I'm looking forward to the next couple of weeks. This time of year is really special. School is out, the UGA college students have made their "grand exodus" of Athens, and Christmas is coming! When I'm out and about town, people ask me "what's going on over there on campus?" and I smile and say, "Not much!" There are a few teams here, training hard, of course. The Swimming & Diving teams are here, having two-a-days or "Christmas training," which I hear are some pretty tough workouts! Both Basketball teams are going strong as well. The Gym Dogs leave just about a week before Christmas and return back a few days afterward. The athletes of these four teams really have short breaks to be home with family.
This time of year, my days are filled with fund raising, planning Bible studies and looking over discipleship material, having random lunches with the athletes and coaches who are still here, and reading. I love to read! I'm attempting to finish 5 books by the end of December:
Systematic Theologyby W. Grudem (it's a beast!...weighing just about as much as my cat, Ben);Radicalby David Platt;Her Mother's Hopeby Francine Rivers;Prodigal Godby Tim Keller; andThe Visitationby Frank Perretti.
In between ministry stuff and shopping for Christmas, I've found some time to do some trip planning. I've been asked to join a FCA mission team going over to the West Bank (Israel) in June. I'll be conducting sports clinics and serving as a volleyball coach/clinician. I'm extremely excited about this opportunity! I have a couple of other "ministry projects" I'm working on that will require some traveling too.
If you've read this far, thanks for taking the time, and have a very Merry Christmas! Looking forward to a spectacular 2011 new year!
"The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory..." John 1:14