Project 2012 ~ the beginning

In trying to decide on what I was going to do to keep me taking photos, scrapbooking and documenting our daily lives I have finally come up with a plan (cross fingers I stick with this). Its called Project 2012. It will be an album that consists of 52 layouts - one for each week. And for the first time ever I will be doing it completely DIGITAL! So excited about this.

To kick it off I finished my first layout for WEEK ONE. I used products from The Daily Digi membership that I have - so thankful for that because it was quick and simple.

Welcome 2012 - Week 1 Layout:

The journaling reads:

Oh the start to a new year ~ I love this time of year!  I love a fresh start - a time to reflect on the last year - all the highs and lows. And a time to plan out the new year! What can I say I love lists, planning, organizing and the start of something new!

Last year I did Project Life for the first time and it helped me get back into scrapbooking and reminded me how much I like to capture our daily lives. So this year I will be doing Project 2012 – documenting each week.

So Week #1 – Sunday, January 1^st to Saturday, January 7^th:

-         - Fred started the year off right with an amazing sermon that wrapped up our Christmas series called “A Gift in a Box”. Each Sunday Eric, Mark and Fred will pull something out of the box – Fred revealed a block of ice to remind us to build our foundations on Christ because everything else will melt away. Very powerful services and Fred’s best sermon yet! We were also thrilled when April surprised us with a visit – the three of us had lunch before heading home.

-         - Though it was a busy week of getting things back in order at work, taking down Christmas decorations and getting ready for my small group, I was able to enjoy a few sessions from the Passion Conference – Beth Moore, Francis Chan and Christine Cain were some of the speakers and I really enjoyed. I ended up order the digital pass so that we can put it in the library.

-         - On Saturday, Fred headed to Graham Lake for some ice fishing with his Dad and some friends from Kingston. They had the hut out on the lake and everyone already had their vehicles on the ice. It turned out to be a good day of fishing – as there was fried fish for supper!

 So now to keep up with this - I'm hoping it will be easy because the layouts are done each week and once I have a few done I can send them away to be printed. Unlike what I was doing with Project Life - taking pictures, sending them away after having several weeks (to save money and time) and then sitting down weeks later and working on each week. Since I still have to finish that project I looked at what didn't work for me and that was the main one.

In reading a lot of blogs on yearly projects I noticed a common thread - make sure to get a routine down, one that was simple and easy to keep up with, and stick with it. For me doing it once a week may prove to be a bit of a challenge but I wanted to give it a try. 

The bonus - doing the layout digitally I was able to do it in less then an hour (including writing the journalling and picking the photos) while watching a movie in our basement. Love it!

Books Read in 2011

 

• Non-Fiction Books: 
I wanted to read more non-fiction books this year and wow did I find an amazing selection to read! I didn't really make any notes while I was reading each of the books, but I rated each of them and included a description of each. As I go into the new year I would like to do better with keep track of what I thought about each book in more detail.

 ***** Barefoot Church by Brandon Hatmaker - An amazing book! The entire time I was reading the book couldn't stop thinking about Bethel and what we were doing......

Description:
People are hungry to make a difference in their community, yet most don’t know where to start. In fact, “serving the least” is often one of the most neglected biblical mandates in the church. Barefoot Church shows readers how today’s church can be a catalyst for individual, collective, and social renewal in any context. Whether pastors or laypeople, readers will discover practical ideas that end up being as much about the Gospel and personal transformation as they are about serving the poor. Here they will see how the organizational structure of the church can be created or redesigned for mission in any context. Drawing from his own journey, Brandon Hatmaker proves to readers that serving the least is not a trendy act of benevolence but a lifestyle of authentic community and spiritual transformation. As Hatmaker writes, “My hope is that God would open our eyes more and more to the needs of our community. And that we would see it as the church’s responsibility to lead the charge.”

*** One.Life by Scott McKnight - I read this with the other staff at Bethel. It was a different book, that I normally would not have read. 

Description: 

What is the “Christian life” all about? Studying the Bible, attending church, cultivating a prayer life, witnessing to others—those are all good. But is that really what Jesus has in mind? The answer, says Scot McKnight in One.Life, lies in Jesus’ words, “Follow me.” What does it look like to follow Jesus, and how will doing so change the way we live our life—our love.life, our justice.life, our peace.life, our community.life, our sex.life—everything about our life. One.Life will open your eyes to the full, compelling immensity of what it means to be a Christian. “Jesus offers to us a kingdom dream that transforms us to the very core of our being,” says Scot McKnight. “His vision is so big we are called to give our entire life to it. His vision is so big it swallows up our dreams.” Discover exactly what Jesus meant when he announced the arrival of God’s kingdom. Equipping you with a new understanding of that kingdom’s radical nature, One.Life shares profound, challenging, and practical insights on how to demonstrate its reality in your life. In many ways, what The Cost of Discipleship by Bonhoeffer challenged Christians to do in earlier generations, One.Life will do for a new generation. One.Life will call you beyond the flatlands of religiosity toward a kingdom vision that will shape everything you do.

**** Radical by David Plate - A book recommended by several ministry leaders on Twitter and different blogs I read and I'm so glad they did! A challenging book and experience. 

Description:

What is Jesus worth to you?

It's easy for American Christians to forget how Jesus said his followers would actually live, what their new lifestyle would actually look like. They would, he said, leave behind security, money, convenience, even family for him. They would abandon everything for the gospel. They would take up their crosses daily...But who do you know who lives like that? Do you?

In Radical, David Platt challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences. He shows what Jesus actually said about being his disciple--then invites you to believe and obey what you have heard. And he tells the dramatic story of what is happening as a "successful" suburban church decides to get serious about the gospel according to Jesus.Finally, he urges you to join in The Radical Experiment--a one-year journey in authentic discipleship that will transform how you live in a world that desperately needs the Good News Jesus came to bring.

*** The Grace of God by Andy Stanley - my coworker is always talking about Andy Stanley and his ministries and highly recommended any of his books. I enjoyed this book and would consider reading more. Since reading I have followed us sermon series online every now and then as well. 

Description:

"Grace. It's what we crave most when our guilt is exposed. It's the very thing we are hesitant to extend when we are confronted with the guilt of others-especially when their guilt has robbed us of something we consider valuable. Therein is the struggle, the struggle for grace. It's this struggle that makes grace more story than doctrine. It's the struggle that reminds us that grace is bigger than compassion or forgiveness. That struggle is the context for both. When we are on the receiving end, grace is refreshing. When it is required of us, it is often disturbing. But when correctly applied, it seems to solve just about everything. This struggle is not new; it has been going on since the beginning." -Andy Stanley

We find in the pages of Scripture that the stories found there often mirror our own stories, and that we too need the very thing we do not deserve: the grace of God.From the beginning, the church has had an uneasy relationship with grace. The gravitational pull is always toward graceless religion. The odd thing is that when you read the New Testament, the only thing Jesus stood against consistently was graceless religion. The only group he attacked relentlessly was graceless religious leaders. Even now as you think about grace, there might be a little voice in your head whispering, "It can't be that easy!" "What about obedience?" "What about disobedience?" "What about repeated misbehaviour?" "What about bad habits?" "What about justice?" "What about repentance?" It's this tension that makes grace so slippery. But that's the beauty and the truth of grace. We don't deserve it. We can't earn it. It can't be qualified. But God gives it to us anyway because he loves us unconditionally.

**** The Power of a Whisper by Bill Hybels - again my coworkers talk very highly about Bill Hybels and I hadn't read anything by him until now. This year was a year God made it very clear to me that he wants me to lead and so it was time to start reading up on leadership and taking cues from excellent, godly leaders like Bill.

Description:

'Without a hint of exaggeration,' says Bill Hybels, 'the ability to discern divine direction has saved me from a life of sure boredom and self-destruction. God's well-timed words have redirected my path, rescued me from temptation and re-energized me during some of my deepest moments of despair.' In The Power of a Whisper, vision is cast for what life can look like when God's followers choose to hear from heaven as they navigate life on earth. Whispers that arbitrate key decisions, nudges that rescue from dark nights of the soul, promptings that spur on growth, urgings that come by way of another person, inspiration that opens once-glazed-over eyes to the terrible plight people face in this world---through firsthand accounts spanning fifty-seven years of life, more than thirty of which have been spent in the trenches of ministry, Hybels promotes passion in Christ-followers' hearts for being wide open to hearing from God, and for getting gutsier about doing exactly what he says to do. For more information go to: www.thewhisperwall.com.

***** Daughters of Hope by K. Marshal and M. Rickett - the ladies on the missions committee at Bethel are excellent and bringing in amazing mission focused books. I loved this book, the stories were amazing though hard to read at times. And it was an excellent book to use to pray for women around the world. I specifically loved the chapter on Sudan - after reading the book below I wanted to know more.....

Description:
Throughout the world today, Christians continue to face intense persecution, and Christian women are often the most vulnerable. In Pakistan, Christian girls are systematically kidnapped, tortured and raped. In China, underground church leaders are sent to labor camps for hosting illegal home meetings. In Sudan, Christian women are captured and sold into slavery or mutilated and left to die. And in many Muslim countries, a woman can be killed by her husband or father for converting to Christianity. In this deeply moving book, Kay Marshall Strom and Michele Rickett tell the stories of persecuted Christian women from around the world. From Africa to the Middle East to Asia, they give voice to our sisters persevering under the yoke of oppression and injustice. Each section provides specific prayer points and practical action steps to equip us to respond to the issues at hand. Above all, these stories remind us that suffering is part of the call of followers of Jesus. The challenges do not mean that God has abandoned us. Rather, God is active and present with his suffering people. Do not be discouraged. Take heart from these daughters of hope.

***** Passport Through Darkness by Kimberly L. Smith - this book that I heard about through twitter changed my life. I never thought I would say that about any book other than the bible. But wow - Kimberly's life story and the growth and challenges of starting her ministry have inspired me and transformed my way of thinking. My heart is torn for Sudan and at any chance I can get I am supporting her ministry! My eyes have been open to trafficking and lives of women and children in war-torn countries. 

Descripiton:

As she shares her extraordinary stories of fighting human trafficking as an ordinary mom, Kimberly Smith offers hope for readers who wonder if God is calling them to greater things. Passport Through Darkness takes readers on Smith’s journey from normal family life and business, to Europe, to the deserts of Africa and ultimately, to the deserts of her own soul as she tries to live well as an imperfect American mom, crusade for justice for orphans around the world, and embrace God’s extraordinary dreams for her. When Kimberly and her husband risk everything to answer God’s call, they see God change and restore them—even amid exhaustion, marital struggles, and physical limitations. This heartbreaking, heartlifting book is for anyone who longs to see God move their life from normal to one that matters. It is a call to readers to take one more step on their journey to know God’s heart.

  

• Fiction Books: 
I am surprised at how many books I read this year - as in I have only read 22 books over this year, much less than in previous years. I'm not sure the reason.....

*** The Christmas Singing by Cindy Woodsmall  - really cute, Christmas story. I will read more by this author! 

** The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson  - another cute Christmas story. Different type of book for me. 

**** Wonderland Creek by Lynn Austin  - Love Lynn Austin! She is always writing something different and this book was no different. New for this year and such a different novel. Though it took a bit to get into I loved it! 

*** The Lightkeeper's Ball by Colleen Coble  - a new author for me and I would read more from her. I enjoy the time period. 

*** She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell  - I had tried to read a book by Siri Mitchell earlier in the year and just couldn't get into it, but this one was much different. May read more from her again. 

*** The Apothecary's Daughter by Julie Klassen  - the first book I read on my iPhone Kindle app. Very easy read. I would describe as good Christian fiction fluff. 

** The Mailbox by Marybeth Whalen  - my first time reading her novels. It was a different novel. Interesting, thought slow at times.

**** She Makes It Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen  - LOVED this book! Even wrote the author to tell her so (Proverbs 31 Ministry speaker). Hope she continues to write!

*** The Justice Game by Randy Singer  - I don't remember much about this book, but I always read Randy Singer's book fast - similar to John Grisham.

**** The Help by Kathryn Stockett  - LOVED this book and was very excited to see the movie. Loved the book much better. Interesting characters and time period. 

***** Her Daughter's Dream by Francine Rivers  - As always I LOVE Francine Rivers book. Though I did have a hard time getting into it at first, once I was in I couldn't put it down! Can't wait for her next book.

** The Brotherhood by Jerry B Jenkins  - This was a hard book to read, the story just got to me and it was slow at times. 

*** The Girl in the Gatehouse by Julie Klassen  - A cute, interesting story. Again Christian fluff but I love the time period.

*** Glittering Images by Susan Howatch  - Not a Christian author but recommended by a coworker. Different style for me to read - very interesting though and I would consider reading more by her. 

** The Gates of Zion by Bodie Thoene - Ok book. Not sure I wold continue to read the series. 

Well that was it for the books read over the 2011 year. The pile continues to grow for the books I want to read in this new year - hope I can read faster and remember more!