What a long day of travel. Fort Scott to Long View, TX from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. I caught up with Levi and Mariam Self. We toured the LeTourneau Campus and ate at Bodacious Barbecue (delicious).
LeTourneau has a nice campus. Levi and Mariam's apartment is pretty sweet for a college apartment. I really like those guys.
I finally got here to the Radisson in Keller, TX about 9 PM. That is way to long in my little Malibu.
I did listen to several seminars form Together on a Mission 2010. "I Can't Preach on That" with Greg Haslam (Preaching the OT), John Hosier (Preaching through Revelation) and Stephen Van Rhyn (Sex) was really challenging. "Fighting for Charismatic Life in the Church was challenging in quite a different way. Stef Liston's talk on worship is exceptional. We can over program meetings and miss out on all that God has for us in our church meetings.
OK, I need to sleep and get ready for tomorrow. I already miss my family.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Global Faith Forum
I leave tomorrow for Texas to go to Northwood Baptist Church led by Bob Roberts, Jr. He is hosting the Global Faith Forum. It will be interesting for me as a mid-west small town pastor to be in a room with people from all over the world, some of whom will have very different perspectives than I do on God, worship and life. Why would I want to do such a thing? I want to be a part of this because I realize that I am called to love people.
It may seem simplistic to say that we need to love people, but I realize that loving people means I must know them, listen to them and treat them with respect. I don't know many people who hold vastly different perspectives than I do. I am usually afraid of that which I don't really know. Therefore I am going to Keller, TX to get to know people and perspectives that I probably won't agree with.
I am reminded of a couple of things from the Scriptures that really help me. John the apostles says that perfect love casts out fear and Jesus tells me that I am sent just like he was sent into the world. The reason that Jesus came was that He was sent. He loved perfectly and in the face of certain death, he overcame fear. I don't expect anything terrible to happen in this conference. I certainly don't think I will die, so I can proceed fearlessly in the love of God.
I am deeply loved and I can afford to love people. Jesus didn't say to just love the people who were like us, but to honestly love the people who were even against us. This is a powerful gospel that we believe in. I am looking forward to practicing loving people who aren't like me.
You may not be going to a conference, but are there people that you are having trouble loving? What are you afraid of? How can the Lover of your soul help you to overcome your fear and actually love your enemy?
I will try to post my thoughts throughout the week. Stay tuned.
It may seem simplistic to say that we need to love people, but I realize that loving people means I must know them, listen to them and treat them with respect. I don't know many people who hold vastly different perspectives than I do. I am usually afraid of that which I don't really know. Therefore I am going to Keller, TX to get to know people and perspectives that I probably won't agree with.
I am reminded of a couple of things from the Scriptures that really help me. John the apostles says that perfect love casts out fear and Jesus tells me that I am sent just like he was sent into the world. The reason that Jesus came was that He was sent. He loved perfectly and in the face of certain death, he overcame fear. I don't expect anything terrible to happen in this conference. I certainly don't think I will die, so I can proceed fearlessly in the love of God.
I am deeply loved and I can afford to love people. Jesus didn't say to just love the people who were like us, but to honestly love the people who were even against us. This is a powerful gospel that we believe in. I am looking forward to practicing loving people who aren't like me.
You may not be going to a conference, but are there people that you are having trouble loving? What are you afraid of? How can the Lover of your soul help you to overcome your fear and actually love your enemy?
I will try to post my thoughts throughout the week. Stay tuned.
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