Today's Bliss: One More Weekend

I have had a long, restful break from work this holiday. I am very blessed that I was able to have so much time with my family, with Scooter, with N, and with myself. When I am not running around in the midst of a hectic schedule, I have the opportunity to read, think, write, and accomplish things that have needed some attention for a while. I am so glad that the year has ended in this way!

One of the things that I am doing this week is reading a book called Catch. (I am studying for some church duties that I have for 2012.) I am only about half way through, but it has been an interesting read so far. The writer comes from a church that focuses solely on ministering to the non- and nominally-religious in their community. When I read this, I thought: isn't that what we are all doing? But...is it? Really? How many churches worry more about their current members than those outside their walls? One point in the book that really got me thinking was a statement about church congregations. The author was encouraging her readers to help their church's congregation focus on the mission of ministering to the non- and nominally-religious. She wondered what the church members were more worried about: reaching out to their community or whether or not they got their parking place and their pew of choice. Huh...good question. I think that every church has a mix of people and each person has a different focus for some reason or another. But no matter our differences, our primary identity should be love. Receiving it from God, showing it to each other, and showing it to our community.

I hope that 2012 will bring more depth to my faith and my love for the people around me.

I have one more weekend of my break. I have some fun things planned for the end of this long respite and I look forward to enjoying every minute of it! I hope you feel blessed and blissful as you enjoy the last two days of 2011!

Today's Bliss: Time

The past month was extremely hectic. There was a to-do list for each day, each weekend, each hour, it seemed. Getting ready for Christmas is always a busy time. I enjoy the process of shopping, decorating, wrapping gifts, baking, cooking, and entertaining; but after a while I am just plain tired!

This week, I finally have time to relax and take it easy! Time to get organized, clean the house, and work on the long to-do list that has developed as of late. Having time to get things done (or to just read a book for that matter) is a rarity in our society. Our busy schedules and hectic routines follow us everyday, everywhere we go. Personally, this really wears me down after a while! I need time to recharge and focus on the blissful life blessings around me.

I hope that you have some time to relax this week, to take it easy as we wrap up 2011 and get set for 2012!

Today's Bliss: Christmas

Christmas is a time of peace. Time to reflect on the blessings we have and the grace that has been given to us so freely by our Father in heaven. The gift of Jesus can get lost in the hustle and bustle of our American culture this time of year, but if you take some time to think and look around you, He is with us...even in our busiest, most stressful moments.

Symbols are everywhere at Christmas. Lights remind us that Jesus is the light of the world. Evergreen trees remind me of nature, God's beautiful creation, and God's faithfulness. Family gatherings remind me of the supportive people that God has given me to help me make it through life. Good food and sweet treats remind me that God wants us to celebrate our blessings and enjoy the life He's given us. Gifts remind all of us that Jesus was the ultimate gift of love so that all of us can have abundant life.

I hope that you have a blissful Christmas. Take time to remember the reason for the season and the love that you have all around you!

Today's Bliss: Cookie Brittle

A friend of mine at work introduced me to a fabulous, wonderful thing a few months ago: Cookie Brittle. It is so delicious! I made my own version last weekend and gave it all away as gifts. So I made another batch today so that we can share it with our families for Christmas. I wanted to share the recipe with you because it is easy, quick, and so so good. It has bliss in every bite!

 Cookie Brittle:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups flour

1 1/4 cups mix-ins (use whatever you have, semi-sweet or milk chocolate, white chocolate with cranberries... possibilities are endless!)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a cookie pan with parchment paper. Mix the butter and vanilla.
Add in the flour, sugar, salt and mix-ins, using your hands or a wooden spoon mix it all together until well combined. The dough will be fairly dry and crumbly. Dump the dough onto lined cookie sheet.

Press it into a thin layer using your hands. Mine didn't completely fill the cookie tray. The thinner you press it, the crispier it will be and the quicker it will cook, so adjust accordingly. Bake for 20 minutes, check, if edges are lightly brown and center is set, remove from oven. Allow to cool COMPLETELY. Break up into pieces.

Enjoy!

*Recipe discovered on http://whiskandaprayer.blogspot.com/

Today's Bliss: Food for Thought

Sometimes I really appreciate reading or watching things that make me think. I received the following commentary in an email and wanted to share it with you because it is definitely thought provoking, especially during this Christmas season.

Social Commentary by Ben Stein, CBS Sunday Morning news show, 8/30/06:

 

Ben Stein

My confession: 

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees...I don't feel threatened.. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

 I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the
Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

 My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,

 Ben Stein

Today's Bliss: Parents

Fifteen years ago, I may not have thought of my parents as bliss. But they are. N's parents are, too. We are very, very blessed that we have four people in our lives who know us well, love us deeply, and help us with anything we need. This past week, N and I took spent some time with our parents. We took our Dads to a Predators hockey game; we took our Moms to see Opryland Hotel and the Christmas decorations. Our parents also came to N and I's Christmas party and they really made it fun! All of these events were really nice and gave us some time to enjoy the healthy relationships we have with each other.

N and I look forward to spending the holidays with our parents and we give thanks for them every day! We hope that you have a chance to hug your parents and thank them for what they have given you: life.

N and his Dad

Me and my Dad

N and his Mom

Me and my Mom

Today's Bliss: Room In The Inn

Tonight, N is sleeping on our church's gym floor. He'll probably only sleep an hour or two, then get up at 4:00am to clean bathrooms, move mattresses, tidy the kitchen, and mop floors. Our church is a Room in the Inn host. Every Friday night, we host 12 men who have no where else to go. Some of them wait for hours outdoors in a line for the opportunity to eat a hot meal and sleep in a warm place. I helped with food service, but N is giving up a night of sleep...that is a big sacrifice to serve a fellow man in need.

With Christmas upon us, thinking of just the phrase "room in the inn" makes me stop and think. Mary and Joseph needed room so that Jesus could be born...and they never found it. Well, they found a stable, but that was hardly sufficient for childbirth and caring for a newborn!

Here I am with many material blessings, a warm home, bountiful foods that I like to eat, a job, a loving family to help me when I ask them to...I could go on and on! Surely, we all have some "room in the inn" to offer to people who are hurting. Maybe I don't open up my front door to people, but I can pass on some bliss and some blessings by helping out a brother who needs a sack lunch. Maybe I don't offer counseling, but I can lend a listening ear. Maybe I skip a night of washing my own dishes to wipe tables and clean plates.

I have a lot of "room" in my life to give to others. Sometimes I excel at this; other times I don't. In 2012, may we all ensure that we focus on offering love, hope, and grace to people who need it.

Today's Bliss: Shopping

I am not really that much of a shopper. Christmas crowds and crazy bargain hunting is definitely not my usual scene. But yesterday, I was very blessed to shop. I know that sounds odd, but it was true. We had a Manger Marketplace event at my church where twelve or so non-profit causes set up booths and sold items that would benefit their charity. There were wind chimes, Christmas ornaments,scarves, baked goods, jewelry, coffee, ice cream, lotion, and many more items available for purchase. Many items had been handcrafted by people in far away lands...and it was beautiful work!

I got a lot of people crossed off of my Christmas shopping list after this event and I am so glad that these gifts will be doing more than putting a smile on the reciever's face. The purchases will also put a smile on the face of a woman seeking to provide for her family, of a man who can give his children somewhere to live, of a woman who needs to get off of the streets and make an honest living, of a homeless person who needs a bite to eat.

Giving gifts can change the world and I am so glad that many of mine this year will be a blessing to people in need, here at home and around the world! If you still have some shopping to do, take a moment to consider what you can buy that will have an impact on those in need.