Early Christmas Shopping

It won't be long before many folks will be doing some Christmas shopping. If you're looking for a "meaty" 365 devotional book, I highly recommend Dietrich Bonhoeffer's I Want to Live These Days With You: A Year of Daily Devotionals. 




From the website of John Knox Press: " This collection of inspirational writings from Dietrich Bonhoeffer is drawn from his many works and presented here as a series of daily meditations to last throughout the year. Organized under monthly themes, these prayers, sermons, meditations, letters, and notes offer readers a new glimpse at how Bonhoeffer understood the meaning of faith and discipleship. Featuring selections from classic works such as The Cost of Discipleship and Letters and Papers from Prison, this set of writings follows the church year, making it ideal for year-long devotional use by readers seeking to be challenged and enlightened by Bonhoeffer's call to find God at the center of their lives." (© 2007 Westminster John Knox Press, www.wjkbooks.com. Used by permission.)


I suppose I appreciate it more because I first read Eric Metaxas' biography,  Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy as well as Bonhoeffer's Cost of Discleship and Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community.

Current Favorite Bottled Fountain Pen Inks

Three inks I find myself using almost daily:

• Lamy Blue-Black (iron-gall) for addressing envelopes, signing documents, prayer journal & book reading journal/quotes
  
• Lamy Blue for underlining, marginalia, jotting notes/to-do lists, sermon prep notes/ideas & book reading journal/quotes
  
• Sheaffer Skrip Black (Slovenia) for daily journal in Rhodia Webnotebook, addressing envelopes

Both the Lamy Blue-Black & Lamy Blue behave extremely well on even lesser-quality paper. The Blue-Black is very water-resistant and the Blue is very NOT water-water resistant. The Skrip Black is water resistant and works great on the smooth Rhodia Webnotebook journal paper flowing from a Montblanc 144 Classique with a custom-ground, fine, cursive italic nib.

Currentlly Reading

Current Fountain Pens & Inks in Rotation

Fountain Pens & Ink in Rotation

• Blue Lamy Safari (F) w/ Lamy Blue ink
• Charcoal Lamy Safar (EF) w/ Lamy Blue-Black ink (bottled/iron-gall)
• Matte Black Cross Century II (EF) w/ Sheaffer Skrip Black ink
• Matte Gray Cross Century Classic (EF) w/ Noodler's Lexington Gray ink
• Pilot 78G (B Stub Italic) w/ Private Reserve Dakota Red. I use this pen/ink combo to write letters to my lovely wife!
  

In addition, I've been thoroughly enjoying these journals & paper:

• Ampad Gold Fibre Planning Pad (graph on one side, lined on the other): Affordable, utilitarian, great for drafting sermon notes, outline thoughts, etc.
  
• Rhodia Webnotebook (large, lined, black cover): Takes fountain pen ink great. Using it for personal "daily" journal.
• Staples Eco-Friendly (bagasse) Composition Notebook: Using it for prayer journal. Very, very fountain pen ink-friendly.
  
• Moleskine Weekly Planner Journal (red, pocket): 2nd year in a row!
  
• Moleskine Cahiers (graph, pocket-size): Daily to-do lists, notes, etc.
  

Spiritually Significant Films

In his Nov. 11 blog post, "100 Spiritually Significant Films," Greg Wilbur aptly writes, "While one could argue about some of the particulars, this list of Spiritually Significant Films offers a guide for viewing and discussing a wide array of movies."

I have by no means viewed all of these films. Of those I have viewed, it's been so long since I watched some of them that I don't know if I'd recommend them or not. But, here are some of my favorites from the list:

• The Mission
• The Hiding Place
• Chariots of Fire (One of my all-time favorites!)
• To End All Wars (Highly recommended.)
• Shadowlands (Both: the one starring Anthony Hopkins & the other: C.S. Lewis: Through the Shadowlands starring Joss Ackland.)
  
• The Passion of the Christ

To this list I would add:

• Tom Brown's School Days
• The Kingdom of Heaven
• Amazing Grace
• Glory
  

Some Aftershave Favorites

For years I didn't mess with aftershave lotions. Vanity! But, I'm beginning to realize that we're to enjoy simple pleasures, within the loving boundaries God intended, provided we do not allow them to become obsessions that replace Him as Priority One. So, now I splash on some good smellin' stuff regularly. Here are a couple that you might enjoy yourself:

I cut this "barber-shop-smell" stuff 50/50 with witch hazel. Some swear by Thayer's or Dickson's but I buy the less expensive witch hazel brands from Dollar General here in the wee town of Owensville. I have to drive all the way to Princeton (12 miles) to get the Clubman from CVS or Walgreen's. But hey, if I time it just right, on the way I can stop by Kempf's Donut Bank for a coffee and glazed sour cream donut!
Now this here aftershave I had to drive a ways to the big city of Evansville (30 miles) because that's the closest Sally Beauty Supply. No big deal, though. I'm often in the big city making pastoral hospital visitations. (That's not to say that I don't ever stop at a Donut Bank while there, too!) In my opinion, the Master's Bay Rum aftershave has a clovey aroma, kind of Christmasy. However, my older daughter says it just smells nice and clean to her. Anyway, it's my favorite for right now and it's not expensive either. Plus, if you think you might have splashed on a bit too much of it, the fragrance dissipates rather quickly.

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