I think one reason for my sabbatical was DISCIPLINE.  Now, being that I am offline and have no dictionary as I write this, I don’t know what the dictionary definition of discipline is.  But I would define it as doing something that is good for you and teaches you something.  Often, it doesn’t feel good or you don’t want to do it.  Sometimes, it is imposed on you.  But in each case, it involves doing something that in intended to have positive effects.

It takes discipline to practice basketball lay-ups every day.  They stop being fun after a while, but they are an important skill to master.  It takes discipline to NOT eat that second piece of chocolate cake.  Why do you do it?  Because you want the good results of not doing it.  You get my point.  Doing something that is good for you.  Now, in all the examples I can think of, the joy doesn’t come in the discipline of the thing, but in the result of it.  Wondering if you can think of a scenario where the disciplined part is its own reward, rather than what occurs as a result?  I mean, being a disciple of Jesus (intentionally learning from him) seems pretty good.  Except the “you will be persecuted” and “you must die” parts that he promised…  And PLEASE don’t get me wrong – I am NOT saying that something MUST be bad/hard/unpleasant to be good for you.

Discipline, of course, just seems so negative.  I can think of three reasons for this.  First, we associate it with the hard things that must be done to achieve something we want.  It’s the “must.”  And don’t we all dislike being obligated to anything these days?  Second, in the midst of discipline, we often lose sight of (or don’t know/understand) the purpose.  And then it can seem pretty bad.  Why am I doing this again???  Third, we often think PUNISHMENT when we hear discipline.  “We had to discipline our son for saying that.”  Again, I am not a linguist and I don’t have my dictionary, but I think the difference between these two is that punishment isn’t necessary intended to have positive affects.  It is intended to show you that you have something wrong.  Theoretically then, the same action could be a matter of either discipline or punishment, depending on its intention.  Fine line, I know.  Were things like the Exodus and Exile in Scripture matters of punishment or discipline (or both) – probably depends on who you ask.

I think one reason for my sabbatical was discipline.  It was meant for my good.  Honestly, I went back and forth on whether I was enjoying the time.  I questioned what God was doing.  And like I said, I still don’t know all that God was teaching me or wanting me to experience.  But I accept that it was for my good.  God knows what is best for me and I am thankful.  And I thank God for what is different in my life as a result.  Negative perceptions that are changed/ing, relational patterns that are improved/ing, renewed passions, better understandings.  Not perfect.  Not done.  But restored.  From discipline.

I can also say that one significant question for me during my sabbatical was: will I do what I need to do – what God asks – even though there aren’t job or relational requirements to do so?  In other words, will I do the right thing just because?  This doesn’t mean not taking input.  Indeed, it means CHOOSING to listen instead of having to.  The working out of this was discipline in and of itself.  And now that we are back in South Africa and moving into a new season of life and ministry, I am so thankful for having to process that question.  Because we are listening to God as we submerge into this new place and pretty much have to do the right things, and lots of hard work, without job or relational requirements telling us what to do!  Not perfect on this one.  But I am glad that God stretched that muscle (and dealt with a lot of other related issues) with we were in California so that I can be more the person He wants me to be now.

The discipline NOW is to continue with the good things He was working on with me.  I haven’t arrived.  Still lots of learning and practicing.  But I thank God that I am becoming  more and more the person He has designed me to be in the process.  This is indeed something good for me, with the ultimate in positive effects.

It all started in the springtime, the father told his daughter.  You know the time of year – when the flowers come back from their winter slumber and our creek grows from a trickle to a current worth talking about.  Seems like spring is when things always change around here.

I remember this particular year like it was just yesterday.  Us kids woke up one morning to the sounds of hammers hard at work – coming from both sides of town no less.  Without washing up or eating breakfast, we ran out the door half-dressed to see what was making such a commotion.  And what did we find?  Right next to the hospital- before they had the parking lot – was a huge tent.  They were busy pulling it up as we arrived.  What a sight!  We had never seen anything like it.  That is, until we remembered that we had also heard a racket coming from the other side of town as well.  So we picked our jaws up off the ground and high-tailed it all the way past the train tracks to near the graveyard.  And what did we find?  To our utter amazement – anther big tent.  How could this be?  Two mysterious tents appearing in our town on the same day.

Now as you might imagine, we were stupefied by this sudden invasion of our town.  We quickly ran back home to see if our parents knew anything about these two mysterious tents.  “Yes,” my father said.  “There’s something in the paper this morning,” and he handed me the new section.  The headline read: Circus in town  “The circus!” my brother and I shouted in delight.  We’d been eagerly waiting for circus to arrive – was it here already?  “Yes, but what about the other tent?” I asked.  My mother called from the other room, “oh yeah, that one’s mentioned on the back page.”  I flipped the paper over and saw a picture of the tent we had seen and caption underneath: church revival meeting this week.

We didn’t know it then, but we’d visit both of those tents that week.  Now the first tent – the one by the hospital – was the church tent.  We were too small to know it then, but every year the big tent would arrive.  All the religious folk would go there every night and hear some man from out of town in a fancy suit talking about heaven.  There was lots of singing (they all seems to know the songs), clapping (and sweating!) and at the end of the night people would raise their hands and everyone else would pray for them.  Problem is, we knew those people.  And the rest of the week, they weren’t dressed up all nice and singing.  They were yelling at us kids: “sit down, be quiet, don’t do that.”  And they were the ones who ran the Wilson family out of town after we all found out what their papa did.  Now don’t get me wrong – they weren’t all bad.  But they weren’t all good either.  And to this day I can’t understand why they don’t seem to get along with one another.  Aren’t they supposed to follow the same God?  Our folks took us to that tent the second night they were in town and we sang the songs and then sat quietly with our hands in our laps while the man in the fancy suit talked about Jesus.  Then we went home and that was that.  We never really talked about it after that.

But the circus, now that’s another story altogether.  It was a child’s dream.  We had begged our parents all year to take us to the circus when it came to town and we were almost delirious when the night finally arrived.  You could hear music coming from the big top as we drove up, inviting you into the magic inside.  And it seemed that every kid in town was there, dragging their parents toward the opening to try and get the best seats.  And inside – oh, it was wonderful.  People laughing and oohing and aaahing and cheering.  Colored lights, spot lights, balloons, sirens.  They had three separate rings going – each with a different act.  How could you decide which one to watch?  They were all so amazing!  There was the flying trapeze and a tightrope walker.  A woman danced with a real live bear.  A man was inside a cage with an African lion.  I saw twenty people stacked in a pyramid.  And clowns everywhere!  They tickled the babies, thew confetti on the teenagers, piled what seemed to be about twenty into the smallest car you’ve ever seen.  It was fun, surprising, and terrifying all at the same time.  Each new sight was more amazing than the last.  Every act played a role in creating and calling us into the most fantastic reality we could imagine.  You could tell the performers simply loved their art and were glad to be part of such an amazing show.  We all loved it – young and old -  there was something for everyone.  I’ve never forgot that night.

The day the circus left town, all the kids followed on their bikes as far as the interstate.  We didn’t want them to go, for the magic to end.  We thought that when the circus left, everything would go back to the way it had been.  But that’s when the magic really took over.  You see, the circus hadn’t just entertained us, it had inspired us.  And every kid in town now wanted to be in the circus.  That’s when I started my juggling.  And you know how your uncle Mark can do flips?  He learned that from the circus!  And a group of girls put up that old swing over the river so they could practice to be trapeze artists themselves.  And of course you know that old Emory went to Africa to find lions and never did come back.  I guess you could day the circus taught us how to really live.  And every year when the circus came back, we were all there – watching, learning, laughing, and trying it ourselves at home.

“But daddy, why didn’t the circus just stay?  Why did it have to leave and only come back once a year?”
You know, I used to ask myself that.  I always hated the day the circus left town…. until you were born.  And then I realized that there were other boys and girls in other towns who wanted to see the circus too.  They were also waiting all year for the circus to come.  It had to leave us to give them a turn.  I’ll bet they love it just as much as I do.  And besides, the circus never really leaves.  Only the big tent leaves.

“And what about the other tent… the church one?”
I don’t know.  Either they stopped coming to town or people just stopped going to their tent.  They never could compete with the circus.

Groote Schuur Primary School – the kids have all worked back into the regular rhythm of school life here.  We have moved back in the middle of the SA school year, so AP, Iain, and Mairin have jumped ahead half a year to the middle of 6th, 3rd, and 1st grades.  Academically they are all dong fine, so most of our attention is on making friends, learning new subjects (the Xhosa language, for example), and extracurricular activities like ballet, cricket, and water polo.

House – After much prayer and house-hunting, God has given us the house we have been looking for!  We will move into 2 Devonshire Rd. in Woodstock on 1 September… pics to come then.  We are thankful to have a place in the neighborhood God has put on our hearts, space to have people over, and a place to call home again.

And last – but certainly not least – Arthur Paul turned 12 on 1 August.  He is getting old, and so are we   We love and are so proud of Arthur.  Can’t wait to see what this year has in store for him.

exploring:

As you may remember, we returned to South Africa with several pictures on our hearts, all of which are part of the bigger dream to see an amazing movement of God here in South Africa: living/sharing God’s love in our neighborhood, helping people know and experience God in creative ways (esp. those who are often overlooked), mentoring young leaders to be the people God has created them to be, helping local ministries and NGO’s, and being part of a network of local and global Kingdom practitioners.  And of course, we always want to leave room for whatever else God has in mind!  Quite soon after returning, we felt God confirmed that He (and we) desire us to be here in Cape Town.  Now, we are exploring what that looks like.

Securing a house is key to a neighborhood presence.  We look forward to settling in, getting to know the people around us, and seeing what God is up to in Woodstock.

I have been asked to lecture part time at the Cornerstone Institute – a small Christian college here in Cape Town.  I will teach one class starting in September and it looks like there is opportunity for more in the next year.  This should be an excellent opportunity to help shape young local leaders through teaching and mentoring.  I am especially glad to work with many who come from less advantaged backgrounds who often aren’t able to get quality education and training.

I am also spending time at the Warehouse.  I have come to know this ministry and several of their staff over the past several years in South Africa.  They are a great bunch of people seeking to help the local church address issues of poverty and justice.  Right now, I’m just helping out where I can and asking God if this might be a place for me/us to connect with more deeply.

And finally, I’ve been busy meeting up with all sorts of fantastic people here who are serious about seeking God’s Kingdom.  I think there is a need for more intentional relational connection so that all these faithful servants can share, encourage, and pray for one another as part of the bigger picture.  Wherever two or more are gathered…

who/how?

As you can see, we are busy exploring possibilities and seeing how the pictures on our hearts come into focus or adjust.  Like I said in our last update, staying in Cape Town means leaving CRM.  So, another part of the equation is: who will we be part of as we pursue God’s calling here in Cape Town?  This is important for several reasons – two of which are especially worth mentioning here.  First, we don’t want to do this alone.  We want to work with/for others who have similar heart/values as us.  Also, we want the people who support us (financially and otherwise) to know that we are being cared for and operating as part of a legit organization!

Over the next several months, we will be talking with local and international organizations to find the best fit (and yes, we are open to your suggestions here).  We will end our commitment to CRM on 31 October and need to have something in place before then.  We will let you know as things progress.

If you support us financially, please keep giving through CRM until we have notified you of new arrangements.

For now, a few of the things we are doing to make sure we are covered…

• We have an intercessory prayer team that receives regular email updates and is committed to covering us in prayer.  Thank you to everyone who is part of this team.  And, if you’d like to be part of this group, please email me.
• We are starting a CARE TEAM.  Beyond prayer, we need people who take the initiative to encourage us, communicate with us, and check on the state of our hearts.  If this is something you enjoy doing, would you consider being part of this ministry to us? Feel free to email me your interest, any questions, or suggestions!
• We are plugging into local relationships and communities.  A few are mentioned above and we’re busy discerning what we will be part of here in Cape Town.  We also have an older couple committed to helping us process our ongoing heart journeys.

you (yes, you)-

Please keep praying for us
Please keep supporting us
Please let us know if you are interested in being part of our prayer team or care team
You are loved by us if you are reading/receiving this!

First, the pragmatics:

• We arrived back to South Africa on 3 June
• We spent a week and a half in Pretoria (where we had lived since 2003 before our recent sabbatical in California) visiting and reconnecting with friends there, saying goodbye to several who are headed different directions.
• We spent a week and a half in Port Elizabeth with our friends Sean and Jean Daly.  This was the beginning of our exploration in South Africa of what “might be” as far as life and ministry on the ground.  We were also able to attend a world cup soccer match!
• We drove to Cape Town on 24 June.  We have been exploring neighborhoods, meeting with people, and seeing if God confirms this as the place we are to settle for now.

When we left California, we went with a sense that Cape Town is where God wanted us to be.  Our picture of how this was going to look has changed significantly enough over the past year and a half that we wanted to put ourselves on the ground, ready to listen to God again.

We have three big questions we are asking in this discernment process:

1. First, is this where we think we should BE – do we hear God’s call, do we feel at home, can we see ourselves flourishing here as a family?  Are we hearing God invite us
2. Second, what is it that God has for us to DO  – what unique opportunities open up, fit well, excite us (especially in light of what we have experienced and learned about ourselves during our recent sabbatical)?  We’ve had lots of ideas and people in mind, and we want to see what changes or materializes once here.  In other words, God has given us pictures – now how will they become more clear?  What things in our hearts will God fan into flames?  So, we are beginning to get together with people and ministries to see what we might be part of, partner with, or start here!
3. And the final question – how is that going to work pragmatically – who will we work with and for, how will we get paid, etc.?  We know that if this is where God wants us, it will mean something new as far as our organizational commitments.

We are stepping into a pretty big unknown for us.  But it’s our best attempt to respond to how we hear God’s Spirit’s leading.  We trust that God will guide, clarify, and provide as we continue to seek Him.  I would also point out that the above questions are in an important order.  They have kept us focused on asking questions of HOME first.  While staying at a wonderful but temporary (and small) house here in Cape Town, we have been spending lots of time looking at houses and neighborhoods.  Place is important as it will be our primary context of love, rest, and ministry.  God wants us to “be” here before we can “do” here.  Also, we have been paying a lot of attention to our family and being healthy and settled before committing to work-related tasks.  We’ve begun to see what life here will be like – places to play, school, and other daily life stuff.  I believe God is pleased with these being our priorities and has graciously allowed us to experience quite a bit in such a short amount of time.

As a result, I can tell you that we think the answer to Big Question #1 is YES, Cape Town is where we think God wants us to be for now. Within the next few weeks we will share more on what exactly that means, and our thoughts and explorations of Questions 2 & 3.  I can say that some great opportunities (both anticipated and unexpected) have already begun to surface and we are excited for what God will continue to invite us to.  In the meantime, we are starting our kids in local school and looking for a house to rent.  We haven’t got it all figured out yet, but we’re really excited!

Please pray for us:

• that God would provide the right house in the right neighborhood and that we can move in by the end of July
• for the process of moving our things from Pretoria, getting settled, meeting new neighbors
• for the kids starting in a new school, new routines, new friends
• that God would open our hearts to the people and things He has for us and discernment as we consider our new roles and how this is all going to work
• for protection – spiritual and physical – as we live and share God’s love and ways here

Please be patient with us.  We’ll keep you in the loop as much as we can, but there are lots of questions that we are still asking – important questions.  With inconsistent internet and unsettled housing, it’s a little hit and miss as far as communication right now, but we’ll do our best to keep you updated as we go.

Please continue contacting, encouraging, supporting, and loving us – all crucially important as we begin something new.  We are thankful that YOU would take time to care for us and believe in what God is doing in and through us.
may we all be amazed with God at work,

Arthur for the Stewart5

Arthur & Arthur Paul at the Ivory Coast v. Portugal world cup match

Mairin and Melissa visited the orphanage where Mariah Breitenberg volunteers.  Mairin has also recently lost her two front teeth but we didn’t seem to have a great pic…next time

The boys attended a 1-week cricket camp.  Both did great and Iain won a special award for his “dedication to the game of cricket”

I wanted to take a second to point out a few of the “winners” of the world cup so far.  Not game winners, mind you, but sort of random stuff I have noticed – others who are coming out well.

1. Those Nike boots (cleats) with the orange heels.

Apparently these are the Nike Elite series, Mercurial something or other.  Honestly, I hate Nike, and think of them as johnny-come-latelys with a lot money for advertising in soccer.  But I’m old school like that.  Either these shoes are legit (because it seems like 80% of the players are wearing them) or they have given some serious incentives to players to show off their shoes on the world stage.  Probably a bit of both…

2. Puma

Adidas has always been the biggest sponsors/suppliers for soccer.  In the current world cup, 12 of the teams are wearing Adidas kits (jerseys).  I expect that.  And, I generally like their uniforms.  Next come Nike, supplying for 9 of the teams.  Of course, they are supplying for some of the big/popular boys like Brazil and the USA.  Add those shoes and I think Nike has really done well this world cup.  BUT PUMA!!  You may or may not know that Puma was started by one of the 2 guys that had also started Adidas.  Or, you may just know them from all the teenagers wearing their overly-narrow shoes.  For me, they are always in the ad game, but not big players.  And then I started pointing out the teams who are wearing Puma this world cup.  There are 7 – can you name them without looking at the Puma site?  Hey, 7 is not 12, but it’s a lot for Puma to have in the tournament.

3. The Vuvuzela

Friends, before the world cup, I have never seen a white person with a vuvuzela.  I have heard them aplenty at local soccer matches.  But not at other sports,  And not from whities.  Then there was the big to-do over whether they would be banned and all the Euro-fans complaining about the noise and how low-brow it was.  Really, noise at a sporting event?  Crazy.  And then FIFA said, “well it’s in Africa and that’s what they do, so we’ll let it go.”  And being here, I can tell you that EVERYONE has at least one vuvuzela.  It’s nuts.  My kids took one and added some flair and are convinced they are going to start some sort of business.  The vuvuzela has really become a global phenomenon.

4. South Africa

Remember how there was all that talk about could South Africa even pull off the world cup?  Did we need a back-up country?  Would it be safe?  Was there enough transport?  Are there enough hotels?  Well, take that!  SA has done amazing.  Lots of fun, safe, hospitable.  A friend’s mom pointed out that this is the most people who have ever been in the country (accounting for population growth + a TON of visitors all at once). I am so glad.  And i hope everyone has a great time while here.  I mean, I’m not surprised – we love it here.  And glad that others are getting a first-hand look at why.

Can’t wait to see how the rest of the tournament goes, but these are a few of the things that have stood out so far for me.  Would LOVE to hear what you think has been noticeable/successful so far…

The next 3 weeks

• We are having a goodbye party this Saturday (15th) in Fresno!  It’s on open house, come by whenever, stay as long as you’d like deal 12:00-5:00.  Here’s the event link on fb or contact me if you want details.
• We are speaking at Friends Community Church (Fresno) this Sunday morning, then having a birthday party for the boys in the afternoon (including Arthur Paul’s baptism)
• Next week will be our last week in Fresno
• We are heading down to SoCal May 22-30. We will be at Foothills Community Church (Pasadena) on May 23. We have some people to visit and a few fun things to do during the week, but if you would like to see us, let me know and we might be able to make it happen
• On June 1, we are getting on an airplane and flying back to South Africa

June and July

We will spend two months (June and July) discerning God’s call for our family to be in South Africa. This is what we have felt for some time, and now we need to listen together on the ground. Is Cape Town the right place for us now?  We also want to reconnect with lots of friends and colleagues. By the end of July, we will decide if we are staying in South Africa or if there is a better place for us. If we stay, we will be leaving our current missions agency to partner with local people and ministries.  If we are leaving, we will say goodbye to South Africa and join an existing Church Resource Ministries team outside SA.

That’s the pragmatics.  But what is this Cape Town thing all about?  Very simply, we want to see people – ourselves included -  live the lives we were created to live. We believe the God who created and loves us makes this possible as we follow Jesus and allow his Spirit to continually awaken our deepest hearts and freeing us to become the amazing, beautiful, different, yet TRUE US. We also believe that we need each other to help us be different and together make a difference in our neighborhoods and world. This can take place LOTS of ways, so here’s where praying and exploring and asking God: who God has made us to be + our experiences, skills, and desires + the realities and needs of our family + the people and place we think God is calling us to be with = WHAT?

We think it might look something like this for us:

Living in a diverse neighborhood, loving neighbors, bringing people together. We are feeling the Woodstock neighborhood in Cape Town could be the one because of friendships we have there, its urban/cosmopolitan needs and opportunities, and the way we can picture our family living and flourishing

Helping people (particularly those who are often overlooked or left out) connect with, experience, and grow in God – especially in new, different, and “outside the box” ways that help change lives… one-on-one, ongoing groups, events, etc.

Working with local non-profits, ministries, and churches through teaching, training, and lending a hand – we want to help others who are also making a difference

Encouraging and equipping local leaders to have a reaching and lasting impact on their communities, especially through new and different types of faith communities

Participating in a regular friendship with other local and global practitioners – finding ways to collaborate for greater impact and strengthen one another in our journeys of following and serving Jesus

Oh, I could write so much more here, but this will have to do for now.  This was, after all, supposed to be an update – not a presentation! This is what we are going to explore. We will be in the place. We will be with the people. We will see what what God does and says. We are trusting that the specifics and next steps will become clear in the process.

Here’s where you come in!

1. Pray for us – now as we wrap everything up here (craziness, I tell you) & and as we listen with God there.  We will be updating/reminding you throughout
2. Do it with us – stay in regular conversation, find ways to help, support our family in this ministry with some monthly money, love us.  I feel a little weird asking for these, but know we need them!

More to come, but figured this would give you a little to chew on for now.
with love,
Arthur for the Stewarts

SCRIPTURE READING – DAY 39 (March 27)

Psalm 86:11-12

Teach me your way, O LORD and I will
walk in your truth; Give me an undivided
heart, That I may fear your name. I will
praise you, O LORD my God, with all my
heart; I will glorify your name forever. (NIV)

MEDITATION

Our world lives under a curse that is so pervasive in our lives, we seldom recognize it. I call it the curse of the divided heart. In me, it manifests in good intentions not being as noble as I think, well-made plans that are fatally flawed, and words or actions that betray what is deep inside me.

We all, from our first ancestors onward, are torn between good or evil, black or white, today or tomorrow, win or lose, me or you. These are the polarities we find ourselves between, often faced with choosing one or the other. The tricky part is these choices are not nearly as extreme or obvious as they might seem. Deep down, our heart struggles with itself, because it wants to choose or do more than one thing. In Romans 7, Paul compares this to a war within ourselves.

David—Israel’s greatest king—anguished over this dilemma himself. We know his life was full of people and opportunities that could—and did—pull him in different directions. The Bible recounts his victories and travails, often the result of choices he made from his heart. We also find his honest wrestling with this condition throughout the psalms.

I join David in crying out, “Transform me Lord! Your way is different than ours—beautiful, mysterious, holy.” If we could only learn this way, we could live differently, better. I could get out of this struggle I have against my own self. I could live the way he created me to be. The key, as David knew so well, is our heart. But the wholeness he desired can only be given by God. We can’t will it; our hearts must be healed by One far greater than us. This is more than just learning to do right instead of wrong. This is a heart transplant!

David is asking for a heart like God’s. If we were to possess one, we would know God deeply, fear and honor him, praise him with all our heart…forever. It would resonate with God’s, sing to it, dance with it. This is what we all want because this is what we were made for. Our hearts are meant to be undivided and eternal, connecting us to our Creator at the deepest level possible.

Jesus shows us what it can and should look like. I’ve often asked how Jesus chose who to heal (or not), where to go, what to say. Maybe he didn’t choose. Perhaps he knew because his heart was not divided but completely given and bound to the Father. Indeed, the way, truth, and life is the One we join with David in seeking. He is the One with the power to transform our hearts, not simply by instructions or actions, but by perfectly living out the heart of God and making the way for us to do the same.

Teach me your way of undivided love; wholehearted for all, no internal struggle, no favorites—this is true and eternal life. Free me from this curse of needing to choose, except to choose you. Join me with your limitless heart of love, changing mine to be like yours. May it be so, now and forever. Amen.

REFLECTION

• Re-read the psalm several times slowly. What divides your heart? What might God be saying to you about these things?
• Take some time to picture what life with an undivided heart would look like for you.
• Write out a prayer in response to God.

Do you also find hearts to be complex, mysterious, even confusing?  Certainly true when it comes to others.  Often true when it comes to ourselves…  What I do know is that my heart is important.  It’s the core of who I am and it’s the only one I’ve got.  In the Biblical book of Proverbs, it says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (4:23).  I’m learning to do this.

Most of my life, I have guarded my mind.  I have fed it, trusted it, protected it.  This is a very important part of who I am.  However, I have often neglected my heart as a result.  In a way, I have not allowed my heart to do it’s job.  And, I haven’t guarded it well.  I don’t think “guard your heart” means to build walls around it.  Guard, in that case, sounds defensive and reactionary.  Seems like if you do that, it can’t be “the wellspring of life.”  How can a well nourish anything if it’s all walled up?  I am speaking from a bit of experience on this…

Rather, I think that in this case, “guard” really means to watch and protect.  Watch and protect your heart, for your life flows from there.  Watch for the things that would harm your heart – people, situations, etc.  In my case, I have been reflecting on the untrue things I sometimes believe that “attack” my heart.  And, how can I prepare myself better to deal with them?  Personally, I need to remember who I am so I am not easily affected by other messages that come my way and can be ok with my own limitations.

Hearts are precious.  I think they are a primary way we reflect the God who created us, and are the places we most deeply connect with God.  We have given our lives to helping people find/uncover/unbind their hearts and encouraging their development and expression.  That’s not a bad way to describe what we’ve been doing the past several years in South Africa and why we are preparing to head back.  It’s also what our sabbatical has been all about: reconnecting with our own hearts and giving them room to breathe and re-ignite.  I thank God for this opportunity to focus on this all-important process.

We appreciate all of you who have prayed and encouraged our hearts so much in this season.  Our hearts, and those of our children, feel more healthy.  These eternal hearts are important to me and to God.  Your heart is important too.  Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

As many of you know, we are finishing up our sabbatical.  Entering our last months, we are making multiple decisions – big ones, small ones, and many that open up a multitude of other decisions. These decisions relate to where we will be, what we will be doing, when… little things like that   So, important stuff.

And the PROCESS of these discussions and decisions is as telling as the results.  We are giving some of the work we and God have been doing in our lives and marriage a pretty good exercise.  How is our intimacy, how is our trust, can we say what we think, can we hear things we don’t like from one another, can we apologize?

I have to admit, I am a little more anxious than Melissa to get these conversations and decisions happening.  And although I wish we knew everything yesterday, I am proud that she is committed to waiting until she is confident in some things before moving forward.  Frustrated a bit, but proud.  She is bringing her strengths of thoughtfulness and discernment to our shared process.  And as I was telling a friend on the phone the other day, in watching her process I am reminded of a very good maxim… Seek the Giver.

back-story: when I was growing up in church, one of the principles that always came up when talking about spiritual gifts (those ways God supernaturally empowers people to serve) was, “don’t seek the gifts, but the gift-giver.”  In other words, don’t get overly-fixated on these specific gifts God can give (essentially a self-centered approach). Instead, seek God, and let His Spirit give gifts as God deems appropriate (see 1 Corinthians 12).

This came to mind as I was saying how one of the ways Melissa is discerning God’s desire is by being involved in a local Bible study on Jesus.  She isn’t only sitting with God and asking, “should we move to X?” every day.   Instead, she is connecting well with God, for the sake of their relationship alone.  I’m pretty confident that as she does, God is and will speak to those specifics because God loves her and knows they are important questions.

Thank you beloved for this reminder.  So glad to be doing this with you!

description…

Why “theology after Google”?

Progressive Christian theologians have some vitally important things to say, things that both the church and society desperately need to hear. The trouble is, we tend to deliver our message using technologies that date back to Gutenberg: books, academic articles, sermons, and so forth. We aren’t making effective use of the new technologies, social media, and social networking. When it comes to effective communication of message, the Religious Right is running circles around us.

Hence the urgent need for a conference to empower pastors, laypeople, and the up-and-coming theologians of the next generation to do “theology after Google,” theology for a Google-shaped world. Thanks to the Ford funding, we’ve been able to assemble a stellar team of cultural creatives and experts in the new modes of communication. We are also inviting a selection of senior theologians, and well as some of the younger theologians (call them “theobloggers”) whose use of the new media (blogging, podcasts, YouTube posts) is already earning them large followings and high levels of influence. For two and a half days, in workshops and in hands-on sessions, in lectures and over drinks, these leading figures will be at your disposal to teach you everything they know.

Excited to be with like-minded people and exercise my thinking a bit.  Must also admit I’m wondering how this conversation can stretch beyond academics and the “haves” of this world.  Will the playing field really be leveled by our postmodern reality, or further stratified by technology and wealth?  My presupposition coming in is that people WANT to be more active and include the whole body of Christ in formation and theology,  but will probably attempt to do so using new means that are not any more effective than the old ones.

They are streaming the conference

Stay tuned for posts from the conference…