Interesting Blog Post

By Carey Nieuwhof (Connexus Community Church) on Web/Tech I was reading my bible this morning (I'm a One Year Bible guy) and ran across yet another verse I'm sure I've missed all these years. So much ministry energy is wasted trying to figure out why people die. You hear everything from "it must be God's will" to the ridiculous "they must have needed her more in heaven than we did on earth." I always find those conversations frustrating, disappointing and heartbreaking all at once. Because I'm not sure the image of God reflected in them bears much semblance to reality. Enter Psalm 116.15: "The Lord's loved ones are precious to him. It grieves him when they die". That's about a five year old New Living Translation rendition, but I love how it reads. I think that summarizes the heart of God so well. And I think if people could understand that the sin that entered the world and pains us so badly also pains the heart of God, our relationship with Him would run so much deeper and be filled with much more mutual love. URL: Have You Seen This?

Words Become People: 2

So to get a better idea of what was meant by 'hospitality' you clicked on the word and found it meant (according to Meriam/Webster): hospitable treatment, reception, or disposition. And that in turn meant: "given to generous and cordial reception or welcome of guests; offering a pleasant or sustaining environment; and being readily receptive or open to new people (or ideas)." Now, who comes to mind? Who is the most hospitable person in our congregation? Or maybe, there are several. Let me know who comes to mind.

Words Become People: 1

Have you ever encountered a word and, in your mind, saw a face or maybe thought of a particular person? Or maybe the word becomes a blank frame yet to be filled. So you search through your packets and scrapbooks for photos, but none quite fits. Take the word hospitality, who comes to mind in our church? Who is always the one talking to visitors and making them feel welcomed? Add a comment and tell me who you see in that frame.

Day 13

Tuesday we flew home after dropping girls off to school. Last 30 minutes of flight to Minneapolis quite bumpy, otherwise uneventful. On time to Cedar Rapids so we made the Jazz band numbers and band concert at Harding Middle School before coming home. Last five miles driving home was a challenge with wind and rain. But we made it back. A great vacation. Back to work on Wednesday.

Day 12

This has been a full day. Some things on a 'to-do-list' (that wasn't mine), some things I've been meaning to get to (that were), some things not planned, and some things we've been looking forward to. A good day indeed. A last supper together, a last performance in the back yard by the girls, and a last bedtime story before we leave. We'll see them all this summer in Iowa and that will be great, too.

Day 11

A great message this morning at Glendale First UMC. Pastor Kim was right on, hopefully those in the pews who wouldn't be going back home this week were listening. No doubt we all need to hear "there's a ways to go yet" whenever we've wondered, "Are we there yet?" It's tempting to just want to 'be there' wherever 'there' is, when here is where you're at. The girls mom and dad returned tonight - and needless to say they were all happy!

Day 10

It's been somewhat of a 'lazy afternoon' after sleeping in, a home-cooked breakfast, a morning of shopping with the girls and a late lunch back at the house. I've caught up on Bloglines, for the most part. Starting to think about the coming week and calendar for once we return home. This good thing is about to come to an end. I hope I don't rush it any.

Day 9

The clock says 10:00pm. The body says 12:00am. "Two hours more in Arizona," so says the clock. "So what?" says the body, "I'm done for the day." It's been good. Girls to school and back again. Most of the time in between spent with old friends and then evening with three young artists who also love ice cream. It's been a good day all around.

Day 8

These 'lazy days' are tough. After taking girls to school it's return to the house for coffee, lawn chair, and NY Times. Then a little serious reading and thinking. Quick trip to the post office (not really when you don't know exactly how to get there) and then lunch 'somewhere new.' An afternoon of loose ends and bloging. Maybe even a short nap. The art lesson for the night is drawing. Fun it is.

Day 7

Just noticed there was no posting yesterday. Oh well.