Out of all that has happened in an around us this summer, one of the most exciting and life altering things has been getting to know the people of the Emmaus Road network of organic Churches.
It has been a huge encouragement to get to know all of them but it has been especially great to actually join with some of them to form a new "organic church" in the Boulder Co. area. Sarah and I are looking forward to seeing the Kingdom of God expressed in this new work as we learn to love one another as Jesus loves us.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
2009 Half Way Over
It's crazy to realize that 2009 is already more than half way over! I have been horrible this year at blogging or doing anything even somewhat resembling keeping a journal or being alone with my own thoughts.
It's funny, through the middle and end of last year my goal was to simplify my life and slow down to where I could start to enjoy things once again... it was a good goal but I have yet to really make it happen.
I am still going too fast, I am still fighting up hill all the time and I continue to bring on more stuff than I can really handle well. It seems that I have a fundamental need pile on more.
The thought of slowing down seems great but when I am slow I tend to only think about what other goals I could try to accomplish with my new found time and energy!
It's funny, through the middle and end of last year my goal was to simplify my life and slow down to where I could start to enjoy things once again... it was a good goal but I have yet to really make it happen.
I am still going too fast, I am still fighting up hill all the time and I continue to bring on more stuff than I can really handle well. It seems that I have a fundamental need pile on more.
The thought of slowing down seems great but when I am slow I tend to only think about what other goals I could try to accomplish with my new found time and energy!
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Tyranny Of The Urgent
These days my life seems like it is flying by faster than ever before and I feel like I am missing most of it. I realized last night that I am in the cycle that is commonly referred to as the tyranny of the urgent (a great book btw: "Tyranny Of The Urgent").
I spend so much time and energy just getting done what has to get done right now that I don't plan for what I am going to do next or sit down and prioritize what needs to be done.
I end up just going through my days like a robot simply responding to the needs and "things to do" that are presented to me with no thought of thier long term value in my life.
I need to take control back once again. For the first time in a long while I have so much to do and so many people that are looking to me for leadership that I am not sure how I can get it all done in a manageable and responsible fashion.
Time management - "To Do" management - Priorities - Short and long term goals - These are all things that I need to re-evaluate in this chapter of my life so that I know why I am living and breathing and where I am headed.
I spend so much time and energy just getting done what has to get done right now that I don't plan for what I am going to do next or sit down and prioritize what needs to be done.
I end up just going through my days like a robot simply responding to the needs and "things to do" that are presented to me with no thought of thier long term value in my life.
I need to take control back once again. For the first time in a long while I have so much to do and so many people that are looking to me for leadership that I am not sure how I can get it all done in a manageable and responsible fashion.
Time management - "To Do" management - Priorities - Short and long term goals - These are all things that I need to re-evaluate in this chapter of my life so that I know why I am living and breathing and where I am headed.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
1st Day of 2009
The first day of 2009 - I am compelled to write even though I don't really have anything to say. I guess I will write about hopes and dreams...
In 2009 I am looking forward to a great year of spiritual, emotional and relational growth. I am looking forward to continuing to crawl out of the giant debt hole that I live in. I am looking forward to getting my family into a house. I am looking forward to meeting new and interesting people. I am looking forward to expanding my experiences and living life to the fullest.
In 2009 I am looking forward to a great year of spiritual, emotional and relational growth. I am looking forward to continuing to crawl out of the giant debt hole that I live in. I am looking forward to getting my family into a house. I am looking forward to meeting new and interesting people. I am looking forward to expanding my experiences and living life to the fullest.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
2008 Lessons
With a new year on the horizons I have been thinking about all the things that have changed this last year for us. I had a lot planned and a lot of goals when I set out this last year. Some (well most) of them ended up changing as we were blind sided by a lot of things in life that seemed out of our control.
These changes made for a very stress filled year in many respects but also led me to re-think what is important to me and really caused me to focus in on the important aspects of my life. I get so caught up in "success" that sometimes I forget how truly successful I really am where it really matters.
Through all the ups and downs of this last year, I think the best part was that I learned more about myself and what is truly important to me which seemed to make all the "other stuff" kind of fall into place in the end.
These changes made for a very stress filled year in many respects but also led me to re-think what is important to me and really caused me to focus in on the important aspects of my life. I get so caught up in "success" that sometimes I forget how truly successful I really am where it really matters.
Through all the ups and downs of this last year, I think the best part was that I learned more about myself and what is truly important to me which seemed to make all the "other stuff" kind of fall into place in the end.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Christmas Feelings
I was thinking today that it is Christmas time again. That means that it is time for my annual Christmas time bashing... This year though, I am not really up to it :)
I have been softening in many ways over the last year or so and one of those ways is in the way I feel toward Christmas. I suppose that it is not all bad. Sure the commercialism and frenzied state of mind that everyone seems to be in still gets on my nerves but the underlying good things are still there I suppose.
BTW, this doesn't mean that I like Christmas music, shopping or decorating the tree any more than I used to, it only means that I may be more prone to tolerate such behavior in others without the usual Grinch-like comments ;)
I have been softening in many ways over the last year or so and one of those ways is in the way I feel toward Christmas. I suppose that it is not all bad. Sure the commercialism and frenzied state of mind that everyone seems to be in still gets on my nerves but the underlying good things are still there I suppose.
BTW, this doesn't mean that I like Christmas music, shopping or decorating the tree any more than I used to, it only means that I may be more prone to tolerate such behavior in others without the usual Grinch-like comments ;)
Sunday, November 23, 2008
A New Book
I have been reading a book titled "Reimagining The Church" by Frank Viola, it is proving to be a great read and a very thought provoking book on the form and function of the Church (a subject that I'm in passionate pursuit of).
Amongst the wealth of things that the book covers in the first few chapters there is one question that he asks that has really got me thinking about how I understand the bible when it comes to the church.
The question is basically: on what basis do we determine what teachings are meant to be normative and timeless in regards to church function and what is merely cultural adaptability?
This question has got my mind reeling as I try to think of a filter through which to approach the New Testament books (especially the book of Acts) to figure out what of their practices we should be continuing and which of them were simply due to their particular cultural setting.
Amongst the wealth of things that the book covers in the first few chapters there is one question that he asks that has really got me thinking about how I understand the bible when it comes to the church.
The question is basically: on what basis do we determine what teachings are meant to be normative and timeless in regards to church function and what is merely cultural adaptability?
This question has got my mind reeling as I try to think of a filter through which to approach the New Testament books (especially the book of Acts) to figure out what of their practices we should be continuing and which of them were simply due to their particular cultural setting.
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