The Best and Most Provocative Christmas Blog Post I've Seen

A friend of mine posted a pretty awesome, interesting, and semi controversial blog post about Christmas.  I thought it was worth sharing here.

Click here to read it.  Hens and Thoughts For Christmas

Engage:  Leave your thoughts and comments on her blog, I'll check them over there

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from us to YOU!  

Most Popular Posts of 2012

Engage: Did you have an awesome Christmas this year?  Share with us your most memorable moment in the comments.  

Goodbye Hawaii, Hello Mainland

This is a tentative map of our travels while on the mainland.  We'll also be making a stop in Toronto too. 

We're back on the mainland now... here's some thoughts that I had before I left Hawaii...

Most Popular Posts in 2012

Spam Musubi :) 

Want to see what posts were the most popular this year? 

Do You Shop Online? Here's An Easy Way To Help Us Out

If you're doing some online shopping this year on Amazon, here's an easy way to help us out...

Busy Busy Busy

Some samples of Friday's photography.  Very different shoots but both a lot of fun.  

We are wrapping things up here in Hawaii.  In two weeks we will be freezing our butts off in Ohio... 

Bye Bye Guitar

My guitar shortly before leading worship on Monday.

The above photo is a photo of my guitar... or should I say, was my guitar...

Butterfly Effect, Murder, We're All Responsible

Yes I realize this is not a butterfly.  It's a snail that I saw on the path during my morning walk.  

Reconnecting with old friends the other weekend, I heard about a girl that went to our high school that was murdered...

A Month Of Self Portraits and Jim Got A Place To Live

Day 26 of 365 

As you might know Jess and I started taking a self portrait a day starting on November 1.  We are almost to the end of one month and only 11 more to go!  

Thanksgiving and a Birthday

photo by Esther Kim (No I didn't eat all that food, they thought it would be funny to put all of the left over plates in front of me.)  Some of our students and staff!

Here's a personal post catching you up on the recent happenings...  

Monday Musings

Realizing that the empty pages are the future but as soon as i write them it becomes history... a 365days portrait from 2008

Here's some thoughts for a Monday... 

Every Christian Should Smell Like Weed?

Two guys smoking cigarettes 2007

A couple of months ago I got offered a joint twice in the matter of minutes...

The Man Chair

A Photo from the grand opening of Charity's closet in Savage Mill, MD

Jess and I were on a walk the other day and stopped by a small boutique called LMS Boutique here in quaint Manoa, Hawaii.

The Death of A Dream

A Violin I borrowed last time I was trying to learn violin

You know how we all set New Years Resolutions?  Somewhere along the line those goals that we've set die...

The Day The Brakes Went Out

30 sec handheld exposure while driving 2007

So we were house and car sitting for some friends that were in Europe last week.  Both things a huge blessing to us, since we don't have a car out here and we live in a house slightly larger than a double wide trailer with 8 other people...

Honolulu Color Run | The Happiest 5k In the World

Day 3 of 365  L-R Emily, Jonna, Jess, Celine, Joanna, Atticus, and me, and thats Judah hiding in the stroller.  Sorry I don't know anyone in the background.  

On Saturday Jess ran in the Honolulu Color Run...

365days Married Edition :)

1/365  

Some of you MIGHT remember when I took a self portrait almost every day for about a year and a half back in 2008-2009...

Do You Recheck Your Comments?

I really appreciate blog comments.  I love hearing your thoughts.

Did you know that I respond to your blog comments?

Leave a comment and let us know.  Then check back in and see if I responded :)  

Broken Down Car Leaves Us Stranded

My car getting towed by a good friend of ours 2009.  

In about a months time, we've been in three different cars that have broken down...

If I Had To Be Honest...

Playing with still life photography in 2007.  

I've sat down to write a post quite a few times recently and never posted anything.  If all were right with the world, I'd want to be posting Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  My current track record is a little over once a week :( 

Do you have vision for what you're doing?

From a photoshoot with Bonnie, Meredith and JJ.  (Kona 2008)

Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained.  - Proverbs 29:18

A Bruised Arm and A Half Bag Of Apples

Korean lessons in Kona 2008 

I love when random things happen.  I mean, really random things... 

No Flow, Stream Of Consciousness

Akaka Falls, Big Island, Hawaii 2008

As you can see I haven't been writing that much lately.  I sat down to write a blog the other night and it just didn't flow.  

Do you follow us on twitter?

Sorry I haven't been on my blogging A game lately.  

If you're interested in keeping up with us more you can follow us on twitter.  I try to update there on what we're doing throughout the day and also share things that I have found inspirational or resourceful.  

Please follow us on twitter!  @jimjessbaker 

Engage:  Do you tweet?  Leave your twitter handle in the comments.  

Did you know we have a photography blog?

I just posted a new sunrise photo in our photography blog.  You can check it out here -->  http://www.thebakersphotography.blogspot.com  

Get Out Of Debt

Currency from Mexico, Kenya and Latvia.  

I was recently asked to share a written testimony of how we got out of debt from a friend that will be leading a Dave Ramsey course at his church in Louisville Kentucky... 

Be Brief to Communicate Clearer

You have a lot of good things to say.

Don't let those good things be lost amidst mediocre filler.   

I often write a full blog post, then before posting, delete multiple paragraphs of distracting and unnecessary information.

Ask yourself "What am I truly trying to communicate?"    

Then ruthlessly edit out anything that would distract from what you are really trying to say.  

I Struggle With Depression

This is the saddest photo of me that I could find.  This was part of my 365 project in 2008, after all my friends (one of them being Jess!) left Kona. 

Since I've been posting about others being vulnerable, I guess I'll be vulnerable.  I struggle with depression.  

Blistering Sunburn, an Ambulance, and a Drunk Preacher. Pt 2

A bottle a friend bought for me while travelling, I never ended up drinking any of it though.

Last week I posted about Jim who although he was covered in blisters and had been throwing up blood refused to go to the hospital.  

Obedience, Public Confession, Beauty and Grace

The women praying for one of the female staff here at YWAM Honolulu

We had something beautiful happen during our monday morning worship time...

Blistering Sunburn, an Ambulance, and a Drunk Preacher. Pt 1.

A car accident I came upon in Columbia MD in 2008. 

Every Tuesday night I take a team of our students down to Waikiki to do street ministry.  There is never a dull night... 

5 Questions For Your Good Idea

Grand Opening of Charity's Closet in Savage, MD.  

I'm a starter, I like starting things, I like dreaming big… 

Who's Responsible For Worship

A photo from Monday Morning worship here at the YWAM base.

I've been wanting to write a series of blog posts on worship for a while now.  I think this is as good of a starting point as any… 

I am guest posting today on Anneli's blog!

Anneli caring for an orphan in China.

I wrote a guest post for my good friend Anneli's blog today.  

You can check it out here --> 5 Creative Ways to Better Support Your Missionary

We LOVE adoption!!! And this t-shirt!

T-shirt design

If you don't know already, Jess and I LOVE adoption!  Check out how you can support some friends of ours!

Done with the New Testament! [VIDEO]

A video by one of our brilliantly creative and talented students Aku Ylänne

Last night we celebrated the finish of the New Testament portion of our school...  

The #1 Leadership Tip I Can Give You!

Mike Heath sharing the VISION for the future of YWAM Honolulu

If I could give you only one leadership tip right now it would be...

5 ways you can support us without spending a dime

The view from Diamond Head 

We are always looking for people to partner with us in the ministry that we feel like God has called us to.  Here are some ways you can help without spending a dime!  

In one word: Why Customer Service Matters

Calamari in Jess' seafood pasta.  

Lately, I've realized how important customer service is... 

3 Reasons Why I’m NOT buying the new macbook pro

Apples and something from a mac box.  

My computer is back from the 2nd repair.  My logic board went out last month and I got it repaired.  It lasted a week before it went out again so I had to send it back again.  

During that time, Apple announced its new line of computers.  

The 15” macbook pro with Retnia display has been announced.  

I am currently using a 15” macbook pro from 2008.  Here’s why I’m NOT upgrading.  

Burger King Salvation

2008 Trip to Waikiki with my friend Chris

Here’s a pretty epic story from another Tuesday night in Waikiki...

We're back!

GPS view of the road to Haleakala

Hello... we're back!   

Computer is back after its 2nd repair and we have a friend visiting!

Me, Jess and Maureen!  

Just a quick update for everyone... 

Drunk and quoting the Holy Scriptures.

Jake a palm leaf weaver | Kailua Kona | 2008 

On Tuesday nights, I take some of our students down to Waikiki and partner up with a local pastor and we hand out food and spend time talking to and praying with homeless people.  The other week I had an interesting run in...

Is giving easier than listening?

갈비 | galbi | Some korean BBQ in MD 2008

Last week I went out to dinner with Jess and fellow staff member Jill, but I didn't get anything.  As we walked back I saw a homeless guy in the Manoa Market place, which is right near where we live. I felt like I heard God ask me to buy this guy dinner...

It's Monday Get Back On The Wagon!

Skate night | Kona HI | 2008

Yay!  Thanks to a generous donor, I got my computer repaired.  2.5 weeks without it seemed a bit like an eternity but here we are… 

Currently Computerless

If you didn't hear, last Wednesday my computer bit the dust.  The final diagnosis is that the logic board went.  


In the meantime I am using a computer in our schools office but won't be blogging until we have a personal computer.  When that will be I don't know.  


In the meantime I'm glad to know that life still goes on without a personal computer.  God's really good about stripping me of anything that would serve as a distraction from Him.  


I've been reading a lot more of my bible and I even made a couple phone calls recently too :)  


Sorry for this break in posting.  I hope you can understand.  

One Of The Craziest Steps Of Faith I've Ever Taken | RIP Macbook pro

2008 Opening one of the craziest gifts I've ever gotten.  

You know those stories of radical crazy obedience?  Where you you step out in faith because you feel like it's God leading you, and then God shows up and totally blows your mind?  Here's one of those stories from 4 years ago... 

May 2012 VIDEO Update from Hawaii

May 2012 VIDEO Update From Hawaii! from Jim and Jess Baker on Vimeo.

Here's May's VIDEO Update... 

Why I've Sucked At Blogging Lately

Jess and I at Hanauma Bay.  

So if you haven't noticed, I've totally dropped the ball, fell off the wagon, just plain sucked at blogging lately...

Waikiki outreach ending with someone in an ambulance

Hetty one of our Chinese students prays with a homeless woman in Waikiki.  

Every Tuesday we head down to Waikiki and hang out with homeless people... 

The Profile Of 2 Dads

From our recent family photo shoot.  See the rest of the photos HERE.  | Bellows Beach | 5dm2

Sunday night Jess and I went on a date and during our time we observed two dads... 

3 Tips On How The Bakers Get Over A Cold

This past week Jess and I killed about 5 boxes of tissues, here's 3 empty boxes.

I apologize for only one blog post last week.  I was sick in bed for most of the week.  Here's how Jess and I get over our colds... 

26 years ago I came to the United States on a 747

Me at 2 yrs old :) 

On April 23rd 1985 I flew from South Korea to the United States to be with my new family...

Want to see what we ate for dinner last night? [VIDEO]

YWAM Honolulu Dinner Time from Jim and Jess Baker on Vimeo.

Here's a quick video showing you what we ate for dinner last night...  

Do we rob God of blessing us with a clenched fist of disobedience?

Anne giving John Okina a computer from the Praise Fellowship Congergation.  Migori, Kenya

Last monday we had a time of giving during our worship and prayer time here at the YWAM base in Honolulu.  Here’s what happened... 

Quick personal update | Sorry for no post on Friday

Mark Smith starting lecture at 10:30pm his time, 6:30pm our time.  He started his day at 3:30am his time to  fly to us.  

  

It is EASY to fall off the blogging wagon.  I apologize for no post on Friday.  Our schedule was PACKED last week.  Here is what we were up to...

Blogging about blogging. | Links to all

Jess meeting with one of our Chinese students | School of Biblical Studies Honolulu Hawaii 2012

Over the past couple of months I have been blogging about blogging.  Here are the links to my blog posts about blogging...