Wilderness time

There are times in the life of every church when they go through a wilderness journey. It could be a surprise launch into the wilderness or it could be a launch everyone knew was coming. Either way, when a church is looking for a staff member there is a sense of wandering which occurs. It is an in-between time. In between the time the last staff member leaves and a new one comes. There is a sense of loss for the one who left and a sense of loss of direction until someone else comes to sit in their chair of leadership. It's not a fun time, rather, it is a time of searching.

This searching is a time to search ones' soul and for the direction of the church. It's not a fun time, but a necessary time. Pray for our church.

Walking on Water––A Review

I received this book from Tyndale Publishing for review purposes and found it very interesting. Tommy Nelson and Steve Leavitt have a great deal of experience dealing with people who find themselves in the hole of depression. The advantage this book has is that its authors have both experienced depression. They have been where the reader may have been or is at the moment.

The back cover states that the authors are seeking to bring a "biblical approach to healing" and focuses on the integration of "the mind, body and spirit." I found that comforting. Many books seek to help and leave out one of those three. Rather than spend time on just the mind or just the body, they seek to pull all of those together and include the spirit.

I am pleased at how they both are able to pull in the scripture to help with the topic of depression. God really has a lot to say to those who are "downcast." Sometimes it's hard to see how God's word meets every day life. These authors have truly helped me to see how it does meet needs of people today.

One of my favorite parts of the book is where they share some common lies and follow them up with truth from God's word. That was very helpful and can be to any who find themselves in a pothole of life.

I'd suggest if you find yourself in a hole, pick up this book and glean some truth from God's word that can help you out of that hole.

He is still here…

One of the most interesting phenomenons I've noticed is when the immediate successor of a church continues to live near or even on the grounds of the church he has previously served.

It has been shared that the Pope, when he retires from being Pope, will live in a restored convent on the grounds of the Vatican in Rome. What will that be like? Would they visit each other? Would they go "out on the town" together? Would they make appearances every now and then as a sign of good will? Will the Vatican forbid too close of a relationship? He has stated he wants a life of silence, but does that mean he won't communicate with others? Not sure. 

I would love it if I were Pope and the previous Pope lived near. I'd ring him every other day to get advice. Ah, but what if the next Pope has a "I can do this better than that guy" type of attitude? If this is true, then he won't communicate much at all with Joseph Ratzinger. I don't think there is anything regarding what type a relationship the Pope is to have with a former Pope, but I'd like to think that they'd have breakfasts on Saturday mornings. Wouldn't that be neat? I mean, why not? It is known, though not widely, that I enjoy the friendship of one of the former pastors of FBC, Winnsboro. I find it helpful to maintain a relationship with him. He has been here and knows the people better than I do. This being the case with Joseph Ratzinger, I would hope the next Pope would seek out that relationship and seek to glean wisdom from him when it comes to his papal duties.

What about you? Is there someone you can learn from in your life who has lived where you live, work where you've worked or simply has been around longer than you have? Find a mentor. Find someone who can, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, guide you in your life.