Some metric conversions that you might find helpful. You know, in case our neighbors to the North ever decide to attack, you gotta be ready.

I hit a homerun this year with Christmas giftage. This is my daughter Lilly holding Dasher, our new Plott Hound. He comes from Champion coon/bear/boar hunter stock, and is a great dog. My 3 kids have been asking for a dog for a while. I've always wanted a dog, but I wasn't sure that a dog deserved to have us. We have a pretty wild family schedule. I gave in this year.

Animal count at the Sublett house:
1 Dasher
2 cats (1 male medium hair with 6 toes on each foot, 1 long hair female)
2 Guinea pigs (Mario and Luigi--they don't do too much.)

Oh yeah, the good times are rolling, baby!

Everyone with an opinion has recommended "that book by the monks", so I guess I'll be reading this week. Reading, and taking a dog out to pee every 90 minutes.

Merry Christmas! Click here for a little treat.

Personally, I like fruitcake. Do you?

I thought that I would be posting more. It's not that there's nothing going on, or that I don't have things that are "post-worthy." In fact, it's more the opposite--there are so many things that I think about posting that it gets a little overwhelming. There's an awful lot going on under the surface.

I'm pretty emotional, which isn't a huge change. I find myself tearing up at a hug from one of my kids. Lines from familiar Christmas Carols (or even newer ones) are hitting my heart in ways they never have before.
...born that man no more may die...
...the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight...

Last night I met with 3 high school guys who have come to faith in Christ in the last few weeks. This morning my wife had her final breakfast of the semester with a group of high school girls she's been meeting with since September. None of my guys and most of Kim's girls have grown up in church. They are so hungry for real life, for the relationship with God they were created to have. It's encouraging, and humbling.

Brother Maynard has a great Advent post over here. It's worth a read.

I like Ringo Starr's "Winter Wonderland." Whoulda thunk it?

Unleash your powerful fist and deliver a deathblow.
King David

I don't often find myself wishing the untimely demise of my enemies, but that seems to be a pretty consistent theme throughout the Psalms. I've been reading through the prayers and songs of King David lately, and there's a lot of talk about justice vs. oppression, God's faithfulness and our needs. Every once in a while the psalmist asks God to do harsh stuff to his enemies--break their teeth, pour foamy wine on them (ewww), taking a footbath in their blood...

Things must have changed pretty drastically when that baby Jesus was born. In fact, it would seem that God chose to pour out his anger and wrath on Jesus instead of his enemies. God turned everything upside down, choosing to redeem us, changing us from Enemy to Friend.

I thank God for his offer of forgiveness, for the mystery of heaven and a relationship with him through Christ, for his incredible grace...

I am glad to be able to celebrate the birth of our Savior, who came to rescue and redeem, to restore and renew.

I am glad that I'm not on the 'soon to have his teeth broken' list, but I know a good tooth doctor if you're in need