Turns in the road

This isn’t news to many of you, but for those who may not know my pastor, Dr. Jeff Warren, recently found out that his wife has cancer.  You can track the story by visiting his blog here.  Please pray.

It’s only a season

In one of my recent posts I referred to the synonomous qualities found in various stories of Jesus and him intersecting with the lives of the poeple of Galilee.  That synonomous quality was often water.  I challenged the reader to discover their well, river or fountain that they can use as an opportunity to stand in the crossroads of hope and hurt.  Well, we have our first winner!

Sabbatical Thoughts Part IV – One Good Day

Well, I have returned from Albuquerque (see banner photo) earlier than expected.  This was supposed to be the week that I spent with close friends in the Rockies, but that didn’t work out.  So instead I changed it up and decided to get away for a day or two to pray, meditate, etc.  Well, that changed too.  Though I will say this, worshipping at City On A Hill yesterday and spending some quiet time in a hotel room yesterday and this morning really did me some good.

I felt ‘released’ today. 

Sabbatical Thoughts Part III – Waters’ Edges

Throughout this sabbatical season, there have been a few dominant veins of thought.   A couple I won’t get into on this forum, but one that has been especially colorful for me has been the idea of “the well.”  Better put, the consistent theme of water as a catalyst and setting for Christ to perform some of his miracles, to engage the marginalized of society, or even to help the misguided in their hopes in what water could really do for them (“living water”). 

You see, when Christ was making the most noise it was always outside the four walls of the synagogue – and often it was in places that were rather unpopular.  Think about it…  the lakeside with the less educated and “saltier” of the land, the fountains where the invalids and blind always seemed to hang out, the river where he was baptized by an religious outcast and finally a well at noon where a woman with extreme need for a new direction in life came to draw water when the others wouldn’t stare and gossip about her.  

Over the last few weeks these episodes keep playing themselves out over and over again in my thoughts.  In doing so, I have recognized what many may already know. 

Sabbatical Thoughts Part II

We just got back from the Pacific Northwest last night, although we are minus one infant seat.  (Is it me, or is American Airlines having more and more difficulties with departing/arriving on time and other service issues?)  Anyhow, the boys did really well on the flights.  LT had a good 10 minute span of 2 year old insanity, but with Children’s Tylenol anything is possible!

We had a really nice time with my family.  Trish and the boys felt at home at my parents’ place, and we got to see LT connect with his grandparents over an extended period of time.  It was a blessing to us both.  Leaving was certainly more difficult this time around.  Hearing my son say “Look Papa…” was the best moment.  But with every episode of connection within this growing family, it just reinforces how hard it is to say goodbye.  I was keenly aware of that fact early this week. 

I am ready to return to my ‘extended family’ here in McKinney – FM North.  When I left, the church as a whole was facing some real struggles, and as we have learned at North we aren’t immune to those variables.  Knowing that made this sabbatical very difficult to feel at ease with as I signed off

Son of Whale

Please take a moment and jump over to a colleague’s blog.  His father is fighting for his life at the moment.  It looks rather bleak, but we trust that God will heal. 

Son of Whale