We are on vacation! And I have not taken my computer!!

Peace. Later.

You know, I was thinking tonight that
I really want to do my part to transform people's lives
and change the world.
I want to make a difference.
I want to believe that God and I can do just that.
I don't want to "shit" around with my existence.
Lots of people have done their part to change my life
and I figure it's my turn.
Plus, I want to make this world a better place.
I want to do my part to transform people's lives
and change this world.

The Dream

Jesus teaches his disciples about God's Dream for this world. That Dream is about:

Seeking God's will
Forgiveness
Being transformed
Servanthood
Offering healing and wholeness
Loving God and neighbor as self
Confronting competing dreams that are dark
Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the prisoners
Being in community to make the Dream come true.

Help us today God to be a Jesus follower for the sake of your Dream.

Somebody's son.

Here's something I think about a lot.
I'm no longer interested in who makes it to heaven or who doesn't based on what people believe or what they don't. I trust God will take care of those things. And being a Jesus follower is so very much more than an intellectual ascent to a set of doctrines. It is about living each and every day of our lives as Jesus would have us do such.

But what I do care about in regard to the afterlife involves an 11 year old boy who was recently dragged from his family's tent by a bear and killed. Is there justice for him? Will he experience some kind of continuing life? Or is that it? I pray that that is not it. I pray that it is not true that it is just the way it is that some folks live a long and good life and some just die young due to random chance, and then there is nothing beyond for them. I hope that God makes it right in the end for that boy and for so very many more. This is what I hope an emerging Jesus follower might care about.

Still

still here....and surviving.
so much, so much
sin and brokenness in our world.
behold the lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world and seeks to make that world whole.
repentance, justice, forgiveness, reconciliation.
new beginnings.
forget not to be thankful
and keep seeing the beauty.
and this is who we are
both the old kind of Christian
as well as a new kind of Christian.

CD Stores

OK, this doesn't really belong here, but so what.

I've been thinking about my favorite CD stores. The kind I like to visit are independently owned, have a large amount of used CDs and support the local music scene. When I travel, my goal is to find the local used CD stores. Here are the ones I like:

Lafayette - JL Records. Comparable to indie CD stores in large cities like Chicago or Indy. It really is amazing that such a place exists in Lafayette.

Chicago - There are several small shops along Clark St., north of the Hard Rock. They all have vinyl too.

Indy - There's a funky little shop called Vibes right across the road from the entrance to Castleton Square mall. A great collection of used blues CDs.

New Orleans - Louisiana Music Factory is in the French Quarter and is an awesome place! Lots of blues, zydeco and local bands. Right across the street from the House of Blues.

Of course, I only get to go to these places when I'm traveling alone. My family is not too keen on browsing for CDs when we're on vacation. I can't understand why.

Head Shoulders Knees and Toes

So, this very spooky thing happened today!!! I have been dealing with an intense crisis situation in one of my churches for about two months now and it is all unfolding and exploding this week. And in the middle of things today, I was feeling the powerful presence of the Lord. All of a sudden Trevor IM's me these silly words,"Head shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes." So, I tell Joy what the silly boy just sent me, and she informs me that at that very moment, she is working on some kind of classroom project and the words she was working with were "heads shoulders knees and toes, knees and toes." So, Trevor, Joy and I absolutely freak out, and Trev and I begin to try to figure out what it is we just experienced.

I still don't know what it meant, but I believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was seeking to say something in a loud and clear voice. Something for me...perhaps something for you...some kind of message like
"I am here."
"You are not alone."
"My power is made perfect in weakness."
"There is an underlying force, harmony, and unity at hand."
"Behold, the rule of God's love is near."
"There is something to learn."
"Keep singing."

Stuff

So hey, what's happening?
Hope all is well with you.
I had a day off today!
Found a good book, ate a hamburger outside with Joy, did some chores,
and I'm watching the movie Saved.(fun and good)
Tonight we drive to Lafayette to hear David and Josh's band.
The day is beautiful...Joy , Jamie and I took a walk.
Looking forward to vacation.
I pray for those I know who are hurting....please bless them Papa.
What I've learned lately is to take tough situations one step at a time....follow the process.... trust the team...and to let God be God.
Remember to be a real and honest follower of Jeshua...
the radical rabbi in love with the kingdom.
Peace. Out.

Today

This morning I have only one prayer and belief for my life.

God, may I love you today,
and may I love my neighbors... especially the wounded ones.
And may I live like Jesus today.

That's it. Amen.

Prayer Request

Please pray for the Christ United Methodist Church family. They are going through a very difficult time as a congregation, and individual members are hurting physically and emotionally.

Lord our Father, may your Spirit rest upon Christ Church, named after your Son and our Redeemer. Heal the wounds and show us your grace and mercy, that we may show grace and mercy to others. Show us how to be a part of the kingdom of God and transform the kingdom of men, not be conformed to it. Jesus, show us your path to love and righteousness. Deliver us from the temptation to follow the ways of this world. Only by your power, Father, may we be the temples of the Holy Spirit that we long to be. Show us Your will, Father. May we walk in your Spirit today and always. Amen.

Re-Connecting

I have finished one year as a District Superintendent. Whew!
The last event of this year was Annual Conference which just finished today.
It was a great event offering community and many stories of UM Churches
making a difference in peoples' lives and the world. But the best moment of all was when my papa came to the conference. Dad hadn't been there for 10 to 15 years, and he wanted to come so badly. So Joy contacted one of his oldest and dearest friends from Nashville TN, and he came to do the good deed. When dad walked into the room full of retired DS's, they cheered and got up to come and hug him. I cried. It was the right thing to make happen.

God has a way of re-connecting the disconnected...including you and me. There are times when we feel so alone. We are with others yet feel isolated, different, and estranged. Sometimes we just desire to run away, and indeed at times that is exactly what we do. But then there are the moments when God brings us back to community. God lets us know that we really do fit in with those around us, and that we need the people as much as the people need us.

God finds creative, powerful, and beautiful ways to reconnect us with family, the church family, and the human family in general. And at times, he uses ordinary folks like you and me to get it done. God does this reconnecting again and again and again throughout our lives, our world, and the Story we find ourselves in.

Jesus, thank you for reconnecting us with community and for the honor of joining you in doing such for others. Amen.