Monthly Archives: June 2008

is a thinker whose writing i remember being exposed to in school many moons ago… he is one of the presenters today and here is one of the things I took from him today:

“The gospel is the proper apologetic for a pluralistic society.”

The sunny temp today was 69 here in Oxford with beautiful puffy clouds, tomorrow the clouds are supposed to disappear and it should get up to a blazing 75! I am loving this weather.

I FINALLY got by bags so I will post a pic or two of the college I am living in. Yes, yes, I had my camera in the luggage… stupid, I know.

Mark, I’m in Bp 12th – 18th with the exception of a one day to Sz tbd…

this is looking like a bulletin board

well, there is no wireless, I got one bag of the two, my room is awesome… but there are computers to use in a common room… kinda like a free internet cafe… Laci, praying for your toe… Jo, praying for your visit to be filled with Divine appointments…

This morning I had an AMAZING worship experience… no words yet… at St. Aldates Church… God clearly drove me there… it was heart and mind grabbing… I am seeking balance with the heart and mind… we should all seek balance witht the heat and mind… off to dinner (with my frip frops on!)

Last week, I finished EHS and there was a compelling chapter on Sabbath. So this week, I am taking a sabbath. It began yesterday at about 1500 when I began my journey here without my bags 😦 but I was prepared for such. I will be at a conference which will be a rest and renew time for me. I would guess that, finding some wifi hotspots, I will be posting the thoughts that occur to me.

This conference is about apologetics. I will be asking a question of the presenters: “how does this apply/relate to the post modern? the post war? the post communist? few of whom are modern in thier philosophy?

oh, gotta post, times up!

Today my long journey is at the half way mark. The team heads home, I head to Oxford. Ck out the EE08 blog for my thoughts from the end of that trip. I hope to be posting from Oxford as I attend an apologetics conference and I hope to find cheap and easy WiFi there.

does not have to mean being on a trip where you go a hundred miles an hour for 12 days straight…

being – existing, having life and purpose… it can mean sitting, contemplating

suffering – subjective… American adolescents can consider being bored a form a suffering, exposure to suffering of a different kind can change our perspective on what we consider suffering… some, who have truly suffered, are often seekers of the avoidance of suffering… back to being Bored -> can it be that if we are SO used to being entertained that when we are not entertained, we get bored from lack of stimuli? a lack of choices is also considered a form of suffering by some…

solitude – what ever happened to solitude, quiet and silence????? is this suffering? not to me, but then I’m not an adolescent (by age, anyhow) and I have learned to enjoy and even need, really need my “I” time… I noticed last night, as I read a portion of the third missionary journey, that after leaving Ephesus, Paul left the group for a while to walk, the met up later… could Paul have needed some “I” time? Jesus would regularly go early to His Father in prayer… I know why: while the others are still asleep and as the day breaks, He could meet his Papa for real connection and encounter… you can I can do this too…

serving that flows from being… washing dishes, ironing clothes, changing diapers, mopping floors, doing data processing, teaching, counselling, encouraging, exhorting, thises things flow from a willing heart… that willing heart is WAY more important than some ability or even knowledge (though these sometimes come in handy)

obedience – that thing we need to cultivate to really hear and follow Jesus and those around us…

listening – for ways to serve

praying – for God to guide our steps and plans in the moment we are in…

These are some of the things of being on mission.

Phil 2.12-16

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

It is only through a deep and intentional connection that we can hope to live this and then, on that DAY, He will be pleased… to find that deep and intentional connection… we need to dwell and soak up God…

my signature is “Peace from Grace”

God is such a good and giving God

this morning I got to have an extra hour in His word… hearing from Him and receiving His Grace in this setting…

thanks Mark and Laura…

Thanks be to God

it was here, on the northern fringe of Budapest, during a soothing rain, after an afternoon of activity and work (which we finished JUST as the rain began – whew), that I read much of The Shack… from the words in this book, God spoke to my heart.

We need to find these places and times…

to open ourselves to His investing in us.