Pace and consumption

For the first time in 4 years of full-time ministry I feel good about the pace at which I am running. I am spending time with my wife and kids, I am spending time with folks outside of program and I am not tired all the time.

There is only one disappointment right now. I am not able to spend the time I want blogging. I post, like 2x a month. I almost feel guilty. I read the sites of others and I 'll occasionally comment. But I feel as if the blogosphere has turned into one more thing I am consuming. I want to contribute to the conversation. I fear I won't be able to.

Postmodern children's ministry

pcm
Originally uploaded by kayos.

Here is a short review of new book called Postmodern Children's Ministry. I am adding it to my "to read list." I have also recommended it our Children's ministry team.

It will be interesting to hear their responses. My hope and best case is they will see it as challenging and stretching.

My brain is fried

I was gonna sit down and write tonite. However, my brain is not firing on all cylinders and the wife just walked in the door from the video store with Anchorman.
Here's to mindless entertainment.!!

the practice of the presence

I recently finished reading practice of the presence of God by Brother Lawerence. Being continually aware of the Lord's presence, asserts Brother Lawerence, makes God's presence in times devoted solely to Him that much more real and moving. I understood the logic but this morning experienced it.
As I have been going through my days, I have tried to remain in the presence of the Lord; uttering small prayers of acknowledgement and thanksgiving. Not that I would consider myself living in the continual presence of God but I now experience God in places like the gym and while stuck traffic. This morning as I wrestled with the first chapter of the book of James, I felt as if I were immersed in God's presence. The intellecual knowledge of John 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.

is mine. This morning the experiential knowledge, the encounter, with the person Christ as the Word of God, was mine as well.
Thank you Father God for the many ways in which you meet us.