Thoughts on This & That

Time to admit it -- I have a bit of a cold. I've bargained with God about not getting sick duirng so many big weeks over the past several months, that I guess I can't complain. And so far it's mild compared to previous year's versions.

For a few minutes this morning I considered running in the Las Vegas half-marathon on Jan. 30. Last time I ran one (Jan 2003) I took three months to prep. Yet I can run 6 miles now, so I figured I could stretch out to 10 miles next Saturday, then show up on the 30th & go for the 13 miles. It would be spontaneous & kind of fun. Not to worry, though, because that idea passed in just a few short minutes.

Tori & I are learning chess. Good game. Not as hard as I thought it would be to learn, but harder than I thought it would be to master.

We're going to visit my parents & Rebekah's parents in the Midwest over Spring Break (only a couple of months away). Plane tix for a family of four is dang expensive.

It's 60 degrees & sunny here on January 15. After the past few weeks I almost forgot -- this is why we love the weather here. That snowman from last week will soon be forgotten.

And last, but not least, it's hard to be really close with more than just a very few people.

Trinitarian Community, continued

If time had allowed last Sunday night, I would have mentioned the following thoughts:

• Modern psychotherapy arose partly in response to the void in Christian community left by Protestant insistence on private confession. Therefore confession has moved from the church to the counselor's office. (Jung)

• Trinity created beings (us) that could enjoy the depths of Father's kindness and reproduce among themselves the community that Trinity found so delightful. (Larry Crabb)

• "Nothing matters more than releasing the energy of Christ as we speak with people we love, especially when those people are in midst of trouble." (Larry Crabb)

• Much more on John 13-17.
  
  
  

Oasis in the Desert

I spent Saturday & part of Sunday in Primm with our Apex Elders, and with our friend/mentor Mike Steele from Colorado. It was a meaningful time. We prayed. We ate. We encouraged each other. We ate more. We concerned ourselves about many of you. We ate again.

I wanted to write and share the essence of what we "heard" as we were together, because it was very good. Yet I couldn't come up with words that would do it justice. Instead, I want to share what I am learning by being with Mike. I hope I am able to become more like this, and even find a way to lead our community to be more like this as well. Here's what he has indirectly challenged me/us to do:

1) Listen to God: Whenever we aren't sure what to do next, stop & take a minute to seek Father. This can be over issues as profound as whether or not to move to another city, change careers, or get married. It can also be over issues as simple as whether to warm up leftovers or to go out to dinner. At times, God may not care what choice we make. But, then again, He may give us subtle guidance when we least expect it. And when we do "hear" something from Him, to just do it.

2) Speak Identity & Destiny Into Each Other: When we are together with others, taking time regularly to tell them what we see in them, and what they are destined to become. This feels weird until we get into the habit of doing it. This could be us telling our spouse or kids exaclty who we see them becoming. It could also be a reminder to a friend or a new acquaintance of who we see them as, or as what unique aspects they bring to our lives. When Mike does this, it usually turns involves touching & praying, though I'm sure it could be done in subtler ways as well. I don't know of a "house church" that has done this regularly that did not end up being very healthy. (and, the opposite applies as well)

3) Live Fully in Each Moment: After spending 12 hours with Mike & everyone else on Saturday, I laid awake in bed for three hours or so while my brain processed all that had happened. He commented the next day that he had fallen to sleep immediately and woke up hearing from God exactly what he needed to hear for the coming day. Some of this may be a mere personality difference, but some of it may be a learned ability to trust God in each moment of life without the need to anxiously worry about what's ahead, nor the need to dwell on what has already transpired. I'm miles away from getting this one!