I have been back from North Carolina for a week and at the end of this week we head off to Colorado! We are all excited about this trip and I am looking forward to being back in Colorado if even for just a brief time. The kids keep counting down the days and the reality of the trip is finally starting to hit me.

It seems my good intentions of posting more regularly have once again proved wrong. The dissertation continues to weigh on me heavily. I am getting closer to having a completed proposal yet I know there is still a lot of work to do before I submit for approval. Each section proves to be a new challenge and underscores just how little I really do know. I am also reminded as to how messy social research can be. While I am not too fond of the writing part, I am really enjoying the experimental side - planning out the research method and designing the study.

Awana started last Wednesday. I enjoyed seeing the kids and I am looking forward to the fresh start the new year brings. Many of these kids know very little about who Jesus is and I hope I am able to share some with them so they can grow to know Him. I love seeing the kids each week and watching them grow over the year.

While I was in North Carolina, I went to Barnes and Nobles. I wanted to find a book to read during the evenings and on the plane ride back. My plane ended up being delayed after we had boarded so I was on the plane for over three hours total - I am glad I had a book to read! I am very indecisive when it comes to making purchases so I walked back and forth throughout the store. I finally settled on a novel but I just wasn't in the mood for fiction. As I walked to the front, I looked at some of their "bargain books" and found one for about $6-$7 and decided to get it.

The book was: How We Got the Bible by Neil Lightfoot. I was a little skeptical to buy it at first since it was surrounded by some new age books. The back jacket assures the reader it is written from a traditional Christian perspective. So I bought the book and began reading it. The author is a professor and did an amazing job discussing the history of the Bible without 1) it sounding like an encyclopedia and 2) keeping the readers interest. I would highly recommend this book.

I have not finished reading it but I have become so enthralled in it that I want to share the knowledge I have learned from it to others. I may write a little about it in future posts. Dr. Lightfoot has updated this book as it was originally written over 30 years ago but this version is only a few years old (if that) and contains more recent information about the manuscripts and discoveries made. It has only solidified my belief that the Bible is authentic and what we have today is what was written many many years ago.

There is another resource I will share in a future post. It is a series of podcasts about the Bible that has challenged my thinking and proven to be very helpful as well. I don't want to discuss it here as I feel I should devote a separate post to discussing it.

Assuming we have easy internet access in Colorado, I'll post some updates about our trip. Have a good week everyone!

I have not forgotten about my blog or about my postings on prayer. I am working on my next prayer post presently. One thing I am working on learning is how to re-write. Instead of just typing out a post and submitting (as this one will be), I want to learn how to take the time to clarify my thoughts and to write, re-write, and re-write again for clarity. I am not sure if I will accomplish that with the next post, but until then you will have to wait!

You know it is hot when you get into your car and the temperature reads 113! The air conditioning in my Mini isn't working so every day I drive back and forth with the windows down and the sun roof open. I would probably do so anyways - I love driving my Mini :) I am, however, thankful for air conditioning at work and home.

I am headed out to North Carolina on business next week. While I don't like being away from home, I am looking forward to the trip. I do not travel too often and I enjoy seeing new places.