I am really looking forward to a study- planning retreat next week in Montreal. I will be gone from February 23-25 to think about the creation and implementation of a holistic small group ministry at Durkeetown. I will also spend time in considering a very helpful article on changing paradigms in missions within the church. I find these planning times to be useful in thinking about larger issues in my own personal life as well as the church.
Some other items to think over and pray about will be a meeting with Francois Turcotte (director of SEMBEQ) concerning Zach's plans to work in Quebece as a cross-cultural missionary. I am looking forward to teaching another Passion Week series in April. I have a burden to expand this teaching to include a morning and afternoon teaching segment in Glens Falls and Fort Edward village. The retreat will help me confirm whether or not God wants me to expand the teaching.
One thing for sure - when vacation comes after mission week, I will be soooo ready to take the break. I am hoping to catch a baseball game at the new park in Washington, D.C.
My Scripture reading has been very timely lately as I have been in Romans 6-8. No condemnation! Wow! What a gospel. What grace. Praise God who has reconciled us to Himself in Jesus and is reconciling all things to Himself through Jesus Christ.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
What to Do with the rest of the Winter
Ground Hog day passed by this week with a fairly significant winter storm. The storm allowed me the occasion to relax, reflect and remember. So let me take some blog space to relate what happened -
Relax - this is very hard for me to do. I am often reminded how hard it is for me to "do nothing" for even a brief period of time. My mind often will not stop thinking which leads me to either guilt for not being active or an anxious-anger because I am compelled to do something! Most of my relaxing comes in the form of either exercise or viewing T.V. I am still not sure whether the latter is healthy but I did mix the exercise and T.V. together so I came away feeling like it was mostly worth it. I am not sure I have ever truly relaxed in my life. Maybe I will, one day, grow up enough in faith and personal maturity to close my brain down and force myself to be still. I don't know how relaxing it will be though...
Reflect - in the space of one week I had three people die who were, in one form or another, part of my life. My first "girlfriend" (she probably wasn't aware she was my girlfriend at the time) died from cancer. My first secretary in Florida died from cancer as well. My friend here at Durkeetown, Jim Wood, also died from cancer. The three deaths caused me to reflect on how important it is to love and forgive. I am going to pray for God to help me repair all relationships that I sense are broken - even if they are only a stress-fracture. Kendra, my first girl-friend, and I were the same age. I was thinking about how I am not guaranteed another day - only the moment in front of me. Freddie, my secreatary, was in her 70's - it caused me to reflect on the reality that my parents and Rhonda's parents are aging and somehow we need to be more involved in their lives. Jim - well he was in his early sixities but the thing that I reflected on most is that the longer I stay in this place the more I am going to be saying goodbye to brothers and sisters in Christ.
Finally- I need to remember the hope of resurrection. Just as winter is passing so life is passing. This should not lead me to despair but to hope. I am rapidly moving into the winter of my life. I have but a breath and it will be over so I need to remember to live each day to its fullest. To live out my rest of life mission so that I bring glory to God with the way I conduct my life.
So, what will I do with the rest of winter? I will do all that I can to make visible the kingdom of Jesus my Lord and Savior. Hope you will as well.
Relax - this is very hard for me to do. I am often reminded how hard it is for me to "do nothing" for even a brief period of time. My mind often will not stop thinking which leads me to either guilt for not being active or an anxious-anger because I am compelled to do something! Most of my relaxing comes in the form of either exercise or viewing T.V. I am still not sure whether the latter is healthy but I did mix the exercise and T.V. together so I came away feeling like it was mostly worth it. I am not sure I have ever truly relaxed in my life. Maybe I will, one day, grow up enough in faith and personal maturity to close my brain down and force myself to be still. I don't know how relaxing it will be though...
Reflect - in the space of one week I had three people die who were, in one form or another, part of my life. My first "girlfriend" (she probably wasn't aware she was my girlfriend at the time) died from cancer. My first secretary in Florida died from cancer as well. My friend here at Durkeetown, Jim Wood, also died from cancer. The three deaths caused me to reflect on how important it is to love and forgive. I am going to pray for God to help me repair all relationships that I sense are broken - even if they are only a stress-fracture. Kendra, my first girl-friend, and I were the same age. I was thinking about how I am not guaranteed another day - only the moment in front of me. Freddie, my secreatary, was in her 70's - it caused me to reflect on the reality that my parents and Rhonda's parents are aging and somehow we need to be more involved in their lives. Jim - well he was in his early sixities but the thing that I reflected on most is that the longer I stay in this place the more I am going to be saying goodbye to brothers and sisters in Christ.
Finally- I need to remember the hope of resurrection. Just as winter is passing so life is passing. This should not lead me to despair but to hope. I am rapidly moving into the winter of my life. I have but a breath and it will be over so I need to remember to live each day to its fullest. To live out my rest of life mission so that I bring glory to God with the way I conduct my life.
So, what will I do with the rest of winter? I will do all that I can to make visible the kingdom of Jesus my Lord and Savior. Hope you will as well.
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