back to work

Today I went back to work. Well, I've been working at home remotely, so I guess I mean back into the building of Crossroads.

It was surreal to walk through the empty halls of Crossroads - devoid of most of the staff as well as the hundreds...several thousand actually who attended just days ago.

It was amazing to watch the Christmas series unfold and become reality this past week. We watched as ideas became 3 dimensional and the message was proclaimed clearly for all to understand. The Holy Spirit moved people - I watched it. Eyes being wiped, families hugging as they sat with loved ones who seldom walk through the doors of church - anxious sideway glances to see if they were taking in the Christmas message. Christmas was everything we hoped for, worked for and prayed for.

God sent His only Son. And we celebrated that sending.

It was a blessing to be back to work today, to put things away and to move on to our next opportunity to produce ideas, create new things and give Him our best. So good.

my day off

I am looking forward to once again beginning to write!

As soon as I slowed down from the holidays my head began to fill with praise and ideas and things I want to explore. So, if you would be so kind as to read...I will once again write!

I experienced many things during Christmas. Family reunited, several thousand in attendance at Crossroads to see the services we all poured our lives into the past few months, the exchange of gifts with those we love and appreciate as friends, family and volunteers and a whole lot of eating.

Among the glitter, glamour and performances stood one small event that I will forever cherish - my father reading Luke 2 to us before we opened our gifts. This was Christmas to me!

What was your most cherished memory from this Christmas?

so behind in writing

I am SO behind in all of my writing. I really miss the process of thinking about a given topic and writing all the details out. For the next few days that is a luxury I can not dedicate time to. After Christmas I plan to write extensively for the various websites waiting for articles. I look forward to this tremendously!

Until then - I will just cherish each moment with our kids and family and enjoy Christmas!

Tonight was spectacular as we walked around one of my favorite areas - Easton in Columbus, Ohio. So gorgeous!

everyone is freaked out

Everyone is freaked out about the weather that seems to be headed toward Northern Ohio. It still looks like it will miss us, but I SO hope people won't just stay home from church in the morning.

It was such a blessed time of worship and teaching tonight! And next weekend...oh my just wait!

I am very excited about our Christmas series "The Promise" which begins next weekend. This series will run Dec 18/19 into the Christmas services on December 23 & 24 and conclude on January 2nd with an amazing service!

You all really, really need to plan to be here over the next few weeks!!

Christmas is here

Christmas came to the Biddle's today.

Decorations were going up at the same time turkey was baking and rolls were rising.

Of Course we continued the tradition we began when the kids were born - giving them one new ornament each year when we decorate the tree. We even had some extras this year.




Our son-in-law Aaron was confused about 'hanging' the stockings that Jocelyn just bought for them instead of wearing them!

With windows of time becoming less and less with our kids we decided to decorate when everyone was here at the same time. So I guess I can relax in my Christmas-ness and prepare to celebrate for the next month beginning tomorrow!

I was wondering when all of you do your decorating?

Christmas completed...sort of

I have never been more proud then I was of the brand new programming team that was made up of people that have never served in this way before.

They all brought ideas as we began to work on Christmas, they were all dedicated to the project a project that had to communicate clearly the message of hope found in Christmas.

They found it, created it, committed to it and today they presented it.

Those watching the presentation understood the message, and approved the concept to move forward to completion. And so we prepare now to take the pieces that will become Christmas with the Lord's help and bring it to completion.

I am so thankful and I cannot wait to see what God will do!

what I learned today

Today's activities reminded me once again how much more joy there is in the journey when you do these two things:

1. Include others instead of trying to do things alone.
2. When you plan way ahead.

I often forget to include others in the beginning of a new process. But I have thoroughly enjoyed including brand new people in the creative process for Christmas this time around!

The journey also becomes more enjoyable when I begin very early. This allows for creative experimenting - and still leaves time to change things if needed.

In ministry at least, these two points can be applied to just about everything I can think of - well, maybe except the preaching!