A CHRISTMAS WISH FOR YOU

As you remember the birth of Jesus, may you share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. May you play a part in closing the door of hate and opening the door of love in this world. May every kindness, blessing, and joy visit you and every evil be driven far from you. May your Christmas celebration make you happier than ever to be a child of God, and bring you to your bed on Christmas night with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

(based on “A Christmas Prayer,” by Robert Louis Stevenson)

2012 has been a year of many momentous changes for the Hostetler family of Hamilton, Ohio. One of the biggest—and most welcome—was the arrival o f B o b a n d Robin’s fourth grandchild (and s e c o n d g r a n d s o n ) , Ryder Aaron McCane. He was born on December 27, 2011 (our last H o l i d a y Newsletter announced the anticipated event, but as that issue went to press, his parents, Aubrey and Kevin, hadn’t even settled on a name). True to his name and heritage, Ryder is in

every respect a bonny baby boy, hale and healthy (despite having cystic fibrosis, like his big sister), with an easy smile, blue eyes, and a head of bright red hair. His parents

dedicated him to God on Sunday, June 17, at Cobblestone Community Church. He is likely to start walking well before his first birthday, and cou ld soon a f ter supply the Cincinnati Reds with a five-tool center fielder. Ryder’s late-2011

arrival isn’t the only big change in the family these last twelve months, however. As you will read elsewhere in these pages, 2012 brought many more milestones and modifications.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED

F E A T U R I N G E X C I T I N G N E W S O F R O B I N A N D B O B H O S T E T L E R A N D F A M I L Y

HOLIDAY newsletter

C H R I S T M A S 2 0 1 2 E D I T I O N

the Hostetler

Whoever said it wouldn’t last was wrong. Somehow—with patience and fortitude that would have destroyed a lesser woman—Robin Hostetler has stayed married to Bob for thirty-five years (as of last June). So, to celebrate her superhuman e f for t , Bob surprised her late last May w i th a renewa l -o f - vows ceremony behind Grotto Falls in Smoky Mountain National Park with their kids and grandkids. Another surprise: matron-of-honor Mariruth Montemurro, best man Rick Wright, Ron Montemurro, and Glenn Kochanek made the trip to bless the couple with their participation.

CHASING WATERFALLS

Ways to Keep Up with Bob & Robin(or, as is more likely, Robin via Bob)

Website: www.bobhostetler.comFacebook: Bob Hostetler

Author page: facebook.com/AuthorBobHostetlerTwitter: bobhoss

ON THE ROAD AGAINSometimes there’s just no point in putting the suitcases back in the closet. Much of the year 2012, it seems, was that way. Bob taught for two weeks in January at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana (photo at top left). He and Robin attended a family wedding in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoyed a family vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee (that’s Mia, Calleigh, and Miles brushing their teeth on the balcony overlooking the Smokies in the photo, second from left). Robin also journeyed with Aubrey, Calleigh, and Ryder to Kenosha, Wisconsin, for a family baby shower. Bob’s speaking ministry included

engagements in Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio, New York, New Jersey (center), Indiana, and Dillenburg, Germany (second from right). Bob performed weddings in New Miami and Cincinnati, Ohio. The lovely Robin traveled repeatedly to Columbus, Ohio, for training and certification in trauma-focused counseling. And the two of them took a silent prayer retreat together in mid-November at a favorite spot, the Abbey of Gethsemani (a 164-year-old Trappist monastery) south of Louisville, Kentucky (photo at far right).

BEST OF 2012BOOKSViral (Sweet)

Destiny of the Republic (Millard)Reason for Being (Ellul)

Jesus: A Theography (Sweet/Viola)Simply Jesus (Wright)

MOVIESLincoln

People Like UsThe Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

(and VERY excited about The Hobbit, Anna Karenina, and Les Miserables)

PERFORMANCESDerek Webb, Page CXVI at True West

Shakespeare in the Park: MacbethShakespeare in the Park: The TempestRed Letter Rising at The Upper Room

TELEVISIONDownton AbbeyModern Family

Castle

ACCOMPLISHMENTSLosing 65+ lbs. (Bob/Robin combined)Raising $3k for cystic fibrosis research

EATERIESGrand Finale, Montgomery Inn,The Peddler, Mama’s Farmhouse

DON’T BLINK

What a year this was for Aaron, Nina, Miles, and Mia. Aaron completed five years of employment as a Mac Genius at the Apple store in Cincinnati and, in October began a full-time job as a website expert for Crossroads Community Church in Cincinnati. He also continues in ministry as director of worship at Cobblestone Community Church in Oxford. Nina is a store manager for the Magnolia boutique in Oxford and is also a lead vocalist in the worship team at Cobblestone. Miles turned five in June, and started kindergarten at Kramer Elementary School in Oxford in late August. Mia turned three in February, and started preschool in late August. Miles also completed his first two seasons of soccer this year, and Mia has been taking her first season of dance lessons.

TIMES LIKE THESE

Aubrey and Kevin McCane made some big changes in 2012 after welcoming their second child in the last days of 2011. Aubrey started a new job in human resources last September at Vantiv, a payment processing and technology company in northern Cincinnati. Kevin juggles studies as a full-time communications major at Miami University (Aubrey’s alma mater) while also working as a Family Room Specialist at the Apple Store in Kenwood, a suburb of Cincinnati. They both balance work, school, church, and family life with dexterity, and even squeeze in occasional movies, parties, or ball games. Calleigh, who commenced studies in dance in the latter half of 2012, celebrated her third birthday in November. Her little brother Ryder’s first birthday party is planned for sometime the week after Christmas.

This year marked twenty years since the release of Bob’s first book (Don’t Check Your Brains at the Door). And, despite a challenging economy for authors and publishers, 2012 also became the second consecutive year in which Bob released three books.

Quit Going to ChurchIn March 2012, Leafwood Books released Quit Going to Church. Leonard Sweet calls it “an astonishing book,” “profound in its argument that it’s time to quit doing church as we’ve done it.” It is in many ways Bob’s most personal book to date, drawing often from his background, his testimony, and his thirty-plus years of public ministry.

30-Day Church Challenge Daily Guidebook Bob also authored a daily guidebook for Outreach Publishing’s visionary 30-Day Church Challenge, an all-church campaign designed to help people discover the five purposes of the church while

also discovering and reaching

their God-given potential.

How to Survive the End of the World Bob’s thirtieth book, out in mid-November, approaches the last book of the Bible as a

survivor’s guide intended to bless and prepare all who read it. Eugene Peterson calls it “a book of great joy and blessing.”

Quit Going to Church and How to Survive the End of the World can be purchased via Bob’s website (bobhostetler.com).

AS TIME GOES BYThe oldest member of the Hostetler family in Hamilton, Ohio, is Vernon, who celebrated his ninety-second birthday last April 26. He lives just a few miles from Bob and Robin’s house, in the upscale Westover

Retirement Community. His memory often fails him, but he otherwise enjoys excellent health (especially for his age). He participates in numerous activities; his artwork has twice been displayed in Westover’s art show at Fitton Center for the Arts, and he has sung in Westover’s annual talent show. He stays pretty humble for such an accomplished guy. His mailing address is 855 Stahlheber Rd., #302D, Hamilton OH 45013.

FOREVER YOUNGAs this past year began, the lovely Robin was working as a professional counselor with good friends in an agency in Middletown, Ohio, not far from her home. In February, however, she accepted a new position as a counselor with CDC, an agency of Central Clinic, in Hamilton. She continues to distinguish herself and broaden her skills, with training from Children’s Services and in childhood trauma, suicide intervention, and more. She travels with Bob as often as possible (someone has to keep him in line) and works long hours four days a week so she can care for her grandchildren on Mondays.

NEXT YEARAt the time of this writing, Bob Hostetler has four writing projects due for release in 2013. One is subject to a nondisclosure agreement, so you’ll just have to wait to find out more. The other planned releases are:

Falling in Love with God, a book based on the story of Hosea, scheduled for Spring 2013 publication from Leafwood Books;

Time to Be Holy (tentative title), a one-year devotional drawn from the writings of Samuel Logan Brengle, from Tyndale Momentum;

Life Stinks...Then You Die (tentative title), a book drawing from the Bible book of Ecclesiastes. Scheduled for Fall 2013 publication from Leafwood Books.

In addition to these projects, Bob is developing fiction and nonfiction proposals, as well as several ideas for the stage.

WRAPPED UP IN BOOKS

TO:

HOSTETLER 2336 Gardner RoadHamilton OH 45013

Bob Hostetler speaks to all sorts of groups for all kinds of events: writers’ conferences, pastor retreats, church events, etc. And, while his 2013 speaking schedule is still in process, roughly a dozen appearances have been booked to date:

Jan. 19, 2013 Book Signing at IceFest, Ryan’s Tavern, Hamilton, OHJan. 22-24, 2013 Salvation Army So. New England officers’ retreat, Ashford, CTMarch 1, 2013   MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), Bright Christian Center, Lawrenceburg, INApril 12-14, 2013 Mad Anthony Writers’ Conference, Hamilton, OHMay 17-18, 2013 American Christian Writers Mentoring Weekend, Charlotte, NCMay 24-26, 2013 Holiness Retreat, Salvation Army Center Hill Corps, Cincinnati, OHJune 5-8, 2013      Write-to-Publish Writers’ Conference, Wheaton, ILJuly 12-13, 2013 American Christian Writers Mentoring Weekend, Atlanta, GAJuly 19-20, 2013 Sixth Nationwide Gathering, Descendants of Jacob Hochstetler, Lewistown, PAJuly 21-26, 2013 Montrose Christian Writers’ Conference, Montrose, PAJuly 31-Aug 3, 2013 Greater Philadelphia Christian Writers’ Conference, Philadelphia, PAAug. 23-25, 2013 The Salvation Army SWONEKY Family Camp, Oregonia, OHAug. 30-Sep 1, 2013 The Salvation Army NEOSA Labor Day Camp Meetings, Carrollton, OHOct. 8-13, 2013 The Salvation Army National Writers Conference, St. Louis, MO

To find out if Bob will speak for you, check his website (www.bobhostetler.com/speaking-schedule) for the most current schedule, confirm that Krispy Kreme donuts will be available at your event, and then contact him using the contact page on the website (or via the means listed on p. 1 of this newsletter).

TALK THAT TALK