A little busy last Sunday morning - reproducing disciples. Sorry to have missed the gathering. Thanks for being committed to the mission of Jesus.

We missed you Jeff! Thanks for the discipleship you are doing in your part of the world. It was an inspirational gathering. I am in awe of what all of you are doing as disciples...keep on!

Good reminder that I need to bringing someone along when I serve and minister. Like that you said people make disciples and not programs. So true. Thanks for the reminder to spend my life on others.

My condolences to his family & to all those people that knew and loved him.

May God help us all do our part to do something that matters.

Isn't it true that the only investment that counts this side of heaven is our investment in other people? I heard that years ago & think Betty Malz talked about that.

When I first read about the grief counselors being available, I thought of my Mother's slow illness of Alzheimer's disease and how I feel that things are so surreal many days. It's so prolonged, and indescribeable to experience the daily challenges, and grief of someone with this illness. Then I read the blog post and I realized that this was the young man I had heard about on the news. I am so glad that the young boy is safe, and I cannot imagine the experience of losing a son especially to murder by someone who was supposed to be a caregiver. I hope those affected will find comfort in their sorrow. We are fairly close to calling Hospice in for the final months, and I know it will be so difficult, but longterm grief is dealt with differently than what has happened with this young man. But there is hope in all tragedy...at least that is my own hope.

My condolences and prayers to his family, friends, and for Pastor Slaughter.

I am currently reading Quiet Strength, Tony Dungy's Memoir. Tony is such a wonderful example of a Christian man. When his oldest son committed suicide, he said he was asked, "Why do bad things happen?" He replied in his book, "I don't know. Why did Jamie die? I don't know. But I do know that God has the answers, I know He loves me, and i know He has a plan whether it makes sense to me or not. Rather than asking why, I'm asking what. What can I learn from this? What can I do for God's glory and to help others?" After reading this from Tony Dungy and after this recent tragedy regarding Brandon and his family, the only thing we can do is to keep going head up high, one foot in front of the other, staying on our God-path and glorifying Him!! There is much to do, and we need to keep our eyes and ears alert to other's pain!

May this wonderful family and their friends and loved ones feel His loving arms around them!!

God doesn’t force us to choose him. He allows us to opt between Him and evil. Satan is behind evil deeds. Satan is about death, God is about life. Brandon and his family need our prayers during this difficult time. God Bless…
I am so sorry for your loss.

I have been drawn to 2 Corinthians 4:18 to 5:5. "For the things seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." This earthly life is a prelude, a preparation for eternity "so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life." There is profound comfort in that truth. What hope we have for eternity as we live out this precious time here on earth. Physical death is not the end but the beginning of our own eternity.

This can be hard for many to believe but the witness of Brandon's life will bring many to Christ. At a friend of mines daughter's funeral, I felt the Holy Spirit in just listening to all she had done in her short life. It has changed my husband and my life forever. We were drawn closer to Christ and have a family in the church that we never had before. Brandon was the same kind of person. It is a gift he has left behind for many.

This is unbelievably hard for so many. I personally spoke with this man numerous times a week about his faith, sermons at church, Mike, and family and sometimes when I felt he crossed lines, I confronted him. He asked me Sunday in church if I was still praying for him and I told him I was praying for all of them. I am carrying a lot of anger and confusion about this but I keep telling myself that God sent His Son to give us grace and mercy. I do pray that for him. And as Brandon's family has said, he would want us to forgive.

May God bring peace and healing to Kim and Zane. Let this church family do its work. Pray, pray, pray

My sympathy for the entire family. As a past Sunday School teacher of the Kindergarten group, I can attest that Brandon always seem to glow when working in the Tree House with the 1st and 2nd graders. You could tell that he was someone special.

I am new to Ginghamsburg and have not had the privilege to have known brandon. Only what I have read or heard this past week. These two verses from Matthew speak of the kind of person He is: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" "You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. "

My condolences to you and your church family Pastor Slaughter. God be with all of you. -peace

For me Mike, I dont' really belong to a group at Ginghamsburg even though that's where I attend service but I am a Blue Star Mom. The Blue Star Mom's (BSMs) is an organization committed to sending boxes from home to soldiers deployed, especially those soldiers who don't hear from or receive anything. There is one boy in my son's unit, Eryck, who joined the Army simply because his family is very poor. His paychecks go into his mothers account to help his mama raise his brothers and sisters. My son Jake wrote me that Eryck hadn't received any thing since they had been in Afghanistan and wanted to know if I could put in his name to the BSMs even though he wasn't from Ohio. I did and I went ahead and put a box together and sent him one myself, I always send a little note to let the soldiers I send boxes to, know I am praying for them, I always mention God. Jake said when Eryck got the first box, he thought he was going to cry. He was overwhelmed that he would get something from people that didn't even know him. This winter my branch of the BSMs was contacted by an officer who said his men were in the mountains and were cold and really in need of more blankets. Within a week several boxes of blankets were sent. As an introvert it's difficult for me to get involved with a group of people, I haven't gotten to the place where I share much with them, but it fills me up to have the priveledge to be a part of what they do.

Ministry keeps us/me pretty busy and drained sometimes. My emotional tank is filled my by spending time with my family, fishing, and going to baseball games with my family!!! The best is, going on long drives and or walks with my wife and finding that joy of life and why King Jesus brought us together!! With all thought that being said, if I can't do those daily then I make sure I pop in my Ipod while I'm working out to listen to Toby Mac and to pray while I run... That helps me daily to be filled!!

Brian Edgerton

My tank often gets low as well, with this fast paced life we lead, it's always go go go. I fill mine back up with my emotional connection with my children, and my best friend (my husband). There's nothing more fulfilling than hearing the kids giggle as we run around the back yard. Or hearing them squeal with laughter while playing in the pool. Snuggleing up at bedtime, while watching the disney movie, smelling the fresh scent of baby lotion after bath time. The softness of the baby's skin first thing in the morning taking her out of the crib as she nuzzles into my neck to catch another second of sleep before the day starts. With my husband, it's watching him interact with the kids, and the look he gives me when one of them has done something really onrey, or funny. The gentle hug from him after we get the kitchen cleaned up from having another crazy evening of 6 random family members showing up to eat dinner with us. The way he picks up our 3 year old son when he's had a nightmare...or skinned his knee. There's so many things that make my emotional tank full, I think that's a good thing.

Sometimes too, when people run low, it's because they chose to run low. They are in a negative funk that only allows them to stay half full. Those are the ones we need to reach out to and break that negativity and show them by how we live that we can have full emotional tanks it will help.

Praise God for all that he gives us as fuel. No matter the type, he always provides.

My tank is filled when I hear a beautiful song that lifts my heart and thoughts. I am so often moved by music. So many songs remind me to pray and be thankful for what I have been blessed with, but also what my responsibilities are as a christian. So song and music - definitely, fill my tank!

The concept of the emotional tank is was a concept Kim and I read early on in our parenting in a book by Dr. Ross Campbell, "How to Really Love Your Child". He explained how our children had emotional tanks and encouraged parents to fill them with positive reinforcement. He wisely explained how and we took that as our "mo" for raising our three children and keeping their emotional tank filled by positive reinforcement from 1) eye contact, 2) focused attention, 3) appropriate touching (cuddling, picking up, hair nuggies, 4) communication and 5) words of encouragement. Dr. Campbell's theory was that the tank will be filled either by positive input from us as parents or by the child misbehaving to get any attention, even if it's negative attention from aggravated parents or teachers. That might explain some adults and their attitudes....just left over from how they got their tank filled as a kid.

By following these principals, we were able to raise some pretty awesome kids who are doing the same now with their kids.

Watching my kids become awesome parents fuels my tank.

I have also been enjoying Joyce Meyer this week. She's good at helping me reset my priorities!

Spending time with positive people refills my "tank", while negative people seem to drain it quickly.

Listening to music is often a tank-filler, as is spending time outdoors, enjoying the gifts God has given us... blue sky, white clouds, trees, flowers, birds and other creatures. I often think "God painted that sunset just for me!"

Spending time with loved ones is always emotionally refreshing. When my dogs play with one another or a family member, it is so comical. I always feel refreshed emotionally from that. Sometimes, when my husband goes to the bathroom, I suddenly see my son come running around the corner from the bathroom with all of the tissue, toilet paper, etc. in his arms and he's laughing. I smile to myself while waiting for the ineviteable yell from bathroom for assistance. ha, ha.
My daughter raps to the dogs, my Mom, and so many others. Or, sometimes just sings all crazy and it makes me laugh. Giving and receiving give me an emotional lift also. Seeing friends and family really enjoying one another, and having good relationships really makes me feel a sense of peace. Taking a nap with the fan on always does a good job too. I guess the experience of having my emotional tank filled is scattered throughout the day, and week. It's not only a one-time event like a vacation or something although that does help. I find ways all throughout the day to have joy or laugh. Since life is such a mixed bag, it helps me to find joy in the everyday things.

Dear Mike and Ginghamsburg Church,

I wanted to thank you for opening your beautiful campus up to the seminary. Thank you for your radical hospitality, your passion and enthusiasm. Your vision,
and that of Mike Slaughter has ignited a spark in my life and I am assured, by my classmates, that I am not alone in this experience after the course.

Thank you to the servants and leaders for their time and gracious enthusiastic willingness to teach, give of your time and experience. I gleaned valuable nuggets
and sparks to carry into my ministries and back to my seminary too!

Thank you to Mike for being approachable and making yourself a dynamic resource.

To Marcia for showing us the amazing missions that New Path is doing and how to "throw gas" on the spirit--what amazing things can happen! And thank you for "keeping" me all week!

To Caroline thank you for sharing "Following Jesus" and your ideas to adapt it to a military setting...Brilliant! I cannot wait to be done with school and put this into practice!

To Cheryl for sharing her passion and story at Clubhouse--what a gift to see ministry come full circle from youth to leader!

To Kim for sharing how smart design can nurture tone, ambiance, and culture. I wish I could come work on your team!

To Ken and Nick thank you for sharing ideas on how to be radically missional and effective within a military/transitional setting. Great ideas, and I can't wait to put these ideas into practice.
To Chastity for giving of her valuable time.