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Somehow in the last while I’ve come upon a number of new books that I’m reading.  They all have something to say and may be worth consideration.

Recommended by our intern who will be coming in the fall – An Unstoppable Force by Erwin McManus.

Majesty in Motion: Creating an encouragement culture in all your relationships, by Stewart Brown – who has phoned the church more than once to encourage us to read this book.

The me I want to be:  becoming God’s best version of you by John Ortberg.

The Three Colors of Your Spirituality by Christian Schwarz.

The Naked Gospel by Andrew Farley.

I picked up most of these on www.amazon.ca. 

The new book I want to pick up is called – Nine Ways God Always Speaks:  offer only available in certain states, by Mark Herringshaw and Jennifer Schuchmann.

This last book appears to go along with some of my thoughts in my sermon series – How do you hear God speaking?  You can listen to the messages to date by clicking on our sermon link on our church website at www.kindersleyalliance.com.

When the lens is no longer clear, when haze surround and light diminishes – time for an implant. 

That’s the diagnosis today.  I sat in the optometrist/surgeon’s office.  We chatted about my vision.  He suggested that the right eye was definitely affected, the left eye not quite so much.  Both would be in need of lens replacement.

So, I will head towards a fix on the eyes in the next few months.  Both eyes – one first, then the other a few weeks later.

This is day surgery, suggested recovery time very short (with care taken following surgery, but no real “down time”).

I’m looking forward to this.  When everything is not as it seems, time to return to reality!

This week I have run across a number of people who have been sick.  Sick and tired of coughing, colds, illness and general dis-ease. 

Now, I began to think.  What if we all got together?  What if we all shared one room?  What if in our togetherness we shared our common woes and common foes called germs and flus and little creatures with no names?

Surely the ideal of uniting this world together with one cause would be achieved.  We would now have the great opportunity of being equal with one another.  We would share the ideal of democracy and community.  We could all speak together with one voice . . .

If we could just stop coughing!

Yesterday I met our local bus.  I was there to touch base with a fellow whose mother had passed away recently.  He was just released from jail and would be going to a graveside service I will be officiating today.

As he stepped from the bus, a group of four youth surrounded him.  They were obviously his friends.  The chatter was immediate and friendly.  While I was not sure if anyone would be there, a community was present.

The talk was about staying clean, or not.  About police encounters and friends gone awry.  About new shoes and tomorrow’s graveside service.  About aspirations and hopes.  About things that bind people together.

For months there had been no direct contact.  And yet, the community was present. 

With care and concern, or with selfish interest, or with motives of power and prestige, or with a sense of codependence, or with a tie of blood relative – we will find ourselves in community unless we actively exclude ourselves.  Which makes it imperative that we choose who will influence us – for there is no doubt influence will happen.