Looking Back

2004 Wrap-up [thanks, Jae]

1. What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
Look for a new church

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I think I resoluted to read only books I'd bought and started and not finished. I made it through April or so

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes, Scott & Andrea

4. Did anyone close to you die?
I don't think so

5. What countries did you visit?
Stayed here, unless you count Puerto Rico

6. What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
Quiet time, solitude - make more time in my schedule to just shut the heck up, you know?

7. What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Last week of August - going to San Juan, PR after all the stuff/fallout at our old church (remember the date better from that first trip, rather than exact date - I'm not sure why)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Hmmm... tough one; might have to come back, let historians figure that one out

9. What was your biggest failure?
Blowing up relationships over my own doctrinal biases - just not worth it, but moving on in the aftermath

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Pesky cold still lingering off/on since September, but nothing major

11. What was the best thing you bought?
HDtv, after-Christmas sale last year - sweet

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Parents who sold their kids' Christmas presents on eBay last week for being snotty & disobedient

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Snotty kids from #12, Michael Jackson, Janet & Justin, Dan Rather, Ashlee Simpson

14. Where did most of your money go?
Out the window

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Three "really"s? I don't get that excited about much... - but was really looking forward to LOTR:ROTK Extended Edition for Christmas

16. What song will always remind you of 2004?
"Dare You To Move", Switchfoot

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: happier or sadder?
Sadder, probably

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Talked with friends about concerns, even if they weren't "getting it" at the time - effort would've been worth it in the long run
*honorable mention: walking in the neighborhood, more sleep/rest

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Eating

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With family

20. How will you be spending New Years?
With family, maybe friends

22. Did you fall in love in 2004?
Every day :)

23. How many one-night stands?
None, or every day with the same person - whichever answer fits a happily married & infatuated-with-his-wife gentleman

24. What was your favorite TV program?
Smallville

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is totally the wrong word. I might be disappointed in some folks, but I'd like to think that we could work through the hiccups and pick right back up again

26. What was the best book you read?
UPRISING, Erwin McManus

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Maroon 5

28. What did you want and get?
MP3 player - LOTR:ROTK and SPIDER-MAN 2 dvds

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
THE INCREDIBLES

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
We were on vacation I think - @ Stone Mountain, GA - 36 yrs old

32. What one thing that would have made your year?
From close friends: "Rick, I want to really understand what you're talking about; or at least join you figuring it out together"

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Navy & black - rebel whenever you can

34. What kept you sane?
Nothing, evidently

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Tom Welling as Clark Kent on Smallville - that's a tough role with tough human and superhuman qualities, and I get the feeling from his portrayal that we're supposed to wrestle with the same stuff no matter what planet we're from

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Why "same sex marriage" and "abortion" are the only issues worth being considered as "moral" - and why poverty, war, education and welfare are not considered moral issues

37. Who did you miss?
Old friends from CWO

38. Who was the best new person you met?
New friends in small group from Seacoast

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2004.
Things suck sometimes, but God is trying to give us His perspective, and there's hope and direction there, too

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Welcome to the fallout
Welcome to resistance
The tension is here
The tension is here
Between who you are and who you could be
Between how it is and how it should be

I dare you to move
I dare you to move
I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor
I dare you to move
I dare you to move
Like today never happened
Today never happened
- "Dare You To Move", Switchfoot