Came across this quote from this blog and wanted to share it:
“Just as we are all meant to be contemplatives and hear the voice of God in our lives we are all meant to answer God’s call to be His partners in transfiguring the world. This calling, this encounter with God, is always to send [...]
We’re working through some names for our child we are adopting. We settled on one that we like. We’re thinking “Mason.” Of course, we want to wait to see what his birth name is before we decided. But, I think Cole has decided that this is what he wants it to be…
Watch the [...]
I have been taking a class at Seminary for my degree (MA in Missional Theology) and have to reread the book “Missional Church,” edited by Darrell Guder. This book was very foundational to my thinking a number of years back so its been a nice “refresher” to read through.
I wanted to just [...]
Some of you have been kind enough to ask what the news on our adoption is. Well, we’re in the waiting process now. We should get a picture of the little boy we will be adopting soon. He’s probably being born right now, if he isn’t already. He’ll likely be [...]
While i am sure not many of you really care about my hair. I am exited to let you know that in four days I will have successfully gone 1 year without cutting it. Yes, a whole year. This time last year I shaved my head clean (no bic, but as close [...]
I keep trying to stick it to you.
But it’s hard.
You’ll be happy to know,
You’re doing a darn good job of keeping me down.
You tell me that its better to take care of me first and other second…
and I believe you.
And I get sucked into a lifestyle that revolves around me.
You tell me that efficiency [...]
Cole and I spent some time discussing his first day of pre-school. It was quite a stimulating conversation.
A few of my friends turned me on to reading Karl Barth’s ecclesiology and writing on the mission of the church. I have finally received my copy of Volume 4.3.2 of the Church Dogmatics. After taking a class from John Franke a while back who is a Barth scholar, I feel at least a [...]
So, a question for us suburban church planting folk. If a church from out of town were to call you and say “We want to do a missions trip in your area.”
What would you say?
Would you have any ideas?
I think most of us would be hard pressed to know where to [...]
Two weeks ago I had the privilege of attending a NA (Narcotics Anonymous) meeting where a friend of mine was celebrating 10 years clean from drugs. It was really a special time for a few reasons. Of course, it was awesome to celebrate such a milestone in my friends life. He was [...]
Adoption Update:
From my wife’s adoption blog:
I got an email from Teresa on Friday and she said that she got the documents and they are on their way to Guatemala. She said they looked great, which is very encouraging!!! They should get there either today or tomorrow. And she also said that we are second on [...]
I came across a post today at another website called “Church Marketing Sucks.” (If you are offended at the use of the word “sucks” then I am sorry. It’s their words not mine. But here’s their explanation as to why they use it).
Anyways, I either laugh, cry or want to puke when [...]
I just launched another new blog for Off the Map called Conversation at the Edge. Check it out here.
I am continuing to read this book The Change of Conversion and the Origin of Christendom and am really intrigued by the fact that in the early Apostilic tradition, the leadership approved and didn’t approve people who wanted to be part of the church. It’s funny, it seems they weren’t too caught up [...]
Grant me, O Lord, to trust in you with all my heart; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now [...]
I added a new book I am reading to my reading list. It’s by Alan Kreider called “The Change of Conversion and the Origin of Christiandom” So far, its a really good book.
In Alan Kreider’s book, The Change of Conversion and the Origin of Christendom (an excellent little book worth picking up) he describes the early Christian church after describing the conversion stories of Justin and Cyprian,
“Justin and Cyprian were both converts; they were also martyrs. They were executed for their membership in a movement that [...]
Growing up in chicago, I grew up watching Michael Jordan and the Bulls in their heyday. I pretty much worshipped Jordan and had all of his and the Bulls championship videos memorized I had watched them so much. I spent som down time on youtube today and found some treasures…
Watch all of Jordan’s [...]
One of the hardest things about being a christian in suburban america is the pace of life that we live and trying not to let that overtake basic christian disciplines.
One of the hardest things about being a pastor in suburban america is encouraging and give space to allow the basic christian practices to happen [...]
“They crucified my Lord, And he never said a mumbling word Not a word, not a word, not a word. They pierced him in the side And he never said a mumbling word Not a word, not a word, not a word. They nailed him to the tree And he never said a mumbling word [...]