Every month, I look forward to the first Saturday of the month for one reason: 1/2 price at Goodwill day. And if I go to the Goodwill in Berry Hill, I can also stop by the Goodwill Outlet, which is located next door. With items priced at $1.39/pound, one doesn’t need a half price sale to get a good deal. For me, shopping at Goodwill is not just about frugality, although I am pretty cheap. But more so, it’s about buying clothing from a company that has social redemptive value, in the same way that we only drink fair trade coffee.

At the regular Goodwill, I found this cute jacket.

And after having my eye on this project  that I saw on Pinterest, I stopped by Goodwill outlet to purchase some super cheap t-shirts to make a scarf with nothing more than 3 t-shirts, and a pair of scissors.

Start by cutting off the seams of the bottom of the t-shirts.

Then cut 2 cm strips of t-shirt from the bottom of the t-shirt.

Give the t-shirt a good stretch, then wrap it around your hand 5-8 times, depending on the size of the original t-shirt. Rings should be 3-4 inches in diameter.

Repeat approximately 30 times, using two or more t-shirts.

Using either similar width strips of t-shirt, or the seamed portions that were cut off earlier, cut 4 inch long strips of t-shirt fabric to serve as ties. I used two t-shirts for the loops, and one t-shirt for the ties.

Tie loops together either alternating, or in some type of pattern.

I think it turned out pretty cute, and is extremely easy!

And I think it looks great with my new-to-me jacket.

Today, I’m thankful for creativity. I believe that God is the author of creativity,and that we are so blessed to be able to enjoy His handiwork all around us in nature, and even within us. I spend most of my week immersed in the sciences, and on my day off,  I so enjoy the chance to express creativity. And since God is a creative God Himself, I think He must be pleased when we enjoy the creative process too.

I’ll be honest, I’m glad that Halloween is over. I’ve never quite understood the fascination with celebrating death and the macabre  — spider webs, skeletons, witches, and ghosts. Sure, kids in cute costumes running around gathering candy is harmless, but I find much of Halloween is not. I find the admonition in scripture clear, in Philippians 4:8 NIV, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

So, as we turn into a new season of celebration of Thanksgiving, I think it is the perfect time to reflect on such things — things that we are thankful for. I don’t want the season of Thanksgiving to be overshadowed by Halloween — or even Christmas. This holiday should be given its due reflection and celebration.

So today, I’m beginning a collection of Thankful Thoughts — things that bring me joy, that are right, that are praiseworthy.

Today, I’m thankful for this crazy, wonderful, and frightening adoption journey that we’re on. Oh, I’ll be thankful for the end, to be sure, but I’m particularly thankful that God has called us to something that we could never do on our own. We are completely dependent on His provision, and on the saints who surround us. Without God stretching us, we would never experience His power or His miracles. What an extraordinary journey we are on!

What are you thankful for today?

I came across a post today on keeping your house clean in 15-20 minutes per day. Though the plan would need to be a little different for our house, I thought the balanced approach to housework was well-planned.

A year ago, I came up with my own chore chart, which has broken down housework in a manageable way for us, which usually equals about an hour on work days and 4 hours on days off. Here’s what our weekly list looks like:

Monday

• Unload dishwasher
• Clean kitchen (pull out countertop appliances, wipe down stove and refrigerator, wipe out microwave, scrub sink)
• Make dinner
• Wash, dry, fold and put away one load of clothes
• Walk dogs
• Load dishwasher and run

Tuesday

• Unload dishwasher
• Straighten bedrooms and TV room
• Wash, dry, fold and put away one load of clothes
• Make dinner
• Clean bathroom (sink, mirror, toilet, shower)
• Walk dogs
• Load dishwasher and run 

Wednesday (We don’t get home until after 8:30, so we keep it light.)

• Unload dishwasher
• Straighten living room
• Walk dogs

 Thursday

• Sort mail/pay bills
• Sweep, vacuum and mop floors
• Dust
• Make dinner
• Load dishwasher and run
• Wash, dry, fold and put away two loads of laundry
• Mowing 
• Walk dogs

Friday

• Unload dishwasher
• Plan Grocery trip
• Make dinner
• Wash, dry, fold and put away one load of clothes
• Load dishwasher and run
• Appointments if needed (doctor, dentist, etc.) 
• Walk dogs

Saturday

• 10 minute tackle
• Special project
• Unload dishwasher
• Grocery shopping
• Place online orders
• Furminate dogs
• Wash couch blankets and pillows
• Wash, dry, fold and put away three loads of laundry
• Wash bedding
• Mowing/landscaping (if not done Thursday)
• Plan college breakfast
• Make dinner
• Load dishwasher and run
• Walk dogs

Sunday

• Unload dishwasher
• Make college breakfast
• Buy newspapers
• Cut and file coupons
• Wash, dry, fold and put away one load of clothes
• Make lunch and dinner
• Load dishwasher and run
• Walk dogs

 During Saturday’s 10 minute tackle, I set the stove timer for 10 minutes and tackle one room for 10 minute. When the timer goes off, I reset it, and tackle the next room for 10 minutes, and repeat until all rooms are cleaned. It’s amazing what can be done in 10 minutes! In an hour, I can clean the whole house! That’s one benefit of having a small house!

I am also working on a schedule of infrequently repeating special projects, like Goodwill donations, washing windows, planting flowers. If one special project is tackled each Saturday, it makes all those other projects seem more manageable!

 So, do you use a Chore Chart or other cleaning calendars? How do you organize your cleaning schedule? How do you keep up with all those projects that you don’t have to do on a weekly basis?

I have a fairly traditional job. Mostly 9-5ish hours, and the ability to work from home if extended hours are needed — and they usually are.

Ken has a nontraditional job. Yes, he almost always heads to work at 8:30 a.m., or 8:00 a.m. on Saturdays, but he also has evening activities most days of the week. (Sunday-Thursday, and often on Saturday)

So, I get home at 5:30, and Ken gets home at 8:30 or later on most nights. We live about 20 minutes from church, if there’s no traffic, so there’s not really time for him to come home for dinner.

My problem is: What do we do about dinner? I do a lot of crock-pot dinners, a lot of cereal and microwave frozen E-mealz leftovers. Many times we eat completely different meals, three hours apart. I feel like I can’t quite get into the rhythm of our schedule.

Any suggestions for meals in a totally out-of-sync schedule?

A guest post by Ken

Tonight Jeremy Michael lead worship at the Rescue Mission and I was able to bring the Word.

I love anytime Jeremy leads in worship, but tonight was extra special as it was with 100 guys very near to my heart. I believe in what God is doing at the Rescue Mission.

The Rescue Mission was started in 1954 and today it continues to serve hundreds of meals three times a day; 365 days a year. And they do all of it with no government assistance. All of their funding is donation based. That’s a lot of guys and a lot of faith.

While I support the over all goal of the Rescue Mission, my heart really belongs to these guys in the program. “The program” is a six month residential treatment for guys who want a Christ-centered approach to facing their life issues and chemical addictions. I love these guys and have tremendous respect for their courage to face their demons.

Over the years I have been able to volunteer in the kitchen and dinning room with a number of my friends from both the college and middle school ministry. And from time to time were even able to come and lead the evening chapel service for the guys in “the program”. Tonight was one of those special nights: a good friend led us in worship, I was able to preach to a group of fellas who were hungry for the Word, the guys even laughed at all my jokes, and I was treated to a choir who didn’t care how they sounded. What they lacked in musical ability, they more than made up for in gusto.

The guys in the program are the backbone of what goes on at the Mission. They are the ones cooking the meals, serving the food, providing security and custodial services for their hundreds of “guests” each night. Perhaps what amazes me most about these guys is their transparency and vulnerability. Most of the guys are open about how they ended up at the Mission and what struggles they still battle on a daily basis. It’s refreshing to talk with guys who have no pretense or refuse to hide behind excuses. The program is a deeply spiritual experience. The guys are encouraged to share their stories, immerse themselves in the Word and find reward in serving the needy.

The Rescue Mission may not be perfect, but it does a lot of good – day after day – and lives are being changed one at a time. I feel blessed just to be able to be with the guys and to be touched by them.

A guest post by Ken

There are a lot of things that I like about being a pastor. And perhaps one of my favorites is sermon preparation. I really enjoy the process. I think it’s the creativity and the sense of discovery that excites me so much.

I once was of the opinion that I just enjoyed the sound of my own voice – which greatly troubled me. But the more I reflect on the entire experience, the more I have come to appreciate that I really love the time spent in the study even more than the delivery itself.

People often ask me if I get nervous when it comes to preaching. The simple answer is, “No, I don’t.” Although it is true that the longer I have been in the ministry, the more I feel the gravity and responsibility of bringing the Word to a congregation.

But I love preparing a sermon. I love exploring how old dusty commentaries might bring illumination to a passage of scripture. I love the prayer time and the “dance” that is done with the text. Part of the interesting process is even “unlearning” what I already believe about a particular passage. Often times I must jettison what I think I know about a passage before the true meaning is allowed to surface. I love that! I love seeing something come to life that I have glossed over countless times before.

When I was younger I was afraid that I would run out of “good sermons”, but I no longer have that fear. Scripture has spoken time and time again. Seemingly “ordinary” passages have exploded off the pages and life changing truths have emerged. How can that ever get old?!

So this week forgive me if I forget to respond to an email or take a little longer to get back to you with a phone call, but this week I am preparing to preach for the Sunday morning sermon in “big church” and I am having a ball doing it.

Hockey season has officially started, which is precisely when my reading picks up. It’s not that I don’t like hockey, quite the contrary, but since there is some hockey related show or game on 24 hours a day, I find that it works well to do something else (like read) while the games are on. If something is about to happen, the announcers start yelling, and that is my clue to look up. And instant replay will cover 99% of anything important that happens.

Here’s a list of what I’m currently reading that is not work-related. They are all in various stages of completion, and in no particular order:

When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor . . . And Yourself

Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families & Churches

Untitled: Thoughts on the Creative Process

One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler

SoulShift: Measure of a Life Transformed

I’m also making my way through the Minor Prophets (currently in Amos) and I have My Utmost for His Highest set as one of my home tabs so I won’t miss a day.

Some are lighthearted, some are challenging. But I’m enjoying them all in different ways. I have a few more selections “on deck” for when I finish a couple of these in the next week.

What are you reading? Any books you’d recommend?

A guest post by Ken.

I am sitting out on a deck of a cabin in Gatlinburg overlooking a valley below. It’s warm. The sky is clear blue and the birds are chirping. Buddy & Holly are helping me enjoy the day. If Robin were here instead of in some lecture hall, the day would be nothing short of perfect. However, if Robin were at this conference, I would not be enjoying this splendid day.

This day would also not be possible if someone hadn’t cleared this plot of land, built this cabin and rented it to us. We are able to enjoy this conference / vacation because someone had the vision to create this place for us – even though they have never met us. Sure this cabin is someone’s investment opportunity, but it also demonstrates vision. Someone looked at the side of this hill and thought, “That’s a perfect place to build a cabin.” It might have been easier to build down in the valley, but then we would not have this incredible view or relaxing privacy. It’s hard to say which I am enjoying more.

The same is true for my church. Our church. Any church really.

Our church exists because a group of believers said, “God is calling us to plant a church. We are going to build this sanctuary so that others will have a place of worship. We will gather a community so that help will be available in a time of need. We will sacrifice now so that those to come will know a season of blessing. We will plant and others will reap.”

This could also be said of our family. One of the other things that I am doing on this ideal day is writing thank-you notes. Short notes to express our appreciate for all those who gave so that Robin and I can be united with our children. I have put off the job because it is so daunting. There are so many who have given. Who have sacrificed. Not for their future but for ours. It’s truly humbling.

Soon Robin and I will know the joy of laughter echoing in our home. The thrill of little league and the agony of carpooling. We will get to experience the highs and lows of parenting because so many friends had the vision to look at us and think, “This is a good place to plant a family.”