Uphill idealist

The word repentance was once explained to me as " stopping where you are, turning around and going the other direction with purpose and passion." This weeks question has to do with the topic of repentance. Give an example in your life of repentance: how have you faced a hard truth about yourself and made a decision to go a better way. What happened? Tell us your story... For the last several weeks, a small group of friends have been meeting over lunch on a weekly basis to discuss and share their answers, questions and conversation in response to the questions found in the book, Holy conversations by Richard Peace. Feel free to comment here or on the discussion page found on Facebook .

Later this month,April 23-29, I will be attending the Princeton Institute of Youth Ministry at Princeton Seminary in New Jersey. When I came across the information for this training, I was very excited as it is affordable in terms of continuing education opportunities and is much closer geographically to my home than many of the options I was considering. There is one catch however in the final details of planning travel to get there in April. Due to registering later than earlier for this event, I will not be able to stay on campus for two of the nights of my stay and found it necessary to book a hotel. While my employer has graciously covered my tuition for this program, I find that I'm running a little short on some resources necessary during travel. So quite honestly, I am asking you to consider supporting me in prayer and/or financially during my initial classes of April 23-29. The specific prayer needs I have during this time are: traveling safety (my flight brings me to Ph

I'm not a very good waiter. No, I don't mean the fella dressed in black with a crisp linen towel over his arm - but that probably wouldn't work for me either. What I mean, is I'm no good at waiting for news, when said news involves the people I love. On Sunday afternoon, my Dad called to tell me he is having heart problems again. Thirteen years ago he had a serious heart attack, and now his aorta valve is not working properly. So today he has a heart cath and later we will know when his valve replacement surgery will be. Most likely it will be late this week. I wish I was with my Dad today. He lives a ways away, I work at a church and it's holy week - that is what I think the busiest time of the church calender and schedule. I have waves of - it's only a simple procedure today and waves of "Hey, this is my Dad we are talking about." Later this week, I'm planning on singing this song for Good Friday service...and today these words seem to fit perfec

Image from blog Brian Dennet here . Matthew 21 The Triumphal Entry 1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." 4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5"Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "[a] 6The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed s

This photo of Kristen was taken last month while in India by her friend Chanda. Matthew 21:1-3 "As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away." A few weeks ago, an friend of mine returned home from a photography/mission trip to India with more than the usual souvenirs you would expect from such an adventure. Kristen took hundreds of photographs, made some new friends and fell in love with the people of India. One thing she did not expect though was to contract Colitis while she was there. In fact, during her last few days in India, Kristen came into contact with a virus that began this infection when caring for some children she had met there. It became necessary for

When I first think of the word "sin" I think of some fire and brimstone sermons I've listened to over the years, I think of a list of offenses: murder, theft, anger, lust, pride, and more, but more and more when I think of sin - I think of it being the thing or things that can be a barrier to all the things that are listed as the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, humbleness, and self-control. In the last year it seems I'm in the process of being realigned by the compass of Jesus words here in John 13:34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." When it comes to the matter of sin, I think much of it would be resolved if we, as in I, lived in the way of love like Jesus speaks of more and more on a daily basis. Sometimes I think it is easier to define what something, like sin, is with what it i