Thursday...

Well today was bitter sweet - we are finished. three years of classes done. 7 of us began a journey together and have been walking side by side for three years - from this point we go it alone.

We had an incredible time of prayer together - my request? More love. Simple I know, but this is what we are commanded to do - love one another and that is my hope. More love for Grace and the kids, more love for Zion, and more love for Jesus. May that Christ will expand my heart and help me to stand in love with all I meet.

Good times - what will I do with the blog? that is a question for tomorrow. As for now - got to clean up my stuff and get ready for a day of travel and the joy of squeezing my kids and Grace.

Thanks for keeping up with my journey - you are a big part of it.

Tuesday...

Had a wonderful two hour retreat time today. Spent a lot of time thinking and praying about Zion and my family. One aspect is my idea for my final project. That would be working at developing a greater sense of connection with God through service.

Lets face it we are mennonites and we are great at doing. But why do we do? Why does someone serve at the table of plenty? Do we think about our connection to God as we work at building the kingdom that Jesus himself laid the foundation for? Do we ever think about the deep connection that we create with our Jesus as we serve with him? There are some ideas brewing - one thought was to have the board paint my house:) But the paint still looks great - maybe we will have to spend some time at the MRC center or serving a meal at church.

We should never think of service as that thing that we "should" do because it is the "right thing." We serve because that is what Jesus is doing and we want to be a part of what he is doing. There was more, but I will have plenty of writing to do.

Hunter

Tuesday - Spirituality and health

Today we spent a great deal of time talking about our health.

The day began with some reflections on the Prodigal son - I sense a three part sermon series coming out of that.

As for health - well I am feeling convicted to take a week of vacation with the family this fall - believe it or not I have only taken one week of vacation in 5 years - I usually use my vacation days 1 or 2 at a time to go to lancaster - but the studies are amazing that people who take vacation are far more productive and healthier - but many today fear taking vacation because job situations are tedious and we fear losing jobs - TAKE VACATION! Darn it. It is good for you.

Basically our body and spirit can't be disconnected. Our relationship with God is affected by our overall health and well being. Over work, lack of sleep, poor dietary habits, and lack of exercise all have a bearing on our relationship with God. I personally have been exercising well, but my eating could be much better. The sleep will get better when the kids are older that is just part of life.

What about you? How is your health? When did you last have a physical? Take vacation?

Better internet!

Well we have a great connection at least in my room.

The retreat center is truly one of the most amazing places I have ever been. Today a hummingbird landed on a bush 5 feet away from me - as if I were receiving a date with the Holy Spirit itself.

Today I ran up the quarter mile hill - crazy incline - that got my heart pounding. As I forced my way up the hill, I tried to remember Zion faithful who are struggling with their own mountains to climb - we are not alone.

Finally - our lessons for the day - Sabbath. What keeps you from Sabbath? Landis Supermarkets is now open on Sundays - does anyone really take Sabbath seriously? Maybe we don't understand the intention? Sabbath is about taking time to recharge and spend intentional time with God - this does not have to be some sort of fasting experience. Maybe your sabbath would include resting with family and friends? Maybe it is a walk in the woods? Maybe a round of golf or a nap. Sabbath should be an intentional effort to find joy, peace and Jesus. My sabbath for the last three months has been on my day off with the kids. I intentionally decided to give them the entire day - no Zion stuff, no seminary reading - unless they were napping - and I tried with all my might not to lose my patience with them. this time created a lot of joy and connecting with my kids and the Jesus found in them. Lets keep talking about sabbath - what do you do?

At the retreat center...

Well we have arrived - it is a bit chilly and overcast, but the retreat center is looking like a wonderful respite from the city life of Pasadena. Hopefully changing pictures soon.

Saturday...

Walked a little this morning, tried to skype the kids with a bad internet connection and am now in the library. The library out here is amazing - nice place to pray and get a little work done. This afternoon I will be headed to a local garden that is supposed to be very nice - with Lauren and Barret Seitz - you would know Lauren as a Kratz - of Rod and Pat Kratz. Then off to dinner with the newlyweds. When you have spent a week in a far off land on your own, even the third wheel begins to look very palatable.

May tomorrows church service be filled with the Spirit of our living God, fellowship, worship, hope and joy. May that we would all expect to meet the risen Lord and be changed forever.

Ok Staff and leaders...

or any Zion member for that matter. WHAT IS OUR PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY?

This is a question that must be considered and addressed as we consider building. We certainly have one, but are we even aware of what it is. Do we need to reevaluate, and refine?

Lets pray on it - I will be - we can talk about it when I get back. If there is anyone reading this and you want to throw something out there - go for it.

A sweet quote...

"I am here to reclaim the fact, that Christ did not die in a cathedral between two candles, but on a cross between two thieves. On the town garbage heap. At a crossroad so cosmopolitan, that they had to write His title in Hebrew and in Latin and in Greek. At a time and place where cynics talked smut, and thieves cursed, and soldiers gambled. For that is where He died. And that is what He died about. And that is where church people should be, and what churches should be about."

George McLeod

I digress...

In one blink of an eye the group decided to forego my favorite eating establishment, one with an abundance of vegetables and light options - to my least favorite greasy spoon in all of Pasadena. I am at a cross roads! Do I choose to go it on my own or stand strong with my community. Well considering I often encourage Zion to consider the joy that others find in music that they themselves may not appreciate, I find myself sensing that I must take one for the team in the name of community. I will survive another night of hamburger and french fries - my stomach may groan with protest, my heart will be warmed by the opportunity to share a night with my brother's in Christ.

PostModernity????

We study eras in history to see what we might learn about who we are and why we do what we do. Our current era is called postmodern. But it is easier to distinguish these eras many years later. In some ways I am feeling a bit muddled about postmodernity and I think that is a place that many others find themselves - trying to make hide nor hair out of the world we live in. I understand that we are a big old group of people with many thoughts and feelings - some good some bad. We all need Jesus and that may indeed be the one thing that ties us all together. One thing about postmodern thinking is that each one of us has different thoughts about seemingly everything and our church is no different - and all of our thoughts or opinions about anything from songs to sermons to prayers are important to the individual - but for us to be a community we need to rally around that one thing - Jesus that we all hold on to.

Many of us struggle with this - we are a group of individuals trying to make it work together - sounds a little like the churches that Paul talked to. Sometimes history simply tells us how little life really changes. And it all boils down to the simple fact that we all bleed red, we all have fears, anxieties, joys, and we all need Jesus!

If that did not make sense, then well that is a sign of my own little bit of confusion around this current era, and I invite you to be a little confused with me - that is ok. We don't need all the answers - we just need Jesus. Praise God he is right by our side!

No Fear in love...

1John 4:18 But love does not fear, love drives out fear...

What does that mean to you?

Liberalism and Pentecostals

Our day today has been studying liberal spirituality and pentecostalism. The history does not always grab me, but I have learned that liberal theology has not changed much over the years and one thing is for sure - one persons liberal is another person's conservative. Have terms like this become overused and far to relative? I would always hope to be found somewhere in the middle.

This is a scripture that we spent some time studying:

1John 4:7 ¶ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

1John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1John 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

1John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

1John 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Liberal conservative? Just love one another and live through Christ - it sounds so very easy. How have you expressed Christ's love today?

Pictures...

Thankfully John - one of the students had a camera USB cord and now I can download a few pics. Thanks for the prayers and well wishes about the paper. I fully realize that I can't do it - but Christ will be with me and by his grace even a 125 page academic paper is possible. Praise be to God.

Please Pray for me...

AHHHHHHHGGGGGGGG! We just began talking about our final paper - Lord Jesus son of the most high God have mercy on me a sinner!

I need all the help I can get - serenity now! 125-175 pages with an editor and many versions. If I did not think I would be letting people down, I might just curl into a ball and put the whole idea behind me. This aught to be good.

Monday Afternoon...

We discussed the enlightenment as a time that had an important impact on the church. Basically the enlightenment was a time of philosophy that stated that all things could be improved or figured out through science and reason. There was really no place for a God that wanted to be a part of our lives - not just a part but the center.

We were invited to consider the ways that culture affects our ministry and we were asked to contemplate the question "Who are we being?" And Why? These are deep questions - who am I and what do I show that that by the way I live - or serve a church.

Is God the central figure that guides our lives or is God and Jesus nothing more than one of the important pieces to our life puzzle - our jobs, sports, hobbies, and relationships. Are they on equal level to our pursuit of Christ? Or does Christ organize those things?

Who are you? Who are you being? A follower of Christ? Or a follower of our current culture?

Morning one...

We spent a great deal of time sharing our own stories. I am reminded that churches have histories just like people do. As we have valleys and mountain top experiences so do churches. Zion has had its share of valleys, but we are headed toward a mountain top - the congregational picnic sunday was definitely a highlight. Lets enjoy it!

We spent a bit of time with Psalm 82. There are verses crying out to God to come and save the lowly and down trodden. I had two thoughts - 1 that is precisely what God does in Jesus, and 2 Jesus is in us. Sometimes I wonder if we spend too much time wondering where God is at and why God is not doing anything about the struggles of the world - what are we doing with God?

I am back...

Well I arrived with no problems. I am tired and thinking of supper and an early - or late bed time that depends on the side of the country I am on - it will be early here in Cali.

My hopes are to be fully present and enjoy the time that I am here - that means as little pinning over my kids as possible. I can miss them, but I want to live this experience while I am here. I hope to spend a bunch of time in silence as well. It is about hearing God and working at my listening skills.

Tomorrow classes begin - it should be a nice year - interesting stuff - I will clue you in after class.

Too feminine????

Thought it might be time for a blog make over. One more week and I am headed to Pasadena one more time. Looking forward to it while at the same time regretting the lost time with my family.