Family Trip To Peru

For many years we’ve wanted to take our family on a missions trip, learning and serving together. And finally, it happened! We celebrated Christmas in a memorable way, as we visited Ayacucho, Peru and volunteered at an orphanage.

The orphanage is operated by a local church, and we served with their U.S. partner, Vision Trust, an agency whose mission is to develop orphaned and neglected children into mature Christians equipped to live in their own culture. They do this by enabling Christian nationals to meet the physical, educational, emotional and spiritual needs of these children.

Together with two other families, we showed kindness and Christ’s love to the 38 orphans at Casa Luz. We also worked a bit on some land the orphanage is developing.

We are so thankful God worked through us to touch the lives of the children we met! Also, that He gave us safe and relatively smooth journeys.

What A Year

As we approach the new year, I’m thinking back over 2009 and all that took place during the past twelve months. I wonder if you have or make the time to do that? Reflection is good, and I don’t often enough unplug, think, write, pray. Perspective is always good to have…about faith, family, work and life in general. I’ll share some of those reflections at another time.

For now, though, regarding perspective, I found a list of important events 100 years ago, and an update on their significance. Sample of items that have made their mark since 1909:

…zippers, band-aids, traffic lights, bubble gum, penicillin, sunglasses, ballpoint pens, shopping carts, nylon stockings, kitty litter, and milk cartons.

It’s fascinating to see what can happen in 100 years!

And over here is a collection of 2009 Top Ten lists from Time Magazine. While it is obviously rather biased, there are some really interesting things about the past year that I had forgotten about until perusing these lists. Of course, many would prefer to forget some of those events and people!

If you have a 2009 Top Ten list – one of your own, of a favorite from another source, share it with us, won’t you?

Back From Peru

Our family returned from a week-long missions trip to Peru this evening. In the rush to leave the country there were a few details overlooked…like the matter of arranging for this blog to be updated – by me or one of the great folks in our web area – on a regular basis. At the least, I had planned to leave a “out for the holidays” message. Alas, the significant preparations, along with holiday events, left even some important activities unfinished. I trust readers will understand and extend some grace.

In the coming days I’ll ramp up the posts, and will also share thoughts and photos from our wonderful trip helping out at an orphanage. I hope you’ll enjoy reading along!

Paul Harvey’s Heart

Paul Harvey was one of the most gifted communicators ever. An icon, he was heard by and touched millions every day. From what I can recall, there was a period in my early years during which I heard Paul Harvey deliver his “News and Comments” nearly every lunch hour.

My dad would come home from work around 11:45 a.m. and we’d have sandwiches (in fact, in all humility, it was during those days that I created a special “bologna, pickle, ketchup and potato chip” sandwich). The radio came on and gave us Mr. Harvey’s inimitable voice and delivery. Those 15 minutes were special, and we didn’t talk as a family until after he signed off…”Good day!”

Years would pass, and I found myself giving my own children those kinds of memories, We’d listen to Paul Harvey with some frequency on the weekly drive to the bagel shop. No conversation during those few short minutes…no interrupting Mr. Harvey.

The author of the new Paul Harvey biography joined us for a two-part discussion about the life and legacy of this legendary broadcaster.  Listen in, relive some memories, and learn a few things about the man behind the mic.

What You Believe

Do you know what you believe, and why? Can you articulate the historical precedents for your faith? Do you know how to talk with someone who doesn’t share your spiritual beliefs?

Chuck Colson speaks boldly about the core principles of Christianity, and encourages believers to have confidence as they engage others, in this powerful presentation.

Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays?

According to one recent poll, 72% of Americans saying they prefer to be wished “Merry Christmas” when greeted at a store. And a recent issue of TIME magazine (Dec ’09) reports only 22% of Americans prefer “Happy Holidays” over “Merry Christmas.”

How about you?

Here’s where you can see how “Christmas Friendly” various retailers are, as rated by consumer ratings. If you feel strongly about this, I’ll encourage you to make your voice heard!

Facebook and Privacy

Recently there was a change to Facebook’s privacy settings, and some folks willingly gave up a lot. I have to admit I almost made some mistakes in establishing new settings, but then I took the time to do some research.

Here’s an article detailing a bit of the issue, and explaining why the changes were made in the first place (one word, it seems: competition). Some users of the popular social service are upset about the changes and here’s one article, and another one, indicating why.

A helpful perspective and practical advice about just what you should do with the new privacy settings is here.

Bottom line: Far too many people offer too much personal information to too many people. And this new set up for Facebook just exacerbates that problem. As always, user beware.

And parents, if your kids have a Facebook account, make sure you educate them to this change – and to the dangers of being too lax about their personal information.

Birth Order Insights

This week I had the privilege of recording some programs with Dr. Kevin Leman. He is an insightful, highly engaging and humorous friend to have in the studio! While we didn’t talk about the topic directly, one of his “specialties” is addressing birth order and how that affects us – and our families.

I think it is pretty amusing to hear Dr. Leman talk to someone about their place in the birth order, and then go on to describe their personality and sometimes even specific characteristics of their mate! In fact, he shared with me that recently he was chatting with someone at an event, and Dr. Leman told the fellow that – just from their conversation – he had determined the man is a first-born, married to a last-born. And he was right!

Here’s a blog entry at the Wall Street Journal about birth order and marriage in which Dr. Leman is cited. Check it out – and be sure to see some of the reader comments, too.

If you’d like to learn more, watch this video of Dr. Leman talking generally about birth order; get his newly updated classic about the subject; order his book, First Born Advantage (which is on sale for a very good price); or go to his official website.

Watch Your Credit Cards

We recently heard from our credit card company. They wondered if we had been traveling much, since our charge card showed daily use of $100 at some gas stations in another state for the past couple of weeks? My wife indicated that while we have a big old Suburban with a 44-gallon tank, we rarely spend that much on fuel, and even then, only every other week or so — we don’t top off the tank every day!

After Dena talked with the the service agent, she explained she had just put our card on hold due to that suspicious activity. It was apparent that someone had stolen our card number – not the actual card, just the number – and that they were working in tandem with someone at those stations to commit fraud. The thieves were smart – they used the account number in such a way that the unusual activity wouldn’t be easily spotted by our card company or by us. Flying under the radar, they got off with over $1,300 in goods and cash. We’ll never track the thieves down.

Fortunately, we won’t have to pay for that unauthorized use of our credit card, but we’ve had to change cards, re-authorize several auto-pay accounts, and have to file paperwork with the company indicating that we didn’t make those charges.

I’m now on “red alert” with all or our accounts. I’ll be watching the statements frequently, and I’m not likely to rest easy ever again.

With the busiest shopping here, I’ll encourage you to keep a close watch on your credit cards. Go online and monitor their use. Believe me, it will be worth the brief investment of time.

His Coming Changed Everything

Every December I think back to many wonderful recollections as a child. I enjoy seeing the “Kodak moments” associated with Christmas which are etched upon my mind. Truly, this is a special time of year, and so meaningful for many.

Invariably, too, every year thoughts about that first noel move me to revisit a favorite author, Frederick Buechner. Many years ago a friend gave me a devotional by this good writer. Listening To Your Life is a compilation of Buechner’s works, broken into bite-size pieces for daily consumption and enjoyment. He is a thoughtful writer and invariably his musings cause me to think more deeply and often differently. That is the case as I consider Christmas.

Here’s one observation (from the December 26) entry in Listening To Your Life, which touches on one profound aspect of the Baby King’s coming:

…when the child was born, the whole course of history was changed. That is a fact as hard and blunt as any fact…Art, music, literature, our culture itself, our political institutions, our whole understanding of ourselves and our world – it is impossible to conceive of how differently world history would have developed if that child had not been born.

I like Buechner’s emphasis on the ultimate result of Christ’s birth: He left an indelible mark on everything. On everyone. Others have written extensively about the impact of Jesus on our world. And they make a similar point:

Believe Him or not, Jesus changed this world, forever.

Jesus came to earth. He lived and He changed the world. Even more, He still lives, and He changes individual lives. I know because He touched and changed me. And Jesus continues to do so, on a daily basis. I’m so grateful for His caring, gracious work in my life.

This Christmas season, I wonder if you’ve thought about that, if you’ve personalized Christmas? A co-worker often says that “God sent His Son into this world for you. If you were the only person on this earth, Jesus still would have come and died for you, to bring forgiveness for your sins.” I like that perspective. And so, I’m curious: how has this Messiah changed your world, your life?

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