I liked this article on the Strib website this morning: http://bit.ly/g5TQbw 

Reading it was all I needed to get some bread going for dinner tonight. With some searching, I learned that Jim Lahey suggested a slight modification of his no-knead recipe in this video: http://nyti.ms/e0Fhbh. I added the vinegar, we'll see how it turns out...  

Jesus referred to Himself as the bread of life, and

climaxed all proverbial wisdom concerning bread when he said, "Man shall not live by bread alone," and he made [communion] bread the sacramental sign of his presence and action in the Church. (http://bit.ly/ghX5lJ)

As I prepare myself for deployment to the Middle East may I be constantly reminded to consume the Daily Bread and by that discipline remain nourished for the long road ahead. 

Take away lesson from yesterday's life calling class: you have been fearfully and wonderfully made. If you're a sugar cookie, BE a sugar cookie. Don't let anyone smash chocolate chips into you!

From the Winn family, have a wonderful 2011.

My disclaimer is that I don't have the attention span for a series like Lost, and so it will likely end up in my Netflix queue and be fully digested once I make time for it.  This retelling of dozens of biblical stories and biographies is compelling content interpreted in a commonly accepted cultural medium. Just like the bible, we engage with flawed and hurting people, seeking redemption and a way to live at peace with their fellow man. 

Seay's insight is engaging because it meets people where they're at and like the apostle Paul, takes the modern trend or cultural phenomenon and brings it back to God and the Bible. The book reminds me of Mars Hill Church in Seattle with their Film + Theology series. Taking the modern trend, interacting and reflecting on it and connecting it to the truths of scripture can go a long way in helping the "Lost" discover faith. 

As an Army Chaplain I could use a series like Lost to connect soldiers (who like civilians, rarely have time to address their spiritual needs) to their faith, and let Seay's book guide me. 

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."*
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Today we talked about the holy trinity of healthy marriages: communication, intimacy, and money. Horseback riding, zip line, candlelight dinner hosted by wonderful volunteers, and a renewal of vows service tomorrow morning. 

The amazingly generous ladies of Quilts of Valor arrived late this morning at the Miracle Lodge in Stewartville to provide each family at this weekend's "Operation Welcome Home" with a beautiful handcrafted quilt.  Our afternoon consists of long walks, equestrian events, horse-drawn wagon rides, workshops, scavenger hunts, or just plain relaxing.

Tomorrow morning we'll have a renewal of vows service for all of the 20+ couples before sending them home a little better equipped to do life together then when they arrived. Thank you to Bob Bardwell and Steve Caskey and their team for opening up the Ironwood Springs. Bob, recently named the MN Twins All Star for 2010, is a true friend of military families everywhere.

 

“From the moment we arrived at the Miracle Lodge we felt your genuine warmth, care and love. Truthfully, when we came we were rather weary. We hadn’t been able to get a weekend away together for some time. Being away from the maintenance and daily grind of life at home was relaxing and rejuvenating. When we arrived in our rooms, we were greeted by baskets full of thoughtful gifts - chocolates, shower gel, lotion, a movie, popcorn, etc. We felt blessed immediately. The meals, trail rides, zip line, chuck wagon, marriage seminars and the concert by Michael Peterson made it a magical weekend.” - Geoff Tisdale - OIF Air Force Veteran

Married soldiers of the MN Army National Guard may have heard that Strong Bonds marriage retreat events are full through the end of 2010.

Operation Welcome Home is a great alternative to Strong Bonds and FREE weekend away with your spouse.  This is a faith-based weekend for OIF/OEF veterans and their spouses to provide encouragement, hope, and inspiration. It's also a time to reconnect through sessions on parenting, communication, dealing with anger successfully, healthy conflict resolution, finances, faith, and making marriage work. Activities include horseback riding, quilting, wagon rides, campfires, team challenge course, and more. Lodging and meals are completely complimentary. 

 OWH is hosted at the beautiful Miracle Lodge in Stewartville, MN, by Bob Bardwell, the director of Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch, who recently represented the Minnesota Twins at the Major League All-Star Game in Anaheim, CA. Bardwell was the top vote-getter among three nominees to represent the Twins in People Magazine's "All-Stars Among Us" competition, an effort to recognize individuals who go above and beyond for their communities. He has also completed over 100 wheelchair marathons, including Chicago, New York, and Boston and continues to inspire the thousands of people who come through his facility every year.

Sign up using this flyer, or contact Steve at the Miracle Lodge, steve@ironwoodsprings.com or (507) 533-6007.

 

...and you get the milfoil...

Last day of the quarter can only mean one thing: Pancakes! #lwcc #mca

My buddy Mark Martin is a National Guard Captain serving a tour in Afghanistan.  He recently reflected on his experience upon taking leave and I thought you'd find it as poignant and painful as I did. If you've deployed, you'll be able to relate and recommit to being thankful for the little things in life that make it worth living.

Some quotes:

I can remember seeing beautiful scenes as the sun set on the desert in Iraq, or just dipped behind the mountains in Afghanistan. But I have never seen anything so beautiful as the first rays of a new dawn touching the face of the most beautiful woman in my world.

I am looking around my house and trying to count the number of people who have come to the surprise party that [she] has managed to pull off behind my back. I smile and soak in all their hugs and well wishes as I welcome them inside. I am astounded that there are this many people who will actually admit that they know me.... 

I am sure that sitting in bed at 9:30 on a Friday night and watching figure skating pairs on the Olympics with my wife violates some guy code somewhere, but I really don't care. I would rather not be anywhere else in the world right now than here.

We are crying. It is one of those times that you knew was coming, but avoided thinking about because you didn't want to ruin the time you had left. There are too many things to say, and so we say only that we love each other and that we will see each other again soon. And then the moment is gone, and once again I am alone.

Read the post here: http://bit.ly/a20H6W. Kleenex optional but recommended.