You sound slowed down and reflective already!

I spent five days on the Appalachian Trail. It was a wonderful time. I plan to go back again. The serenity was awesome. God is a great architect.

So sorry to hear about Luka. I know how sad it is to loose a pet that is such a part of the family. They are definitely mans best friend!

Mike, I just finished the book and the piece that struck me most was the priority of "right people in key positions". It reminded me of my call and that God has that sweetspot planned for each of us for maximum effectiveness and joy. It truly is an incredibly empowering thing to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are doing exactly what God created you to do. Thanks for your leadership.

Because the moon landing launched the United States ahead of the Soviet Union in the space race, Russians were led to believe the moon landing was a hoax. The belief still lingers with many Russians to this day.

Did man walk on the moon? Did man walk on water? It is scientifically impossible to walk on water. But with Faith I know two men who did. We must live my faith and not by sight.

What a great analogy!

What a great analogy!

Mike, I'm thrilled to see you're just begining to question and/or doubt "the offical government version" of what you are being told via the corporate news media on TV/Radio. I mean about anything, whether it be the former Vietnam War, Iraqi War, 700 Billion Dollar Bailout, the Lunar Landing and even the "false flag" operation called "9-11". It shows me you're just starting to wake up from the slumber of living in "The Matrix". The Matrix, as the movie reveals, is the "illusionary" World we are conditioned to believe and percieve where things are not what they appear to be! You Mike, as ALL of us, have been totally decieved by the Prince of this World, Satan. Rev 12:9(KJV) says about Satan "...the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the WHOLE world:..." What part of "whole" don't you believe? I know, everyone except yourself right? That's what I thought too! Matt 4:8,9 confirms that Satan has been given temporary authority and control over ALL "the kingdoms (i.e governments) of this World"! Now if these governments are being controlled by Satan (i.e., God allowing)and Satan decieves the WHOLE World, then wouln't you think his governments would try to decieve the people they govern! You see, more and more people are waking up to what's really going on in this evil and deceptive World.

Jan, I am not an advocate of the conspiracy theories that you described in your comment, and I believe that the lunar landing was legitimate for the reasons I described in my blog entry. However, we do find common ground in recognizing Satan as a great deceiver. It’s imperative that each of us be in God’s word daily and in prayer as we “test everything and hold on to the good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

No doubt Jesus came and walked on earth and we left the earth and walked in the heavens figuratively speaking of course for the later.

People keep on learnin - according to Stevie Wonder anyway. Seems the more we learn, the less we know. To quote and paraphrase Matthew 13: teaching received without understanding kills the yield.

The child is a blank canvas; an unwritten book. They find everything a little easier. God Bless the children.

Occasionally, alternate views of our past may be closer to the truth than the currently accepted version. Think about how DNA evidence has been used to clear the once convicted. However, paranoia can run rampant too.

I was just thinkin' about this topic & I remembered some of the interviews & documentaries that were done on survivors of the Holocaust. They were elderly people who still had a story to tell. They & others including their families, advocates, etc., all wanted to keep the story alive by recording eyewitness and survivor accounts of the tragedy. The survivors of the Holocaust are dealing with accusations that their story is a hoax. How painful that must be for them. Even with so many stories of survivors & the memorialization of concentration camps in Germany for visitors to see, there are those who encourage others to doubt it's reality.

I then thought of how God instructed Israel from the earliest of times to never stop telling to their children & their childrens children the story of how He saved them from captivity. He wanted them to constantly speak of His commands & instructions to them. Any means of recording was exhorted. The primary means for them was to constantly tell the story of it so no one would forget or doubt & bear a generation of faithlessness & unbelief. Recording on media keeps the story accurate for us and then we can tell & retell the event/events whether they be a moon landing, the Holocaust or the Resurrection which by the way we have done a fairly remarkable job in preserving for some 2,000 years despite unrelenting attempts from our adversary to silence Christ Followers. It is easy for many of us to believe because faith comes by hearing & hearing by the Word of God. So speaking, telling, living out love, keep the story alive. Eyewitnesses would do good to record & rerecord their experiences so that for those who find it difficult to believe or have faith in will at least have many faithfilled people to continue sharing truth with them. I realized from the topic how critical it is for me as a Christian to never stop telling my children & my childrens children about those things that have gone on before. It bonds us to them as well as creates faith in them. Holla.

I admit that it does seem odd that original footage of such a monumental occasion could be lost. The original manuscripts of the Bible were lost to us, but we still had people who "walked passed someone directly involved" to tell of the story and their faith in it. There were manuscripts quickly recorded of originals so we do have an accurate account. If we want to doubt something, we can always find a reason to. I prefer to believe & hope in the stories & recordings of others in many of the things I believe about past events. Thankfully as Christians, Christ still makes His reality known to us in many ways even today. They may mess with our minds on it, but we know in our knower that our redeemer lives, and in the end He will stand on the Earth.

If we develope a prophetic understanding of global events, (by reading the Word)we will not fall into paranoia, or rebellion.(remember the zealots) There is peace in knowing that things are going exactly where Jesus said they would, regardless of what that might mean for me personally. Persecution, need, possibly death...it all points to one thing, and that is that Jesus Christ is coming. We won't know the day, but He said we will know the season, and should be watching for it. To focus solely on politcal or cultural, technological and even natural events is to miss the most important part...what it points to. I believe our nation, and many others, are under some judgements of God. But instead of interpreting those through wrath, I believe they are to be interpreted through a lovesick God who desires people to turn to Him before it's too late. He's allowing our idol's to come tumbling down...knocking out from under us what we have propped ourselves up with, and in His jealousy for us, is using the most merciful and least means He can to wake us up. And the church is the worst. We look so much like the world, we even believe politics will save us.
Be responsible...chose leaders as wisely as possible, defend the defenseless, and give your fears to God. If you will notice..across the planet are believers saying He's coming. The spirit,(the Holy Spirit) and the Bride (the church) say come. Rev.22:17 When that agreement is in place He comes.
He is exposing corruption in every high place. Corporate, government, and church leaders as well.. He's giving time to repent, but what we're seeing now is the tip of the iceberg. Think Madoff was bad?Philandering senators? Corporate greed? I think there is much much worse out there. I take 2Chron.7:14 seriously and am putting it into practice.

Thank you for all you do to expand the reach of the church from Ginghamsburg throughout the globe. What an awesome privilege for African Communicators and everyone who is involved with this training and will be touched by it.

Training of communicators by journalsts of Paul and Dave Briggs'calibre will take church communications to another level. Betty is really a strategist. The United Methosidist Church has all the human resources that stay on the cutting edge. I love this church.

Trainers at this year's African Communicators' Training have engraved a remarkable standard in church communications. The twelve participants are upbeat about it.

I loved Godin's use of the word "Heresy." When we see something that needs changing, are we willing to be heretics to those who profit from the status quo? It's a phenonemal book, and a quick and easy read as well.

MH
www.reemergentchurch.com

Wow, a UM pastor that thinks like this? I'm delighted to hear it!
Preach on, brother, preach on! I'm sure there are more like me out there, desperately seeking the kingdom in a time and place where so many are willing to settle for "the way it's always been".

Peace, bro!

Darcy

I just finished reading this book and was motivated and inspired to do more, not just at GUM, but in my local Lions Club where I live. I want to do more for my community and hopefully inspire others to do the same.