Home Sick

I'm home today feeling pretty sick, but I think I'm on the mend. Other than not feeling so great, what have I been up to? Glad you asked. Recently I had the privilege of hearing author and pastor Brian McLaren speak. His views and writings are deep and positively enlightning as well as positively disturbing. His thoughts cause me to see that the Christian message is a timeless one, but appropriating this same message will take on a different look, especially among the Millenial generation. Currently I'm reading The Story We Find Ourselves In by McLaren. Very good read. I'm not an emergent/post-modern church authoritarian so I won't pretend to be eloquent with my responses, but I will say that for the most part McLaren's writings are as liberating as I've read in a long time.

Other Thoughts:
The bombings in Jordan and Iraq are still disturbing.
I like gas prices going down!
Donuts are pretty much bad for you!
The fam and I are heading to St. Paul for Thanksgiving. It'll be cold but it'll be good to kick around with family.
My dad turned 59 last week.
No doubt, I'm going to see The Chronicles of Narnia when it releases. I can't wait.
Work is going well. I'm the editor of a publication called Communicator. This piece is a free resource piece to Nazarene pastors in USA/Canada. So, I guess that's a 'big deal' sorta thing. I'm looking forward to the challenge. I've always loved to write, even though I haven't blogged lately.

Final thought: I'm amazed by God's love for me and the reality of living with Him forever. That He never stops loving me, even if I should sin. I'm amazed His Spirit resides in me and that He pretty much gave me one awesome wife and three of the best kids that a guy could want!

Grace to You.

In A Hurting World, Love Begins in a Neighborhood

In a hurting world, love begins in a neighborhood where a mom can't pay a water bill and a neighbor pinch hits. In a hurting world, love steps in where kids need bicycles and your kids give them theirs. In a hurting world, love steps in and encourages a mutual fund broker that he is and does make a difference in the lives of so many. In a hurting world, love steps in and moves a single women and three kids from a home to a duplex after the husband runs out. In a hurting world, Love and Grace are shown to people who differ with you and even wrong you with great intention. In a hurting world, love steps in and is the reflection of Love in the Name of Love, beyond the walls and santions of the Church. Why, because in a hurting world it will not be the

neat and tidy Church that changes the lives of the hurting for Christ's sake, it will be the broken and humble recipients of Grace who in their neighborhood reach out and touch in His name.

Hurricanes, tornados, tidal waves and fires, divorce, drugs, neglect and loss. In a hurting world, love begins and is fleshed out in a neighborhood and I'm so glad God put me in a neighborhood that I can show His love in tangible ways each day and make a difference in so many lives. As Paul, if I boast I boast of this only that Christ may be high and lifted up.

In a hurting world, all theology, all doctrine, all self-desire must be pushed to the back and the true essance of love must rise to the top in all we say and do as Christians. This is not the conquering plan of hopeful Jews over an opressive Rome, this is the example of Jesus. I pray He helps me be love in my corner of a hurting world.