Happy New Year!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

One would think that, since I’ve taken vacation for the week between Christmas and New Year, I should have plenty of time for blogging this week.  I guess I would if I prioritized my time so that I did.

Instead, I am keeping my schedule as flexible as possible, to maximize enjoyment of time  with family.  I am thoroughly enjoying visiting with my children and grandchildren!  I am doing a few tasks around the house that are in need of completion.  And, in those early morning hours before everyone else gets up, I have been reading, praying, and working on improving this website.

So, I’ve concluded that this week’s post just isn’t going to happen…or, to be more precise, this is it!

However, I do hope you’ll take a few minutes to tour some of the new website features!

I’ve picked a new name, Redeemed, for the website, that better reflects the intended theme.

I’ve added a new page, “What is Redemption?” to help explain what this word means to me.

I’ve added a new page, “What is Covenant?” because, I cannot give an adequate definition of the word Redemption outside the context of Covenant.  Both are biblical terms, and in these two pages, I discuss the usage of these words in biblical context.

The addition of these two pages also allows me to use these terms, within posts, without feeling compelled to first give a lengthy discussion of their meaning and usage.  Instead, I can just provide an embedded link back to the appropriate page that includes the definition, as I did in last week’s post, Christmas Mourning ~ Blessed are Those Who Mourn!  Words with embedded links show up in blue highlight; if you click on them, they’ll take you to an appropriate topical page.

I have also added a new page, Joe’s Bookshelf where I have begun a personal reading list.  Right now, it only includes books for which I have written reviews in the last few months.  I plan to expand it to include a list of books I have recently read and enjoyed, whether or not I wrote a review.  I also plan to add Author Interview links on this page.

I still have a bit more work to do on the website, but I think it feels much more focused than it did a month ago.

What do you think?  Do you like the changes?  Do you have any suggestions for other improvements?

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” (Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV)