Anthony P. Richards (APR)

Thanks for the weather

Thank you for the overwhelming comment responses to my last blog. Wow, I was so blown away by what none of you wrote. So I guess that leaves me with charting the course of my blog ad hoc. I really do want to know your thoughts on Twitter vs Facebook. Twitter to me just seems ridiculous - there, it's out. At least Facebook is a comprehensive connection tool. Twitter appears to me to be for suited for people who like to have a group of others orbiting around them with very little interest in those people personally. Who really cares, or of what consequence is it, whether you really are having a double decaf latte right now? Now I must qualify that I don't think my boss, Ps Rob (who only started Twittering last week) fits into the above 'orbit' category. But I do think he may be disappointed with the what the people he is following actually choose to tell him. I also know he will be one of the very few who share actual exciting things in his tweets, but he'll be a rarity (just felt the need to qualify this point in the interests of on-going job security).

Oh, and isn't the weather great! I'm a Minnesotan now, we're supposed to comment on the weather daily.
 

Blogs, Facebook, Twitter

OK, so obviously I have had a serious lapse in blogging. As I have mentioned before, keeping up with blogging whilst Facebooking has proven beyond the realms of my feeble capabilities. I have also struggled to write something poignant on my blogs and end up thinking that if I have nothing of importance to say, I should say nothing. So, please tell me this. What would like me to blog about? Do you use Facebook? If not, why not? Do you use Twitter? If not why not? So far, I am a Facebook connector and a Twitter objector!

Merry Christmas - Thank You

I'm sitting in my chair at 11:15pm on Christmas Eve, looking out my window at the snow on the ground and listening to the St Olaf choir singing 'Beautiful Saviour - Fairest Lord Jesus' as I type this. Emma, George & Mandy are in bed and I too will soon be heading off to sleep. It has been a wonderful day with our largest Christmas Eve services ever followed by clam chowder at Grandma Margarets and then watching Emma write out her letter to Santa. I am reminded that I am blessed beyond comprehension. I take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas. Whether our year has been good or bad, we are reminded on this day that Jesus came to bring joy to the world. I leave you with the words of that wonderful hymn:

"Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight, and all the twinkling starry host: Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer than all the angels heaven can boast. Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations! Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, praise, adoration, now and forevermore be thine."

     

Vale Bob Engelking, see you in heaven mate.

Today I had the honour of performing my first funeral since becoming a Minister. It was very personal for me as it was for my golf buddy Bob. Bob and I had started playing golf together on Fridays during summer this year. We last played in late August this year and a week later Bob found out he was in the advanced stages of cancer. Just over 3 months later he has gone on to spend eternity with Jesus. Bob was man of honour and integrity who had 5 wonderful children and 9 grandchildren. There were many people there today to celebrate Bob's life and I couldnt help but hope that I am as loved and revered as Bob was, when my time comes.  I will leave you with 2 things: 1)the closing verse from my message today from 1 Timothy chapter 6 "For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we shall carry nothing out.", and 2) something my grandfather told me "When we leave this place, we leave what we have and we take who we are, make sure you spend more timing building who you are not what you have." Bob took all the right things to heaven. You were a champion Bob!

           

Is it really December 15, 2008????

What happened to this year? I am truly astounded at how quickly this it has gone. It seems like the sum of the parts of the year are way greater than the sum of the whole.........I knew Quantitative Techniques would come in handy one day. So much has happened this year and I can't help but feel that each year is going by more quickly than the last, which is a little disconcerting to say the least. I was jolted back into reality tonight when I got into my car and it was -8F (-23C). It made me realise that regardless of how quickly the year goes by, a Minnesota winter always announces it's presence with a slap in the face just to remind you the years nearly over!

Alpha Christmas Party

Tonight we had our annual Christmas party for our leaders in the Alpha program at River Valley Church, snow and all! I love these nights and really look forward to them. They are a great bunch of dedicated, fun-loving people and it's great to just have a night of Christams food and fun. Thanks to all who helped during 2008, I appreciate you very much.

                         

Thanksgiving - Good idea?

Well, after our 3rd Thanksgiving in the US, I have to say I think it's a great idea. Now I'm not just saying that because you get to eat copious amounts of great food with those closest to you. No, I think it's great to spend at least a short period of time remembering why you have the liberty to eat copious amounts of great food with those closest to you. It's a day to focus on the 'why we have the what' not just 'what have I got'. I'm thankful for these blessings every day.......

 

Miracle Offering

This weekend is River Valley Church's annual Miracle Offering. The Miracle Offering is the final event of our Kingdom Builders program. Kingdom Builders is more than just a program to propel the vision forward at River Valley, it is a group of people who are committed to playing their part in the building of God's kingdom. If River Valley is your church home, please pray about how God wants you to be involved in the Miracle Offering. If River Valley is not your church home, I would still ask you to pray for the offering...maybe you want to be a part of it anyway.

Vacation

Last week Mandy & I spent 4 days in Arizona on a 'no kids' vacation (Grammy & Grandad stayed and looked after the kids). It was great time of relaxation and just spending time with Mandy. We stayed in the northern suburbs of Phoenix which reminded me very much of the 'nicer' parts of the Gold Coast...obviously without the 'Coast'. Since arriving back home I'm left wondering if the effort to get back into life after a short vacation just undoes all the good work of the vacation...I definitely need longer vacations.

             

Halloween pumpkin carving

Tonight Emma and Mandy carved a pumpkin with the face of, surprise surprise, a kitty! We discovered that carving a pumpkin is much easier with a 'pumpkin carving tool set' which I found after visiting 3 different shops. So next year we need to do it a little earlier, not the day before Halloween...oh well, better late than....