2014 in review (with some #putoutyourbats).

A lot can happen in a year. I find it helpful in the time between Christmas and new year to have a look back at all that happened in the last 12 months. To remember and reflect upon what might be done differently in the next 12 months.

As is true every year, some of what happened was very good, some was very sad and other things were downright awful. There are things to give thanks for, and others to pray about.

Here are a couple of compilations I’ve found around the place. My favourite, by far, is Marc Fennell’s.

Bring on 2015.
 

 

 

 
 

As a bonus, these are my three favourite photos from the past 12 months. #putoutyourbats

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Christmas Carols. TwentyThirteen edition.

I once wrote about how I don’t really get Christmas Carols.

You might be happy to know that as I have grown (slightly) older I have also become less grinch like. Even relishing the yearly opportunity that Christmas provides to go hunting for new versions of timeless classics.

Here is what I’m listening to this year.

North Point Christmas

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Picks: Do you hear, He Has Come for Us (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen) & Angels We Have Heard On High.

North Point Christmas: Let There Be Light

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Picks: Hallelujah, Unto Us & I Heard The Bells.

Evan Wickham: Christmas Music Vol. 1

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Picks: Angels We Have Heard on High, End of Exile & Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!

Josh Gilligan: Christmas EP

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Picks: O Holy Night.

Do you know of anything else that I should be listening to?

Blippy things that go blip… and then save your life. (warning this post contains bruises)

I haven’t been on here for a little while.

I think I’ve started a couple of posts like that over the past few years. I feel like that person who announces that they’re back on twitter, right before they stop using it for the fourth time.

My absence this time is because I had this little box and wires put in my chest last Thursday afternoon. It’s a pacemaker.

Way back in July, we were away on a family holiday and I blacked out. No warning. Just blacked out. Thankfully I was sitting on our bed, so I didn’t hurt myself. Nothing else happened until the end of September when I blacked out again. I was at college. It was sunny, I had just had lunch. I was also sitting on a retaining wall. When I blacked out I fell backwards off the wall, hit my head, broke three toes and wound up in RPA for three days. They ran tests, and then they ran some more tests. I had an operation. No results came.

The decision was made that I would have a small device implanted into my chest that would constantly monitor my heart. I needed to blackout again. Awesome. Three weeks passed, and in the middle of a doctrine lecture, at exactly 11:31 am, something happened. My heart stopped. Completely. For 5 seconds. We didn’t find this out till a few weeks later, but the problem was worse then we originally thought.

My cardiologist looked at Kirsty and I and said, “Right, we need to get a pacemaker into you as soon as possible”. Plans were then made. Which resulted in last Thursday.

I’m so thankful for Drs, surgeons and engineers who care for people and make things like this that keep people alive. For friends who have made us so many meals and prayed. Also so very thankful for K, who is always by my side. But most thankful for our God who has sustained us and kept me safe over the last few months along with sending His son into this world to save it.

I’m sore and we’re tired, but I have been promised that I won’t blackout ever again. For this I am also very thankful.

p.s I’m not thankful for trainee pathologists who don’t know how to take my blood without creating these masterpieces. What’s the deal guys? Also, the Iron Man jokes are getting a bit old. 🙂

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Through the Bible, through the year with John Stott. (via @davemiers) #BibleStott

Kirsty and I are joining a bunch of peeps who are starting this bible reading plan this week. Wanna join us? This post was stolen (borrowed) from my mate Dave.

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I’ve been doing the same bible reading plan for the last 4 years. It’s time to mix it up a bit! So starting on September 1 I am beginning a 12-month reading plan written by John Stott. John Stott, who died at the age of 90 in 2011, is one of my favourite authors. I appreciate his clear, compelling and Christ-centred writing. His commentaries in the Bible Speaks Today series have been a particular help in preaching. The new reading plan is from a book Through the Bible, Through the Year with ‘Daily Reflections from Genesis to Revelation.’ Stott is the legend flossin the blue tracksuit and bird-watching binoculars in the pic below.

Key features

  • Read through an overview of the story of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation
  • Each day has a short bible reading with a short devotional comment from Stott
  • Each day has a suggestion for further reading in the Bible
  • September until Christmas, read the Old Testament story from the creation until the coming of Christ
  • January through April, read the story of Jesus in the Gospels
  • May through August, read the story of Acts through Revelation

Get the reading plan

Keen to join in?

Doing physical exercise is often easier when you do it in a group. Likewise with spiritual exercise. A number of people have already indicated they’re keen. If you want to join in, let me know in the comments below. If you’re not sure, perhaps you could do the first two weeks for free and then make a decision.

#BibleStott

If you use Twitter, Facebook or Instagram – use the #BibleStott hashtag when sharing Bible verses or reflections of what you’re learning.

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