200 Sunsets

Tonight I watched my 200th sunset of 2008. Each one was different. Here's some samples of the photos I took. Below the photos I'll tell you why I did it and what I discovered.

December 30, 2008

At the beginning of 2008 I made several commitments. One was to watch 200 sunsets. My criteria for it to count was I had to be outside around dusk, either during, right before, or right after the sun went down. I also had to pause, take it in, and pray. I wrote down the date of each one in my PDA and tonight (a day early), grateful to God, I met my goal. Here's what I discovered.

1. No two sunsets are the same. I'm blown away by God's variety.
2. The colors are richer AFTER the sun goes down.
3. It is so easy to miss the change from day to night. You get busy and all of a sudden it is dark outside.
4. We tend to start our days when we wake up. But God set it up so the new day begins at sunset. It is AWESOME to end your day at sunset, and begin a new one with dinner, family, sleep and THEN work.
5. The colors in the sky change dramatically at dusk. It is a good reminder for God to do his transformation in me.
6. A few minutes to pause and reflect make a huge difference in my day.
7. Getting off the freeway to watch a sunset is a great idea.
8. The green flash is real.
9. My longest sunset was on a plane flying west from Europe. Although it didn't count because I wasn't outside (fortunately) it was awesome.
10. God seems bigger when I watch a sunset.

What about you? Have any sunset stories?

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This is Christmas

My "virtual friend" Ed Stetzer recommended this Christmas video on his blog. It moved me to tears. Sit back and enjoy:

Casting Crowns I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Whatever You Need, God Is

"He who has God and many other things has no more than he who has God alone." ~ C. S. Lewis


At Christmastime it is easy to focus on what we are missing. Whether it is family members to surround us, friends to celebrate with, money to spend, or simply time to get everything done . . . this season can accentuate our lack.

Perhaps we have forgotten our best resource. We know Him as Jesus, but in the first chapter of the New Testament, God's Son is also introduced by another name. Matthew mentions His Old Testament name, which is Immanuel (Matthew 1:23). It is a Jewish name, and fortunately Matthew translates the name for us. Immanuel literally means, "God with Us."

Here then, is the amazing truth of Christmas: This God, who we have meditated on these past weeks, is revealed in the Bible as For Us, Wise, Faithful, Able, Just, Light, and Love (among other things). This Holy God is also the God who is with us in Jesus. Amazing! All that we ever needed resides with us and in us through the Spirit of Jesus.

Here's my prayer for you, as we move into Christmas: May God meet your every need, primarily and ultimately, with Himself. Because whatever you need, God is.

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Just got our tree up!

Our tree and son playing piano

Mystery Worshipper

Last Sunday, we had a surprise guest in the service -- a writer for the San Diego Reader who visits churches unannounced and writes reviews. He introduced himself after the service. As you can imagine, I was eager (and nervous) to see what he would write. You can view his article by clicking here.

Or watch the YouTube video he put together here. (The name of his column is Sheeps & Goats).


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Is love enough?

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. 1John 4:7

John, who penned the words above, is sometimes called the Apostle of Love; so prominent is love in his writing.

What is amazing though is that John wouldn't have always been characterized that way. If you read about him when he was a young disciple of Jesus, he was hot-tempered and fiery. On one occasion, John suggested that Jesus call fire down from heaven and burn up an entire Samaritan village just for being rude. No wonder Jesus nicknamed John "the Son of Thunder."

But over time, God slowly molded John into a man of love. In fact, there is a legend, although it can't be verified for certain, that on John's deathbed, people gathered around him and begged for one last word. After all, he was the last living apostle.

The legend says that he breathed these words, "Love one another."

"Is there more?" they asked.

"That is enough," John replied.

As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, we can get distracted in so many ways. As we honor God's most tangible expression of love, may He shape us into people who reflect His love in growing measures every day. That is enough.