365.25 - Day 11

365.25 - Day 11
Originally uploaded by whatnext

Some folks from my wife's church contributed work to a community arts exhibition in downtown Corpus Christi. This collage of self-portraits reminded me of the character of the church.

We're all over the map, to be sure.

A few months ago, I heard a lecture by Bishop William Willimon (North Alabama Conference of the United Methodists). During the course of the lecture, he reminded those present, mostly seminary professors, administrators, students, and pastors, that, "The church needs to be prepared to deal with whomever Jesus Christ drags through the door."

"Whomever" may include one or more of the individuals represented on this wall.

Perhaps it'll be Pablo? Or Hannah? Basil? Roger? Mallory? Wallis?

Technorati Tags: 365.25 Project, Acts, Church, Christian, Christianity, Art, Museum Collage, Exhibition, Students, People of God

Good Newsing Quote of the Day

Alistair Begg on the suffering of Jesus via TruthForLife.org:

Ultimately, the cross is not something to dangle around our necks as an ornament. The cross is not something ultimately to hang up on a wall and put flowers around it. The cross is the equivalent of an electric chair. And into that electric chair of the first century went a man who didn't deserve to die. Now, until we've understood that, the good news is an irrelevancy.

[iTunes Podcast Link]

Technorati Tags: Truth, Evangelism, Gospel, Good News, Alistair Begg, Sermon

365.25 - Day 10

365.25 - Day 10
Originally uploaded by whatnext

"The Station" is located directly across the street from the dismal Greyhound bus terminal in downtown Corpus Christi, Texas. All are welcome to free PB&J sandwiches, coffee, and other goodies. And, as you can see in the photo, everyone sticks around to be nourished by the Word. "One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 8:3).

This place is a witness to Jesus' promise to be with us always through the Holy Spirit.

Tonight's study was from the good news of John:

“'If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

'I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.' Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, 'Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?' Jesus answered him, 'Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

'I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.'" (John 14:15-27 NRSV)

Technorati Tags: 365.25 Project, The Station, Corpus Christi, Texas, Christian, Christianity, Bible Study, Gospel, John, Holy Spirit, Advocate, Paraclete, Peace, Street, Urban Ministry, Pentecost

365.25 - Day 9

365.25 - Day 9
Originally uploaded by whatnext

A solitary mushroom appeared today in front of a popular fire hydrant at our apartment complex.

An amazing surprise, really. Not there yesterday. There today. Seemingly ex nihilo.

"Then God said, 'Let the earth put forth vegetation: plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.' And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation: plants yielding seed of every kind, and trees of every kind bearing fruit with the seed in it. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day." (Gen 1:11-13 NRSV)

Technorati Tags: 365.25 Project, Mushroom, Fungi, Fungus, Grass, Beauty, Creation, Shroom, Genesis

Unbearable Cuteness of Being III

Cute hat, Lauren!

Technorati Tags: Lauren, Cuteness, The Unbearable Cuteness of Being

365.25 - Day 8

365.25 - Day 8
Originally uploaded by whatnext

Monday is our day off. Sometimes, when it's rainy outside on a Monday, all you wanna do is hang on on the floor with your doggie.

Technorati Tags: 365.25 Project, Jodi, Cute, Doggie, Nose, Floor, Sabbath, Rest

365.25 - Day 7

365.25 - Day 7
Originally uploaded by whatnext

For me, there is the experience of a certain relaxing exhaustion after preaching a sermon. Today, I probably went about 25 minutes, which is long by our tightly-scheduled contemporary standards. But even shorter sermons can drain a person.

Recovery times vary. As I write this entry, I feel pretty good.

Next to me is a glass of simple table wine called "Ménage à Trois" by Folie à Deux Winery.

Next task: Looking ahead...

Technorati Tags: 365.25 Project, Sabbath, Preaching, Wine