THE JOURNEY SO FAR

Making it easier!

2007-07-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

Now to keep up with the Robinsons and CreativeWorks there's only one place to go

http://www.gemcreativeworks.org

I'm no longer blogging here... so

PLEASE TAKE 30 seconds to do the following:

click on the link above to go to our site,
scroll down the right hand column to where you see "GET THE FEED"
Submit your email address to us, and you'll automatically be notified when there are updates.

Couldn't be simpler.

Thanks. See you there.

iPhone Intercession

2007-07-02T23:04:00.000-07:00

First of all, no, I didn't pray for an iPhone. (Tempted? Yes.) I may be an Apple addict, but I've still got some self restraint.

The functionality of phones continue to merge with other gadgets for surfing the web, listening to music, watching videos and even making phone calls.

Here's another one. SMS (or short message service) for sending text messages from phone to phone has been around for a while. But one church I know actually has harnessed the little feature in a simple but highly effective way.

Have a prayer coordinator from your group send out one text message or SMS per day as a prayer reminder to other group members sometime in the morning. Receiving the message does several things.

It reminds you that you're part of a community, even if you're not physically together.
It helps you keep in touch with each other's needs and concerns.
It brings everyone together around at the feet of our Father.
It helps you depend on God for the needs of others.

And all for the price of a text message.

Small groups, accountability partners, youth groups and even entire congregations (small ones anyway) often feel the disruption of summer. This little idea could not only help your community during the summer months, but during the hustle and bustle of your lives all year long.

Thanks to the folks at the Journey in Blackrock, County Dublin, Ireland for demonstrating this to me.

Durand

Grace: the key to missional church

2007-06-30T07:39:00.000-07:00

I’ve got admit, I’ve been struggling to balance all that I’m reading these days relating to the church. I’ve watched a lot of adjectives get attached to “Church” through the years. “Seeker”. “High Impact”. “Purpose-driven”. “Simple”. “Emerging”. I could do this for hours…

But the one that’s caught my attention lately is “missional”. I’m a missionary, for crying out loud. Of course I’d notice. But it’s taken me longer to catch the sense.

You see, in most of the what I’ve read and heard, people dive straight into discussing the mission of the church for today and what it ought to be doing. But I listened to a short interview with Craig Van Gelder from Luther Seminary that helped me understand how becoming a missional church begins with God’s mission, not the mission of the church.

The church is really about God’s mission, God’s purpose, God’s activity. It’s about understanding what God’s purposes are from the wisdom of Scripture and then understanding what God is doing and wants to do through discernment of the times by means his Spirit. Then you can brace yourself to dive into ministry, and probably in directions you may not have anticipated.

I confess. I’m an over 50 year-old male born and raised in North America. Cut me and I tend to bleed pragmatism. It would be easy for me to jump to the “action points” and “preferred outcomes”. I can live for months on the adrenaline of one decent “accomplishment.” But what we do as a church comes out of who we are as a church.

Grace defines who we are. Believers are both recipients and instruments of grace. Churches must reflect an utter sense of submission to God’s authority, dependence on God’s power, and commitment to God’s purposes and mission.

Christians are intended to engage the world for the spread of the Gospel and for good of the world, but by first consecrating themselves to God and what he in his grace is doing. He’s created the church as a community of those who know and wish to extend God’s offer of grace.

To whom much is given, much is required.

NDR

LINK TO THE INTERVIEW WITH DR. VAN GELDER

S.O.S. Moms! (Surviving our summer)

2007-06-29T07:34:00.000-07:00

Lots of churches host a weekly morning for moms with preschool kids during the school year. But it’s tough to keep something together during the summer.

And now it’s the end of school. Moms are bracing for the invasion of time and space… their time and space. There’s got to be some kind of plan of counter-attack! And hopefully moms want to enjoy their kids during the summer; not just survive them.

One idea is to be proactive by offering a 4-week series of mornings called S.O.S. Moms (Surviving Our Summer!) Invite a balance of mothers from the community and a couple from your church. Small is good (like 5-6 moms.) Set it up with a couple of minders (babysitters) who can care for the children in the back garden with an hour of games followed by an hour of moms and kids together with some snacks.

During the four weeks, focus each time on a different subject. Week one could be “Summer Outings” where someone creative talks about dozens of things in the area you might never have thought of doing together with your children. Then encourage the attendees to make a date with at least one other mom in the room to do an activity together.

The second week, focus on “Summer Rainy Day activities” with a similar approach. The third week, focus on “books for kids” and plan a library outing or a book swap. The last week’s focus is on “really loving your children” where you can look at what the Bible says about the “tough love” of discipline or other biblical principles for helping raise children. Include your personal testimony of the difference knowing Christ has made in your being able to really love your children.

The goal of the activity is to get people acquainted around a common need and encourage friendships to develop between individuals during the week as the summer marches on.

MOPS or Mothers of Preschoolers is a great resource for mothers all year round. It’s a good way to get to know other women in the neighborhood.

NDR

Idea: Make a ministry team blog

2007-06-28T07:30:00.000-07:00

Going on a trip with a group from your church this summer? Consider keeping a team blog, complete with photos. It’s a great way to get everyone behind you in prayer. You don’t even need a computer along with you. All you need is a free blog account and a cell phone that does email with a camera built in.

Almost all the free blog services (like Blogger and WordPress) offer you the option to upload text and photos through the email feature on your cellphone. That means you don’t even have to bring your computer to the beach (or the worksite.)

Make it a team effort. Have a team reporter to collect stories, a team photographer to snap the shots, and everyone contributing ideas. You can even start the blog during the prep stage to use as a prayer guide and support development tool if people need to raise funds for the project.

If you’ve promoted the blog you’ll have some devoted readers (and prayers) from your first posting. Who knows? You might even peak someone’s interest who’d never considered a ministry trip before who’ll sign up for the next one.

NDR

Beyond blogging

2007-06-27T00:10:00.000-07:00

I've really enjoyed the last several years of keeping a blog (probably more than you've enjoyed me keeping one). It's been a good place to keep a record of what's going on in life and ministry. It's also motivated others to pray and get involved in ministry.

But I realized over the past couple of years that when working with one group in a specific area to help meet a ministry need creatively that others might have benefited from the process we took to find a solution.

And so I'm adding two new dimensions to the blog. One is a regular dose of ideas that could be of use to others in helping their church experience greater intimacy with God, community with believers and influence in the world around them.

And starting in the fall, I'll be adding a regular podcast (kind of an internet radio show for you newbies to this kind of stuff) where we'll be talking with other creative ministry folks looking for ways to help small churches with big ideas.

One thing I've been exploring is which form the blog should take. I've been on Blogger for over 3 years now. (http://journey-so-far.blogspot.com) I've also used iWeb which is great for good looking sites, but kind of clunky on the blog side of things. That's what I've done our current CreativeWorks website with. (http://www.gemcreativeworks.org)

I've explored just becoming handier with Dreamweaver, but I don't think I'll live that long. And I've also got a WordPress version in beta form (http://www.gemcreativeworks.org/wordpress) which is not quite as pretty or flexible, but way easier to post with. Best of all it's opensource. That means I can help churches set up a pretty powerful web presence for free regardless of whether or not they've been blessed to own a Mac.

If you're into this kind of stuff, I'd like to hear about what your thoughts on blog hosting are, especially as it might relate to having volunteers be responsible in a church for keeping up web content, calendars, posting sermons, etc.

In His good time

2007-06-22T09:39:00.000-07:00

Many of you know we're in Germany, but we're working toward moving back to Ireland. The big obstacle at this point is the sale of our home here in Germany.

It doesn't keep us from working. We've got plenty of projects going that we can do from either place, but we'd love to get the move behind us. And we'd like to start digging into relationships there in Ireland.

One of the main things slowing down the sale is that there are houses for sale in the next village over (Kandern). Usually there aren't places available there, but this summer there happen to be several houses for sale. And because people like to walk to do their shopping, our village (a little over 2000 yards away) becomes less desirable. Doesn't seem far to us, but then again, we're Americans.

So we wait.

We know God will see it sold when it's time. In Belgium, no one was looking at our place in a dead market, but at the right time He sent one person to look at the house. It only takes one.

Pray with us, will you? Thanks.

Durand

The Best for Last

2007-06-18T13:49:00.000-07:00

(Here's Matthias with a new Polish friend. The photo has nothing to do with the story, but it's one of my favorites of the tour.)
Tour journal, part 6.
As we prepared for our last concert Monday morning, I told Chris I felt somehow that this one was the main reason we came to Poland. In a high security prison, we were given the chance to play and share the gospel with over one hundred inmates.

I explained that a lot of people realize that God exists, but they just don't like him. Thinking about God as the big judge in the sky reminds them of their guilt and moral failure. But perhaps the most liberating thing they could ever learn is that God is both just and loving.

I told them a story about judge that was required to take a case involving one of his dearest personal friends. I asked the inmates whether they thought the judge would be a just judge or be a loving friend. I heard prisoners discussing among themselves what they thought would happen.

When they learned that the judge had declared his friend guilty, they thought the story was over. But I continued, explaining that the judge had personally paid the friend's debt at great personal cost before declaring his verdict, thus providing his friend with the chance to go free. And then I asked again if the judge had been just or loving. He'd done both and done them fully.

We finished the concert, one of the inmates asked the warden if he could ask the band a question. At first we thought through broken translation that he'd asked how long we'd been forgiven. We told him how long we'd been believers. He tried again, and this time the translation came through something like "how often do you ask for forgiveness" and we told them we asked daily. Finally, he got the real meaning of his question through. "How long does it take to be forgiven?"

I almost lost it right there. With joy we explained that when God sees that with a sincere heart we repent of our sins and ask for forgiveness, it happens immediately. He smiled, in English said thank you and sat down. The director got up and thanked us for singing music that talked about the things that were on our hearts, because these are also the kinds of things the prisoners think about. Then all the prisoners were escorted to their cells. Pastor Chris told me that local pastors would be coming to the prison to follow up.

Warsaw Weekend

2007-06-17T13:36:00.000-07:00

Tour journal, part 5.
Back in Warsaw The pastor wanted us to be part of a turning point weekend in the life of their church. An all day "new members" seminar was being offered for people to be challenged about becoming active members of the church. The church has had many visitors since moving into a permanent facility at a local trade school last October. A luncheon was offered to be followed by a 6 hour seminar on what it means to be part of the church from the Bible.

The pastor had hoped that as many as 100 people would come. But earlier in the week they'd counted over 150, and by Saturday, 250 people came. Evangelism, discipleship, baptism, accountability were just some of the things discussed from the Scriptures. The climax of the day was a period of reflection as people considered signing a pledge to identify with this church in active membership. Chris has asked us to sing several songs during this time of commitment. What a privilege.

The following morning I was asked to sing during communion at the worship service before we hopped in the car and headed south for a Sunday evening concert about 3 hours away. We sang for a Methodist church planning to do distribution of wheelchairs in the area beginning Monday.

Friday in Bydgoszcz ("bidgosh")

2007-06-15T13:18:00.000-07:00

Here is the "Wheels" team fitting a new chair for a young Polish girl.
Tour journal, part 4. Friday was a huge day. We had an almost 4 hour drive over some pretty dangerous stretches of worn-out, narrow, two-lane highway to a town in the north of Poland. There Joni and Friends had been distributing wheelchairs for two days, the biggest in the history of their Polish ministry. Unfortunately the church had little experience in doing public outreach and did little to publicize the concert that followed the distribution.

About half the crowd came from a center for disabled young adults and youth who'd received wheelchairs the day before. The center had never heard of the church but found out about the wheelchair distribution.

As I sat down with the young people after the concert I began talking to one of the assistants accompanying the group. I thanked him for his service acknowledging the labor of love he we was giving for this special group of people. I began to discuss with him about God's love and about what he'd heard during the concert. At one point I told him I'd pray for him and he asked me to pray for those he cared for as well. There was a great connection through the use of my translator with him. I believe God will draw him back to this group. He was impressed by their service, their friendliness and about their faith.

We ended our time by grabbing a quick sandwich with the pastor and the translators before making another 4 hour drive back to Warsaw. We hit the pillow around midnight tired but glad for the day.

Thursday with the girls

2007-06-14T13:08:00.000-07:00

Ruth and our translator Agnes (right) with some of the girls
Tour journal, part 3. Thursday we were back in Warsaw. God has placed a few believers in strategic places in the prison system around Poland and Pastor Chris has kept the church involved in serving and sharing with those in prison. We gave an afternoon concert to a juvenile correctional center for girls (15-18 and a few older). Our translator was a young woman 22 years old who's been visiting the girls there over the past couple of years. We were allowed to share hope in life with Christ to them freely.

As I sang "Only Plea", they read the words in Polish some began to cry. The words of the first chorus were too familiar.

"I'm guilty, guilty as I can be. I struggle and fight, but evil's got a hold on me. Like an outlaw I run from the things that I've done, longing to be free. But guilty is my only plea."

As he saw the girls moved, even Pastor Chris started to cry. I'm so thankful they could hear the second chorus of hope for those who hear God's call on their life.

"Forgiven, I hear you callin' out to me. Death I deserve, mercy is all I see. When you died in my place you removed every trace of the guilt that would not let me be. When guilty was my only plea."

The assistant director of the center thanked us publicly saying they'd needed this kind of afternoon for a long time. After the concert, one crowd of girls surrounded Marj, while a second crowd surrounded Ruth giving opportunities to love them and share individually about hope in Christ with them. I felt for them. These girls are separated from their moms and were hungry for love and attention. About an hour and a half after the concert, we finally packed up and left for home, but our translator stayed to have supper with the girls and continue conversations.

Wednesday in Wyszkow

2007-06-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

Tour journal, part 2. This afternoon we headed for Wiszkow. We arrived at a cinema that evidently only plays films on the weekends. The hall was actually quite nice with seating for about 150. As we were setting up the pastor explained that two years ago there had been a different director over all the theaters in town who was very sympathetic to the church and put in extra publicity with announcements in the media.

This time there was none. Only a few posters around town. Obviously we were headed for a small crowd. In the end there were only about 20 people. Added to that there were significant thunder storms beginning about an hour before the concert that knocked out power a couple of times, including right after our first song. (At least it wasn't during the song.)

We struggled to keep our concentration as difficulties with monitors meant that two of us played the entire concert playing dependent on the little bit of sound we could hear from what came back to the stage from the back of the hall. To be honest it was one of the most difficult and disappointing performances I've been a part of.

Russ and Marj sharing with people after the concert.
But amazingly, the audience was so appreciative they asked for an encore. I told them they may not have been the biggest group I'd ever played for, but they were certainly one of the kindest. After we finished most of the group stayed to talk. Some were young men who'd known someone from the church and decided to come. The conversations lasted for at least half an hour.

The pastor, over supper expressed his gratitude for the wonderful encouragement the evening had been. Two years ago after the Verna Law concert the church had experienced some growth, but the acceptance of Poland to the European Union meant the loss of some of these members who opted to move to other European countries for better jobs. The church is back to the 15 or so members in a big town of about 40,000 people.

He thanked us for our tenacity to share the Gospel and for the encouragement we were to do the same.

"Chin Dobreh"

2007-06-12T12:47:00.000-07:00

Tour journal, part 1
(Phonetically that's how you say "hello" in Polish.) That's because we arrived last night in Poland with Carton Jaune after two days of travel. Krzysztov (call him Chris) and Mariola Zareba are our hosts for the next week. "Chris" is the pastor of a growing church in Warsaw, and his wife Mariola is the director for the "Wheels to the World" program for Poland.

This morning (yes, you read "morning") Chris had arranged our our first concert. His church here in Warsaw uses an auditorium 7 days a week that's on a technical college campus. Today we had the chance to play to the entire student body (about 200 18-20 year old guys working toward their certification in to be auto and truck mechanics.) The translator said they were unusually attentive and enjoyed the program. For us it was a chance to honor the Lord and advance the relationship this church has with the school.

Elsewhere in the building wheel chair distribution had already begun as families came to receive their chair, have a doctor determine the best adjustment, and have a wheel chair mechanic do the fitting. The final step in receiving the chair was a chance to sit down with a counselor and be given prayer, a Bible and an opportunity to hear the Gospel.

Tomorrow, both the wheelchair and the music teams head north to the city where I brought the Verna Law Band two years ago. The work continues with a small church plant. We'll be in a new venue, but as I met with the pastor today, the same enthusiasm as last time was already evident.

We've been going non-stop since last Wednesday between rehearsals and travel. Today we actually had the afternoon to rest and won't leave until noon tomorrow. Pray for God to work.

A look at Carton Jaune

2007-06-02T10:37:00.000-07:00

Threw this poster together yesterday, not knowing the Polish team wanted to do specific advertising about the band. Well, at least it's got the right information and people on it.

From left to right, Marj (sound and A/V) and Russ (guitar/keys/voice) Speiser, Matt Keller (lead guitar/voice) me (guitar/bass/voice) and Ruth (keys/voice) Robinson.

Where in the World are Durand and Ruth?

2007-05-30T04:20:00.000-07:00

Just for clarification's sake, some of you are wondering if we're still in Germany or if we've moved to Ireland already.

The answer: Germany.

We've got projects going at the moment that are equally handled either place, plus there's a fair bit for the summer months we can do more easily from here in Germany, so there's not a lot of pressure to move immediately. (Except that we'd like to get through the transition ASAP!)

We've no nibbles on our house yet, which means we can't do anything about finding a new place yet either. So be praying for a buyer in June, making it feasible to be moving by the summer's end.

Hope your summer plans are coming together as well. We officially have three daughters and one son-in-law employed for the summer months and are grateful to the Lord for his provision.

We've got a week of music preparation left before heading for Poland. Should be exciting. If you don't know Joni and Friends, the association we're partnering with there, here's a link.

Music for the disabled: Carton Jaune in Poland

2007-05-24T05:48:00.000-07:00

June 10th the acoustic music group Carton Jaune will be collaborating with Joni & Friends and their "Wheels for the World" program by providing music at gatherings where wheel chairs will be distributed to people with disabilities. The band hopes to attract many to seven days of music and testimony and service. Krzystov Zareba will be ending each of these gatherings with a clear explanation of the hope found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. His wife Mariola is the national president of Joni and Friends.

Carton Jaune has been playing together since 1998, when their first self-titled album was released. Russ Speiser and Durand Robinson form the core of this songwriting duo. This tour they will be accompanied by the swiss guitarist Matthias Keller and keyboardist Ruth Robinson Marj Speiser will be providing the sound and visual support for the band.

Look for regular updates on this beginning June 7th!

And pray!

Three, two, one... touchdown-takeoff!

2007-05-16T07:34:00.000-07:00

Ruth and I are trying to land and take off at the same time. It's kind of interesting.

On the one had being in Germany means moving ahead with the work. It's been good to reconnect here in Germany. I got a chance to play at an outreach done in partnership with "Connexion", an outreach/coffee house to German youth.

I also worked with the Kandern Evangelical church to provide music for a special outreach week they were hosting.

Ruth's already been to Barcelona and back for a week of training on the use of mapping software she and the eMRG group have to provide churches with visual help in understanding their regions.

Friday I head to Brussels for an arts conference called Imagine, where I'll get a chance to meet dozens of Christians from the arts world, and getting a chance to stretch the vision of how creativity and ministry can work together.

And then next week is the big push to pull together the music for a week long outreach we'll be doing in Warsaw with Polish church planter Kzrystof Zareba. Our original band Carton Jaune will be performing at special events to promote the needs of the disabled with "Joni and Friends" and sharing the Gospel each night in the surrounding bedroom communities of Warsaw where there are currently NO witnessing fellowships.

OK, that's the landing part.

But we're also preparing for our move to Ireland by going through all our stuff, selling off a lot of our furniture, and have put our house on the market so we can move as soon as possible. We've gotten word that one of the couples we've been talking with about GEM has been asked to attend the candidate orientation in a couple of weeks and are also in conversation via email with others, especially artists, feeling the call to serve.

Keep us in your prayers.

Anna's birthday!

2007-05-09T01:15:00.000-07:00

It's kind of a birthday and graduation announcement all in one. Anna's finishing up her degree at Metro State this summer! I'm always amazed at this little lady. And a birthday as well. (Don't worry I won't tell them you're 22.)

Oops.

This picture was taken as she was being inducted into the Key Club in Denver. Yep... she's a keeper.

Dad

Lost

2007-05-08T07:50:00.000-07:00

We've been on a desert island for the last couple of weeks and will be for months to come. Well, maybe it's not quite that bad, but for a blogger without internet at his house it can feel a bit like being cut off from the world. I'll work toward a decent post this week.

Sorry for the silence.

Durand

Prayer Postcard for April-May 2007

2007-05-02T06:24:00.000-07:00

Sunday- Praise God for you and the others who've committed to pray and give as our ministry partners. We're thankful to have had enough pledged support to return to Germany. Pray for the remaining few hundred dollars ($400) left to be committed for the additional cost of serving in Dublin.
Monday- Praise for opportunities to serve local churches in their outreach efforts this summer. Pray for us as we serve with churches in Germany, France and Poland, and for our worship ministry at the GEM conference in Hungary.
Tuesday- Praise for the advances we're making with Imagin'Air. Pray for the revision team as we make our final changes on the curriculum and for the teams that will be reaching children this summer in Romania.
Wednesday- Praise for a helpful real estate agent in Germany to help us sell our home. Pray for a quick sale at a price that will enable us to relocate in south Dublin where we lived before. Pray also for our house hunting trip in late May.
Thursday- Praise that Ruth was able to complete the European Believers Report 2007 on schedule. This report, which covers 46 countries of Europe, is a compilation of estimates of the
numbers/percentages of Believers (followers of Christ as opposed to “cultural Christians”). Most of the data was supplied by GEM colleagues. You can view the report by clicking here. Friday- Praise for a good start on the recording of my music. Special thanks to Jimmy Dominy for his help. Pray as he begins working on the arrangements with volunteer musicians from the Atlanta music community to add to the 10 basic tracks. We’re shooting for a fall release.
Saturday- Praise for an amazing year to be with family and friends in the US. Thanks to all who helped us along the way. Pray for our family as we readjust to the distance from one another once again. Pray also for good summer employment for all 4 of our students. And a special word of congratulations for Anna as she graduates this summer! (Her birthday
is on May 9th!) Send her an email to my address and I'll forward it on to her.

Serving the Lord with you,
Durand

Yes, we're alive and well

2007-05-02T06:11:00.000-07:00

Some folks thought we hopped on the plane to Europe and hijacked it toward Jupiter or some far away planet never again to be heard from. NOT TRUE.

We're actually in Germany and are back at our old house for the moment. Since there's no internet there, I've realized my idea of roughing it now includes no broadband. But with only a couple of months planned here before heading to Ireland, the cost of a new broadband contract means I'll get on line a few times a week to do more than email.

We're glad to be back, but it's a little bit strange. The girls are fine back in the US, but as we go through the boxes to prepare for a move, we find a million things to remind us of them. And as well, being in Germany while really heading for Ireland feels more like a long lay-over than being back home.

This week I had the chance to play for an outreach at the Connexion Cafe, a youth hangout sponsored by the local German evangelical church. Then this weekend I'll be playing in a different venue for the same church as they're doing a week-long series of meetings for the town of Kandern to help explain the Gospel. This week-end I'm brushing off my almost non-existent German because I've got to sing two of the four songs "auf Deutsch" (in German.)

All in all, we're really amazed at how well God has cleared the way for this return to Ireland. It'll be great to look back when we finally arrive.

More to come another day.

Family tour

2007-04-10T05:14:00.000-07:00

Tues-Wed: South Texas
Ruth got a chance to visit with her brother Dave and two of her sisters from California. It had been a long time since Ruth and Dave were together and we're really glad she had some sisters willing to help make it possible.

Thurs-Fri: Wheaton, Illinois
While Ruth was flying I was driving to Wheaton. We got to spend some wonderful time with Laura and her friends. We also spent some time with LeRoy and Gwen, two friends from grad school days that live all of two blocks from Laura's dorm. We attended services both evenings with Laura's church and took the time to catch up during the days. She'll be spending the summer in New Jersey with her friend Grace and her family. She'll be working with a florist and hopefully some other part time job. (By the way, if you dial Ruth's US cell phone number you'll be in for a surprise. Laura's got it now. Call Durand's cell if you want to talk to Ruth.)

Sat.-Sun: St. Paul, Minnesota
Saturday morning, bright and early, we headed up to St. Paul and to Emilie's new apartment. It's wonderful. She and Angela from BFA have really made themselves a home for the year. They love to entertain, and we loved being entertained. We had an Easter Brunch, because the church they attend has services in the afternoon. Then Sunday evening we were 7 people for an impromptu Easter meal. I was especially glad to reconnect with Harley Schreck, a prof from Bethel and now family friend. (Emilie lived with Harley's family for a semester.) We're actually hoping to do something together in Europe next year.

It was good to catch up with all our girls. Most of all though, Ruth and I just enjoyed hugging and kissing them and celebrating the way God is taking care of them. All three (four with Matt) are healthy, in good living situations with wonderful friends and working hard at things they love. I suppose leaving under different conditions would have been harder. Thank God for his care.

Mon-Tues: Interstates 94-90-39-74-65 from St. Paul to Birmingham
Now we're headed back to Birmingham to pack up, say goodbye to our family there and then head for the Atlanta airport on Friday. There are still loose ends to care for, but the journey so far has been a year well worth it. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement.

Durand

Meeting up with Josh Wilson

2007-03-28T13:19:00.000-07:00

Anna's busy working today... morning meeting for church, coffee with a friend, then writing (on a screenplay no less) for the afternoon until she heads for school, then a leadership team meeting this evening.

We're not bored though. We've got their car and have been catching up on email, trying to renew our driver's licenses, and meeting up with Josh Wilson for lunch. Josh is also a film school student, as well as a talented musician and sound technician.

In fact, he's got a film short he's made on a local Christian artist in the running for national showing on television. If you want to support his chances, you can go to the website and vote for his video. It's a fascinating video anyway. Click here if you want to see it.

Durand

Making the most of the time

2007-03-27T15:23:00.000-07:00

OK, so we're busy. But with only a few weeks left before returning to Europe (that's right...weeks!) we're trying to make the most of the time.

New Orleans:
Backing up to almost two weeks ago, we reconnected with our two partnering churches in the New Orleans area. It was encouraging and heart-breaking at the same time, seeing the devastation still left from Katrina, but realizing that the churches there are really taking on the challenge of bringing hope to the area, both physically and spiritually. If you feel compelled to help these churches in any way, please go to their websites and learn how.

Fellowship Bible Church, Metairie, LA
Faith Bible Church, Slidell, LA

(PS. We also got a chance to revisit the French Quarter, and have a coffee and beignet before heading out of the area!)

Pensacola:
On our way back to Birmingham, we spent half a day with Gary and Beth Hodges, future coworkers with us in Ireland who are still raising support to head to Europe. They are gifted musicians, but more than that; they are skilled worship leaders and trainers for others desiring to help the church experience intimacy with God in worship. Read a little bit about them on their blog by clicking here.

Atlanta:
While Ruth stayed in Birmingham to finish her article for the coming Hope for Europe publication, I went to spend 2+ days in my good friend Jimmy Dominy's basement, affectionately known as Juke Joint Jimmy's to begin recording a 10-song CD to be released later this year. Talk about fun. The big problem was balancing the non-stop guitar playing and singing with trying not to fall asleep from all the food Jimmy's wife Kricky kept feeding me!

What a joy to finally start this project that has been on my heart for over 7 years. Of course most of the music still needed to be written 7 years ago... so maybe the timing was perfect. Thanks so much Jimmy. I'm encouraged like I've not been in years. Also thanks in advance to the Fellowship Bible Church worship gang in Roswell. I'm sure Jimmy will be dragging most of you down to the basement sooner than later to add to the music.

Denver:
Monday (yesterday), Ruth and I used our frequent flyer miles to come see Anna and Matthew. It's good to say hello and will be hard to say goodbye. God's grace is what makes both possible.

We're planning on celebrating her graduation a bit early on Thursday, since she's only got 4 credits to do this summer to finish officially. She's an amazing young lady and we're as proud of her as ever.

Durand

Emilie is TWENTY!

2007-03-23T05:16:00.000-07:00

In case you don't know us very well, we've got three daughters. Emilie is going to art school way up in the frozen north but it never seems to change the warmth she brings to everyone around her!

My "no more a teenager" daughter is 20 years old today and will be the proud recipient of the Birthday Bunny Badge. If you know her, send her a little greeting today!

Love you, dear daughter!

Dad

A cross between Rumplestiltskin and Frankenstein

2007-03-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

Question: What do you get when you cross Rumplestiltskin and Frankenstein?
Answer: I don't know but it had to look alot like me at the Brookwood Sleep Clinic where I tested positive for sleep apnea. Wired to monitor everything from body movement, eye movement and even brain waves all with the special touch of a breathing mask attached to a machine.

Evidently it's not normal to stop breathing dozens of times per hour while sleeping. They said it is likely to be part of the reason I have high blood pressure, memory loss , loud snoring and ... (what was I saying... oh yea) and fatigue.

The next step will be to see my doctor for getting my very own mask... woohoo!

Paddy's Day Cajun Style

2007-03-18T19:47:00.000-07:00

I wasn't fully aware of what my brother in law Ben Showalter had in mind when we set out for a Saturday morning excursion this weekend. We were scheduled to speak in our churches around New Orleans on Sunday, but had some time to enjoy our family that lives in Hammond, Louisiana.

Ben said we were headed to the Amite Oyster Festival. Turns out it was in a town near where my mom grew up. But without phone numbers and directions, I had no way of contacting kin folk. We simply went along for the adventure with Ben and Joanne to the festival. What a cross-cultural experience. I've included a little slide show for you to get a feel for it.

Durand

Recording a new album!

2007-03-16T06:03:00.000-07:00

I'll be headed to Atlanta next week to start a new album of my songs. If you want a living room preview of some of the songs, I've put a bunch of them up on my Songwriter Sessions blog.

I'll only get 8-10 on the CD so let me know which ones you enjoy the best. By the way, it's a CD to be used in non-church settings. So most of my worship stuff won't be on this one.

Durand

March-April 2007 Update

2007-03-16T05:57:00.000-07:00

(If you want a postcard version sent to your snailmail address, click here to MAIL ME your request.)

Sunday: Praise for the many encouraging visits we've had with our partnering churches, as well as with two churches that are not yet partners. It was great to have Ruth along this time so folks could reconnect with her as well. Pray specifically about the two churches we visited as they consider supporting our ministry financially.

Monday: Praise for finding a great group of musicians from North Carolina to answer the invitation by our Polish pastor Krzysztof Zareba. We'll be sharing the gospel during the month of June in the commuter cities of Warsaw through benefit concerts for "Joni and Friends". Pray for open hearts toward both the disabled and toward the Lord.

Tuesday: Praise for willingness on the part of one of our partners to use his studio and skills to help me begin a recording of my music (Durand). Pray it will serve as my "business card" to get to play in secular venues as well as for something folks can take home from concerts to remember what they heard and experienced.

Wednesday: Praise for all those who support us personally through their prayers, service and finances. We're blessed. Some of our newer partners are also looking for ways to serve with CreativeWorks part-time from here in the US. Pray we'll be creative in using the resources God's blessed our partners with.

Thursday: Praise for healing! If you haven't heard, the Great Physician decided to reroute one of my smaller shoulder veins and enlarged it so much that it is now replacing the main artery I lost four years ago. My doctor says it's a miracle. We agree. Pray for progress in treating Ruth's fibromyalgia.

Friday: Praise for our safety thus far in travel. We've still got trips scheduled to three more churches and to see each of our three girls before we're scheduled to leave (April 13 for Ruth and April 18 for me.) Pray for us as we return to Europe as "empty-nesters" for the first time.

Saturday: Praise for new support that has come in over the year. We came to the U.S. under-supported financially for GEM's Germany required funding, lost some support from a couple of churches, and on top of all that, are now moving to Ireland which is going to cost us about $600 more monthly. We're happy to say that enough new funding has come in to reach the Germany required funding, but PRAY for the last $600 to be committed so we can make the move to Ireland this summer.

Serving the Lord with you,

Durand

Send contributions for the Robinsons to:
Greater Europe Mission,
18950 Base Camp Rd.
Monument, CO 80132
(Please write “Durand Robinson” in the memo of the check.)

Not just another day at the (doctor's) office

2007-03-08T17:30:00.000-08:00

(I've worn this medical bracelet for 4 years now. Read on and you'll find out why I'm not wearing it today.)

I had a chance to see the surgeon in Atlanta who rescued my arm 4 years ago. A damaged artery began filling all the vessels in my right arm and hand with clots. The doctor tried to encourage me in the emergency room that day by saying he'd "try" to save my arm. I learned that wasn't the same expectation he'd shared with those who'd brought me to the hospital. People started praying for me and many have never stopped.

That was 4 years ago. Since then I've relearned how to use my hand and arm and live a fairly normal life (at least as far as hands and arms go). I've been on a blood thinner every day since then, and have to modify my use of the arm so it doesn't fall asleep. The main artery that runs through the center of my shoulder never recovered and my secondary vessels have had to learn to work harder to keep the blood flowing.

Back to the visit this week. The sonographer created images of my current vascular situation. "Whoa... will you look at that. This is amazing." The surgeon came in. First he shook my hand. "Warm hand... great!" Then he said, "I've got one question. Are you still able to play the guitar?" He smiled at the answer.

Then he looked at the sonogram. He was looking at what was supposed to be a small little vein that runs down along the front of my shoulder. "It's a miracle. That vessel is now as big as your original God-given artery. I'm taking you off the blood thinner. Feel free to use that arm as much as you can. It looks like God must want you to keep playing that guitar of yours, because this is a miracle."

I will.

Partnering in ministry taken to the next level

2007-03-08T14:45:00.000-08:00

Imagine having someone who lives far from where you minister who is so committed to you and your ministry that he or she actually is able to be as articulate and passionate about your ministry as you are. We have someone like that in Atlanta... Steve and Lenore Vereb.

These aren't people who drew the short straw and got us as their missionaries. These are people who've come to serve with us in Europe, who nursed me through my illness while in Atlanta, and who keep in continuous contact with me (not the other way around.)

As our official representatives at their home church, they guided us to individuals whose hearts are to leverage creativity in local church ministry like ours during last week's mission conference. A half dozen couples have pledged to be part of our "home team". What an honor. And without their help we wouldn't have known where to begin.

Steve's retired from civil service, but not from the Lord's. He's on the missions committee. He travels around the world helping their church become strategic in their international involvement. He publishes the church's missions newsletter.

Even his hobby serves the cause of missions. His company called StoneFlower Artworks design incredible centerpieces (see photo) uniquely carved from natural stone that create an organic yet graceful touch to any table or desk. And a portion of every sale goes to support the missions efforts of his church, Fellowship Bible Church.

CreativeWorks. Even our partners live up to the vision.

Durand

Update from City Gates in Dublin

2007-02-26T14:28:00.000-08:00

Read a recent article on my old friend Phil Kingsley's blog about how the church God birthed through our team in Dublin is doing. Click here to read it. Encouraging!

Durand

Two conferences are better (at least busier) than one

2007-02-26T05:04:00.000-08:00

We've been living double lives this weekend. Oak Mountain PCA and Covenat PCA (both in Birmingham, AL) chose the same date for their conferences. We've been partnering with both of these churches from the beginning and didn't want to miss the chance to celebrate with them, so we're fitting as many events as possible into the same short time.

We've probably talked enough (and eaten enough) for two lifetimes in a single weekend. I also got the chance to play with some incredible musicians last night at Covenant for the service.

Another joy is reconnecting with friends who serve in other places around the world. I first met the speaker at Covenant's conference when he was one of my hyperactive junior high students back when I was a youth pastor. Tim Simpson and his family have been serving in Kazakstan.

We're privileged to be able to represent folks that really honor the Lord and his Word by committing to actively sharing him throughout the world.

It's 7:15am and I've already got to run to meet and eat more food. (I feel a diet coming on...)

Durand

Take a look at some of our events

2007-02-24T05:05:00.000-08:00

Powered by Castpost

Tonight is the last night of this year's Candlelight Dinner in Kandern, Germany. Seems funny not being part of it this year being back in the States. Pray for all those coming, both those who know God personally and their friends in attendance who may not understand what that means.

I put a little slide show together to share some of the highlights of the last couple of years' events CreativeWorks has helped facilitate. I've included, among other things, some photos of past Candlelight Dinners. The variety might surprise you.

If you've done something fresh with your church that has been helpful for those considering what faith in God might look like in their lives, I'd love to hear about it and pass it on. Just send me an email or a comment.

Durand

18 years old and still the Birthday Bunny

2007-02-21T20:46:00.000-08:00

OK, so it was fun to wear the Birthday Bunny badge when you were 3 or 4. Now you're 18 and technically a sophomore in college. But that doesn't mean you don't win the title for the day.

We haven't had the chance to talk together, but we sure are thinking of you, Laura on your birthday. We love you. Happy birthday from Mom and Dad.

PS. Hope you don't mind the picture.

Travelling through the southland!

2007-02-21T15:30:00.000-08:00

We had a great time with friends old and new over the last week of travels.

In Columbia, David, Andrea and of course our newest little "wedge" Ben treated us royally. Dave's growing business is amazing. I've never seen so many laptops in one place. They've got a heart for missions and are giving Ben one too. His play rug in his room is a giant world map.

Then on to Charlotte, NC to meet Kyle and Theresa and the music folks at Lake Forest Church in the heart of NASCAR land. I'm so excited about them. We're trying to work out a way to serve our Polish partners this summer in a series of outreach concerts around Warsaw.

Then we went up to Durham, NC for an evening with a former GEM'er and her husband, Nicole and Matt. They're part of a church plant in the area while Matt finishes up at Duke. They'll be moving up to Chicago in a few months, looking for another place to plug in.

On the way back to Birmingham, we had a quick stop at Dennis and Verna Law's house (so quick I forgot to take a photo) to prepare some for the coming missions conference and to talk about a recording I might be able to do with folks from Fellowship Bible Church there in Roswell. Then on through Atlanta traffic and safely "home" in our little apartment.

Time for a day's break before the next two missions conferences beginning simultaneously on Saturday.

Durand

Traveling once again...

2007-02-15T14:46:00.000-08:00

(Our home away from home... the 2000 Honda Accord has been so good for us. Hard to believe we'll be selling it in 2 months!)

This week we took some time to visit friends/partners up in Decatur, AL. While there we spoke with a couple really feeling the call to Europe. How exciting. It's not a straight-forward process, but we've helped get them together with some of our GEM colleagues to look into opportunities that they might be suited for.

Today we visited with some friends who've been supporting us for years. We're blessed to have people committed to the Lord and to us that help keep us somewhat "rooted". Also got to stop by and say hi to my parents and help with some light chores.

In the morning we're off to Atlanta for lunch with more partners, then on to Columbia SC to visit my dear friends David and Andrea Wegener. We've got some real computer issues we'll take care of there as a side benefit (Dave has a great computer repair company called Wegener Media.)

Then Saturday and Sunday it's on to Charlotte NC to visit a new church for us that has some really talented musicians interested in helping with outreach concerts in Europe through CreativeWorks.

Monday, we'll head up to Durham, NC to visit a former coworker from GEM and her husband. Tuesday, it's back through Columbia to pick up our computers and retrace our steps back to Birmingham on Wedensday.

I can almost hear Willy Nelson in my mind singing "On The Road Again."

Keep us in your prayers. We've got to complete our support before our return tickets expire on April 18th.

Durand

Our latest photo of the family

2007-02-13T09:03:00.000-08:00

Thought you'd enjoy seeing the family from a picture at Christmas. Laura's at Wheaton, Emilie's at Bethel, Anna and Matt are at Metro State in Denver.

And we're holding down the empty nest. But at least we've been able to see them throughout the year.

Enjoy the ones you love on Valentine's Day!

Church trends

2007-02-12T09:25:00.000-08:00

I've never really understood economics. I freeze with numbers. The main part of it that I do grasp is that God's in control and I'm not.

I received word from a church that has been supporting us for over 10 years that because they want to send everyone in their church on a short term experience in the coming years, they've decided to no longer provide support for our salary (or any other of their missionaries.)

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. This trend in churches today has begun to erode our financial base for ministry and others like us.

I'm not against short-term missions trips, but I believe there needs to be a balance between having short term teams as well as missionaries "imbedded" in the culture. Without that balance, short-term efforts become shots in the dark rather than strategic.

I cannot change that trend. But Ruth and I will need to begin to change the way we're supported. Half of our financial support comes from churches. The other half comes from a small team of partners. We have been privileged to work in Europe these past 24 years because these churches and individuals see the need in Europe and want to be part of reaching people and multiplying churches there. They've chosen to do this through partnership with us.

Our call is still as firm as the day we left in 1984. I'd appreciate your prayers for the following:

For perserverance. Nothing is more discouraging than seeing real need overlooked or ignored. We believe God wants a witnessing fellowship within reach of every person in Europe. May God help us to perservere.

For divine intervention. Our need is far bigger than Ruth and I can "work out." We're asking God for something only he can do. May God give our partners promptings about introducing the ministry of CreativeWorks to those God might have join our support team.

For provision. God's call never comes with out the provision necessary to respond to the call. We believe God is still asking us to invest our lives on behalf of the people of Europe. Let's trust him for the means to do that together.

For blessing on the church. We don't understand or even agree with what seems to be an unbalanced emphasis on short term teams. But what is important is that God be glorified through what he empowers. If he chooses to use something that seems foolish to me to show his wisdom, it wouldn't be the first time. Receive honor God, no matter what.

Keep us in your prayers.

Durand

Our Jan/Feb prayer update

2007-01-30T08:18:00.000-08:00

Ruth and I are now in Birmingham, Alabama. We still have our Colorado cell phones (Cingular). E-mail us if you'd like the number. We'd love to meet with as many of you as we can fit in during the next couple of months. In addition to our Alabama churches, we'll be traveling to North Carolina, Georgia and Louisiana for church conferences on the weekends. Mid-week, however, our schedules are more flexible.

As you may know, we traveled to Germany for meetings the first couple of weeks of January. It was so good to reconnect with fellow missionaries to plan and pray for the coming year. Out of that visit two very significant decisions were made.

First of all, we at CreativeWorks decided to launch a new Europe-wide ministry that for the moment is being referred to as GEM Media. The ministry differs from CreativeWorks in that its primary focus is producing professional media FOR churches and for promoting GEM's ministries in North America. Because of the concentration on production rather than training and mentoring churches in creative ministry, we felt it best to make it a separate ministry from CreativeWorks. Jim Meyer whose background as an advertising art director for companies like Wendy's and Kellogg’s has been asked to direct this new ministry.

Secondly, we (GEM and CW leadership) have decided that CreativeWorks will be relocated to Dublin, Ireland, after seven years in the Black Forest area of Germany. Our focus remains to help churches across Europe to leverage creativity in ministry. We believe this new location will also prove invaluable for influencing the growing movement of church planting in Ireland while deepening our ability to influence church planting Europe-wide. My relationship with leaders in Ireland over the past 14 years has opened opportunities for partnership with Church Planting Resources, the Evangelical Alliance of Ireland, Operation Mobilization and opened up a chance for me to train new leaders at the Irish Bible Institute.

Ruth is applying to a masters program in European Studies at University College Dublin to strengthen her skills as research coordinator for GEM with the hopes of doing the one-year program this year or next. She is also busy collecting data for an update on the European Believers Report she hopes to release later this year. You can read her publication, “The Ambassador's Briefing,” to find out how social trends are affecting ministry in Europe. http://www.gemission.org/News/AmbassadorsBriefing.asp

Please pray for our financial support. We need several hundred dollars of new or increased support before we are allowed to return to Europe. Also, we will need some additional funds for our moving costs from Germany to Ireland. Thank you for the part you play in making our ministry possible.

Finally, pray for our housing needs. We must find renters for our home in Germany to afford rental prices for a small apartment in Dublin. (Modest 2-bedroom apartments go for $1500-$2000 per month.) Trust him with us to meet that need.

Serving the Lord with you,
Durand and Ruth Robinson

Meanwhile in Germany...

2007-01-12T07:04:00.000-08:00

We arrived a few hours ago after a flight that took us from Birmingham to Chicago, then Washington and on to Zurich. In Washington, we met up with Bob Till and the three of us flew together. My good buddy Jim Meyer was there to drive us to our place.

After a catnap and a sandwich it was off to a meeting in the GEM office, Muellheim. We had a great time of catching up with all the Europe Wide ministry leaders, sharing stories, concerns and praying for our work together. (I prayed with my eyes OPEN, since jet lag is setting in.)

Anyway, we'll be here for a few days. Pray for discussions about the coming year, defining new projects, roles and the like.

By the way, I thought you'd like to see the latest video produced for GEM's EuroTeam. I've included it above.

Durand

We're in Birmingham (for a couple of days)!

2007-01-09T12:37:00.000-08:00

After two 11 hour days and one short 3 hour drive on day three we arrived safely in Birmingham. For three hours we drove across eastern Colorado toward Kansas on what can only be described as a skating rink. Deep blue ice, compacted and smooth, covered much of the road. Equally disconcerting were the dozens of wrecks lying along the highway. Cars rolled and burned out. Recreational vehicles with on their backs with wheels facing skyward. A jack-knifed tanker truck and countless cars, trucks and SUV's stranded in snowbanks with nothing to do but wait for a tow truck.

Thankfully, shortly after the Kansas line, the ice disappeared. And by the time we made it to Salina, Kansas the snow left as well. We'd not heard about the avalanches that day that took the lives of some traveling through Colorado, but many of our friends who knew our travel plans did. The rest of the trip saw a bit of precipitation, but nothing significant.

We're in a "missionary" apartment in the basement of one of the church members from Shades Mountain Bible Church. Nice to have a place to land. But we'll be here only until Thursday AM, when we head to Germany for a series of meetings. I will be in strategic planning meetings for CreativeWorks while Ruth meets with the Europe Council. Then we'll attend the Director's conference for all GEM's ministries before heading back to the States and several months of missions conferences around the southeast.

Pray for stamina, good travel connections, and wisdom.

Durand

New feature on "The Journey So Far"

2007-01-04T08:54:00.000-08:00

If you'd like to receive a simple email when a new post appears on this blog, simply click the top right tab above called "Email Notification". Your email program will open and you can simply send the note back to us saying that you want to be notified when we update the website every week or so.

Simple as that. Oh, and don't forget to tell others about the site with the "Tell a Friend" tab right next to it.

Durand

On the concept of home...

2007-01-04T08:06:00.000-08:00

For many people home is a place. For me lately, it feels more like a concept.

As we get ready to move from Denver to Birmingham, it gets tougher to feel like we're really at rest. Our apartment has been great here. We've had all our kids in and out of it the past six months. But our kids are all headed back into their lives as students. Our "home" used to be where they were.

My parents and two of my siblings live in Birmingham. We arrive there on Monday to stay in a guest apartment for six months. We used to call Birmingham "home" too and will be again for the next little while.

But the following weekend we'll actually be in Germany in the house we own, sleeping in our very own beds for several days during leadership meetings. That's "home" as well. We've actually pared down the requirements necessary to call a place "home". Now it's knowing where the light switches are in the dark. (Just kidding.)

It's not like we're unfamiliar with moving. I wouldn't even want to know how many places we've lived in the past. But the reassuring part is that I know what my final destination will be. So I try to remind myself that I do have a home, and it's waiting for me.

I wrote this song three weeks after moving to Ireland. It reminds me that I need to live fully where I am for the time God gives me, knowing that one day, there'll be no more boxes to pack, no more new addresses to remember or goodbye's to be said.

One day I'll be home.

Durand

Concert planning

2007-01-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

CreativeWorks is wanting to help European churches create opportunities to meet people in their communities who have not heard Gospel. Through our events we try to explain life with God in ways that most Europeans have never seen or heard.

We have three concert tours opportunities this year. We have two bands that have worked with us in Europe before aiming at concerts in Ireland (May/June) and in the regions around (August) Vienna, Austria. And we have an amazing opportunity to share with thousands of Polish citizens around Warsaw. (June)

They are all specifically linked with efforts to multiply new witnessing fellowships. The challenge is that being in the US makes it difficult for me to work out the logistics easily and efficiently.

And then there's the need for a solid band to bring to Poland, as the crowds we've been asked to play for are large- about 1000 each night. The opportunity there requires that the musicians be exceptional, and that they have experience serving in Europe.

So if you're looking for something specific to pray for these next weeks, this would be an excellent choice. Please join us in trusting God for confirmations of venues in Ireland and Austria/Czeck Republic and for a specific band to join us in Poland.

Durand

A Song for New Years

2006-12-31T11:38:00.000-08:00

I think most of us have wanted to rewind our lives. I'm just glad that there's hope beyond where the song ends. That's what the Gospel is all about. A chance to start over.

Paul the apostle knew it.

I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 7:21-25 NLB)

May our lives be clear examples of what second chances are all about.

Happy new year.

Durand Robinson

Colorado's Winter Wonderland

2006-12-30T09:52:00.000-08:00

Took these pictures this morning in front of our house in Denver. (Actually we live in the basement apartment.)

Warm greetings for a happy new year.

Durand

Joy

2006-12-14T09:06:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about the coming week's advent emphasis on joy. Joy is a perfect response to provision. I've been in need so often this year, and when God or other people stepped in, overwhelming me by meeting that need, joy was an almost involuntary reaction. Well, almost.

It has taken being willing to admit I'm not living in some category of humanity that can demand my needs be met. I'm just a man and an imperfect one at that. And I'm living in a world that's bent in such a way that even the innocent children are denied basic needs of life. Don't get me going on that. Another post, perhaps.

The point is that James was right. James 1:17 "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

My kids are coming home for the holidays starting tomorrow. That's a gift. We had enough to pay our bills again this month. Another gift. God's provided me with great coworkers and projects that are bringing him honor. A privilege and a gift. And I'm closer to my heavenly Father than I was a year ago. I am overwhelmed with God's blessing. What a joy.

And like the angels with the shepherds, I'm realizing my fears have been a waste of time. The Saviour is here. The Messiah. The Peace with God I've always and will always need has been established. There's good news that means joy for every person.

It's not a perfect world. I'm not a perfect person. But there's much I can do to bring joy in the world around me.

God help me see the needs of others and then let you use me as a gift worthy of the giver.

Durand

A candle of hope for Europe

2006-12-10T08:52:00.000-08:00

Matt, Esther and Amanda at pre-field orientation.

Yesterday Ruth and I got to teach two modules for our pre-field orientation with GEM. It was a great opportunity. I was really impressed with the quality of new missionaries God's sending our way.

Matt and Esther are headed for our region. Matt's a building project supervisor (or will be) for EuroTeam and a drummer as well. (That's an added bonus for me when trying to do outreach events locally!)

Also a blessing is the fact that Esther is Dutch. Together, their sensitivity to cultural issues while seeking to be an influence for Christ in our region will be invaluable.

Ruth spoke about the spiritual climate of Europe and about our need to minister in ways that make sense to Europeans. Part of that challenge is recognizing things in our lives we've considered as Christian that were in fact cultural rather than biblical.

As Ruth spoke about our American "optimisim" we've often confused as "hope" coming from Christ, she pointed out that unlike America, Europe has known devistating wars in their own towns, streets and families through occupying forces. We wonder why they don't just "get over" the two world wars and move on. But doing so is completely naive and insensitive. Scars are also a part of life and many Europeans live with the vivid memories of lost loved ones and attrocities American's can only try and imagine.

As she shared this, Esther, who with her American husband have spent the last several years in the US, immediately and involuntarily began to weep. She said, "I've been trying to explain, but nobody here seems to get it."

I believe our time was important not only for the new missionaries but for us as well. It's not easy to see things as others do, but that skill lies at the heart of any relationship if it's going to be a strong one. In our efforts to help Europeans reach Europe, our task must include being aware of their past, realistic about today, and hopeful about tomorrow.

Today is the second Sunday of advent, and for us we've decided to focus on the hope we have in Christ. Ps. 33:18 says "But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love."

Durand

PS. If you'd like to join me in my reflection guide on advent click here.

Training on Evangelism in Europe

2006-12-02T08:46:00.000-08:00

Ruth and I were invited to spend time teaching about Evangelism in Post-Christian Europe yesterday. I went down to the GEM office, not really knowing who we'd be teaching. It was so encouraging to find these four young adults had all been overseas already and are just ready to jump across the ocean and get to work!

Our prayer for years has been to see God sending new missionaries that could help make a difference. May God send 50 like them in the next year! After the class, we all went for pizza at the home of one of the GEM office staff and then prayed for one another.

You can pray too. Two are headed to France, one to Latvia, and one to Germany. Pray for their dependence on God as the deadlines for support and all the logistics pile up. Tiffany, Sara, Brad and Holly. (You can pray for Ruth, too. She's the cute one in the middle of the picture.)

Long time no post

2006-12-01T07:45:00.000-08:00

Catching up on a blog is a bit artificial. After all this was meant to be a view of the journey along the way. Still, November has been a very busy month for us. Here are the highlights.

Church missions conference in Huntsville, Alabama (one of the few churches where rocket scientists are used to build the church... ha! Actually a bunch of the members actually do work for NASA there in the Space Center.) The folks were warm and appreciative. Got to meet Ron Snyder from the church who is in charge of a Christian print house. It's always good to talk with others who are working in similar areas for the sake of the Gospel.

Then we spent time with family in Birmingham before heading back to Denver. The nieces and nephews are all following the Lord. That's a wonderful encouragement for all of us. My brother Greg continues to rekindle his passion for art and has really been busy. He's got some amazing portraits using a highly technical style of pencil drawing. Detail like you rarely see. So cool. He even did a portrait of my other brother from when he was little. Mom shutters as she can almost see the little spark in his eye come out of the drawing that usually meant he was up to something...

A week in Denver to catch up, get snow tires, etc and then off to Chicago (Wheaton actually) to see Laura. A special gift enabled us to see our girl during her first semester in school. It was great to reconnect, talk, laugh, meet friends and feel a part of her life there.

Since then, we've been in Denver. I had a great chance to meet with a guy we've gotten to know that goes to our Sunday AM church named Josh Wilson. He's amazingly talented. He heads up the media work for the church, directs the sound/AV team, plays drums at least twice a month for worship, sings, writes, and is in the middle of his schooling at the film school in Denver. He's working to establish an organized missions committee for the church and has been overseas many times on short term teams as well as having lived in Switzerland with his family for a year during his teens.

The reason I'm going on like that, is when we had lunch a couple of weeks ago, he was ready to make plans to work with CreativeWorks. Probably only a short term project this summer, but with a view to joining us in 2008 after school. That will be awesome. He's starting German next semester.

Which leads me to us. We've started studying German on our own. It's got to happen and the sooner the better. Granted it's only via computer at the moment, but we should see progress. As Jim Meyer often says, small steps make the distance.

(The Turkey takes it's effect!)
And of course, we're enjoying being able to see Anna and Matt at the drop of a hat. It's really good to have daughters for friends. Thanksgiving was great. Anna's in-laws (Bob and Janie Till), Anna and Matt, and Matt's brother Jonathan all joined us in our one bedroom apartment for Thanksgiving. Great fun to be with ones we love.

More to come.

Durand

On the road again.

2006-11-06T06:08:00.000-08:00

What a busy time. We're in an airport (surprise, surprise!) but at least there's free internet and a chance to catch up.

We have had the chance to connect with so many friends and partners along the way. Due to a flight cancellation last week, we were "stranded" overnight and ended up at friends homes for an unplanned but welcome visit in Atlanta.

With the help of Ken Kipp (in the picture with me) and Donna his wife, we had a chance last Saturday to connect with many of our friends at a drop by reception in Harrisburg. (Here's a link to his music and website.)

Sunday was at the church where Ruth and I were married. They gave us a chance to report for almost an hour on Sunday between services and many folks were able to finally understand CreativeWorks better.

Lunch was with old friends and their now grown up kids. They told us that my music was still with them after all these years. One son, who was 5 or 6 when we knew him last, is now a policeman and sings one of my songs in his patrol car on duty. That forced me to bring a nearly 30 year old recording on an LP (a big round piece of plastic with grooves and a hole in the middle for you younger readers) up to date. You can now download the whole album at www.gemcreativeworks.org/damascus/.

Then during the week we caught up with folks I'd known in high school and even a coworker from Ireland now in PA.

The highlight was driving to Manhattan to be with Emilie. It was short but sweet.

Then we had a missions conference throughout the weekend back in Harrisburg.

We ended last night with time at Ken and Donna Kipp's place. Along with them as well as Donna's mom, Ruth and I got to worship the Lord for an hour or so until time to pack our bags and hit the hay.

Pray for stamina, for the goodbye's that inevitably follow the warm "hello's" of so many. We're truly blessed to have such wonderful friends and partners around the country.

Gotta catch the plane. More later.

Rediscovering prayer

2006-10-18T06:37:00.000-07:00

OK, I'm 50 years old (for a couple more months anyway.) I've been a Christian most of those years. I've talked to God nearly every day of my life. I must admit that more often than not, it's been to talk with him about something I need. But I'm learning.

I was reading about what happened when Jesus was tempted in the desert by the Devil. (Matthew 4:5-7) The temptation sounded like "step out in faith" and watch God respond. But in reality, it was really more like "step out in presumption" and manipulate God. And Jesus didn't fall for it.

It's easy to presume on God when you forget who he is. I could go on a rant about "prosperity gospel" preachers, and "name it, claim it" Christianity, but I won't. I've been guilty far too often of trying to "manipulate" God to bless my plans rather than "cooperating" with his plans.

It happens when circumstances rock my world, and I want to fix things myself, instead of trying to recognize God's plan in the midst of my circumstances. It happens when I try to avoid the consequenses of my own irresponsibility and try and force God to bail me out.

And so I listen to my prayers more closely now. "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." That kind of cooperation with God comes AFTER I recognize who it is I'm praying to. He is my heavenly father. His name is to be respected, hallowed. The more aware I am of his greatness and of my weakness, the easier it is to give up manipulating and start cooperating.

Durand

The Arvada Worship Retreat

2006-10-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

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Friday, I ended up spending an overnight and most of Saturday with the members of our morning church that help with the worship. The rustic setting was near Colorado Springs in log cabins overlooking the front range of the Rockies (although we didn't know that until morning when the chickens came to visit.)

It was a pleasure for me to find young adults interested in ministry, and wanting to talk about putting their passion for music, graphics and video into service for the King. I had endless times to share about Europe and to encourage them in their ministry locally. There was a great evening of singing, worship and time in the Word as well as prayer in small groups. Then next morning was pretty much committed to prayer and solitude (with a little bit of music thrown in). But most of the time was really aimed at deepening the sense of community they had as a group.

There is a real sense of expectation in the church. At least 20 new visitors come through the doors every Sunday. They'll be adding a third service in a couple of weeks. They baptized 30 people only a month ago. Three weeks ago there was no such thing as a youth group. Now there are 30 young people and leaders who love them. There was a guest speaker today at church that used to work at the church but went to a nearby city to plant a new church. He was awestruck to see that in the room of nearly 200 people he only recognized a couple dozen faces.

We talked at the last session of the retreat about the transition that happens when "spontaneous" service has to give way to "organized" service. Moses couldn't deal with the load on his own, so God raised up others to help. And that's what we're seeing here.

May God grant wisdom and grace to his workers as he draws people to the church.

Durand

Multi-tasking

2006-10-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up they called me scatter-brained. Now they say I'm multi-tasking. I like that a lot better, even if it is the same thing.

These past few weeks have been full of just working away at details.

I'm only a week away from mailing out the Fast Food Fast brochure. One of the nice bits of getting ready has been spending some extra time in the Word. I'm trying to finish up November's Fast Food Fast devotional guide to be put on line November 1. I also created the brochure which will hopefully arrive in the mail tomorrow! I can't wait to get more people focused on praying for and giving to the outreach events of CreativeWorks in Europe.

I've also got a second deadline which is our first "missions conference tour" beginning the last week of the month. We fly to Pennsylvania to the church we where we were married, make a quick trip to see our daughter Emilie in Manhattan, and then back to Pennsylvania for a second conference in Harrisburg. Then we fly down to Huntsville, AL for our third church conference, and try to spend a bit of time with my family before heading back to Denver.

One "little" project has been creating the display and materials for the trip. Whew. I'm officially a frequent flyer at Kinko's and Office Max.

Our Sunday AM church has been hosting Alpha courses on Mondays and I'm there at one of the tables. It's great. I've connected with a couple of the guys at my table. One is really on the verge of making the biggest decision of his life. Pray with me for him. I asked him if it would be alright to have more people praying that God would make it clear.

Tomorrow Ruth and I head to the church's worship ministries retreat. Musicians and technicians who help on Sundays will be gathering for a night and a day away. We're the seniors of the group (maybe they just needed chaperones.) Seriously though, they're wonderful folks and we count it a privilege to be invited along.

Thanks for your prayers.

Following up on the SCUM Banquet

2006-10-05T10:02:00.000-07:00

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Before I tell about the banquet, I want to explain the video I did for the evening. SCUM's neighborhood is one of those corners of the world everyone would just as soon overlook. It's on the main drag out of town, but most drivers keep their eyes on the tail lights in front of them and try not to hit any red lights. But not SCUM. This place is their Jerusalem- the place where they're called to be His witnesses. The video's really just a glorified drive around the neighborhood and a reminder to pray for the ministry.

Now, to the banquet. For a bunch of folks who've done their share of living on the streets, think a black tee shirt is considered "formal wear" and who are more likely to decorate their arms than their tables, the banquet was nothing short of amazing.

The church mobilized and transformed a dull hall into a four-star restaurant. The tables were filled with flowers and candles. The meal was exquisite. (In fact the food vendors donated enough food to treat our homeless friends to the same banquet Sunday evening before service that the guest enjoyed at the banquet!)

The guests came and together with the folks from SCUM there were about 200 people there. Mike Sares, the pastor, introduced two folks from SCUM to share their experiences and what God had done through the church. One was a member of Five Iron Frenzy, the band whose Bible study group transformed itself into what we call Scum of the Earth.

The other was a man whose life was transformed by God through the acceptance he felt at the church and the gentle, non-condemning way he was led to trust Christ with his life.

On that night, $15,000 was donated toward a ministry center for SCUM to meet. The estimated cost of a place to renovate, complete with renovation costs is more like $2.5 million. But like Tim, the administrative pastor for SCUM said, it doesn't matter whether the cost will be 2.5 or 250 million. Both are impossible unless God is in the project and makes it happen.

And so we keep trusting.

Thanks for praying.

Get ready for the Fast Food Fast!

2006-10-03T14:52:00.000-07:00

Some of you have already heard. In a month we'll be beginning the Fast Food Fast. It's a way that anyone can help provide outreach events for Europe. It has the potential to redirect people, prayer and funding toward that end.

It started when I heard that the average American spends 42% of their annual food budget in a restaurant and frequents a fast food place an average of 4 times a week.

We'd like to mobilize 100 teams to share the Gospel with kids through Imagin'Air, but we don't even have the cash to print up the materials. We're wanting to put on music outreaches and dinner theater outreaches on in Europe. And we're wanting to train Europeans in creative ways to minister. All of this takes visits up front to make sure the venues will work. It takes advertising. And often it takes scholarships because our most creative coworkers aren't always our most wealthy.

Please take a couple of minutes to look at the website. Then tell me what you think.
Just click on the brochure above.

Durand

A banquet for the Scum of the Earth Building Fund

2006-09-27T12:30:00.000-07:00

Mike Sares, senior pastor at Scum.

I've mentioned before that I attend two churches here in Denver. Sunday evenings I'm at Anna and Matthew's church. Matt's parents Bob and Janie Till come up from Colorado Springs as well so it's a great time to connect personally.

This weekend a special banquet is being held to try and raise some money for a building the church can call its own. The real estate in Denver is really pricey, but this is a hands on ministry kind of church. To move out of town because it's cheaper would defeat the purpose for which God formed the community in the first place.

I'll be assigned a table where people who have come on their own can sit. I get to help explain what I know of the church informally and just getting to know them a bit. They are expecting 250 people from all over the area, most who do not attend Scum Of The Earth. (Yes that's the church's name.)

Be praying that believers coming will see the importance of bringing Christ to the hurting and overlooked people of Denver. Pray that they'll see the importance of providing finances to the church since most of the people who come are either unemployed or under-employed. The church's regular operating budget is currently only about $6000 a month and $1000 of it is given away to help the poor in Denver. The salaries are not included in that figure because the staff work as volunteers who's pay comes from gifts of friends and family.

Pray for Saturday evening! Thanks.

Home Ministry Welcome in Colorado

2006-09-19T06:08:00.000-07:00

Ruth and I are away from Denver for the week at Home Ministry Welcome, a retreat for missionaries with GEM who are back in North America on home ministry assignment (furlough). It's in a place called the Hideaway, a retreat center about 15 minutes from GEM's office in an area referred to as the Black Forest of Colorado.

It's a really encouraging time to meet with our mission family to debrief, catch up, pray and play together.

Ruth and I got the special privilege yesterday of having our dear friends Don and Bea Crane spend the afternoon catching up and helping us debrief the past term and look forward to the next. They've known us for over 20 years, have lived in as many countries as we have, and in so many ways understand us because we're a lot like them.

To have them speak into our lives, reaffirming us and praying with us was the breath of fresh air I needed. God really met us in a way that we needed. May God use us in the lives of others as he has with the Cranes for us.

A new home for CreativeWorks

2006-09-16T21:48:00.000-07:00

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Here's a video produced by Jim Meyer and Dwight Eitzen, GEM architect (plus my comments in subtitles) to give you the big view of the project we're taking on in Kandern, Germany.

The building was built in 1884, but has a new roof, strong new roof structure, and is huge. The building will be carved up into apartments for the short term staff Europe-wide ministries will be needing in the coming years (eDOT, EuroTeam, CreativeWorks, and the Europe administration) plus we'll be able to expand the number of offices in the area.

The big joy is that CreativeWorks will have a wonderful, purpose built space for office and studio.

But first, the professional contractors are coming in to put in electrical, water, heat, and basic structural changes. Then we will be needing construction teams from churches in North America to put up interior walls, flooring, ceilings, paint, audio and video wiring and computer networking wiring. (not in that order.)

If you're interested, send me an email or write to euroteam@gemission.com.

Reflection: Lamentations and the blues

2006-09-12T18:19:00.000-07:00

The last several days I've been plowing through the difficult Old Testament book of Lamentations. Actually, I found out it's not a book. It's a poem: five chapters with 22 verses like an acrostic, each starting with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

I always thought acrostics were a little hokey. But then a lot of people think the blues are hokey. Down and out stories as simple as the music they're sung to. But no matter where I've played in the world, people relate to it. Maybe it's because we can all relate to life being hard.

Anyway, back to Lamentations. It's a poem that drives home the dire consequences of rebellion against God.

In yesterday's reading, the writer says (kind of anyway) "Ain't got no mo'freedom (1:1), no mo' friendships(1:2), no mo'glory (1:6), no mo' treasures (1:7), no mo' protection (1:15), no mo' dignity (1:8-9), no mo' provisions (1:11) no mo' strength (1:14), no mo' comfort (1:3,21) and no mo' inner peace (1:20). Now dat's da blues.

Fortunately, today, as continued on I finally got the the bridge. That's the part of the blues where you get a little change of pace, a little glimmer of something new.

Lamentations 3:21-26
"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:
Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD."

There is no doubt that the author of these poems sees the depth of Jerusalem's sin, and the just consequences that have befallen her. And yet...

There's a place in the heart for hope. Not wishful thinking. Facts that point to hope in the midst of disaster. Because of the Lord's great love, his compassions never fail. Not now, not ever. Because he is is faithful, God's promises never fail.

If my fate is God's hands, then I'll wait for him, seek after him, hope in him and wait for the salvation He will surely bring. And keep singing.

Real life: Preparing for the next season

2006-09-10T14:30:00.000-07:00

My landlady is looking forward to the next season. She means the new episodes of "Survivor". My parents are looking forward to the next season. They're flying out here in a couple of weeks to watch the aspens turn shimmery golden. Denver folks are Bronco season crazy (American football for my European readers) which starts this week.

I'm preparing for the next season as well.

While we have been involved in providing events and training over the past 6 years, my primary focus up to now has been to provide effective media for ministries across Europe. The dream of a team in Europe with both the skill and the equipment to produce media is now a reality.

We've produced projects like a video training series for pastors in Poland; a church planting seminar for Germany; and children's videos for outreach in Romania, Poland, Germany and France. We've produced countless short videos to help ministries tell their North American audiences what God is doing through their efforts. And we've created videos to help raise a harvest force for countries here in greater Europe. (If you’d like to see some of these videos, there are examples to watch on our website.)

Our team members Jim and Sara Meyer, Alex Haenggi and Josh Johnson are currently working on 11 new video projects— with several other projects on hold until we can get to them. Ted and Brandy Cox are in their last months of support development before they’ll arrive in Germany. Others have helped CreativeWorks on a short-term basis, moving us into this season of productivity.

We have been blessed with some special financial gifts to purchase an HD video camera, a high-end video production computer, other needed video gear, professional production software and the beginnings of an audio production studio.

The next season for me at CreativeWorks.

As Jim Meyer takes the lead in the media production side of CreativeWorks, I am now able to concentrate more on helping churches create effective events for sharing the Gospel and training church leaders in the use of creative ministry.

My years in Europe have allowed me to get to know leaders in the church and in evangelism throughout Europe and in North America. I am investigating some strategic partnerships with them to harness the power of creativity for ministry. European churches and short term teams from North America are also showing real interest in outreach initiatives with CreativeWorks.

Sharing Christ with thousands over the next year requires people and funding. Children's outreaches and materials along with three major outreach concert initiatives in Ireland, Poland and France won't come cheaply.

We're also developing a new program that churches across Europe can use to create special events where they could effectively share the Gospel with their neighbors. But it will take recruiting North American church teams as well as trips to help European churches prepare.

I've been invited to travel around Europe to begin teaching courses to church leaders in the effective use of creativity in ministry through regional workshops and in European bible institutes and seminaries upon my return to Germany.

I'm excited about the next season of ministry for CreativeWorks. After 6 years, God is only getting started with our media ministry. And I'm sure he has some incredible things in store for equipping the church in Europe for sharing Christ and growing the church.

Looking toward the harvest.

The Lord of the Harvest has seen fit to bring us this far. And he's given us some ideas on how he plans to lead in the coming season. I'll run a few of those ideas by you soon. In the mean time, keep praying for the work of the Gospel in Europe and for CreativeWorks.

Relationships: Labor day special

2006-09-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

The past almost three weeks, we've been doing a combination of family stuff, work stuff and yes even a bit of rest & relaxation stuff.

For almost two weeks, we were on the road taking Laura and Emilie to their respective schools. We drove about 2800 miles in all, crossing Kansas, staying the night at Ruth's sister's place so the girls could see Len and Nancy. Then it was on to Wheaton, Illinois.

We spent about 5 days there, staying with grad school friends LeRoy and Gwen Elliott. We got to be part of the parent's weekend, get Laura's room set up and equipped for the year, explore the campus and to spend some time with our friends. Laura's already got friends there, and a job transcribing the original letters of C.S.Lewis at the Wade Center. (above) We are really thankful for her new situation. None the less, the seat next to Emilie felt especially empty as we pulled away.

Then we headed northwest toward St. Paul, Minnesota and Bethel College. Along the way I got a touch of food poisoning so my next 48 hours were anything but fun. We ended up staying in a motel for a couple of nights but got to spend a wonderful evening with Emilie's family from last year, the Schrecks. While the others enjoyed the meal, I slept for a while and then woke feeling well enough for a couple of hours of good conversation. Emilie stayed in Bethel, working for the Art department while waiting for her flight to Manhattan and a semester of intensive art study there. (More on that to come.) We headed on, with an empty back seat and the realization that we are officially empty nesters.

We stopped overnight in LeMars Iowa to visit with former colleagues Larry and Florrie Adler from Ireland. They treated us to the royal midwest treatment. Hot dogs at a legendary roadside cafe called Bob's. Dinner with their church's small group. A parade of vintage cars through the middle of LeMars and a rock n' roll concert. Then the apex of the visit... ice cream at the showcase ice cream parlor of Blue Bunny Ice Cream. No wonder LeMars has proclaimed itself the "ice cream capital of the world."

The next morning we headed the car for Denver. There's not tons to see (apart for corn) across Nebraska, so Ruth read a book aloud along the way. It was wondeful getting in before dark to our little basement apartment in Denver (and out from behind the wheel.) We gave Matthew and Anna a call to tell them we'd arrived. At least we're to them for a while. It makes the transition a little easier with all three of our daughters out of the house.

It was really rewarding to be around to help Matthew and Anna move to a new apartment. It's usually the kind of thing we'd only hear about but unable to be of assistance from across the Atlantic. They've got a great place near the light rail train that gets them to classes in less than 15 minutes door to door.

We've been to GEM's international headquarters several times, working on some projects face to face rather than just via email. It's been nice to reconnect with several of those at GEM we've known for years. One is Ruth's good friend, Diane Alphonso, who is GEM's website master.

That brings us up to Ruth's birthday weekend (this weekend). Diane has friends who offered her a wonderful house in Estes Park, Colorado: gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park.

We had an awesome weekend relaxing there with three others, wandering through a craft fair, watching wildlife and driving through the most beautiful place on earth. Oh, and by the way, all the wildlife shots on the filmstrip above were taken in the yard of the place we were staying.

Well, it's back to business as usual tomorrow. Happy Labor Day.

Relationships: Last days of summer

2006-08-14T17:11:00.000-07:00

Today our family got together for a last meal (and family photo) together before our two youngest daughters head for college in New York and Chicago. Ruth and I will drive Laura to Wheaton and Emilie to Minnesota where she'll spend a few days getting ready for her term in Manhattan. Anna and Matthew begin school this coming week as well.

Pray for us as we learn how to be parents all over again, this time learning to trust God with our adult children. So glad we have a faithful God.

Durand

Reflection: Spiritual admonition from a rock star

2006-08-14T08:13:00.000-07:00

The Leadership Summit is over, but my thoughts haven't really settled down yet. There were some amazing folks teaching through the two and a half days. Some of the stuff was relevant to ministry decisions ahead for GEM. Others simply encouraged us in the Lord to keep focused on the point of all this... seeing God restoring lives for eternity.

But one interview I'll not soon forget was one done between Bill Hybels (founder of Willow Creek near Chicago) and Bono of the band U2.

I'm not bringing this up because he's a big star, or because he's devoted his life to Christ (which was evident in the interview) but because he helped me understand a little more about myself and my responsibility to my world.

Part of the reason so many people can't believe God loves them is that they don't see God's children loving them. (I ranted a bit about that in a comment on "Meet the Neighbors" a couple days ago.)

Our neighborhood is enormous as a New Testament church in the 21st century. What we do in the US or Europe often has a direct effect on people around the world. We see images of starving children, war, and people dying of AIDS on the television but immediately grab for the remote. It's too much. I feel powerless to help. Or I think "It's not my problem."

Back to Bono. He's part of a world-wide initiative to help eliminate poverty called The One Campaign. Those involved in the effort are from every walk of life, including many that make me uncomfortable as a Christian. (Did I mention, I'm trying to be transparent here?) One cause of senseless poverty is the AIDS pandemic in Africa. 8000 people a day perish (that's an Asian Tsunami every day) creating 11,000 new orphans EVERY DAY.

Deep in the recesses of my heart, AIDS has been in the "not my problem" category. After all, much of the disease has been spread through sexual misconduct. A simple case of cause and effect, my mind assures me.

Bono asked the Christians to consider what God's response for them would be if they'd come upon a horrific traffic accident. Jumping out of the car to help one of the drivers lying on the pavement in need of immediate medical assistance, you lean down and notice the strong smell of alcohol. What should be your response? Leave him there to die because it was his own fault for the trouble he was in? Or one of extending mercy to help the injured person, regardless of whose fault it was.

The story of the Good Samaritain was a response to the question, who is my neighbor? If anyone should know how to extend grace to the poor, the blind the afflicted, the unjustly treated, it would be those to whom infinite mercy has already been extended.

I still feel overwhelmed knowing the world's problems are just too much for me. There are great spiritual, physical, social and emotional needs all around us. But at least, I think I understand the answer Jesus gave about who my neighbor is. I can't say, "that's not my problem." Part of being in God's family is understanding the Father's heart and responding the way he would. And in doing so, we give the world a glimpse of God, who so loved the world, (You know the rest.)

Real Life: Best laid plans

2006-08-12T20:31:00.000-07:00

Friday, Ruth was supposed to fly to Heathrow on her way to GEM's annual conference. Fortunately we were able to find out she'd be at least 8 hours late coming in with no chance of a connecting flight until sometime on Saturday. It was a tough decision, but Ruth decided not to go. Those working with her in research that are at the conference are helping cover for the responsibilities she'd prepared for.

We will leave on Tuesday (Laura, Emilie, Ruth and myself) for Wheaton, Illinois and St. Paul, Minnesota, with visits of friends and partners along the way. Pray for a safe trip and for God's grace as we "empty" the nest. While it is unfortunate that Ruth won't be at conference, we are thankful for the extra days together we'll have as a family before school begins.

Durand

Reflection: Building the church and loving others

2006-08-11T06:57:00.000-07:00

Andy Stanley was asked to address the issue of ministry focus during the Willow Creek Association's Leadership Summit yesterday. There he suggested that our love for progress and achievement in ministry combined with fear of failure caused by an over-inflated view of our own importance in the process of ministry drives many of us to cheat our families, thrusting them into God's hands as we head out the door, pleading with him to fill in the gap in our absence.

At one point early in ministry Stanley had to admit there simply weren't enough hours in the day for him to succeed in building up the church and meeting the needs of his family. He went on to explain that the most important ministry decision he has ever made was to clarify his roles in those two spheres of responsibility.

As Stanley understood Jesus' promise that HE would build the church (Matt. 16:18) while in Eph. 5:25 that Andy's responsibility was to love his wife as Christ loved the church, he realized he'd reversed the roles. And so he made the hard decision early in ministry to limit his involvement to 45 hours a week at the church, trusting God to "fill in the gap" he had already promised to fulfill. This freed him up to assume the responsibility only he was commanded to assume, learning to love his wife (and children) with the same selfless love Christ has for the church.

I think Stanley's point is valid, but I think he's missed an even more far-reaching benefit to recognizing God's role to build His church.

Jesus actually sums up the most important of God's commands to us by charging us to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (and to) love your neighbor as yourself.' Matt 22:37,39

We're not only too busy in church matters to be part of our family. We neglect our neighbors as well. Who couldn't stand to profit from more time to share life with those living around us, being salt and light in today's society. By learning to limit our hours in "working at the church" (or our business for that matter) and re-engaging in the life of our home and neighborhood we will find that the church's mandate; the Great Commission, will find fulfillment.

Results: A sneak preview

2006-08-09T07:15:00.000-07:00

Many of you have heard about Imagin'Air, the children's VBS I created over the past couple of years. You may also know that a central part of the program is a series of videos for children we created that share the Gospel in ways that make sense to children, even ones that have no experience with Jesus or the church.

But most of you have never seen them.

This week I put up a temporary place where you can watch these videos or at least let your children watch them. You'll need a fast internet connection and Quicktime for your computer (see the first post on the Imagin'Air Media page by clicking here.) I'd love to get your feedback on these videos.

Over the coming months with One Way Street and Group Publishing, I'm hoping for a chance to see a partnership develop that will allow me to create even more programming for children. (I actually have 4 other Imagin'Air programs sketched out that could be done to start with.)

Please, watch them, pray for their use around Europe, and tell your friends about the link. Perhaps it will spark interest in other churches to come be a part of reaching children through the Imagin'Air clubs we do in Europe. Your little part in sending them an email could be the start of something that could change kids' lives for eternity.

Thanks.

(To watch the videos, click here)

Real Life: Visiting Group Publishing

2006-08-02T16:47:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure whether visiting Group Publishing was a good thing or a bad thing for me. It's truly amazing to see the development of this ministry/business from the early 70's as a one man effort to probably the largest publisher in the US that focuses on resources for churches.

350+ employees, with specialty groups working in everything from their "Genesis" group (my personal preference) concentrating on new ideas and products to graphic designers, video folks, educational specialists, an army of people doing sales, tech support, customer helplines, and shipping.

There are many publishing companies in the US. But these guys really do on a big scale what CreativeWorks aspires to. Excellent media production and curricula for VBS clubs. Service trips to get church small groups involved in missions. Regional training events to give instruction to church voluteers tryng to make a difference.

My heart goes out to Europe. Companies like Group can grow in the US because there are churches here to pay enough for their materials that Group can invest to create even more. They'll send out thousands of VBS kits each summer. (I thought I was dreaming big to try and produce 200 Imagin'Air kits to be used by teams over the next 3-5 years!)

But Europe, with it's approximately 1% of evangelical believers is too big a risk for companies like Group to develop materials for. It's just not financially feasible right now.

Still, CreativeWorks needs the support of great ministries like Group. We have so much to learn. And I think we have a lot to share with them about ways for them to make a difference in Europe. That's why I'm meeting with people there. I want to explore partnerships that would help provide the needed resources for healthy ministry in Europe without reinventing the wheel.

Our next meeting together is in September.

Reflection: Meet the neighbors

2006-07-28T14:26:00.001-07:00

A comment on Ruth's Discovery blog really struck a chord with me. I liked Brandon Wellcome's clarification that involvement in our society moves us from "announcing" the Gospel to "demonstrating" it. It seems to me that the most difficult challenge of the modern church is learning how to develop a favorable reputation in their community as neighbors who love God and their neighbors as themselves. I'm not talking marketing a caring image here. I mean the neighborhood knows we're crazy about God, and crazy about them.

North Point Community Church does a good job of describing a relational cycle they hope will lead people into a growing relationship with God. They speak of helping guests to their church feel welcome (They call these "foyer" activities.) They speak about turning guests into friends in environments referred to as a type of "living room". And they seek to help friends become family around activities around a "kitchen" type environment. And I think churches are relatively effective in these situations. Where churches aren't quite so at home is at one final part of the cycle, being part about the neighborhood.

If the church is a family, it has a reputation in the "neighborhood" where it lives. We live in a society where church attendance is an exception rather than the "norm". What, apart from our interaction in the "neighborhood" and our good reputation would make any self-respecting seeker knock on our virtual "front door"?

Every family has a neighborhood reputation. They might be the local activist always getting petitions circulated, the grouches with the guard dogs or the ones who seem to have an open door and a kid magnet installed that draws the under 10 population into their place like some kind of Pied Piper. The kind of neighbor you are determines how willing your neighbors are to get to know you.

The members of the church in Acts were known for their devotion to learning God's Word, to sharing life with one other, to being identified with Christ and to depending on God through prayer. They where known for God's power evidenced in their lives, for their unity and unselfishness, for their glad and sincere hearts, for their praise for God, for their generosity, for their daily involvement the community and in each other's lives, and for their favor among the people. And yes, they got people's attention in part thanks to the miraculous signs and wonders God performed through them. (Acts 2:43)

What I'm getting at is this. The church needs to be so into their world that people see the Gospel lived out before their eyes as well as hear it. Every selfless thought, word and act that I've ever been a part of is a miricle...a God thing. Each time, God broke through the selfish, sinful person I am and did something wonderful... something amazing. And when that starts happening in our neighborhoods, get ready for the doorbell to ring.

Results: One Way Street

2006-07-28T14:03:00.000-07:00

Todd Liebenow and Dale VonSeggen at One Way Street (They're the ones in the middle without their mouths wide open.)

I've been looking forward to this meeting for a while. It's not often you get to meet people who've spent more time than me using puppets to reach kids. But ministry is definitely what One Way Street is all about. And I've been praying they'd be excited about the ministry of Imagin'Air.

And they were. (If you've ever seen Imagin'Air's videos you've seen a lot of One Way Street puppets including Captain Bob, Madge, Howard Ino and the Neat Beat America back up singers.)

Our meeting was to look at how to streamline the process of getting new teams to Europe with Imagin'Air. We're looking at a partnership that would make it easy for teams to get the puppets and the training they need for doing Imagin'Air.

Dale started the ministry years ago, and Todd is their new products manager. Together we looked through the Imagin'Air materials and then took a tour around the production center to look at some new puppets and stages.

Nothing was decided, but I think we all left the meeting with a sense that God was ready to do something through us working together. Dale has a very busy travel schedule this summer with interns, workshops, etc. We'll get back together this fall and to look at the details.

Take an online visit at www.onewaystreet.com

Relationships: Dad, the passenger

2006-07-26T20:03:00.000-07:00

Learning to drive is a rite of passage most people experience at 15 or 16 years old in the States. I can still remember giving Ruth a chance to learn how to do manual transmission on my pride and joy, the 1973 VW minivan I had when we were dating. Everyone thought that was proof positive that I was in love. I'm not sure what I was thinking. But all our married life, I've enjoyed having an excellent driver as my partner, whether the car was automatic or manual.

Since our girls didn't have an opportunity to learn in Germany, I'm taking advantage of being near them with my own car to give driving lessons to Anna and Emilie. "Wuv, twue love."

Today was a big day. Both of them got their first taste of rush hour driving. Everything in me wanted to take the wheel and do it for them. And I don't even like driving in rush hour. But it has to be done. The best way to protect them is to give them the skills they need while I can. And so twice today, I handed off my keys and took my place in the co-pilot seat.

They're on their way toward gaining confidence as drivers and I'm starting to gain some confidence being the passenger. And maybe a little insight into being a better dad.

How about some feedback?

2006-07-22T09:39:00.000-07:00

As we share our journey this year, we'd love to hear from you. I'm intentionally mixing up posts that talk about family, about ministry, about spirituality and even mix in a few pieces of news to celebrate what God's doing.

I read yesterday that only 1% of bloggers create content. Another 10% interact. The rest just watch. I've just put a new tab at the top of the blog to tell friends about the blog easily. I'd love to hear questions and comments from you, our partners and get a bit of a dialog going so that we can learn from each other. Just click on comments and let me know what you're thinking!

So far, people have emailed me but not made comments. I'm tempted to take the email me tab off the page but I'll keep it for the moment. I also put a counter on two days ago. Looks pretty bare at the moment.

I look forward to hearing from you, and hope that if you enjoy what you're reading you'll tell a friend with the tab at the top of the page.

Reflection: Learning from one another

2006-07-21T14:30:00.000-07:00

The time here in the States is really valuable for me. I'm meeting some amazing folks whose hearts are for God and for the Church. Church planting is definitely alive and well in the USA.

I had a great time with Jay Pathak yesterday from Arvada Vineyard. Turns out he oversees all the church planting going in in the midwest for the association. And I can see why.

Nothing fires me up more than to see someone with vision for reaching into the lives of people in need of the Savior. We talked a lot about churches and church plants, but the part of the conversation that really sticks with me is when I asked how he describes the process.

He said it was actually dead boringly simple.

A three question quiz.

Are you crazy-in-love with Jesus, and I mean head over heels in love. Do you have the kind of love that sort of distracts your thoughts from other things because he's the best thing that ever happend to you. That's step one.

Step two. Do you love people that belong to Jesus in a deep and committed way that you find yourself going out of your way to serve them, and put the needs of the community above yourself?

And finally, do you love people that don't belong to him so much that you'll do whatever it takes to help them hear the gospel in a way that makes sense to them and see that the gospel lived out in front of them?

You can do the most amazing programs and campaigns on the planet, but without the lifeblood that springs from loving God, his family and those whom he loves, they'll fail ultimately.

Interestingly enough, if you do have these three characteristics in your fellowship, it doesn't really matter much what program you use. People will still want what you have.

Can't wait to meet the church on Sunday.

Prayer ePostcard for July and August 2006

2006-07-18T09:57:00.000-07:00

July-August Prayer Postcard

Sunday- ARVADA Vineyard: Praise for a meeting with Jay Pathak, pastor at a new church plant about two miles north of where we live. The church is really working hard to reach Denver's unchurched. Pray that our friendship would be an encouragement to his efforts and a chance for me to grow in understanding of seeing new churches started.
Monday- SCUM: Praise for the ministry of Scum of the Earth, a fellowship here in Denver for the "left out and right brained." Pray for salvation, restoration and spiritual growth in the hundreds of lives that Scum touches each week through their meals, services, and activities. The church needs Anna to work more hours than her current support can provide. Pray for additional ministry support so that she can increase her time involvement there without having to look for a second job during the school year. (See details)
Tuesday- GROUP: Praise for the chance to visit the incredibly creative Group Publishing people in Loveland, CO. No one else I know is doing things as creatively for kids. Pray that as I meet with the international activities, we'll be able to find ways to partner that will help meet the needs of European churches for resources in evangelism and training of children and youth.
Wednesday- GEM: Praise for our visit to GEM international headquarters. Many of our coworkers from Europe who are in the US like us are attending week-long conference in the area. Pray as we look for ways to improve our communication between Europe and the US.
Thursday- AC: Praise for the teaching opportunity Ruth has to lead our mission in some workshops on better research for ministry in Europe. She'll be flying to Europe to lead those sessions mid August. Pray for effectiveness in the teaching and for Ruth as she faces the physical challenge of international travel.
Friday- WILLOW: Praise for the invitation to attend the Willow Creek Leadership Summit in August with my good friend, my boss (oh, and Anna's father in law) Bob Till. Pray that we'll get a fresh look at principles of ministry that will be useful for European churches and the Europe-wide ministries that serve them.
Saturday- KIDS: Our summer is quickly passing us by. Praise for the blessing of being near all our kids. Pray for each of them as they discover God's journey for their lives.

Anna and Matt are really involved here in Denver. Matt's day job is as a coffee caterer for businesses, while Anna is the administrative assistant for the church, and leads a small group. Matt's also playing in a band with his two brothers and some others, plus volunteering at a center for street kids at least a day a week.
Emilie's working in a restaurant and enjoying friends she's met here. She's also learning to drive (I'm the instructor.) She's preparing for a semester in Manhattan with her school at NYCAM.
Laura wasn't able to find work for the summer and has been living with Matt and Anna, enjoying books and meeting with people she's met through her sisters. We're going to help her financially so she can go to a "re-entry" camp for kids of missionaries in Colorado Springs. Then August 15th we get in the car and head for Wheaton.

Reflection: our church is homeless

2006-07-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

our church is
homeless.
and we're happy to have it that way.
we will not be defined by bricks for
it is with character that
we build our sanctuary.
but...to have a living room
to be able to offer
a shower (a shirt)
a bed (a meal)
a home of some kind
a creative place
where sinners are ransomed
(and real.)
and oh that they would be healed
within our hospital.

on the floor
we would have
knees
(and dancing feet)
music, poetry and teaching
somewhere near the front.
the walls could hold
a home.
(as long as we make it home)
as long as we invite
the most high god.
the walls would hold
questions (answers?)
truth!
broken people (looking up)
to the roof that is finally
over their heads.
we would laugh
in the doorways and hallways.
there would be a kitchen
(the heart of the place)
where hungry mouths, eyes, and hearts
could come and rest.
there would be arms
(in this our building)
to carry and hold.

fists will be put to work.
artists will find wall space
and breathing space.
we would splash the windows
with the soiled water of our lives.
(He gathers us that way)
without bars at last
(a safe place?)
and then be cleaned.

there is no way to build this place
but that god would provide.
at his mercy we hope
for a square foot
(or so)
to house,
even for a while,
the dreams we have
for this our church

2006 anna claire till

Real Life: A place to call home

2006-07-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a blast. Scum of the Earth threw a street party to launch a building project.

OK, so building projects sound more like something the "established" churches would be doing. S.O.T.E may not be your typical church, but Mike Sares, senior pastor at SCUM (after drying off from the dunking tank), said that this congregation knows what it's like going through life feeling like they don't belong anywhere. We all need to be able to identify a time and place where we did business with God, and where we knew for the first time we really belong to Him. Scum needs a home.

The party was wonderful. I got to help two chefs all Sunday morning preparing, vegetable plates, salads, barbeque chicken, home made caramel apples, popcorn and caramel corn. They even brought in a snow cone maker. All afternoon volunteers poured through the place to get the party ready.

Then there was the band, Born in the Flood, (brilliant!) that gave a free to SCUM concert in the searing heat (over 100 degrees!) The wading pools, water balloons, sprinklers and the dunking tank helped somewhat. But the cloud cover at about 6:30 really helped the most.

Some folks came for the first time. As one lady helped us in the kitchen, she told me she'd always been made to feel "uncomfortable" in church, but she'd found her place today.

May it be so.

Reflection: Church for the left out and right brained

2006-07-14T10:27:00.000-07:00

Anyone who knows me is aware that I've done a lot of thinking about what it means to be a truly witnessing fellowship. I sort of thought of myself as one who's usually thinking outside the box for helping the church extend their influence outside the sanctuary walls.

I've really been stretched these past weeks in my thoughts about church. On Sunday evenings we get a chance to be part of Anna and Matt's church called (get ready) Scum of the Earth. They admit right up front that they aren't a church for everyone. Their heart is for the left out and the right brained.

There's nothing flashy about Scum. They offer a free potluck meal before the service where the homeless are served first. They sing, pray, preach and even take up an offering like most churches (except for the KFC buckets used to take up the offering.)

There are a lot of rough edges and plenty for people to criticize. Most of the leadership are still in their 20's. But they long for God with the passion of those who admit they're desperate for him. They teach the scriptures with a desire not to compromise. And they strive to know God intimately, to be a community of faith and to make a difference in their world.

When I see God using this church in feeding and clothing people the rest of the world has forgotten, rescuing lives I'd have given up on and giving lonely people hope in Christ and a real family to be part of, I realize I've got a lot to learn about church from Scum of the Earth.

PS. See a feature on CBS News did at Scum looking at the emerging church by clicking here.

Real Life: Discovering America

2006-07-13T11:20:00.000-07:00

Originally posted July 4, 2006

We’ve put on a couple thousand miles in the last week and a half. I’ve had fun doing things I remember from growing up like going to a small, old fashioned barber shop to get a hair cut and eating out at diners instead of fast food places. It was fun looking for diners that had heavy concentrations of pick-up trucks. The best food in town usually attracts them.

We stayed for a weekend with Ruth’s sister and brother in law who pastors a country church in Missouri. We had a potluck supper to die for after morning service and an ice cream social that evening (home made peach or vanilla with some kind of magic potion called home made hot chocolate fudge topping that probably is a derivative of turkish delight.)

We watch the 18 wheelers and Harley’s drive by under flags bigger than some villages I’ve lived in. And there are enough fireworks in the road-side stands between Birmingham and Denver to flatten the Rockies.

I know the world has changed and that much of the world has given up on absolutes and timeless truths. But out here on the plains of mid America, there are still folks that know their neighbors, that have eaten the same blue plate special at the same cafe for the past 25 years, and who trust God for different things than I do in my life in Europe. But trust him they do.

And as they do God blesses.

Durand

PS. For more travel photos, click here.

Relationships and Real Life: Our first week in the USA

2006-07-13T11:17:00.000-07:00

Originally posted June 20, 2006

We’re really here. It’s been a good first week spending time with family and getting some business taken care of. It was a good place to start. We needed to find a car, get insurance, have our drivers’ licenses renewed, get contacts and lots of other mundane but essential things. Being in a place I’m familiar with has really helped speed up the process.

Then over the weekend we were in Decatur, AL with our friends at First Bible Church. The folks there are so supportive of us and our ministry. The two of us got to do some special music with their musicians for the morning service and we had a gathering in a home afterwards.

My dad goes into the hospital tomorrow for prostate surgery so we’re back in Birmingham. My folks have had their share of illnesses and hospitalizations, and I’m glad that for once I can help share the load it puts on the rest of my family when one of them needs assistance.

Laura’s already flown out to Denver. All three sisters are living in the same small one bedroom apartment along with Matt. Three are working and Laura started her job search today. Can’t wait to get there to settle in so Emilie can share our apartment with us.

Real Life: The adventure begins

2006-07-13T11:15:00.000-07:00

Originally posted June 12, 2006

The weekend was wonderful. Laura’s graduation was a meaningful end to many long years of hard work. We’re very proud. Her sisters are too. Anna and Matt were there. Emilie spent a good part of Friday evening with us by phone visiting with family and friends. We had a barbeque with about 10 people that evening.

Saturday morning everyone left and we began packing up the house in earnest. It’s always stressful when the cardboard boxes come out. We don’t have a renter for our place but are leaving it ready just in case. Thanks to Jim and Sara for taking care of the place in our absence.

We’re nearly ready with 6 fifty pound suitcases, three carry-on pieces and three personal items... yes we know the drill. It’s like packing for an expedition. I’m sure we’ll all collapse on the plane. We leave tomorrow morning.

Pray for us that we’ll be sheltered by God’s protection and provision as we weather this next series of waves. May the Lord use this year to strengthen our passion for Him, our friendships with friends and family who partner with us and our bodies for his service.

For a look at grad photos click here.

Laura's Graduation

2006-07-13T11:13:00.000-07:00

Originally posted June 8, 2006

Our house is wonderfully full of family with Anna and Matt who arrived from Denver on Tuesday and Ruth’s sister Miriam and her husband Bob from Amsterdam who arrived last night. We leave our home for a year in only 5 days, but we won’t be able to do much about it until Saturday when guests leave.

Laura’s graduation is tomorrow morning. There are so many goodbyes to be said along with the congratulations. Because this is not “home” to most students, the reunions from Black Forest Academy tend to be individuals connecting, but rarely as a group.

We miss Emilie dearly who tried so hard to find a way she could afford to come, but we’ll be calling her throughout the next couple of days keeping her up to date. I’m so glad we’ll see her shortly. She’s already in Denver apartment sitting for Anna and Matt and waiting for our arrival.

Reflection: “I’m writing your name down...”

2006-07-13T11:05:00.000-07:00

NOTE: Because of an operator malfunction, I lost the original journal from cyberspace... so I'm reposting the original posts along with their original dates of appearance for those who wanted to start from the beginning.

Originally posted June 1, 2006

Last night Ruth and I decided we’d finally run out of steam and thought we’d watch a movie. We went over to a friend’s place that has a bunch of DVD’s to find one we hadn’t watched. If you’ve ever seen this film where nothing goes right is complicated further by Jack Lemmon’s character George, an uptight out of towner in New York who blames everyone for making him miserable. He collects a list of names of anyone he gets mad at throughout the film, threatening to take everyone to court for everything from bad weather to bad service. They owed him.

Then this morning before breakfast I watched a sermon by Andy Stanley on (you guessed it...) anger. He spoke of the system of debt and debtor we often use in relationships. Anger says "You owe me". When we're hurt or offended something's been taken from you. Your anger says "you owe me."

Regardless of where the blame lies, getting rid of anger is more important than getting paid back. “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other.” Getting rid of bitterness by-passes the issue of fairness.

Ephesians 4:31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Decide to cancel the debt by "forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you." Jesus was blameless, and we owed God for our sin. God decided to close the debt on our sins by paying for the debt through Christ's death.

If God can do that, I can close the debt on those who hurt me. You can't really get paid back anyway. People can't get their first marriage, their childhood, their innocence back. But forgiveness rakes out the junk of anger.

Check out the sermon at http://www.northpoint.org/sermons. Then get some popcorn and a soft drink and enjoy the movie.

Here's where I'll be blogging

2006-06-05T10:19:00.000-07:00

I've got several options but this seems like the easiest one to use.