Inspirations, Gifts, and Fun

Friends up in Lancaster, PA have started a new business to help churches and families grow in their ability to party down on the Lord's Day. Abondante Living is up and running and filled with meals, decorations, and hosting ideas. Don't be overwhelmed by all the details or finery; this is a vision that many of us share of growing a joyful Sabbath feasting culture. Many of us are still learning the basics as well. But there's a wealth of resources here. Check it out.

In addition to Van Til's "Christian Apologetics", Dumas' "The Count of Monte Christ", and a $50 gift certificate to Amazon.com (!), for Christmas, I also received Jan Karon's
At Home in Mitford, the world of Father Tim, an episcopalian rector and the parish he serves full of colorful characters and mysterious events, centered upon the small town of Mitford in North Carolina. George Grant mentioned Jan Karon on his blog a couple months back when they awarded her with the Chalmers Award (scroll down to the entries for November 2 and 4).

In addition to picking up Rachmoninov's celebrated All Night Vigil ("Vespers") for 2 bucks at a local used CD shop, Jenny and gave our selves His Majestie's Clerke's Early American Choral Music which can be sampled here at Sky Cow Books. My brother and sister in-law gave me Mark Knopfler's The Ragpicker's Dream. Great folk-rock album.

Oh, I almost forgot: if you haven't yet perused the menu and descriptions of West of Paris, you are not yet hungry. Speaking of learning to feast and celebrate the good things of God, Francis Foucachon is beginning to teach us how. These friends in Moscow, Idaho have just opened for business early this Fall. Jenny and I are hoping to find some way to at least enjoy a few moments here during our visit in January. In addition to being a guest in the Foucachon home, I've had the priviledge of teaching the Foucachon's youngest daughter Latin for a year. Go ahead, take a peak.

I hope your fourth day of Christmas has been quite merry. And even if you didn't receive 'four colly birds' from your true love (shame on them!), I do trust it's been good all the same. Happy Christmas!