Ok, in honor of the new U2 album coming out today "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb", let me post a few quotes from the lads. By the way, I will unequivocally say and teach my kids that U2 is the best rock band in the world and always has been. Secondly, I am not one to be starstruck, but I'm fascinated by Bono. His ideas, his passions, his art, his worldview, his Christ following, his leadership, his criticisms, his persona, his creativity and his sound bites.

Here are some quotes from last friday's USA today article in an interview.

In response to the sales of their new album . . . "But we don't see that as the only way to be successful. What we want to preserve above everything else is the creative life of the band. Our approach to being commercial is be really good and original adn don't worry about it."

On greatness . . . "Very good", Bono says, "is the enemy of great. You think great is right next door. It's not. It's in another county." (geez, i love that idea)

On the death of his father and songwriting . . . "Nothing like bereavement to keep the heart porous, " Bono says, "It's hardness of the heart that can close down a writer."

On new album . . . "This album was no time for philosophizing. This is about who do you love, how do you love, why do you love."

On beauty . . . "We are brutal in a very clinical way. That eye is almost cruel in its search for beauty. No one notices the blows or sees the bruises. All we're concerned about is where is the beauty."

The 4 lads from the Green Island are at it again. Who's up for a couple road trips to see them live?????????

peace,

I'm stranded here at school and our new computer has been delivered at home. The new member to our family is an iMac G5 w/ wireless keyboard and mouse. I want to go home right now and set it up and begin playing like a kid in a candy shop.

My grandmother back in philly is failing in her health again the the doctors have given her just a couple more days to live so our holiday plans may be changing. This got me thinking this morning about what it must be like to be ready to see Christ face to face and to long for it. There are great relationships here on earth, but I can hardly imagine what seeing Jesus will be like. I experience His presence now but only in the spiritual. Will I one day see him in the physical? I mean the real Christ? The One who has brought truth to my existence. Amazing thing we call life. I pray my Grandmom Marshall walks seamlessly into the arms of the one she has worshipped her entire life. There are parts of me that envy her for that experience, but I'm content rocking this life for a few more decades.

peace,

Been doing some reflecting w/ senior Bible classes today on what we have to be thankful for. We spend so much time griping, complaining, moaning about what we don't have, what we think we need, what we're disappointed with, what doesn't fit our agenda, what doesn't work for us, what we don't prefer etc. etc.

What must this sound like to the God who made us? Who created wonders for us to see and beautiful things in life for us to taste? To honor Him, to thank Him, to praise Him ought not to be overlooked.

So here is my thankful list as is in my mind this morning:
- my wife, I couldn't be more in love. She's an amazing person and Mom. And, she's Hot!
- my kids, they have changed me. I love spending time with them. They amaze me with their learning and their growing up. I can't wait to see how they will bring more of the Kingdom to earth.
- my friends. I have for my lifetime longed for the friends that I presently have. I have hoards of people who love me and would do anything for me. Guys I can share my deepest thoughts with and my closet of skeletons. We share a faith that will never end.
- my health. I have done well so far, but if I'm not more intentional, I might not be able to say this 10 years from now.
- my calling. I feel called to teach and announce the good news of the Kingdom. I'm not doing it as much as I want to but in a way I get to use it as my vocation as well, so that's cool.
- my home. A place to make memories with my family and provide hospitality for more Kingdom work.
- my frivolous comforts. I won't list them or you'll think less of me.
- my ongoing salvation in Christ and the experience of Kingdom come.

Stop and be thankful for the Kingdom today,

i just had to say that my wireless virginity has been broken. I asked for a wireless network in my house for my birthday this year and it came early. I'm stoked, watching "Elf" with the kids as I send off some emails. We're also expecting our new computer in the mail in a few days, the G5 iMac. Life is good. Thanks to Jon and Ben for their Mac buying advice.

peace,

"All of my days . . . You've shown yourself in mysterious ways,
Not always clear to me in the heat of the race,
But I am sure I've seen your image."
-portion of "At Your Table" by Beth Wacome Keck

"Show me how you work, God; School me in your ways.
Take me by the hand; Lead me down the path of truth.
You are my Savior, aren't you?"
-Psalm 25 (The Message)

I love questions. They intrigue me. They involve mystery and the unknown and that captures my imagination and creativity. I love that my relationship with Christ because its open and not controlled. I mean, there is still so much about Him that I have no clue of or have even discovered. Deeper wells of grace and truth that I have yet to tap in my lifetime. I'm not really a person who wished that God was more like Science, known entities and full proof measurements, that stuff doesn't capture me. I like the unknown, I like mystery. Well, I guess I say that when things are going well. When my enemies are closing in, I like to know that He's a Rock of stability and salvation. I don't want to ever lose the awe and wonder of my salvation.

Take me by the hand today, Lord, I'll follow.

peace,

Pretty good weekend. Thanks to Alan and VBCC for hosting our regional gathering on friday evening and Saturday. Really good folk as always gathering to share lives and encourage each other for simple, Kingdom work. Our time of prophetic prayer for one another was particularly a highlight for me. We all should do that more.

OCC is in planning stages for 3 pretty cool events coming up. (events = parties) Next Sunday we have our annual Thanksgiving celebration together w/ a nice turkey dinner and a time of worship and giving thanks. On December 10, we are having our annual Christmas party with white elephant gifting, karaoke, good eats and more. Jan. 14-16 is a new thing for us, we're going to have a winter family retreat in north east Ohio staying in a lodge together, going skiing/tubing and have a few worship sessions revolving around a theme. This brings me back to my student ministry days, really looking forward to a getaway and what the Spirit can do in that time. So the holidays are upon us and the calendar is getting full.

Nicki was painting most of the day yesterday, so I had a chance to do some bonding w/ my 3 kids. We played disney trivia, watched The Grinch, then I cleaned the house and did the dishes, then made dinner, then gave them a bath and got them ready for bed, then watched Extreme Makeover Home Edition and then our evening compline prayers before bed. It was good to have concentrated time with them. Nicki is painting again tonight, so I"m back at it.

peace,

First off, let me say this. Go here (http://bethwacomekeck.com/) and buy Beth's CD if your looking for something honest, authentic and stripped down. Its a really beautiful piece of raw worship. Beth's heart and voice has been in my truck this week and the Spirit has been imminently present. I may be buying a few myself for Christmas presents this year. Thanks for your giftings and artistic pasion, Beth.

Secondly, I am attending a Christian teacher convention today and tommorrow in Dayton that our school sends us to every other year. I attended 3 seminars on postmodernism today and they don't have a clue. They are spending all their time setting up a culture war and not getting to the heart of the matter which is that we are losing the hearts of our students. The answer is not to bash Michael Moore and the rest of hollywood. The answer is not to play pop-philosophy with elementary logic about truth. The answer is not to preach to the choir about how right you are. The answer is the Incarnation. The answer is to enter in, not to declare that your right, but to love. Truth does not need to be defended, it shows itself to be true. Students need people who care enough to give them a reason to encounter Truth. When oh when are we going to learn? Its not a battle over ideas, its a spiritual battle for hearts. We don't need anymore "us vs. them" dichotomies, we need to embrace all those outside of the Kingdom of God as his missing children. We are as pompous and prideful as the Pharisees, we lack the simple graces of humility and love. I am beginning to really embrace being an influencer as a teacher, but I share little in common with this propaganda of a culture war. I am not interested in cultural issues, I'm interested in the heart, for that is where our external behaviors come from. We don't love because we memorize long Bible passages about love. We love because the Spirit of the Scriptures is within us and compels us to be like Christ as revealed in the Bible. Postmodernism is not a threat. Relgious minded arrogance is the threat I'm concerned with.

peace,

I've been reflecting on the Kingdom that has already come. For so long, I believed that my Christianity was about some day going to a place called heaven or waiting for Jesus to come back and take me there. But as I read the N.T., I don't see the evidence of that. Rather, I see a Kingdom that has already come. A Kingdom that came in power, however oddly wrapped as a child laying in a manger. Jesus lived the Kingdom life, sinless, loving, forgiving, gracious, righteous, indignant towards evil etc. He said things like "if you've seen me, you've seen the kingdom" and "I am the bread of life, whoever eats of me will never go hungry again." You see, I eat other things that don't really satisfy. They seem like they will help me, but they end up being a counterfeit to the real thing. I have tasted and enjoyed the reality of Kingdom come, but I haven't had enough. I want more, a lot more. There is still sickness and pain all around me and the eternal kingdom will be wiped clean of those. I see the hearts of many grown cold, not caring anymore and living only in their own cynicism and lack of trust. I see brokenness, decay, heartache, failures and counterfeits. I want to be a conduit of Kingdom come. I want to touch and to heal, I want to speak and see transformation, I want to love and see hate dispel, I want to prophesy and see hope well up, I want to forgive and see freedom, I want to proclaim and see conversions, I want more than I see now. i want to be a conduit for Kingdom come because I'm tired of seeing people around me in pain and in bondage the ways of this world.

Wednesday is an off day for me at school. I have chosen to spend a portion of it in solitude and contemplative prayer seeking the Jesus who is Kingdom come.

peace,

The Palmers had an amazing wedding this past Saturday night in Columbus. Really beautiful decor, Jewish wedding w/ chanted Hebrew blessings and concluded w/ Palmer stepping on the wine glass. The fun raged on as the Beans, Creech's, Rains' and Marshall's rocked into the early morning. Good fun, good friends.

Should have tommorrow off then a 2 day Christian teacher convention in Dayton on Thursday and Friday (woo hoo).

Today is my eldest dauthter's 8th birthday. Ali is a unique child. Extremely innocent and extremely dramatic. I can't hardly picture her future but I know it will be filled with highs and lows. She is so much like me, I really enjoy her. I envision her and I taking some walks and trips together just dreaming about life and the future. Happy Birthday Ali!

Stop and Notice the Kingdom around you today.

Do you ever hear a voice calling you? I'm not talking about audibly, I'm talking about the times when you listen with your soul? This morning I hear a voice calling me. I wonder if its the same voice that calls to the deep and the same voice that thunders in the sky. Its the voice of a Creator who governs the universe and keeps his eye on the sparrow. Its a voice that gives incredible clarity to this thing we call life. Its a voice that helps me see whether I've been flying right side up or not. I think I've been looking for perspective lately. But how can I get His perspective unless I unplug myself from this world's systems? How can I hear until I'm quiet in solitude not allowing other voices to distract? How can I strip myself away so that He's the only voice that is left? I long to follow that voice. I long to obey whatever it says. I long to be shaped and molded by the coals from his flame. How can you ever know who you really are unless you unplug from this system and hear his voice? I want to act in the power of the resurrection, but only he has those resources. I want to walk in His stream if only to know that I belong to Him. His ways are not our ways and His Kingdom is not the one easily seen. For those who have ears to hear, let them hear.

I want to hear today that distant voice.

Man, it was so good to have fight club again tonight. Its been a long, long while since we got together with lots of transitioning, injuries, scheduling conflicts etc. But back we were again. Rains, Canipe, Johnson, myself and a guest appearance from Joe Long. (Hey Joe, love the CD mix, and part. the intro.) Our topics ranged from 40 foot fires, potato guns, life insurance, things not to say to your wife, jelly donuts in our spinal columns, head injuries, emergent news, eschatology views, Israel as metaphor, home buying, group leading, world systems, music tastes and a ton of laughter. I love not being alone in what I do. Sometimes I feel that I don't do enough, that I should be accomplishing more, I should be more missional, more productive, more intentional etc. etc. These guys help me relax and just be myself. Think Kingdom, act Kingdom, love Kingdom and be Kingdom. Good friends are to be treasured, I appreciate these guys. They spur me on towards love and good deeds. I am never alone. Fight Club is back.

WHO DEY!! Just getting back into it after taking Tuesday off following Monday Night Football here in the Nati. Had a great time with Joe, Paul and Gabe, the infamous Bengal Bus and 65,000 of my closest friends in Bengal stripes. The Bengals played the way we believe they can play and if we can keep it together over the next couple weeks, we're right back in the thick of things. This goes into my top 5 favorite Bengals experiences, very satisfying.

Been talking with many lately about the polarization of our country in regards to this election coming up. It just isn't even civil and amongst the Christian population, it seems if their choice isn't elected then the gates of hell are going to open up and swallow up America by November 5th and no later than November 7th. It will be an imminent destruction. As a follower of Christ, I just don't think this is the case. Rather, this too shall pass and history can prove it.

Romans 13:1-6, Paul lays out his views on government. He states that we should submit ourselves to governing authorities. And Peter, in I Peter 2:11-17 says that we should submit to authorities instituted among men. He also states that we are aliens and strangers in this world, so why are we putting so many eggs in the basket of this election? I do believe that we have dual citizenship. We are to be present as salt and light in our communities, and I apply that as voting, paying taxes, obeying the laws etc. But that we are also citizens of another Kingdom that is unshakeable. So I won't get too upset if the canidate I vote for doesn't win and I don't think the world will end.

By the way, Peter and Paul couldn't vote for their emperor and Nero was a madman. It amazes me that Peter and Paul wrote these words of respect and honor to a governor who would eventually behead Paul and crucify Peter according to Church tradition. It must be that they were anchored not in this world, but in a world that was unseen. The Kingdom perspective changes everything.

peace,

Had one of those parent experiences last night that will haunt me for awhile. Our son, Zach, is 2 and he fell down a couple stairs and split his chin open with a gash. I was about to leave for our school football game when Nicki called me from her mom's with the news. So I met her at the Urgent Care facility and it was obvious that it was going to need stitches. Zach was already having one of those melodramatic days and he wasn't co-operating. He wouldn't sit still or sit at all. So they put him on a board that had 4 sets of straps on it and strapped him down so he couldn't move. One over his head, one over his arms at the shoulder, one over his hands at the waist and one around his hips. This obviously made Zach very frustrated and he screamed and cried the entire time to get himself free but couldn't get out. I would be okay if I lived the rest of my life and never saw Zach in that position again. Now I wanted the doctor to do his job but it was really hard to see Zach in this state. His screams pierced my heart and I know Nicki was feeling the same. When your 2 year old son is screaming in agony, your instinct is to pick him up and bring him near, not fight to hold him down. Zach kept looking at us with that look of "why aren't you doing anything about this?" He felt betrayed by us at that moment. I'm sure many of you out there have had similar or more intense experiences with your kids with injuries or illnesses and you can relate.

Without being too cliche, driving out of the parking lot after it was over flooded me with immediate thoughts of Abba watching his son be tortured, ridiculed and die mercilessly on a piece of wood. How did he sit there and watch it happen? When Jesus cried out for his father to help, he was left to feel forsaken. How hard must it have been to be a father and watch that happen to your son? But that suffering had a purpose. He forsook his son that afternoon so that he could bring us near. It tore his heart so much that we had left him that he was willing to have his son go through that so that we could come home in Him. And how much do I still go my own way without any regard to the suffering of Christ for me?

Abba, I awake this morning with gratitude in my heart for your Son and his sacrifice. I don't know how you stood and watched it but as a result, I have found my way back to you. Forgive me this day for the things I do out of selfishness and indulgences of the flesh. i want to honor you with my entire being out of gratitude of your unfailing love. Amen.

peace,

Do you ever just hear a song and it makes you feel what the writer felt when they wrote the song? Do you ever empathize with a story? I mean jump into it so your a character in it taking it all in? You become a part of the plot, a part of the action, a part of the scenery. I was moved in my truck just minutes ago with my daughter, Ali. Her and I wear our emotions on our sleeves and we listened to the song "I'll be missing you" by Puff Daddy Sean Combs (or whatever he's going by nowadays). This is not my typical genre, it just happened to be on the radio and we began discussing the song until we began to feel the song. I explained how the artist had lost his friend to a gunshot and he was remembering their good days together. Ali seems to always be up for a "sad" song so she listened quietly. I think both of us just allowed ourselves to be moved. Do you ever take the time to be moved? I mean, let something affect you on the inside. Don't fight it off as childish, just let your heart feel something. For me, I do this to feel alive. To know that I have the capability to feel and reflect. I love to reflect with good artists/song writers/storytellers (not that Puff Daddy fits that description). I desire a life that isn't only linear. Wake up, put the appropriate clothes on, go to job, come home, do the right things, stay in control, minimize risk etc. etc. etc. I want to live and know that I'm alive. I mean, after having taken care of responsibilities, I like to check out of the linear world and have overwhelming experiences. Wasn't it Descartes that said, "I think, therefore I am". My mantra may be, "I feel, therefore I am". I want to hold onto a passion for life, people and the reality of Kingdom come. I want to experience all that it means to be alive, the good and the bad. I don't want to check in and check out of life, I want to upgrade to the deluxe model of life. Drama has its place in the real world, its just not a reality to be in all the time. Passion is one of the core values of OCC and one of the things that I admire most about Jesus. He took time to weep, even though he could fix things. He laughed, even though nothing surprised him. He got angry, he got annoyed, he got fed up and he got fired up on his favorite topics. He was alive and pursued his purposes accordingly. Passion is about living the life that you were purposed to live, and it might not be the one your waking up to in the morning. Don't just get by, live! Live fully, drink deeply from the wells of the Kingdom and take the time to pay attention to the artists around you. They might paint a picture that invites you to get in and be a part of. Now that's living.

peace,

Alot of people criticize blogs that are about the details of our lives as being only narcisistic. So I'll go ahead and post one and confirm their suspicions.

- Had a great time with one of my best friends I've had in this life. Kevin Grand and I have been friends since college and we have logged thousands of hours together in ministry, life, fun and tears. He's going through an unwanted divorce and it was good to give him a weekend of processing and pressure releasing laughter. My daughters are in love with him. They went into mourning the moment he left on Sunday morning. Kevin and I couldn't be more different and we couldn't be better friends.

- Had our OCC annual harvest party on Saturday in the freezing cold. We took a hayride in the pumpkin patch and picked out some pumpkins, as well as ate too many cider donuts. We came back to our house for a chili and cornbread dinner, caramel apple pie, pumpkin pie, hot chocolate etc. etc. We had a big fire outside that the men congregated around for conversation and then after dark we make our own drive-in theater. We projected a DVD on the side of my house with stereo sound and the kids snuggled in their sleeping bags for the halloween themed film. Very cool, we'll definitely do that again sometime. Community time never disappoints.

- I still feel sick from the Bengals game on Sunday. The great deliverance out of slavery in Egypt apparently never happened. We look and feel like the same ole Bengals. Another Sunday pathetic debaucle followed by poor excuses. Is it too much to ask for that we just be good? Not Super Bowl team, just decent, instead of the easiest team on everybody else's schedule. I was so excited to go the first Monday Night game in Cincinnati since 1990 next week with some of the boys. Now I'm just excited to hang with the boys, the Bengals are an afterthought. Yes, I still feel sick to my stomach.
But my Philly Eagles are 5-0, so there's hope for something.

- I have the final step in my hiring process on Friday afternoon for Indiana Wesleyan University. I will be teaching Bible Electives in night classes one night a week. In order for me to remain at CCS as a high school Bible teacher financially, I have to get another income somewhere that makes sense. Now I can teach Bible in my day job and my night job. Ideally, I would love to teach at the college lever full-time. Maybe this is a step in that direction. For now, it is very part-time. I thank Abba for the opportunity to make a living at one of the things I do well, regardless of how much I have to do it just to make that living. This will increase my workload, but also my opportunities to announce the Kingdom, so its a trade-off.

- I loved spending time with my kids this weekend, they are so much fun and fill my life with such meaning. This just in, my wife is an amazing person. She juggles 3 kids, a business, friendships, admin. of our community, hospitality needs and still has time and attention to date me. I only hope that I enhance and support her life as she does mine. My future is bright with her in my corner.

peace unto your house,

So I say good morning
to the God who raises my countenance and lifts my head,
to the God who speaks and light appears,
to the God who walks and mountains tremble,
to the God who walks out of tombs and opens graves that were seemingly shut,
to the God who touches eyes so they can see,
to the God who tells lame men that they can walk again,
to the God who sets captives free,
to the God who makes accusers drop their stones,
to the God who was, is and always will be,
to the God who created an unshakeable kingdom,
to the God who takes the orphan in an embrace,
to the God who formed me in the womb,
to the God who rescued me from myself,
to the God who makes new beginnings,
to the God who has never let me go,
to the God who passionately pursued me ever since the Garden,
to the God who lives within me this day,
To you, O God, I say Good Morning.

peace unto your day,

In the words of the infamous 70's music sensation, Geroge Clinton: "WE WANT THE FUNK, GOTTA HAVE THAT FUNK!"

I've been feeling funky, but not in the hip/groovy kind of way, in the "why is my head in a haze?" kind of way. I suppose its the reason for my lack of blogging, I just having been feeling very introspective. I really feel like I could benefit from a retreat day, a day to get alone and just think/pray/read/get my inner house in order. But that day doesn't seem to be on the horizon. The weekend is packed (w/good stuff) and I can't afford to take a day off work right now. I'm not feeling empty or dry, I'm quite content and learning new stuff all the time, just feeling funky. I go into stints where my mind and heart want to contemplate deeply about issues either within me or I see around me in the world, and if I can't take the time to process it, I just have troubles functioning in the real world.

I guess here are some questions on my mind:
1) The reality of Kingdom come is all around us, but why do we still worship idols?
2) Does God still work miracles? And if so, why do I not believe it all the time?
3) Do our busy schedules and busy lives make God sad?
4) When was the last time I made room in my heart to care about starving children who have already died today somewhere on this earth?
5) How many widows (single moms) and orphans have I passed by this week that were in need?
6) God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things. Who am I that he should care?
7) Am I more American than I am Christian?
8) Is abortion the only pro-life issue Christ followers should care about?
9) Will I ever improve on the things that I am not good at?
10) Why does my heart feel sad?

peace,

Rodney Dangerfield, dead at age 82

One of the all-time great movie comedians from the 80's has left us. He did a few Classic films, and a few that never should have been watched, ever.

Here are my top 3 Rodney films:

3) Easy Money
2) Back to School - best line is, "When I die, you can donate my body to science fiction."
1) Caddyshack - one of the best comedies of ALL TIME!! Rodney was at his best in that classic. His dance moves in the clubhouse, his rhetoric on the golf course and his way with the Judge's wife. Way too funny. Must watch again in memory of Rodney.

He also had a big stand-up act with his famous mantra, "I get no respect".
"When I was born, I was so ugly that the doctor slapped my mother."

Thanks for the laughs, Rodney. You have my respect. RIP.

peace,

"why throw rocks in the general direction of some nebulous, evil machine. The rocks might hit people you love and who love you."
I wanted to respond to Barry's comments out here because I think its a really good critique. First off, let me own the stuff I need to. Barry, if you took any of the things I said as a statement towards you or your ministry then let me apologize because that is not who you are. I have nothing but respect for the blood, sweat and tears that you have poured into the Vineyard over the years. You, in your own right, have made many courageous and risky decisions in the name of mission and reaching people. I have watched you set aside your own preferences for the opportunity to be more missional towards people. I admire your compassion, creativity, work ethic and gift in teaching. I apologize if the things I said offended you, it was not my intent.

I agree with Barry as I go back and read my comments that i was painting with a broad brush and not being specific. i was trying to speak towards one situation but in reality it probably hit an old wound in me. At the age of 26, I found myself totally burned out, and chewed up in the seeker style of church growth. There are others like me, and there are others who are completely energized and motivated. The 'evil" is not model or strategy, its system. When a system takes the place of a living body of Christ, then many unhealthy things occur. This applies the same to house churching/simple church/missional communities. When we're more loyal to pushing "systems" over people, we probably cease acting as the Body. This is what I wanted to communicate. Its too easy to speak in black and white opinions in this blogworld. So thanks to Barry for reminding me that readers have faces.

So I want to re-state some fundamental values that I hold. 1) I am pro-Kingdom. (i.e. phil. 1) If Christ is preached then we are to rejoice. I am for anyone who is seeking to announce that the Kingdom has come and the key to experiencing it is through Jesus Christ. 2) I am for doers. I am not for complainers, whiners, deconstructionists or those who are happy seeing their angst as an end. If our discontent does not lead us to create, then I wonder if we're talking about the same God. God is the God of creation, he creates, its who he is. Yes, he tears down in the story of Scripture, but only to build up again. I am passionate about networking with doers who are daily taking the battle to the enemy. I don't ever want to be a stumbling block to those who are doers. 3) I love the Church. I love her. Sometimes too much. I am very passionate about her influence on earth. I have given up every area of my life to serve the Church. I love the Church above ground and I love the Church underground. I am driven by the dream of the Church as salt and light on every corner of this earth. When I critique the church, I do it like a football coach who so badly wants to see the team achieve its goal and is not afraid to "not be liked" for a while as long as the players know they are loved. Kingdom is the big idea. Becoming the people of God and announcing his Kingdom on earth is what we're about. We may prefer some strategies over others according to our values and giftings and as long as we are motivated through the One Spirit and not in systems of the flesh, we are in the same battle.

peace to you and your house tonight,

Great dinner with K-rains last night just catching up with one another's lives over some Irish Fish 'n chips, always a great way to end the day. Nicki and I will be hanging out with Bill and Mollie Bean tonight here in Cincy, really looking forward to that time.

Paul McGillivary's blog yesterday struck me as sad and also very telling. Another Pastor who has crumbled under the pressure of performing for Church Inc. I don't want to rant here or anything, I just wanted to say: Is this why Moses parted the Red Sea and Christ endured the cross, so that our leaders could burn out under the tyranny of programs and performance driven church models?

Dallas Willard in the Prelude to Renovation of the Heart puts it this way:
"For our Christian groups and their leaders, it means that there is a simple, straightforward way in which congregations of Jesus' people can, without exception, fulfill his call to be an ecclesia, his 'called out' ones: a touch point between heaven and earth, where the healing of the Cross and the Resurrection can save the lost and grow the saved into the fullness of human beings in Christ. No special facilities, programs, talents, or techniques are required. It doesn't even require a budget. Just faitfulness to the process of spiritual formation in Christlikeness exposed in the Scriptures and in the lives of his 'peculiar people' through the ages."
-This is the kind of activity I want to put my energy into. I want to do this pastor gig for a long, long time.

peace of Christ unto your weekend,