Thoughts

I haven't posted a lot recently it seems and now I'm reflecting a bit on why that has been. It seems primarily that I have used this space for information and some personal reflection while not trying to spend a lot of time venting or exposing what is happening on a personal level with myself or those around me.
Because of that I haven't felt comfortable in saying a whole lot about things and I'm wondering if maybe I need to rethink what I share here. So I'll be asking some of those closest to me what they are comfortable with in me sharing here in a semi-anonymous way. (Obviously those who know me will be able to figure out who I'm talking about in many cases.) Until that happens I'll not venture down a path that will be uncomfortable for others until I get some of their permission.
If any of you have dealt with this tight rope I would appreciate your wisdom.

In other news, today I'm assisting in a wedding for Candace and Matt and I will thoroughly enjoy it!

Looking Back

This morning I took some time to look back over our pictures and notes from last summers trip to Alaska. It doesn't really seem possible that we were gone for as long as we were and that we saw all of these amazing places. It was a great reminder of God's power and majasty in all things and one that I probably need to remember on a regular basis. So today I want to post another picture from our trip just as my reminder that God is much larger than I give God credit for.

Big News

I can now officially share the good news!
Last week this press release went out from the Lilly Foundation.
The awarding of the Renewal Grant to Saint Joseph means that I will be able to take some significant time off next summer for a Sabbatical/Renewal Leave and that while I'm gone the church will also be spending some significant time focused around the opportunity for spiritual renewal. There will be a lot more information come this way in the weeks and months to come!
I've known for a couple weeks but couldn't make it public knowledge by putting it into print until the press release went out from the Lilly Foundation last week. So know I would invite you to share in my joy and I pray that this will be a blessing to the whole church as well my family and myself.

Some things to think about

I got this link through Monday Morning Insight thanks to Todd Rhodes and I would love to hear your responses. The focus of the article was on what qualifies for success. Here is a lists of things from W. David Phillips:

So today, I want to share with you some of the metaphors we listed (and some I came up with afterwards), of things we can count as a measure of success. But I need to issue a warning. You will have to think about these and you may push back unless you realize the metaphor. So don’t react…Ponder…

1. The number of cigarette butts in the church parking lot.
2. The number of adoptions people in the church have made from local foster care.
3. The number of pictures on the church wall of unwed mothers holding their newborn babies in their arms for the first time.
4. The number of classes for special needs children and adults
5. The number of former convicted felons serving in the church
6. The number of phone calls from community leaders asking the church’s advice
7. The number of meetings that take place somewhere besides the church building
8. The number of organizations using the church building
9. The number of days the pastor doesn’t spend time in the church office but in the community
10. The number of emergency finance meetings that take place to reroute money to community ministry
11. The amount of dollars saved by the local schools because the church has painted the walls
12. The number of people serving in the community during the church’s normal worship hours
13. The number of non-religious-school professors worshiping with you
14. The number of people wearing good, free clothes that used to belong to members of the church
15. The number of times the church band has played family-friendly music in the local coffee shop
16. The number of people who have gotten better because of free health clinic you operate
17. The number of people in new jobs thanks to the free job training center you opened
18. The number of micro-loans given by members in your church
19. The number of churches your church planted in a 10 mile radius of your own church

This is something that I've been thinking about lately as we ponder what it is that we should measure to track the results of our goals and objectives.

So what do you think?