I missed doing this one last month, but here are the "bits of tid" from December.
ONE: Music and Concerts.
We saw two concerts this Christmas season. We saw the Trans-Siberian Orchestra for the third time and they included a lot of their new material off of Night Castle. They were outstanding as usual. Then, Matt, a friend of his and I went to hear Switchfoot down at the Ram's Head in Baltimore. A truly great venue with an outstanding band. They started the evening by playing their new album, "Oh Gravity" in its entirety. Then they spent an hour playing their hits and requests. I enjoy these smaller venues then the concert size event.
I listened to a lot of virtuoso guitar CD's for the holidays. Wow... these guys just get better and better. Plus, at the last minute I got a CD from Hearts and Minds - Northern Light Orchestra. These guys rock out. And then, I caught their live show on TV, on one of the religious channels. I was so impressed with them that I checked out their website. It turns out that NLO is a group of hard rockers (and others as well) who are all saved and joined together to rock out on some great Christmas music. I love it.
Check them out on this site. Plus they have a Facebook page.
For my birthday and Christmas, I had a lot of gift cards to Best Buy and I bought quite a few iTunes cards. So I have downloaded a lot of new music and have some new playlists that will carry me for the month of January.
TWO: Movies.
Not a whole lot on this end. I watched Wit with Emma Thompson playing a John Donne (mystical poetry) scholar who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. It is a wonderful film, but most people wont' like it. It is basically Emma Thompson doing monologues that are reflections and commentary on her cancer, her life and the way she is treated in the hospital.
Matt and I did watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
My favorite Christmas DVD is Dicken's Christmas Carole with Geroge C. Scott playing Scrooge. A true classic that never gets old.
I haven't seen them yet, but Avatar and the Sherlock Holmes movie are holiday movies to see.
THREE: God With Us.
I used an Advent devotional for the first time. I have used a number of Lent devotions over the years, but this was the first real time for doing an Advent devotional. I used the outstanding, God With Us book. Beautiful art as well as insightful readings. I highly recommend it for you next Advent.
I also continued to develop the Spiritual Exercises devotionals and that remains a very moving spiritual experience for me on a regular basis.
FOUR: Leaders.
December was a "stay at home month" for me, but I had a number of leaders visit York and I had quite a few conversations with leaders globally. Every conversation, every time of resourcing leaders I just realize how blessed I am to be able to do this.
FIVE: Christmas Rhythm and Rest.
December was also a pretty "sane" month. Where most Decembers feel too busy and full, this one seemed just right. Maybe it was because I felt very connected with God during this month, maybe it was because the schedule was a touch lighter, maybe it was because some life situations were less hectic... but overall, the Christmas season felt more peaceful and joyful.
SIX: Eric Liddel and Chariots of Fire.
I spent some time this month working on a leadership lesson based on Eric Liddel and Chariots of Fire. I have no idea when I'll use it, but it was fun. It is a study on approaches to leadership by looking at four approaches to life that are depicted by four key people in the movie.
SEVEN: Devotions, Reading and the Ignatian Way.
I read a lot this month. I have been getting up very early for some time now, for devotional times in the Spiritual Exercises and then lots of reading about Ignatius, the Jesuits and their distinctive spirituality. I have another blogsite - Evangelicals on the Ignatian Way where I post once a week, and occasionally more often, about Ignatius, the Jesuits and the Spiritual Exercises.
You can check it out here or check it out on the LCI blogsite, on this page where I keep a running list of links to articles.
I don't put up every book I am reading on the Book List on the right hand column, but quite a few of them get up there. Also, for a reading list devoted to the Iganatian Way, you can see the books that I am reading on that subject on that site.
And I have a ton of good books just waiting to be read in 2010.
Here are a few of my top books in 2009?
Feel. A study on the place of emotions, "feelings," affections for the Christian.
The 100 Best Business Books of All Time. This is a great survey. I came away with about 40 leadership books that I have on my "to read list."
Presentation Zen. On how to do truly creative power point presentations.
Outliers. Another great one by Gladwell. This on on excellence and success and what makes for them.
Heroic Leadership. A study on Jesuit leadership and spiritual formation. Very, very good.
Plus a bunch of specialized books on Ignatius and the Jesuits and their spirituality.
EIGHT: Salvation Army
LWCC did a focus in December, for Christmas, It's Not About Us. One of the things LWCC did was to come up with about 1000 opportunities to serve others during December. Becky and I signed up to Ring the Bell for the Salvation Army one Saturday. It was a lot of fun. Just standing there, wishing people a Merry Christmas and seeing their generosity.
By the way, on a slightly different note... I truly value the ministry the Salvation Army does, but the name of their organization is about as "out of style" as can be. But it is the Brand... and I can't imagine how hard it would be to change it.
And a second by the way... it was interesting to note when we were ringing the Salvation Army bells and collecting money, that the more "well to do" the people were, the less likely they were to stop and make a donation!!!
NINE: Christmas Parties
And of course there were plenty of parties and get togethers this month. This year, it didn't seem like it was too much (some years it has felt that way) but this year it was just right. Good times, good food, good music, good cheer by all.
Well, that is all for this edition of the Podge of Hodge.
Tomorrow - Quotes and quite a collection of them this time.
Brian Rice
Leadership ConneXtions International
www.lci.typepad.com
