Here are some quick random notes about some happenings and observations that I haven't spoken to over the past few weeks:
Happenings:
- I've been reading Erwin McManus' new book, Wide Awake. It's an encouraging read about living life to the max. Sort of Erwin's take on "if you wanna walk on water, you gotta get out of the boat."
- Also reading N.T. Wright's Following Jesus. One of his shorter books with communion sermons built around the call to follow Christ, lifting central themes and books of the Bible.
- The prep for the launch of our midweek Journey classes has been a rush. My team, the arts team and the communications team have all risen to the challenging opportunity to support the many facets - registration, class notes preparation, journal printing, AV, promotion and a gazillion other details they know that I've not mentioned. They're awesome! My assistant Julie Smies is flat out amazing!
- My family and I got away for a holiday weekend get-away, camping with our friends, Greg and Susan Chipman. Loved the time with the Chipmans and my family. Verdict is still out on tent camping.
Observations:
- I believe Joel Hunter's prayer at last week's Democratic National Convention demonstrated the difference between mere tolerance and respect. The interruption he inserted in his own prayer, inviting people to end the prayer they way they would normally end their prayer showed respect without condoning every faith in the room. He showed the difference between praying in a national, political venue vs. praying in his own church or any other evangelical church. Watch it below...
He lifted up the name of Jesus without expecting those who do not yet trust him to pretend to do the same thing. I respect you, Joel!
- We have 600+ people signed up for the Journey classes that begin next week. I think this fresh approach to teaching, learning and connecting is going to rock! We'll know - not merely as we watch the attendance, but as we watch people become more loving - toward God and others. That's the ultimate success measurement.
- My family and I got in on an evening of the Stewart family reunion - my mom's family. If I age like my aunts are, I may live to be over 100 - and look dang good!
- I observed a passenger in a car next to where I was pumping gas light up a cigarette and hang it out the window. I didn't think it was a good idea. I asked her "for the safety of us all" to pay attention to where she was. Can you say, "Kaboom!"?
