If anything they are hillarious and brilliantly written. She is a blogging machine! And check out her moron of the week and see if you can guess who it is.

You'll be receiving your cube head t-shirts and identity cards in the mail shortly.

Greatest Joke Ever

I thought I had gotten tired of blond jokes. This one has to be the funniest I've ever seen.

The Cube Rev's Going To School?

It's a possibility. I just applied to Rutgers University in the hopes of finishing my degree finally and transitioning from being a cubicle reverend to an actual reverend. Four times a charm and I will actually finish my degree this time. Though I admit the idea of going back to school scares me a little bit. It was a bit of a high to be able to flaunt my bohemian cred. whenever I was out, how I'm the starving poet living in the middle of a New Jersey suburb that no one has ever heard of, living a hermetic existence in prayer and Bible Study. So instead of flaunting how I am keeping it real, it is time to move on to doing God's will and moving on to the next chapter of my life where ever that may be.

Top 5 Thursday: Novels or Short Stories Written By Dead Guys

I was inspired by Cate's post on her phobia of the books we should read, but do not: Moby Dick, Ulysses, etc. Being a huge book (most most types of art) snob even I have to admit I haven't read a lot of them, and the ones I did try I generall didn't finish. So here are my top five novels or short story collections written by dead guys to show that I do in fact read other things besides old school muder mysteries and blogs.

1. C.S. Lewis - The Narnia Chronicles: In my mind it is one long book. These are the stories I have loved since I was a little kid. When I saw they made a movie I was so excited to see the characters I love brought to life. Lewis knew how to write in such a compelling way you felt you were a part of the story. I re-reard The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and found myself on more than one occassion cheering!
2. James Joyce - The Dubliners: A book that digs deep into the life of an Irish city. He holds no punches and it made him despised by his neighbors. But how he captured their lives! There were times I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. His writing was beautiful and so deep with poetic language the words ring in your ears for months.
3. Ernest Hemingway - Old Man And The Sea: Hemingway is the Man, probably the greatest writer who actually lived what he wrote about. You felt the pain and frustration of everything the main character went through. Many people thought it was an allegory about the critics who trashed his previous novel. I do not know if that's the case, but it was this novel that re-launched his career.
4. Truman Capote - Other Voices Other Rooms: He wrote the book at the age of 22. The prose is so old and wise you'd think it was written by an elderly man in his declining years. In a book club I attended we argued for hours over whether this book was really about his own life, but couldn't come up with a consensus. Either way, it's frickin' brilliant.
5. Edith Wharton - Ethan Frome: This is such a heart breaking story. I had it on my shelf for years and finally set down and couldn't put it down. I had to know what happened to the characters. When they are written so convincingly that you find yourself loving or hating them to such an extreme manner you want to throw the book across the room is very rare.

5 Wierd Things About Me

I know I said I wanted to stop tagging, but after reading Michelle's responses I thought her a bit of a wierdo light weight and have to teach her the true meaning of wierd:

1. I waited in line all morning for tickets to one of the new Star Wars movies. Watching Empire Strikes back and talking sci-fi and fantasy all morning. And I enjoyed it!
2. I have eaten eel, aligator, and haggis.
3. I didn't start drinking alocohol until I was almost 30.
4. While in highschool I spent every saturday night with my friends playing dungeons and dragons.
5. I am 3 inches shorter than my sister. But since I shave my head and she has very curly hair it looks at least like 5.

So take that. Think you can do better? Consider yourself tagged!

Sleante

Me and Mark Malone from The Hooligans

on New Years Eve

Sleante is Gaelic for Cheers. Being Irish I am fond of toasts and blessings. While most people are doing their best of's for the year I am going to offer you guys my blessings for the up coming year.

Matt & Denise - May God use what you are learning in school to be used to further the Kingdom of God as your gifts and talents allow. May your relationship grow in grace and love and your time together be filled with joy.

Alex - May you know your true worth, discover your true calling, and come to know a loving relationship with God. May you surround yourself with people who love you and serve you, and people that you too may serve.

Tony - May you be blessed with a home of your own for your family to grow. May the rooms be filled with lafter and stories. And may God lead you to employment that will use your gifts to their full potential.

Rick - I pray your children grow and know the fullness of God's love in their lives. I pray they are kept safe from the trappings of society and know what really matters. May your relationship with them and your wife remain strong.

Jose - May this coming year bring you guidance and a closer walk with God. Through your passion and your words that you continue to serve in whatever capacity you are called to.

Carmel - May your faith and understanding grow. May you share the experience with your fiance and grow together, serving each other in love.

Jess - May you continue to seek the truth of faith as your life journey leads you onward and upward.

Antonia - May you gain much knowledge and wisdom in your studies to use the gifts God gave you to serve those in need. May your relationship be blessed with love and laughter, seeking God first together.

Pastor Scott & Pastor Tom & My Other Favorite Lutheran Pastors (you know who you are) - May your ministries and families be blessed, not by the superficiality of numbers or dollar signs that are perishable, but in love, faith, and joy. And as your families grow in age, may they also grow in knowledge of the Love of God.

Natalie, Frankie, Heather - May you know true joy, passion, and love. Not a superficial momentary flutters, but in the truest sense, that whether alone, or in the middle of sadness, or in the purest of times. And during the journey of your lives may you find what you are seeking.

Todd - I pray your life transitions from uncertainty to moving forward in God's timing and grace. May your wisdom about your direction and the continued blessing of your family, not just out of blood, but love and the holy spirit. And may you win the WFJ heavy weight title under my expert management skills and your reign be long and prosperous.

Logan - May your marriage be a blessing and may you serve her with the same devotion as Christ served the Church. As your life begins together may the transition from single to married go smoothly.

To Everyone - May you stop to smell the flowers. Appreciate the little things. Enjoy your families more, enjoy your friends. Take more time to be out doors. May the smiles outweigh the tears as you seek comfort in God's love. Life is too short to be worrying about useless crap. Let it go and move on.

Love,

Dave

SLEANTE!!!

AIM - unclelex1

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