I finished reading:

"The Hunger Games" written by Suzanne Collins. 374 Pages.

A great read!!

The 10th book of 2011. 2678 pages at an average of 268 per book.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Svetlana - The Incredible Story of Stalin's Daughter" written by Martin Ebon. 179 Pages.

The 9th book 0f 2011. 2304 pages at an average of 256 pages per book.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Divine Conspiracy - Rediscovering our Hidden Life in God" written by Dallas Williard. 400 pages.

"1932-1940 Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal" written by William E. Leuchtenburg. 348 pages.

The seventh and eighth book read in 2011. 2125 pages at an average of 266 pages a book.

-Richard

How many Churches?

Ok, so here in Texas we have started looking for a new Church. Ok, it's going to be tough following on from Connections, that friendship, sharing, BOB and the woman's Bible Study for Jenn. So far after two weeks we have struck out.

What has been staggering is not the number of Churches, but, how many big Churches there are. One claims to have 17,000 attendees. One we tried had about 3,000 at the service we went to and that was the second service of two etc.. etc.. etc.. So, if this holds true this whole area should be full of Bible believing Christians living a Christ like life. I guess it's going to be interesting finding out!!!

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Growing up Native American - Stories of oppression and survival of heritage denied and reclaimed". A collection of short writings by 22 American writers recalling their childhood in their native land. 333 Pages.

The last book started in North Carolina and first finished in Texas.

The sixth book of 2011. 1377 pages at an average of 229 pages per book.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"North Carolina and the Coming of The Civil War" written by William Harris. 58 Pages.

Ironically this ended up being the last book I read in North Carolina. Appropriate in many, many ways.

The fifth book of the year. 1044 pages at an average of 209 pages per book.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Red Grange and the Rise of Modern Football" written by John M. Carroll. 217 Pages.

The fourth book of the year. 986 pages at an average of 247 pages per book.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Cruel Britannia: Reports on the Sinister and the Preposterous" written by Nick Cohen. 239 Pages.

The third book of 2011. 769 pages at an average of 256 pages per book.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Tuesday Night Football" written by Alex Karras. 207 pages.

The second book of 2011. 530 pages at an avg of 265 per book.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Glory for Sale - Fans, Dollars and the New NFL" written by Jon Morgan. 323 Pages.

A book about the Baltimore Colts moving to Indianapolis and the Cleveland Browns subsequently moving to Baltimore. A subject close to my heart after the San Jose Earthquakes were relocated to Houston.

First book of 2011!!

-Richard

"Thy Will be Done"

How often have we said the Lord's Prayer...Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name..... Thy Will be done....?

For most people many, many times, but, do we really understand or mean what it says? Yesterday in my post I wrote about how hard I was struggling to trust God with moving and where we are supposed to be..... Thy Will be done!! Easy to say. Difficult to do. A coincidence that Fred talked about it Church today. I don't think so.

My prayer for the New Year is to hand over everything to God and say "Not what I want, but what You want"!!!! This will be tested really soon as we work through getting financing and our location for the next year...but..

"Thy Will be done"!!

-Richard

A new year.....

So, 2010 has gone and we are on to 2011. Last year was a strange year full of adventure, uncertainty and change.

We went back to England for the first time in twelve years, which, was a good time with family and catching up with friends.

The big change this year is work. Agilent completed the take over of Varian causing a change of job moving my location from North Carolina to Texas. Hopefully this relocation will happen in early 2011, but, some road blocks and bumps in the road have cropped up causing some anxiety.

The theme for me of 2010 was "Trust". Probably, for the first time for a long time I really struggled to trust God. In many ways, almost denial to what I felt His will was. I fought and struggled at every opportunity. The irony is when I finally accepted that we would be relocating as we felt that was His will all the problems have occurred causing us to spin back into doubt and confusion again. It takes me back to my favourite Bible Verse: "Be Bold, Be Strong For The Lord Your God is with You."

The theme, I believe for 2011 will be once again Trust, but, I think the key word will be "change" because whatever happens 2011 will be year of change be it we do move to Texas or things don't happen and we stay in North Carolina.

Happy New Year, Trust in Him and He WILL provide.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Russka - The Novel of Russia" written by Edward Rutherford. 945 Pages.

The 53rd and final book of 2010.

The final stats for this year are: 53 books finished, 19,391 pages at an average of 366 pages per book.

Comparison to 2009: 69 books, 22,540 pages at an average of 327 pages at and 2008 which was 97 books, 32,099 pages at an average of 331 pages per book. Therefore this was fewest books and the fewest pages read over the last three years, but, the average book size was the greatest.

Onto 2011, the same goal - 52 books. i.e. An average of one a week.

Happy New Year,

-Richard

Change:

It's been a while since I've posted on here, apart from books. Why? Just a lot going on. Job changing and having to move from Raleigh to Houston. Lots of mixed emotions. Also, todays teaching at Church was about being grateful through the change and not just wait for the final destination.

Change

One thing is certain
In the world we live in:
Change!
Republicans run Congress today
Two years time, Democrats:
Change!
Super Bowl Champions
Next year first pick in the draft:
Change!
Summer to autumn
Winter to spring:
Change!
One day we wake up healthy
The next sick:
Change!
Every minute somewhere, someone
Will experience without question:
Change!
And yet so many have still
To fall to their knees to experience:
Change!
The only one that matters
And gave all to The Cross:
THE Change!!

Easy

If it were easy
And there was no doubt
How would we trust?

If it were easy
And we got everything we wanted
How would we be grateful?

If it were easy
To live in Holiness
How would there be grace?

If it were easy
To do right on our own
Where would The Cross be?

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The North Carolina Experience - An Interpretive and Documentary History" edited by Lindley S. Butler and Alan D. Watson. 451 pages. Ironic as we are entering our last few months living here in North Carolina.

Book #52 (and goal) for 2010. 18, 446 at an average of 355 pages per book.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Brandenburg" written by Glen Meade. 514 Pages

Book # 51 of 2010. 17995 pages at an average of 352 per book.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Erewhon" written by Samuel Butler. 320 Pages.

Book number 50 of 2010. 17,441 pages at an average of 349 per book.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"Going Places" written by Pauline Moser Longest. 246 Pages.

49th Book of 2010. 17,121 pages at an average of 349 pages per book.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Angle of Repose" written by Wallace Stegner. 569 pages.

Book 48 of 2010. 16,875 pages at an average of 352 pages per book.

-Richard

I finished reading:

"The Champion" written by Carman. 220 pages.

Book #47, 16,306 pages at an average of 347 pages per book.

-Richard