The big event for me this week is the birth of my granddaughter! We're so thankful for our healthy bundle of joy and her healthy Mom. She's everything we prayed for … down to the dimples. I have friends who have difficulty getting pregnant and others who experienced complications so I don't take this gift for granted. God is good.

I had to wear several of my different hats: my technical hat, my artistic hat, my business hat, my counseling hat, my friendly hat, my not-so-friendly hat, my dog sitting hat, my diplomatic hat, my chef hat, my grandfather hat, hats … hats … hats. God has gifted all of us with so many "hats" and He challenges us to use the best one for specific situations. And, busy though I may have been, I find joy knowing that I have so many hats to choose from. Life is full and exciting.

In the news today is the forced resignation of the proud President of Harvard University. I say proud because she blames rather than apologizes for her racial beliefs and extensive plagiarism. I've said it before and I'll say it again --- the education system in the US is broken. College institutions 1) don't teach young people positive values, 2) they offer no guarantee of future employment yet 3) they drown them in debt. Except for a few complex degrees towards health and scientific professions, one has a better chance of employment from a vocational school. It's no longer shocking that the waiter serving your dinner may be a college graduate balancing life with a 50k student debt.

We often greet each other with a "Happy New Year" but there are new years when it's anything but happy --- especially knowing that the coming year isn't going to get any better. I believe we are in that scenario. I don't know anyone who is optimistic about the months ahead. Let's try to remember that even now, there is hope … there is always a silver lining somewhere.

Do you know why Japan has an aversion towards Christianity? They say it was because the Edo rulers in the 17th century felt threatened by the missionaries. But I had a dream about how it really started. It started with a phone call.

It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. It was a night like any other night. Me and my fellow shepherds were watching over our flock of sheep. Suddenly, a guy appeared out of nowhere. And he said: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

At one time there were a lot of Christians in Turkey. In fact, the apostle Paul had planted some of the earliest churches like Ephesus and Antioch in that country which is today 99% Muslim. So where did the Christians go? Simply stated, I guess they were bullied out. In fact, the Christians and followers of other religions in Turkey are in hiding for fear of their lives. How ironic that Saint Nick would be beheaded in his own country today.

The community board meeting dragged on and has just ended; and I've been staring at the notes and clippings on my office wall for the last half hour. It's been another long day and I'm wondering what to write about for this TGIF edition. Should I talk about the birth of Jesus from my readings in the book of Matthew? Joseph was pretty admirable to support Mary through her pregnancy even though he knew the child wasn't his.

Oliver was crossing the street Sunday night. Suddenly, with his peripheral vision, he noticed a huge object headed straight for him --- a brand new Toyota Tacoma with the headlights turned off was about to run him down. With seconds to spare he twisted his body just enough to put both of his hands on the hood of the truck. The impact propelled him on top of the truck and then his body rolled over to the pavement.

My life flashed before me (in a good way) last night. I picked up my old dusty Bible that my wife gifted to me back in 1995 as a Father's Day present. I had put it aside for several years because the book binding had given up on the pages and the wrinkled sheets kept on falling off. I'm one of those who abuse books --- I underline, write notes and even draw pictures (lots of them because I'm a visual learner) on the margins and in between columns. Reading my desecrated notes, I was impressed at the insights from my "quiet time" and the many teachers that passed on their scriptural wisdom to me. What a joy! What a treasure! Many of my notes were written when my kids were still under 10 years old. I carried that Bible as well as the many milk bottles and toys we had to drag along whenever we went out. No wonder it got beat up.