Quotable

F.C. Synge, admitting that Paul "could have written Ephesians," opines that if the apostle also wrote Colossians, " it must have been in a mood of dejection and lethargy."

Markus Barth, Colossians.

(Day) Dreaming

I just know I'm not going to sleep for about the next 3 nights and after that only God will be able to shut my mind off from dreaming so that I'll be able to get to sleep and get some actual dreaming done.

I just got off the phone with this guy named Kevin Cawley. We made a connection through the blog world, but mainly on Flickr-- that photo sharing site that consumes too much of my time. And after being within about 200 miles of him in early August, missing the connection, we just now were able to catch some air time with each other.

Right now, he's spending a year praying and planning in preparation to go to Kansas City to plant a church. He has a real vision, much of which I haven't heard yet, to have a church that really reaches the city for Christ.

I, in my bubble, have been praying for God to give me direction and lead me to a place to church plant. I feel like I could do ministry anywhere, but I want to be in the place that he would send me. So I've taken my time in prayer and consideration hoping that he would lead me not only to a place, but that he would bring people into my life that have a desire to plant also.

Back to my insomnia:

After missing connections in Tulsa, Kevin's coming up to Chicago this weekend. He had mentioned this in a email he sent me, but some how I overlooked it. Finally we'll be in the same city and have an opportunity to sit down and talk about our visions that God has given us. My issue is that I'll dream about everything as I lie down to go to sleep and my mind will race about all the possibilities.

All five of you that read this, please pray for the next couple of days that I'd be able to get to sleep and for the time that Kevin and I will have together. Also pray that both of us would be led to know what God has for us and to where/what he is leading us.

Quotable

God's grace gives us the energy and desire to extend hospitality.

Norma Sutton, Hostility to Hospitality [class]

Today is....

My birthday. Happy Birthday to me. I don't actually feel another year older, just a day.

My uncle called me too early this morning and informed me that I share my birthday with a couple of pretty cool people: Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin), Isaac Hayes (Shaft), Al Roker, and Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit). Durst was a little disappointing, but I think Isaac Hayes makes up for it, if Robert Plant doesn't on his own. Paul Tillich, a theologian, was born on this day in 1886. I also share my birthday with Connie Chung, Benjamin Harrison and Don King.

Some of the events that happened today were:
1938: Lou Gehrig hit is final grand slam (23).
1911: First around-the-world telegram sent by the New York Times in 16.5 minutes.
2: Venus and Jupiter were in conjunction, which some think was the Star of Bethlehem.

My second-cousin, Makenna, was born today in 1999.

A lot of other stuff happened on today throughout the years. A lot of tragedies and a lot of other noteworthy items. All very interesting.

Photo Friday

I'm back up to Chicago now, but had a wonderful couple of weeks at home with my family, and of course, with my dog. Here are a couple pictures of Foxy.

My Photography || Flickr Friday Photo

Photo Friday

Sorry my post is so late today. I was kinda at the PGA Championship all day. The first pic is of Foxy laying in the yard early in the morning. And the second is Tiger during Monday's practice round. He shot 7 under today to tie the course record 63, just barely missing his birdie putt on 18. Lots of excitement!

My Photography || Flickr Friday Photo

Photo Friday

Still going through some Thailand photos. Only 250 more to edit or delete. The top is Katie whose bigger than life laugh is, well, just that. The second is a guy that walked around with us at a school we visited. He never removed his sunglasses.

My Photography || Flickr Friday Photo

Bridge Collapse

Dr. Piper has some words for those who have been impacted by the bridge collapse in Minneapolis yesterday. There has also been a video put together of the recovery effort with Piper's sermon Where is God? It is worth watching even if you have stumbled upon this blog from the other side of the world, and more so, to hear what the good news of Jesus Christ brings in times of tragedy.

Quotable

Two quotes today:

It is no proof of our conversion that we always worship in a place where there is a crowd.

J.C. Ryle, Mark.

Theology, if true to its own nature, must be missiological in its intent.

David F. Wells, Above All Earthly Pow'rs.