The video below is from last week. The boys had their first ever band concert. This was at the Wooster High School and their performance was part of the City-Wide Concert.
The thoughts and writings on this blog are the thoughts of Jeff and do not necessarily represent the views of Grace First Parish of Russell and/or Lutheran Campus Ministry of Southwest Minnesota State University.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Unity
I am reading "simple student ministry" and two paragraphs jumped off the page tonight. Here they are:
I know that unity has been a problem forever, but that does not mean that we should throw it to the wayside. as Eric Geiger says, " when believers are unified, an unbelieving world is attracted. "
Individuals, those outside of the church, will be attracted to church and Christian who show great love and unity to one another.
I think that many times, Jesus must be up in heaven wiping away tears ( yeah, I know the scripture of no tears in heaven ), going, "I wish they could just get along". I think he could then lean into his Father and go, " I think that is why so many people love us, but do not like the church "
Maybe, I am wrong and maybe i am nuts; but i think that we need re-alignment in many churches and I think that we need to be intentional about it.
Selfish behavior and selfish mind-sets always produce disunity. Disunity, in return, destroys the alignment of a group of people who are on the same mission. No longer is everyone striving to accomplish the same mission, but rather his or her own version of what that mission should be.
People who are called to the same mission but act independently of each other aren't unified. Simply existing together or wearing the same student ministry shirts doesn't ensure alignment. Players can be on the same team but have completely different goals.
I know that unity has been a problem forever, but that does not mean that we should throw it to the wayside. as Eric Geiger says, " when believers are unified, an unbelieving world is attracted. "
Individuals, those outside of the church, will be attracted to church and Christian who show great love and unity to one another.
I think that many times, Jesus must be up in heaven wiping away tears ( yeah, I know the scripture of no tears in heaven ), going, "I wish they could just get along". I think he could then lean into his Father and go, " I think that is why so many people love us, but do not like the church "
Maybe, I am wrong and maybe i am nuts; but i think that we need re-alignment in many churches and I think that we need to be intentional about it.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Perception = Reality
One of things that I have been thinking about lately is perception and reality. We have been having a discussion that if someone perceives something; that is their reality. Whether, we like it or not.
This came across my mind again as I was reading the book UnChristian. On page 13, Dave Kinnaman states the following:
In the book, he is talking about individuals outside of the church and their perception of the church.
For me, one of the areas that I think that this comes into play is the "friendly atmosphere" that the church has or does not have. We, as churches and Christians, may believe that we are friendly. But, if those outside have the perception that we are unfriendly; that is their reality and thus; we need to "address" an issue.
What do you think are some of the perceptions facing your church and with it being their reality; what are you doing to change that perception or reality.
This came across my mind again as I was reading the book UnChristian. On page 13, Dave Kinnaman states the following:
Let's face it - what people think becomes their reality, and although we may not deserve all those images, some of their thoughts about us may be accurate.
In the book, he is talking about individuals outside of the church and their perception of the church.
For me, one of the areas that I think that this comes into play is the "friendly atmosphere" that the church has or does not have. We, as churches and Christians, may believe that we are friendly. But, if those outside have the perception that we are unfriendly; that is their reality and thus; we need to "address" an issue.
What do you think are some of the perceptions facing your church and with it being their reality; what are you doing to change that perception or reality.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Sermon: April 25, 2010
Sermon
April 25, 2010
Jeff Greathouse
Today, the four readings that are in the lectionary are historical glimpses into the continual formation of the early Christian community and the encouragement and reassurance that they needed. This was needed as it came during a time of transition and uncertainity.
One of the glimpses that we get to see is Peter’s transformation.
Peter's transformation, which began with Jesus' resurrection, continues, and it symbolizes the transformation of the entire early Christian community. Here, his prayer and faith bring new life to Tabitha, such that "many came to believe in the Lord" (Acts 9:42). Peter's faith and the work of the Holy Spirit give him and all the disciples the "authority" to continue Jesus' work—no small feat, considering that they are without Jesus' leadership and under increasing pressure from the state and Jewish community.
Now, let us go back now to that room full of widows mourning the death of an early pillar of the church: even a short passage like this one has important and revealing details. Tabitha sounds very much like a living saint, very much like many of the living saints in our churches today, who spend enormous amounts of time, energy, and resources in ministry to those in need. By the way, many churches have or had a Dorcas Guild ministry and this is where the ministry springs from: Tabitha or Dorcas.
Tabitha, nevertheless, in her own quiet, servant ministry, is a powerful woman. The death of people like her "really makes a difference, because their life made such a difference." I am sure there are many individuals who have made a difference in the life of community that you are thinking of now. Tabitha has indeed had such an impact on the community around her that they can't bear to let her go. Even though they wash her body, they still send for Peter when they hear that he's nearby. What sort of faith was moving around in their midst? What do you think they were thinking?
Today, we are more aware than ever that no one should face disease alone. Prayer partners and spiritual advocates can support us, complementing medical treatment. Communities are powerful healing partners in helping us overcome illness and brokenness." Now, Peter is not as important in this text as that community of widows and saints who "yearned for a hopeful outcome for Dorcas….lovingly cared for Dorcas's body….brought all the tunics and clothing she had made for the widows, tangible symbols of her compassion….shed communal tears….waited prayerfully outside." These early Christians' lives were affected and even transformed by the compassion and service of Tabitha, and they in turn offered prayers, presence, and tears, but they also took action for the sake of the one who could do nothing, at this point, for herself.
And so we come to that powerful and yet quiet moment when Peter empties the room of all those mourners, and approaches the bedside of this good and holy woman. Peter kneels, and he prays. You can almost hear the quiet, because Luke doesn't put words in Peter's mouth, long-winded prayers or persuasive pleading to God on behalf of Tabitha. No, Luke uses the simplest of words when Peter speaks directly to the dead woman: "Tabitha, get up." We wonder what went through Peter's mind, what was in his heart, what memory and what hope gave him the audacious confidence that he could say two words, and then count on God, right then and there, to do something so astonishing. In this Easter season, perhaps we don't really have to wonder long, and Peter's confidence is testimony to the power of God in his life, the things he has seen and experienced, and the effect all of it has had in his life. It also speaks of the power of the resurrection in the life of the church, and in our lives today.
So what does this story mean to us, if we don't have an apostle traveling around, bringing dead people back to life? Maybe the story "challenges our assumption that we are left to our own devices to fix our predicaments--or, more to the point, that our predicaments are not fixable at all." Joseph Harvard says that we live in a "Humpty Dumpty" world in which we have been told that things can not be put back together again, but the book of Acts tells a different story, about people who "were empowered to 'turn the world upside down' (17:6)."
The description of the early Christians makes us want to be church in the same way: "They were unafraid to wade into each other's lives in transforming ways." The emphasis of this text is not upon a return from death, but upon a community honing all of its spiritual strength and resources passionately upon life and wholeness. I am not sure about you, but seeing the church community rally around one another is exciting to see.
Of course, there's a call in this text for us. Francis of Assisi is credited for saying: Preach the gospel, and when necessary, use words" and with that we need to lift up our power of witness, especially when our witness is in our actions rather than our words. We can talk and talk and talk, but our "acts of mercy" will say what really needs to be said. What are the actions of Zion saying to our community? The radiance of our faith will speak volumes, and lead others to want to know more about what has truly worked wonders in our lives. But that doesn't have to mean that our words don't have power, too.
And so, hearing the witness of others, we can each of us learn and be strengthened and sometimes, even rise up when life presses in and trouble has us down. Like Paul getting back up on his feet on that dusty road to Damascus and beginning a whole new life and ministry, like Dorcas/Tabitha rising again to her ministries of compassion and generosity, we are invited to begin again and to taste the sweetness of new life lived "in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit."
Death is difficult and the passage that we have in the lectionary for this week in Revelations can give us a glimpse of happiness:
Remember the words in revelations that we read ?
the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more... for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. - Revelation 7:15-17
Revelation 7 holds forth the image of a throng gathered around the throne of this Lamb. As I read the passage, I picture faces of people I know. May we take comfort in the promise it offers for our journey.
However, we must still deal with this paradox of pain and comfort while on this earth.
Thus, the comfort of the Holy Spirit leads us to Psalms and Revelation. These passages reinforce the need for a steadfast faith, one that is not kept hidden, but lived—even and especially through the darkest valleys. If only we have the courage to trust, we are assured that our God will faithfully lead us to "springs of life-giving waters" and "wipe away every tear" (Revelation 7:17). It is only when we are uncertain, and therefore must rely on faith, that the Spirit can act at all. We must live our lives in ways that allow God to move, create, and act, and to guide us on right paths. We, like the disciples, must act with courage, and trust that the Spirit will fill in the blanks.
In John, we see people demanding Jesus to tell them plainly. Like those who demanded that Jesus "tell us plainly" (John 10:24) if he is the Messiah, we may find ourselves paralyzed with fear and uncertainty, waiting for the definitive sign of our discipleship before we act. John, however, assures us we are already known, called, and chosen by God. If Jesus' words and life are truly good news for us, all we need—like the disciples—is the courage to act, trusting that the Spirit will do the rest.
Many times when people are looking at fear and comfort; they turn to one of our passage that we read today and that would be Psalms 23.
Along with the Lord's Prayer, the 23rd Psalm is perhaps the best known passage in all of scripture, and with good reason: This simple yet eloquent poem paints a picture of a central understanding of our faith. Though evil surrounds us, we needn't fear, because the good shepherd guides and protects us.
Sometimes, there is a point of confusion for a child on Psalms 23. In my recitations, they run the lines of the first verse of the psalm together: "The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want." Then, they always wondered why they shouldn't want this shepherd, especially since he was supposed to be taking such good care of them.
On the path of my faith journey, I sometimes remember this about their early confusion and smile. Indeed, there have been days when this Jesus has been a shepherd I would rather not follow; if I were truthful. I know his voice; but sometimes his call feels like much more than I ever bargained for.
Why is this at times ??
It is impossible to follow this shepherd without walking into pain: one's own as well as that of the world. It is impossible to follow without understanding the cross and the commandment to pour ourselves out for enemy and friend.
Our journey would be a lonely journey if Jesus had not walked ahead. In Hebrews, we learn that we have a high-priest who can sympathize with us. It is a great paradox of our faith: Jesus is the shepherd-but also the Lamb that was slain. He is a guide who knows how to lead because he has been down this road before. And he still offers that intimate comfort that so touched us as children.
But, comfort is difficult because tragedies and sorrows are all around us and I think that we all share certain questions.
- Why did this happen?
- How could this happen?
- Should anyone be blamed?
- Should someone be punished?
Often these questions lead us to seek a kind of rational explanation – so that the irrational can be folded into our sense of order in the universe. Often these questions send us on a search for someone to blame – a person, a group, the devil, even God.
Brian McClaren has said that he finds our understandable need for an explanation – often including the need to name someone to blame – springs not just from our rational minds, but also from our hearts, from levels we are barely conscious of.
We feel grief at the loss, pain for our neighbors who suffer and confusion at the irrationality, and anger at the injustice of it all. We hope that the pressure can be released and the rage relieved by finding an outlet in explaining … or in naming, blaming, and shaming someone for being at fault.
But maybe we make a mistake in believing that explaining and blaming will help us escape our pain. Pain in times like this, I believe, is not simply something to be escaped, resolved, fixed.
Instead, it is something to be suffered, something that must, in a sense, crash over us like a wave or knock us down like a fever, shake us so that we truly feel our feelings and name them; so that we can speak of them and share them and feel an exchange with others of sympathy, empathy, common grief, and common sorrow.
In our world today, I have empathy for the tragedies still occurring in Darfur and the wide spread death-killer Maleria in Africa. Which by the way, today is World Malaria Day.
This kind of sorrow doesn’t make us bitter; it makes us better. It doesn’t make us smug at having an explanation; it makes us humble as we understand our shared vulnerability. It doesn’t make us put up walls of blame; it tears down walls as we feel our common humanity. In so doing, it teaches us wisdom – wisdom that, in the scriptures, is often associated with pain and struggle. It softens us, makes us more sensitive to the pain that others suffer but we often ignore. It forms compassion in us.
We often are tempted to run from this softening process, which is understandable. But as we all share in this experience of tragedy, as we walk through the un-rushable process of feeling and then healing, may we allow the spirit of God to form us into more gracious, compassionate, and wise people. Doing so will raise other questions:
- How can I help?
- Who around me needs to talk?
- What question can I ask that will allow my neighbors to share their pain, their fear, their anger, their sorrow? How can we open ourselves to the healing presence of God so we can walk together through “the valley of the shadow of death” – so that, even in great sadness, we “fear no evil?” (Psalm 23)
Zion, we have a wonderful opportunity to touch the lives of many people in our community. We have the foundation laid down to do it. Are we willing to heed the call? Will we truly bring healing to those whom are suffering? Are we really willing to help, love and serve with those around us. We can do it by keeping our eyes on the mission that we have set out: BE DISCIPLES & MAKE DISCIPLES.
We are able to do this by following the four words of Jesus when asked to break down the faith: LOVE GOD, LOVE OTHERS. We can be the hands and feet of Jesus; let us – let the Spirit move within us.
April 25, 2010
Jeff Greathouse
Today, the four readings that are in the lectionary are historical glimpses into the continual formation of the early Christian community and the encouragement and reassurance that they needed. This was needed as it came during a time of transition and uncertainity.
One of the glimpses that we get to see is Peter’s transformation.
Peter's transformation, which began with Jesus' resurrection, continues, and it symbolizes the transformation of the entire early Christian community. Here, his prayer and faith bring new life to Tabitha, such that "many came to believe in the Lord" (Acts 9:42). Peter's faith and the work of the Holy Spirit give him and all the disciples the "authority" to continue Jesus' work—no small feat, considering that they are without Jesus' leadership and under increasing pressure from the state and Jewish community.
Now, let us go back now to that room full of widows mourning the death of an early pillar of the church: even a short passage like this one has important and revealing details. Tabitha sounds very much like a living saint, very much like many of the living saints in our churches today, who spend enormous amounts of time, energy, and resources in ministry to those in need. By the way, many churches have or had a Dorcas Guild ministry and this is where the ministry springs from: Tabitha or Dorcas.
Tabitha, nevertheless, in her own quiet, servant ministry, is a powerful woman. The death of people like her "really makes a difference, because their life made such a difference." I am sure there are many individuals who have made a difference in the life of community that you are thinking of now. Tabitha has indeed had such an impact on the community around her that they can't bear to let her go. Even though they wash her body, they still send for Peter when they hear that he's nearby. What sort of faith was moving around in their midst? What do you think they were thinking?
Today, we are more aware than ever that no one should face disease alone. Prayer partners and spiritual advocates can support us, complementing medical treatment. Communities are powerful healing partners in helping us overcome illness and brokenness." Now, Peter is not as important in this text as that community of widows and saints who "yearned for a hopeful outcome for Dorcas….lovingly cared for Dorcas's body….brought all the tunics and clothing she had made for the widows, tangible symbols of her compassion….shed communal tears….waited prayerfully outside." These early Christians' lives were affected and even transformed by the compassion and service of Tabitha, and they in turn offered prayers, presence, and tears, but they also took action for the sake of the one who could do nothing, at this point, for herself.
And so we come to that powerful and yet quiet moment when Peter empties the room of all those mourners, and approaches the bedside of this good and holy woman. Peter kneels, and he prays. You can almost hear the quiet, because Luke doesn't put words in Peter's mouth, long-winded prayers or persuasive pleading to God on behalf of Tabitha. No, Luke uses the simplest of words when Peter speaks directly to the dead woman: "Tabitha, get up." We wonder what went through Peter's mind, what was in his heart, what memory and what hope gave him the audacious confidence that he could say two words, and then count on God, right then and there, to do something so astonishing. In this Easter season, perhaps we don't really have to wonder long, and Peter's confidence is testimony to the power of God in his life, the things he has seen and experienced, and the effect all of it has had in his life. It also speaks of the power of the resurrection in the life of the church, and in our lives today.
So what does this story mean to us, if we don't have an apostle traveling around, bringing dead people back to life? Maybe the story "challenges our assumption that we are left to our own devices to fix our predicaments--or, more to the point, that our predicaments are not fixable at all." Joseph Harvard says that we live in a "Humpty Dumpty" world in which we have been told that things can not be put back together again, but the book of Acts tells a different story, about people who "were empowered to 'turn the world upside down' (17:6)."
The description of the early Christians makes us want to be church in the same way: "They were unafraid to wade into each other's lives in transforming ways." The emphasis of this text is not upon a return from death, but upon a community honing all of its spiritual strength and resources passionately upon life and wholeness. I am not sure about you, but seeing the church community rally around one another is exciting to see.
Of course, there's a call in this text for us. Francis of Assisi is credited for saying: Preach the gospel, and when necessary, use words" and with that we need to lift up our power of witness, especially when our witness is in our actions rather than our words. We can talk and talk and talk, but our "acts of mercy" will say what really needs to be said. What are the actions of Zion saying to our community? The radiance of our faith will speak volumes, and lead others to want to know more about what has truly worked wonders in our lives. But that doesn't have to mean that our words don't have power, too.
And so, hearing the witness of others, we can each of us learn and be strengthened and sometimes, even rise up when life presses in and trouble has us down. Like Paul getting back up on his feet on that dusty road to Damascus and beginning a whole new life and ministry, like Dorcas/Tabitha rising again to her ministries of compassion and generosity, we are invited to begin again and to taste the sweetness of new life lived "in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit."
Death is difficult and the passage that we have in the lectionary for this week in Revelations can give us a glimpse of happiness:
Remember the words in revelations that we read ?
the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more... for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. - Revelation 7:15-17
Revelation 7 holds forth the image of a throng gathered around the throne of this Lamb. As I read the passage, I picture faces of people I know. May we take comfort in the promise it offers for our journey.
However, we must still deal with this paradox of pain and comfort while on this earth.
Thus, the comfort of the Holy Spirit leads us to Psalms and Revelation. These passages reinforce the need for a steadfast faith, one that is not kept hidden, but lived—even and especially through the darkest valleys. If only we have the courage to trust, we are assured that our God will faithfully lead us to "springs of life-giving waters" and "wipe away every tear" (Revelation 7:17). It is only when we are uncertain, and therefore must rely on faith, that the Spirit can act at all. We must live our lives in ways that allow God to move, create, and act, and to guide us on right paths. We, like the disciples, must act with courage, and trust that the Spirit will fill in the blanks.
In John, we see people demanding Jesus to tell them plainly. Like those who demanded that Jesus "tell us plainly" (John 10:24) if he is the Messiah, we may find ourselves paralyzed with fear and uncertainty, waiting for the definitive sign of our discipleship before we act. John, however, assures us we are already known, called, and chosen by God. If Jesus' words and life are truly good news for us, all we need—like the disciples—is the courage to act, trusting that the Spirit will do the rest.
Many times when people are looking at fear and comfort; they turn to one of our passage that we read today and that would be Psalms 23.
Along with the Lord's Prayer, the 23rd Psalm is perhaps the best known passage in all of scripture, and with good reason: This simple yet eloquent poem paints a picture of a central understanding of our faith. Though evil surrounds us, we needn't fear, because the good shepherd guides and protects us.
Sometimes, there is a point of confusion for a child on Psalms 23. In my recitations, they run the lines of the first verse of the psalm together: "The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want." Then, they always wondered why they shouldn't want this shepherd, especially since he was supposed to be taking such good care of them.
On the path of my faith journey, I sometimes remember this about their early confusion and smile. Indeed, there have been days when this Jesus has been a shepherd I would rather not follow; if I were truthful. I know his voice; but sometimes his call feels like much more than I ever bargained for.
Why is this at times ??
It is impossible to follow this shepherd without walking into pain: one's own as well as that of the world. It is impossible to follow without understanding the cross and the commandment to pour ourselves out for enemy and friend.
Our journey would be a lonely journey if Jesus had not walked ahead. In Hebrews, we learn that we have a high-priest who can sympathize with us. It is a great paradox of our faith: Jesus is the shepherd-but also the Lamb that was slain. He is a guide who knows how to lead because he has been down this road before. And he still offers that intimate comfort that so touched us as children.
But, comfort is difficult because tragedies and sorrows are all around us and I think that we all share certain questions.
- Why did this happen?
- How could this happen?
- Should anyone be blamed?
- Should someone be punished?
Often these questions lead us to seek a kind of rational explanation – so that the irrational can be folded into our sense of order in the universe. Often these questions send us on a search for someone to blame – a person, a group, the devil, even God.
Brian McClaren has said that he finds our understandable need for an explanation – often including the need to name someone to blame – springs not just from our rational minds, but also from our hearts, from levels we are barely conscious of.
We feel grief at the loss, pain for our neighbors who suffer and confusion at the irrationality, and anger at the injustice of it all. We hope that the pressure can be released and the rage relieved by finding an outlet in explaining … or in naming, blaming, and shaming someone for being at fault.
But maybe we make a mistake in believing that explaining and blaming will help us escape our pain. Pain in times like this, I believe, is not simply something to be escaped, resolved, fixed.
Instead, it is something to be suffered, something that must, in a sense, crash over us like a wave or knock us down like a fever, shake us so that we truly feel our feelings and name them; so that we can speak of them and share them and feel an exchange with others of sympathy, empathy, common grief, and common sorrow.
In our world today, I have empathy for the tragedies still occurring in Darfur and the wide spread death-killer Maleria in Africa. Which by the way, today is World Malaria Day.
This kind of sorrow doesn’t make us bitter; it makes us better. It doesn’t make us smug at having an explanation; it makes us humble as we understand our shared vulnerability. It doesn’t make us put up walls of blame; it tears down walls as we feel our common humanity. In so doing, it teaches us wisdom – wisdom that, in the scriptures, is often associated with pain and struggle. It softens us, makes us more sensitive to the pain that others suffer but we often ignore. It forms compassion in us.
We often are tempted to run from this softening process, which is understandable. But as we all share in this experience of tragedy, as we walk through the un-rushable process of feeling and then healing, may we allow the spirit of God to form us into more gracious, compassionate, and wise people. Doing so will raise other questions:
- How can I help?
- Who around me needs to talk?
- What question can I ask that will allow my neighbors to share their pain, their fear, their anger, their sorrow? How can we open ourselves to the healing presence of God so we can walk together through “the valley of the shadow of death” – so that, even in great sadness, we “fear no evil?” (Psalm 23)
Zion, we have a wonderful opportunity to touch the lives of many people in our community. We have the foundation laid down to do it. Are we willing to heed the call? Will we truly bring healing to those whom are suffering? Are we really willing to help, love and serve with those around us. We can do it by keeping our eyes on the mission that we have set out: BE DISCIPLES & MAKE DISCIPLES.
We are able to do this by following the four words of Jesus when asked to break down the faith: LOVE GOD, LOVE OTHERS. We can be the hands and feet of Jesus; let us – let the Spirit move within us.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Changing My Sermon
yup, it is 15 hours from the first of three morning sermons and i am editing and changing the direction of my message. i have a "nag" on my heart and going to make a shift in the message .....
here we go
here we go
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Pursuing Your Passion
Today, I am going to ponder on the words of howard thurman: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
Have you come alive ?
I have been asking myself that question all day. At times, I go, absolutely, 100%, Then, I go, well .... ummmm wait; maybe I am just filling a need that I see. Thus, I need to wrestle with what is it that truly makes me come alive.
Have you come alive ?
I have been asking myself that question all day. At times, I go, absolutely, 100%, Then, I go, well .... ummmm wait; maybe I am just filling a need that I see. Thus, I need to wrestle with what is it that truly makes me come alive.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Chewing On This
I am chewing on this quote today:
It comes from the following: Joseph Campbell, From An Open Life by Michael Toms., Interview
I may have to look into that more, but I am chewing and thinking
But if a person has had the sense of the Call -- the feeling that there's an adventure for him -- and if he doesn't follow that, but remains in the society because it's safe and secure, then life dries up. And then he comes to that condition in late middle age: he's gotten to the top of the ladder, and found that it's against the wrong wall.
If you have the guts to follow the risk, however, life opens, opens, opens up all along the line. I'm not superstitious, but I do believe in spiritual magic, you might say. I feel that if one follows what I call one's bliss -- the thing that really gets you deep in your gut and that you feel is your life -- doors will open up. They do! They have in my life and they have in many lives that I know of.
It comes from the following: Joseph Campbell, From An Open Life by Michael Toms., Interview
I may have to look into that more, but I am chewing and thinking
Friday, April 09, 2010
Team Ministry
Dreaming of the quote below:
I need to work on building my community and team a little better.
Working on ideas and thoughts ........
People, who share a common direction and sense of community, can reach a goal more quickly and easily because they are traveling on the thrust of one another. It is harder to do something alone than together. It is beneficial to take turns doing demanding work. By sharing leadership and depending upon others in a group, there is a chance to lead and an opportunity to rest.
I need to work on building my community and team a little better.
Working on ideas and thoughts ........
Monday, April 05, 2010
Weekend Trip
We had a good time this past weekend. We drove over to Columbus, Indiana on Friday and we spent Friday and Saturday night at the Hotel Indigo. This "limited" chain is fantastic. It is truly a great hotel to stay at. If you are traveling and there is one in the town/city that you are headed to, take a look at it.
The reason for Columbus was that it is about 20 mins east of Nashville, Indiana and that was our day-destination. We went over there and looked at the shops and Stacey and the kids picked out items. There were a few things that "tempted" me but I am did not want to spend the money.
The kids loved the pool at the hotel and they "adored" Miles, the hotel dog.
Besides relaxing together as a family, we had the opportunity to eat out each meal and we chose local places or mini-chains that are not in our area.
It was a great 60-hours. I am rested (a little) and this week, it will be time to work on and develop some of my thoughts for a specifically target 6-8 grade ministry.
The reason for Columbus was that it is about 20 mins east of Nashville, Indiana and that was our day-destination. We went over there and looked at the shops and Stacey and the kids picked out items. There were a few things that "tempted" me but I am did not want to spend the money.
The kids loved the pool at the hotel and they "adored" Miles, the hotel dog.
Besides relaxing together as a family, we had the opportunity to eat out each meal and we chose local places or mini-chains that are not in our area.
It was a great 60-hours. I am rested (a little) and this week, it will be time to work on and develop some of my thoughts for a specifically target 6-8 grade ministry.
Friday, April 02, 2010
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