- First, and not in chronological order, Miriam and I saw the "Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" on Friday. I have read the book and I must say that it is absolutely honest to the book. With it being a Disney movie I thought that the might cut out and/or tone down the Christian symbolisim but they maintained it in its entirety. The whole movie just permeated not only the life and death of Jesus Christ but also a detailed explanation, through the story, of the significance of His death and resurrection. I could write pages about all of the symbolism such as the two girls weeping over Aslan’s body, Aslan’s sacrificial death for Edmond, the blood price that was due for Edomnd’s treason, the cracking of the stone table, and so on. It seems like it might truly be a tool for evangelizing to people who can’t understand the biblical narrative. Please everyone, go see it!

- On a recent escapade through downtown Dayton on Matt’s birthday I had the opportunity to read through the sermon on the mount in Matthew in chapter four and five. I was recently thinking about how Jesus instructs us to not swear by anything on heaven or on earth under any circumstance. This made me think of how in courtrooms people are made to swear on the bible to tell the "truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth" and how that is clearly against what Jesus had instructed us to do. I can only imagine the "Christian" uprising if anyone fought to end that practice. Talk about ungodly and unbiblical.

- Next thought, what is the true meaning of Christmas? Why do we as Christians celebrate this holiday? Is it recognized as a time to come together and enjoy family, food, and friends or is it something more. There are Christians, wink, wink! (you know who), who refrain from the holiday all together because they feel it is too commercial and has lost its meaning. I can’t help but feel that we should be called to celebrate the holiday for what it is; a time set aside to contemplate the love and grace of God to come to earth for a purpose such as the one he fulfilled. Instead of shunning the holiday, lets embrace it as an evangilisim tool.

- I had a great chance to go to Chicago this week with Matt Martin and Bobby Fleck which I soooooo wanted to go on but had to forgo at the last minute due to serious family issues. I soooooo wanted to go but I know that I must align my priorities and a family emergency comes before a road trip. I just hope that I can continue to grow in my friendship with such great guys and that they don’t take my absence for the reasons that arose as a sign of avoidance.

- I took the new job at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. I am not a part of the machine and no longer the friction (giving props to Thoreau)