Joy to the world!

It's only fitting that I blog before the year comes to a close. This year has indeed been a year of jubilee for us. The Jubilee (Hebrew Yovel יובל) year, is the year at the end of a seven cycles and according to Biblical regulations had a special impact on the ownership and management of land. I can only mention specific dates that make this a jubilee year:

1. February 20th 2008
2. March 5th 2008
3. July 25th 2008

We begun this year with a simple prayer list and wishes. Like many others before this one, it's been a tradition for us as a family to sit around a fire on 12/31, thank God for His faithfulness and usher in a new year with hope and open arms. No one knows for sure what a new day brings but when it does come it means you have another chance to strengthen your faith and correct yesterday's wrong.

As the year comes to a close I can only marvel at how fast it whisked by. Between the Kenyan election violence, the Olympics, the historic US elections and a Bush shoe thrower many small blessings happened. It's tempting to blow this year away because of stocks and bonds failure, the housing meltdown, the job losses, you name it, but if you are alive and well chin up and let's embrace the year of new beginnings; 2009.

Merry Christmas and a new 2009 beginning!