Uncategorized

From Rick Warren, we receive a regular newsletter for pastors and leaders of churches.  The following is a quote from Rick's Ministry Toolbox newsletter #411 - directly from the mouth of Rick Warren. I've told my staff many times we don't want to hire anyone who hasn't had problems in life.  They're usually not very effective in ministry.  I want people who have been broken because their hearts are more likely to be broken with the things that break the heart of God.  God takes us, breaks us, blesses us, and then uses us in ways we never imagined. I agree!  The older I get, the more I agree! Here's another thought from the same newsletter (not often you get blasted twice in one reading!) Growing churches focus on reaching receptive people.  Nongrowing churches focus on reenlisting inactive people. OK, still working on that one.  But something resonates with me - if we are not going beyond our current membership or previous members, something is wrong!

There are those days where I know I should be tired but what I am doing energizes me. Today I was working on some administration for an upcoming seminar we are giving on addictions and being what God intended for each one of us.  Dr. David Eckman is the speaker.  I've heard him and read his books, and feel this is a worthwhile opportunity! So, April 24-25th - if you are around  the Kindersley area drop in an join us.  I'll try and include most of the information below - hopefully the formatting won't go all "wonky!" Weekend Focus This weekend’s sessions arose out of a concern with addiction-misuse in the West Central District of Saskatchewan. An effort sponsored by DAWN (Drug and Alcohol Awareness Wellness Network) alerted many to the need for education and understanding of the problems associated with addictions. The churches of the Kindersley Evangelical Fellowship have combined efforts to bring a foremost authority in this area to address these issues – useful both to those with addictions and those dealing with the addicted. Guest Speaker Dr. David Eckman received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from Houghton College, a Master of Divinity degree from San Francisco Conser-vative Baptist Seminary and a Master of Theology degree from Golden Gate Seminary. After completing six years of graduate research at Oxford University in England, David received his Doctor of Philosophy degree from Golden Gate Seminary in San Francisco, California. His scholarship is combined with 30 years of experience as pastor, counselor, teacher and conference speaker. Weekend Schedule Saturday, April 24, 2010 Dealing with Addictions (9:30 am – 3:15 PM) Kindersley Christian Fellowship 800-12th Avenue East, Kindersley 9:30 am Registration 10-11:00 The Addictive Cycle – Part 1 11:15-12:15 The Addictive Cycle – Part 2 12:15pm Lunch (Included in Registration) 1:00 – 2:30 The Challenge of Family Backgrounds 2:30 – 3:15 Question & Answer $30.00 registration for session Sunday, April 25, 2010 Kindersley Evangelical Fellowship Combined Service (11:00 am) Kindersley Alliance Church 74 West Road, Kindersley Dr. Eckman Speaking Becoming What God Intended (2:00 – 4:30 PM) Kindersley Christian Fellowship 800-12th Avenue East, Kindersley 2:00 – 4:00 Becoming What God Intended 4:00 – 4:30 Question & Answer Registration not required Free will offering to cover expenses

I've started to venture into the world of David Timms.  He sends out a regular email/thought provoker called IN HOPE.  Here's the website where you can get a description - http://www.growingdeeper.com/In_HOPE.html.  You can check out some of the archived articles at http://www.hiu.edu/inhope/. Here's one sentence out an article called Face, Pace, Grace. Eugene Peterson's confrontational words still ring true: "The word busy is the symptom not of commitment but of betrayal. It is not devotion but defection. It is an outrageous scandal, a blasphemous affront." OK, so I'm a bit on this track of Sabbatical and rest.  Anything you've found that might be helpful?

My father used to wonder how I could write a blog regularly.  There were days where I just had a word, or a phrase or a visual.  When I would sit down the words would start to come.  Some call it free association.  I guess I just think of it as following my thoughts. My father loved to find the bookmark to my blog.  Not for some kind of brilliance, I think, but perhaps for his son's thoughts. Now that he has died, I cherish that thought.  And perhaps I write as though he were still listening.  About nothing and everything.  For the enjoyment of it.