Make Good Our Intentions

The book that we are using a lot in our churches is called The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations by Bishop Schnase. It's a powerful book. One of the practices is Intentional Faith Development.

Being "intentional" about things that matter to us and the kingdom is a good thing...things like:
Staying connected to old friends;
Staying connected to God;
Keeping the love relationship strong in one's family;
Doing something to care for the poor;

The good news is that Christ is very intentional about how to further God's ways of love in our lives and in this world. May he that lives in us make good our intentions.

A Kingdom Weekend

Joy and I just got back from Bloomington where we visited Theresa and Frank. Theresa had helped Joy years ago in the classroom in Lafayette. Joy had always told me how kind she thought Theresa was and the fact that she was a Buddhist only made Joy admire not only Theresa but also her faith practice.

So we spent a couple of days with our new friends who are originally from Taiwan. Frank is a chemist. They are very nice people. We shared with each other about our different faiths, we learned from each other, and always focused on the common ground we hold. We shared meals, walked in the woods, and got to know their daughter Olivia. Both Olivia and their son Jon are students at IU.

This was a kingdom weekend...an opportunity for people of different backgrounds to come together in love and living. It was a true blessing. I believe the world God desires to see begins with weekends and ways such as these.

Once Again

My mom and dad have now been in Heritage Pointe United Methodist Home for almost 3 months.
It is a good thing, and it is a God thing.
They are adjusting.
My dad talks to, kids with, and makes the staff laugh.
They are cared for:
Cleaned, dressed, well fed, given medication, and given great respect and love.
The other night the family took them out for the first time. We drove to Decatur, ate in a restaurant called The Back 40, and had a wonderful evening. When we got back to the home, they were confused and thought they should be going to their old house. But then my papa said, "Well, if I can't remember I'm living here, I guess I need to live here!"
I praise the God of the universe and the God of our lives for making this miracle.
I am thankful for the prayers of the community.
I am extremely grateful for and pray God's blessings on the workers in the home.
And once again the Lord takes his people from death to resurrection.

Not the end of America, but it's time to change.

The End of America?
Consumerism, expansionism undermine democratic way of life, Bacevich says


A Boston University professor of history and international relations has interesting things to say about how America must change its approach to economic and foreign policy. I hear echos of McLaren in what he is saying. Our consumerist, expansionist, growth-at-any-cost way of life must change. We are seeing the negative effects today. We no longer have the luxury of enjoying the fruits now and putting of the cost later. The end of those days is now. I'm not being gloom or doom. This will be a change for the better for all Americans.

The Path I Choose

I have been a district superintendent for 2 years and 4 months now.
(Not that I'm counting!)
It has been a blessing.
But I have often shared with my colleagues that I have missed having a close community. I do have community, but not to the extent I did in the local church.
(By the way, sometimes you can have too much community...but not enough isn't good either.)
I finally figured out that what I truly miss in the local Jesus community is
all the ways I was able to stay connected to the God of my life and the God of The Story we find ourselves in.
I stayed connected through small groups like the men's group, the Bible studies, seeking to preach God's Word each week, and worshiping with passion and creativity.
(I also miss being in mission with my church friends, but I am in mission with my new friends.)
So, I am now being more intentional about my faith development and relationship with the Lord.
I desire to pray more.
I am reading The Book of God by Walter Wangerin. (The Bible written beautifully in narrative form.)
I am doing these things because it is written that we are to love God with all our heart,mind, soul, and strength. And despite being one ordinary, ornery, and often sinful human, this is the path I choose.

God Wants to Save Christians by Rob Bell

if you have not grabbed a copy of this book yet .....

do yourself a favor and go out and get a copy and read it, mediate on the words.

Francis of Assisi Meditation

Then go to Surely We Can Change.