The Church We (Are) Meant to Be

Next month marks 10 years for River Valley Community Church. WOW. Ten years....sounds like a looonnngggg time in some respects; in a lot of ways it is not really that long.

For instance...the fact that I was ONLY 32 years old back in the summer of '97...well, that was sweet.
But...as a churches go...ten years is nothing---compared with some congregations that have been meeting continuously for SEVERAL HUNDRED years!

As a spiritual community it seems like we are, in a lot of ways, just learning to "walk". Just beginning to hit our stride, spread our wings, get our bearings...(ok, enough cliches)

So...on Sunday mornings this month...we'll discuss the kind of church we MEANT (intended) to be. Is that the same church we have become so far? Well, Yes and No. Just like my 17 year old Senior son mostly resembles that seven year old boy that headed off to second grade in the Fall of 1997, River Valley has grown up in ways we anticipated and recognize...with a few strange twists and turns along the way that we never saw coming for sure.

How about you?
If you are a part of the RVCC family now....Who were you/Where were you/and what were you doing in September of 1997?
What changes have marked your life these past ten years?

What WE Believe

During the remaining four Sundays of July, we will be discussing the significance of the Nicene Creed---one of the earliest attempts to summarize the essentials of Christian Spirituality. The modern English translation of the creed is this:

"We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, light from light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary
and became truly human.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son],
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen."

According to Wikipedia...'The purpose of a creed is to act as a yardstick of correct belief. A creed is an epitome, not a full definition, of what is required for orthodoxy. It was hoped that by memorizing this summary of the faith, lay people without extensive theological training would still be able to recognize deviations from orthodox doctrines based on the Bible as interpreted in Christian Tradition.'

We will be especially discussing the one line near the end of the creed:
'...We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church...'

This week we will focus on the word, "ONE" and discuss the issues of unity (and disunity) that are demonstrated in the Church (Universal and Local)

I'm wondering...what are some of your experiences with Creeds?
Have you been a part of a faith community before that used/recited the Nicene or Apostle's Creed on a regular basis?
If so, did you find that practice vital or strange or just plain boring?

Jesus...and Kingdom Come

In his Gospel, Matthew quotes Jesus using a phrase 32 times that occurs NO WHERE ELSE in the Scriptures. What is the phrase?
...(wow, so glad you asked)...the unique expression in Matthew is: "the Kingdom of Heaven." The other Gospels (Mark, Luke, and John) all prefer the phrase "Kingdom of God." Why the difference?

Most commentators point out that Matthew's original audience were primarily Jews; Jews with a long history of reverence for the name of God---Jews who went to great lengths to steer clear of even the appearance of misusing the name of the Lord. Thus, one plausible explanation for Matthew's unique term is simply an effort to eliminate possible confusion and offense by using the word "Heaven" in place of the name "God." Plausible indeed.

But...unfortunately FOR US...that favorite phrase of Matthew...often creates a great deal of confusion. Many of us read Matthew's Gospel and attribute Jesus' comments about "the Kingdom of Heaven" to be referring to some far-off destination after we die. But take a moment to look closer at such passages as:

Matthew 6:9-10
Matthew 6:25, 32-33
Matthew 10:5-8
Matthew 12:22-26, 28
Matthew 13
Mattthew 18:2-3

These make a strong case for "Heaven" (our eternal destiny with God) and "Kingdom of Heaven" to be two distinct topics.

Have you heard many sermons that point out such a distinction?

As it was in the beginning...

As we jump into chapter 10 this week in Mark's Gospel, Jesus gets "set-up" by the religous folks with a controversial topic:

"Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"

Hard to believe, but, the issue was FAR MORE of a religous-political debate than it is in 21st century Western culture. I'm sure that everyone at the Celebrations on Sunday at River Valley will have been impacted, directly or indirectly, in some significant way by divorce. I'm really hoping that God's Spirit can speak truth to each of us in an atmosphere of love and grace.

Grab your Bible and read it: Mark 10:1-12. I'm wondering what some of your thoughts and questions are about this passage.

By the way, it may be helpful to also read Matthew's parallel account of this encounter (Matthew 19:1-12) and Paul's words on marriage and divorce (1 Corinthians 7). Might be interesting to compare and contrast their words.

Also...as you read Mark 10:1...what clue is buried in that verse that speaks to context (in this case: Location/Location/Location).
Hint: What else (or WHO else) had significant activity in the area of the Jordan river?

Ok...I am such a pushover...check out Mark 6:17-20...

Upside-Down Kingdom

In Mark 9:30-37, Jesus challenges his disciples definition of "greatness."

And...I wonder....In our media-saturated world of "American Idol" wannabes, mega-million-per-year-earning sports stars, and the latest pop culture gods and godesses wooing the attention and awe of our world's youngest and brightest....

Has much really changed in 2000 years of trying to follow?

The Missing Prayer

Here we are cruising through Mark chapter 9, headed back down the mountain...(did you catch how Messiah Jesus---recently "glorified" in the trans-figura experience---now comes down to engage humanity in its 'mess' in Mark 9:14-15?) Incarnation indeed...and then we happen upon verse 29. Wow. Jesus says: "These kind (the demonic kind he just dealt with)...can only come out by prayer. Some of the earliest manuscripts have it as..."these kind can only come out through prayer and fasting." That phrase is interesting to me because...thak about it...a prayer can happen in a instance, but...'fasting'...well, that can't be manufactured or microwaved instantly. Fasting speaks of a process bound in time and duration. Now, I'm not suggesting that those manuscripts have it right, but they do raise an interesting question. Which is...when Jesus frees the little boy from the demons...WHERE is "the prayer"? In fact, notice when Jesus does nearly any or all of his miracles...Where is the prayer?
Doesn't Jesus put a priority on prayer? He told the disciples in this passage that "by (through) prayer" was the ONLY way these forces of the Evil One could be dealt with effectively.

So..again...I ask: Where is the prayer? Where is the powerful, perfectly-worded, put-the-demons-on-the-run prayer?
Is Mark forgetting about the dynamic, hands-raised-toward-Heaven, thunder and lightening producing "super prayer" pronounced over the boy that sent the demons scurrying away?
Why don't the Gospel writers record those important words?
Wouldn't it be oh-so-helpful to have "that prayer" to recite when we need it most? Sort of like a theological light saber we could swing about in the midst of our spiritual warfare?

Well...I'm thinking that Mark and the other Gospel writers don't record the "magic" prayer that Jesus used in miraculous moments like the one in Mark 9:14-30...because there WASN'T one!

In his classic book, "The Divine Conspiracy" author, Dallas Willard, makes the statement:
"It is not enough to ask in a moment of need or temptation: 'What would Jesus do?' We must first consider the kind of life
that Jesus lived."

His point is...we cannot consistently DO what Jesus DID unless we live the (hidden) life that Jesus LIVED.

So...what if...THE PRAYER that Jesus is referring to has already happened...long before this encounter. More to the point, what if THAT prayer is the type of prayer that has already BEEN HAPPENING between Jesus and the Father for quite some time? Consider Mark 1:35 for instance. What if...the kind of prayer that "works" best with demons is the Mark 1:35 kind?

What if prayer is less about the emergency/magic bullet kind we frequently suppose it is, and more about this incredible dialogue (talking AND listening) we are having day by day with our Heavenly Father? What if Jesus easily casts out some demons which the disciples find impossible to handle---precisely because Jesus understands what it means to be alone with the Father and live "a life filled with prayer"? Hmm. I wonder.

I wonder if that is why the disciples soon come to Jesus and say: "Lord, teach us to pray." What if what they are really asking is: "Lord, would you teach us to pray LIKE YOU PRAY...(because your kind of prayer seems like what prayer is supposed to be like)?"

In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus invites to put on his "yoke". He descibes it as "light and easy" and as "perfectly fitting".

What has your experience with prayer been like?
Does the passage in Matthew seem likely? Possible? Why?

Up and Down...the Mountain

This week's passage in Mark is...well..."amazing." Mark 9:2-13 is a timely response to the (possible?) doubt raised by all of Jesus' cross-talk at the end of chapter eight. Peter, James, and John get front row seats for an incredible encounter between Jesus, Yahweh, and a couple of their Hebrew heroes---Moses and Elijah. Sounds straight-forward enough, right?

I'm trusting you guys have some questions or comments...

"And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.” Mark 9:1
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. Mark 9:2
His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. Mark 9:3
And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Mark 9:4
Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Mark 9:5
(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.) Mark 9:6
Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Mark 9:7
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. Mark 9:8
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. Mark 9:9
They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant. Mark 9:10
And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Mark 9:11
Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? Mark 9:12
But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”

Mark 9:1-13

Dangerous Liaisons

At River Valley this weekend we jump back into Mark's Gospel with a fury. Following Peter's confession to Jesus: "You are the Christ," Jesus gives his disciples an earful about what lies ahead: Danger! Danger! Danger!

What are some of your thoughts, questions, impressions of this passage?

"He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. Mark 8:31
He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Mark 8:32
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Mark 8:33
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Mark 8:34
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. Mark 8:35
What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Mark 8:36
Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? Mark 8:37
If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38
And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.”


Wow! Whacha Think?

Have You Seen This Yet?

Things It Takes Most Of Us 50 years to learn:

1. The badness of a movie is directly proportional to the number of helicopters in it.

2. You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe daylight-saving time.

3. You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests you think she's pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

4. The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside, we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers.

5. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is: age 11.

6. There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

7. People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.

8. If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be "meetings."

9. The main accomplishment of almost all organized protests is to annoy people who are not in them.

10. If there really is a God who created the entire universe with all of its glories, and he decides to deliver a message to humanity, he will NOT use as his messenger a person on cable TV with a bad hairstyle or in some cases, really bad make-up too.

11. You should not confuse your career with your life.

12. A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter/janitor, is not a nice person.

13. No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.

14. When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that individual is crazy.

15. Your true friends love you, anyway.

16. Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

CRASH!

At the weekend Gathering of River Valley this week we'll take a brief respite from our study of Mark's Gospel A friend of mine, Paul Goshorn, will be teaching...should be a great time. Paul is an associate pastor at Sciotoville United Methodist Church and is currently busy defending his title as "World's Greatest Emmaus/Chrysalis Weekend Spiritual Director." Paul is a fantastic communicator, despite his "freekishly large" stature...and will undoubtedly be asking this question this weekend:
"What does a rhino see at thirty-one feet?"

Turning the Corner

On our Sunday morning walk through Mark's Gospel, we have reached the halfway point. In this passage, Mark changes focus as we begin to see Jesus' journey to the Cross unfold before our eyes.

"They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.
He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, 'Do you see anything?'
He looked up and said, 'I see people; they look like trees walking around.'
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
Jesus sent him home, saying, 'Don’t go into the village.'
Mark 8:22-26

Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them,
'Who do people say I am?'
They replied, 'Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.'

'But what about you?' he asked. 'Who do you say I am?'
Peter answered, 'You are the Christ.'
Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.
Mark 8:27-30

Ok. So...what do YOU say about this?

No one else like me? ...NOT!

Just when I was feeling uniquely ME...

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 152 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Mark 8 this weekend at River Valley

We jump into chapter 8 this Sunday morning as we continue our journey through Mark's Gospel. What are some of your thoughts, questions, observations...?

During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, Mark 8:1
“I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. Mark 8:2
If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” Mark 8:3
His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” Mark 8:4

“How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. Mark 8:5
He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. Mark 8:6
They had a few small fish as well; he gave thanks for them also and told the disciples to distribute them. Mark 8:7
The people ate and were satisfied. Afterward the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. Mark 8:8 About four thousand men were present.

And having sent them away, Mark 8:9
he got into the boat with his disciples and went to the region of Dalmanutha. Mark 8:10
The Pharisees came and began to question Jesus. To test him, they asked him for a sign from heaven. Mark 8:11
He sighed deeply and said, “Why does this generation ask for a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, no sign will be given to it.” Mark 8:12 Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side. Mark 8:13

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. Mark 8:14
“Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.” Mark 8:15
They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” Mark 8:16
Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Mark 8:17
Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? Mark 8:18
When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
“Twelve,” they replied. Mark 8:19
“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?” They answered, “Seven.” Mark 8:20
He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” Mark 8:21

My Celebrity Look-alikes

cindy crawford - 66% ?????????
i don't even have a mole!

Tradition or traditions?

This weekend Mark's Gospel presents us with another (long but) intriguing passage: Mark 7:1-23. I would love to know some of your thoughts and impressions. I believe the questions we're asking are as important as any of the answers we find.

The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were “unclean,” that is, unwashed.
(The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.) Mark 7:1-4

So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with ‘unclean’ hands?” He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.’ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.” Mark 7:5-8

And he said to them: “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban’ (that is, a gift devoted to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” Mark 7:9-13

Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a man can make him ‘unclean’ by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him ‘unclean.’” After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. Mark 7:14-17

“Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him ‘unclean’? For it doesn’t go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods “clean.”) He went on: “What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’” Mark 7:18-23

Comment below or email me (steve@rvcc.net)

Worth Dying For

Just finished Rob Bell's newest book, "Sex God:Exploring the Endless Connections between Sexuality and Spirituality." The "Worth Dying For" chapter is worth the price of the book. This chapter is absolutely a prerequisite for anyone considering marriage. I'm thinking this IS my future source for counseling with engaged couples. I'd been thinking Bell couldn't top "Velvet Elvis", now, I'm thinking he just did.

Walking on Water

This weekend at Rver Valley Community Church, the journey through the Gospel of Mark continues with this passage:

"Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida,
while he dismissed the crowd. Mark 6:45
After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. Mark 6:46
When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. Mark 6:47
He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, Mark 6:48
but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, Mark 6:49
because they all saw him and were terrified. ¶ Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Mark 6:50 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed,
Mark 6:51 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. Mark 6:53
As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. Mark 6:54
They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Mark 6:55
And wherever he went — into villages, towns or countryside — they placed the sick in the marketplaces.
They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed." Mark 6:56

What questions do have about this passage?
What strikes you as strange or unusual?

Comment...and I'll try to address your questions this Sunday

A Prayer for Dante

While watching my son's first round sectional basketball game at SouthEastern High School last night...suddenly, a buzz of excitement washed through the crowded gymnasium. Curiously, it had nothing to do with the action on the court. No...heads were turning and much pointing and gawking were happening because...DANTE had arrived. That is Dante (pronounced DAN-tay) the senior basketball phenom for the #1 ranked Greenfield McClain Tigers. Dante is the STAR of a very good McClain team that is poised to bring basketball glory via a state championship to the Greenfield faithful. He has already made a verbal commitment to continue his basketball career at Xaiver University next season. Dante appeared to me to be quite gracious as he made his way to where his buddies were seated in the far corner of the gym. Young boys were mesmerized by this sighting of Ohio basketball royalty. Old men got up from their seats, shook his hand, and smiled for the camaras. (Meanwhile, there was a basketball game being played) Oh yeah, my son's team is winning. I was stunned by all the hoopla surrounding Dante's entrance; I still have not seen him do ANYTHING yet with a basketball. All he did last night was walk across the room.

In all fairness, it was a pretty good walk.

But, later, on the way home from the ballgame, I couldn't help thinking:
"For crying out loud...Dante is just a 17 year old KID!"
I can't imagine being 17 and walking into a gym full of people who all know who you are (or think they do)...though they've never actually met you. Pretty heady stuff.

How do you live up to those kind of expectations?
What's it like "under the microscope"?
How can you tell if these new "friends" are genuine or if they have their own agendas?
What if you don't feel like shaking hands and smiling today...does that make you a jerk?

Did I mention that Dante is 17? And that, by all appearances...looks like a pretty typical kid from a small midwestern town; except, apparantly...on the court, he can do MAGIC with the basketball.

So, anyway, in a perhaps strange way...Dante made me think of Jesus. Not quite the 33-34 year old Jesus dying on the Execution Stake or walking out of the Tomb. Not that one, yet. But more like the 30-31 year old Jesus...the one first challenging some fishermen to follow him, then later, casting out some demons and raising a few people from the dead. That's the one. The one in Mark's Gospel traveling from village to village, followed by the ever-growing crowds...with all the diverse expectations and motivations...and agendas.

It just seems like such a precarious place to be; all the 'neediness', the wide-eyed stares, slack jaws, and impatient requests.
It just seems like such a long way to potentially fall.
It must seem like someone---any one of them---is just waiting to nail you.

Meanwhile...Dante just keeps smiling.

God Wears Lipstick

Arriving on my doorstep (surprise!) today, the long awaited follow-up to Velvet Elvis.

"Our first need is not for people to fix our problems. People who charge in and have all the answers and try to make things right without first joining us in our pain generally annoy us, or worse yet, they push us away. They have nothing to give us. The God that Jesus points us to is not a god who stands at a distance wringing his hands and saying, 'if only you'd listened to me.'

This is the God who holds out his hands and asks: 'Would you like to see the holes where the nails went? Would that help?
The Cross is where we present our wounds to God and say, 'Here, you take them.'"
-Rob Bell, Sex God


...and we shall keep reading...

DeColores!

WOW !!! My Emmaus weekend was all that I thought it would be...and MORE. ....check it out HERE. One friend descibed a certain aspect of the weekend as "a brief glimpse of Heaven"...yes, indeed. And a 'longer view' of intentional community, repentance, forgiveness, and discipleship. Thanks to Alan Cook, Marty Ford, Mason Good, and my sponsor, Eli Ruggles, and quite a few others...for all their momentum and encouragement.

Off to Emmaus

Waiting for my friend Eli to pick me up and deliver me to Trinity UMC in Chillicothe for Emmaus Walk weekend. Prayer for me (please) to have a significant encounter with Jesus...and my new friends I will meet. To my family: Jaki, Mason, Carter, and Landre---I love you and miss you. See you Sunday evening...

Plan B

Jaki and I were holding FREE tickets to a concert in Columbus for tonight...but...1/2 foot of snow and sub-freezing temperatures persuaded us to stay home by the fire, eating peach pie with coffee. Oh well...