Portland Adventure

I have just returned from a wonderful trip to Portland, Oregon with two of my sons. It was a time of physical and spiritual enrichment and refreshment. We visited the City of Portland and were impressed by the sense of community in that place as people helped each other onto busses and subways and helped us find our way around. We had a day touring the Gorge and Moltnomah Falls and were swept away by the beauty of the place. We visited Southminster Presbyterian Church and had the privilege of sharing VBS Sunday and the dedication of a prayer shawl to a young high school graduate who was heading off to join the Air Force. That afternoon we went to the Chinese Garden and were struck by the peace and sanctuary we experienced there in the midst of the city. We sensed God’s presence in this beautiful and friendly and spiritual place.
While I was in Portland I read a book that integrated several of my past and future experiences into a Christian parable. The book, The Shack by William Young, had been recommended by a couple people before I left. I was surprised when I read it that the setting was Portland, Oregon and Moltnomah Falls, that it was about a family experiencing the deep grief of the loss of a child and that the parable was about God revealed as Trinity. For a pastor whose congregation has recently experienced the grief of losing young people, who is planning a Conference on the Trinity this fall and who just happened to vacationing in Oregon this seemed like more than a coincidence. So without giving away more of the plot and story line, I would recommend this as a good book to deal with grief and how our understanding of the Triune God helps us live life fully in the midst of both the deep pain and the joy of life. Perhaps we can read the book together and share our reflections on this blog as we prepare for the Trinity Conference on October 17-19th this fall at Covenant Presbyterian Church and First Presbyterian Church in WIchita.

Cyber Adventure Begins

I have just finished reading Friedman's book "The World is Flat" where he challenges us to enter the digital age. He is speaking to businesses but I heard him speaking loud and clear to the church and to me. I love adventures to places I have never been to in the U.S and througout the world. I love the challenge of following God's lead on these adventures. However, I am not a computer guy and so the prospect of taking an adventure into Cyberspace is scary and daunting. So with Joan as my guide on this new adventure, I am embarking on a new journey of ideas and communication and faith. I am hoping that this blog will be a place where I can share the adventures in faith I experience but also a place that I can hear about your journeys. Let the journey begin.