kingdom travelin'

In my reading plan this morning, I ran across a song we sang long ago in chapel at Covenant. It was a favorite of our lead worshiper. Today it has a more significant meaning for me as I walk alongside folks who are struggling with the things of this life…
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

‭‭Zephaniah‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬http://bible.com/59/zep.3.17.esv

Indeed as it says across the front of St. Istvan’s in Budapest (above), He is the way, truth and life. Remember the Lord is in our midst as we walk with Him. May we rejoice rather than fear when the enemy surrounds because the Lord is in our midst! As fellow disciples of our Master let us point one another to this truth!

This is a thought provoking video from the Skit Guys. 

I was challenged by it last Saturday on a retreat with guys from my church in Charlottesville.

It is really worth your time. 

Click here and take twelve.

Dusk at Skylark as we prepared for communion on the mountain.

A month ago I promised some folks that I’d put my bibliography on the blog for their reference. These folks were at the disciple making seminar in Budapest that was hosted at this awesome Bible college:

I promised the bibliography in response to great questions about the books I read as I did my research.

So, I promised the bibliography would be posted the first week of April but now I’m posting it the first week of May. Oh well.

Based on my opinion, I’ve quickly noted three types of books: * helpful to topic; ** especially helpful to topic and me; *** must reads.

Click here to view the Google doc.

Many apologies that this is SO late.

This has been an important text for me over the years:

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.”‭‭Habakkuk‬ ‭3:17-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬ http://bible.com/59/hab.3.17-19.esv

It was on my reading plan this morning and is an important reminder for us.

How wonderful to experience the unconditional love of God. A love that is based on His decision to love us according to His will, not on how we behave.

Easter proved it with the death, the burial and the resurrection of Jesus, His only begotten Son.

Rejoice friend, you can’t measure up. Through Jesus, His love invites you too!

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/1jn.3.1.esv

Week in and week out, I hear stories of unfulfilled leaders running to and fro, hither and yon, from this to that, just to lament that they’re not getting anywhere. 

Part of the challenge among leaders today is finding and sticking with a purpose. 

There are just so many good things that we need to do.

Need?

Really?

My observation is that as our aim is off. 

One resource that has been helpful for a few of us is in adjusting our sights:

I urge you to consider this helpful volume.