Yesterday I spent a lot of time with a life-long friend, a friend from the neighborhood we grew up in together in St. Louis.  Lifelong friends are an amazing gift in our lives.  While Danny, his twin  sons and me spent the day mostly at Hammons Field, the Springfield Cardinals ballpark here, we covered a lot of old and new ground (bad pun, sorry).  We reminisced about old memories and made new ones. 

Life is about old memories and creating new ones, isn’t it?  And God is right in the middle of them as we open our lives to God.  I encourage you and me to keep the doors open and then watch the experiences, the memories that unfold before our very eyes.

God has designed me to be intellectually curious regarding most things. The Methodist church (local and state) has continued to require, while supporting me, that I gain more knowledge of God through study, writing and speaking. I do this through a vehicle called the Course of Study (COS). The COS consists of 20 classes at the campus of St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City. Its been a great 14 months.

I only have two more courses to complete in the next year. While I look forward to completing the COS and being able to read more of what I want to read, writing about topics other than those required of me and talking about things other than those assigned to me, I’m beginning to realize what I will miss too. I will miss spending time with some great friends gained along the way. I’ll miss the process that is more intentional than I first realized.

I’m grateful.

Personally, growing up outside the church, I learned about sacrifice through participating in sports and serving in the military.  These sacrifices involved the giving up of my time and talent for something I valued more.  It has only been through my faith journey that I’ve learned to sacrifice financially.  And, it can be a challenging thing for me. 

So how did we arrive at our decision, what are we giving up or sacrificing and what’s the motivation?  We arrived at our decision through talking, praying, waiting and talking some more.  We’ve been financially blessed in our lives so we had multiple options for our giving.  Eventually, clarity came as we waited, prayed and talked.  We are giving $15,000 out of our savings and will give up expensive vacations, home remodeling (e.g. new floors/carpeting and kitchen) and delay buying a newer vehicle.  We are doing this to be obedient to God and to advance the Kingdom of God in this world, in our community and church. 

Our motivation is obedience and in knowing our gift has eternal value in that children, teenagers and families will be served in their relationship with God. Our gift will relieve the debt of the church allowing for more freedom to deliver impacting ministry that includes serving the poor and those in need in our community–ministry that will transform lives.  Our motivation in sacrificial giving is tangibly valuing our relationship with God above other things.   Our motivation in giving is gratitude for our Lord who saves us and is our ultimate joy, security, hope , contentment and love.  God’s grace and love has done, and will do, more for us than anything in this world could come close to matching.  Material possessions or self-indulgent wants or experiences will fade–God is faithful–with us now  and eternally.  We are humbled and grateful.  God has once again given us clarity in priorities and what is of eternal value–our relationship with God and other people.

It’s around this time of year–the holidays–that I am especially interested in observing stuff in our culture.   I also think about my own responses.  We know the holidays are generally hectic and anxiety producing due to expectations that we or others put on ourselves.  As people of faith and peace this always intriugues me.  I wonder if I shouldn’t get more excited about it all?

I was returing a purchase the other day and the clerk said to me, “you wouldn’t know we we in a recession by the looks of the lines around here.”  She was right.  The lines were long and people were waiting to buy lots of stuff.  It seems to me that restaurants are busier than usual too.  Parking is tougher to find.

Take a look around.  Take a good look.  What do you think?

Recently I got away for a few days and hiked with Roxanne in the backwoods of Arkansas.  What a place.  What a creation it is along the Buffalo River.  It felt like a new season out there in the peace and serenity of the woods, the river and the hills.  I began feeling new again too.

As we were trudging along the trails, Roxanne and I talked about God’s providence.  It can be a lot to think about.  We’re both in the Christian Believer course at Schweitzer and providence was the topic we were reading and learning about.  Belief in God’s providence is to believe God is involved and cares for us, provides for us.   I thank God for providence and admit its easier to see in the rear view mirror.  But, I do believe.

I believe God’s wants us to have a new season too.  I believe God’s wants us to experience a new season…over and over through the power of the resurrected Christ.  Providence tells us God is involved.   Believe.  Join in the life Jesus has for us, actively following Him.  Get away with Christ.  Renew in what counts.  Peace, Jim

Much has happened in recent months.  Among the hi-lights was a time of renewal via a vacation with Roxanne in the Buffalo National Forest in Arkansas.  We made some new friends including 3 dogs that hung out at the cabin where we stayed–our base camp.  We learned you can really get away from the world in a relatively short drive.  The Buffalo River and surrounding area is wild and beautiful.

I also experienced some incredible continuing education and renewal at St. Paul in Kansas City.  The experience was magnified by the combination of great teaching (& teachers) and colleagues making up the classroom.  The experience combined broad New Testament teaching with evangelism through a Wesleyan lens.  I’ve gained a new passion for sharing what I’ve learned and being a witness for Christ to others through ministry and life in general.  I pray to continue to be a lifelong learner and will share more about my renewed passion is an upcoming post. 

I’ve read some interesting books including The Shack.  Other folks in my family read it first and recommended it to me.  Presently, I’m really enjoying a book of daily meditations by Richard Rohr entitled Radical Grace…and find myself re-reading it.  It is that good and I highly recommend it.   I’m also looking forward to reading a book given to me by friends entitled Same Kind of Different as Me.  Let me know if you’ve read it and what you think.

A new experience awaits me in co-teaching a class called Christian Believer.  The class begins the evening of September 16thand I’m excited to be teaching with two (retired) colleagues.  Christian Believer is for the “believer” that has journeyed with God and wants to go deeper.  This class, Christian Believer, assumes participants are already followers of Jesus and that they come to the study to understand the faith they already have.  Believer emphasizes the head as will as the heart. 

Enough for now.  Jim

For example, today a friend told a story of faith was strengthened through  a simple prayer that was answered. The prayer was for God to make God’s presence known to a loved one and to provide comfort to that person. Beyond all rationale and scientific understanding, the prayer was answered.  Mystery and certainty were embraced in the journey with God. 

Another story involved unceasing unconversation with God…even about the little things. Sometimes we don’t think we’re praying when we go about conversation with God…but I think we are. Brother Lawrence went about life with God, in the smallest of things, and called it prayer. We can too.  We can have faith in knowing God cares about all the details of our lives–just share them with God.  And don’t be surprised about some of the thoughts, or promptings, that follow.

We’re using our Pray Grow Study bulletin insert guides as the foundation for our discussions.  We’ve discussed prayers of examen, tears and relinquishment.  The guides have been helpful in reflecting on our experiences.  I think, as we grow older, the mystery that surrounds God is easier to embrace.  While we know God is faithful and God’s character is unchanging, we can come to a place where we do not have know or understand everything.  The burden of selfsuffiency can be lifted.  Not having to know and do everything on our own is a relief.  While we are responsible for many things, we can come to the self knowledge that we’re not responsible for everything and everyone.  And, that we can give things away to God through prayer. 

Life can be difficult and challenging.  In the conversation known as prayer with God, life is do-able…and can be lived with hope and joy.  In prayer that includes listening, we can move forward with God knowing we are forgiven.  We can forgive others and show compassion for the sinned against.

I’m looking foward to discussing prayers of rest and sacramental prayer this week…among other things!  More later…

Prayer can be paradoxical–simple yet deep. Still, shouldn’t it always be a conversation with God? Should’nt we spend as much time listening as talking?

I’m excited about this journey in prayer. I know I’m going to learn from others in the group–through their rich life experiences and wisdom. More later…

I’m not sure, but it seems both tell stories that people can understand in relation to their own lives. Andy Griffith is a bit dated and goofy/funny. But most of us know people like the folks in the old comedy series. There’s Andy, the good guy with a lot of wisdom. There’s Floyd, the barber and town gossip. And, of course, there’s Barney–always trying too hard to impress folks… 

The Gospels tell stories we can all relate too. There’s wisdom to be gained, folks gossiping, people absorbed with self and preoccupied with power…trying too get it and working hard to keep it.

Both contain truth.  God uses stories to reveal truth. A new class called Andy & the Gospel began today at 9:45. Check it out!