We finished it!

This is the video my friend, Lisa Paul, and I created for our Issues in Organizational Communication class. We're both religion majors and Pre-Seminarian students at Ohio Northern University. So, we wanted to produce a video that we could add to our portfolio. In the video, prospective young adult clergy discuss the future of the UM church regarding cross-racial and cross-cultural appointments. 

Check it out!!! (and let me know what you HONESTLY think) 

UPDATED volume settings!

Thank you to all who were involved. You're support, encouragement and inspiration was priceless. Encore!

as always...

In Christ,

Internship Orientation!

Sorry for the delay...

Last weekend the Next Generation Leadership Interns gathered at the West Ohio Conference Center for an orientation. It was facilitated by Jill Moore, David Cofer, Paul Risler, David Allen, and Ian Strickland. All of you did a very nice job, thank you!

Paul filled in the morning with an interesting presentation. He made two lists; one listed the most commonly discussed topics in church board meeting and the other listed the concerns of the world. Some examples...

Concerns of the Church
Service start times
Carpet color
Building/property usage
Budgetting

Concerns of the World
HIV/AIDS
Genocide
Poverty
Depression/Cutting

My first thought was "how unfortunate". My next thoughts were "will that be me? and how can I prevent this from happening? this isn't what ministry is supposed to be about."

Paul continued by talking about ministry's purpose. The purpose is to share the Gospel. What is the Gospel? The good news of Jesus Christ, by whom all should repent and believe with the coming Kingdom of God. According to the Lord's Prayer, the Kingdom of God is a present reality. "...thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven..."

Reflection: What does ministry look like for your life? If you are called into full-time vocational ministry, what does that look like? Will you be a part of God's Kingdom, a part of its growth?

My thoughts: The path seems shorter if you trust the one guiding you. Trust the Lord! Have faith! and live IN THE MOMENT!

This is the video Paul showed about how God views the world... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3s0GgtCD6I

These are the thoughts that I will carry with me throughout the summer. We'll see how they play into my experience!

He Knows!

Focus: Hebrews 11:1, Proverbs 3:5, Jeremiah 29:11

As Christians, we are faced with difficult questions regarding our faith. The one that I struggled with the most is, “How can God be three beings but one God!?” It took me a long time to come up with a good answer. Eventually, it all came down to faith. In Hebrews faith is defined as the substance of all things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. If we understood everything we were supposed to believe, faith would not be a vital component of Christianity. In Proverbs, Solomon wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” In other words, HAVE FAITH. When it seems as though your life is spinning out of control, when everything seems to have taken a turn for the worst, when you’re coach is leaving. When there’s so much to do and so little time, when no matter how hard you try you always fail, when the weight of the world is on your shoulders, when you simply don’t know what to do anymore…have faith. When things don’t go the way you planned…

In Jeremiah, God declares that He knows the plans that He has for us, plans not to harm us but to give us the future that we hope for. In essence…have faith. Trust Him with all your heart and all your soul and all your mind and all your strength. Trust Him, because God’s ways are higher than our ways. God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts. God’s plans are higher than our plans. He genuinely wants what’s best for us. What’s better is He knows what’s best, regardless of what we think.

Remember that He loves you. He loves you, because He loves you, because He loves you, because He loves you, because that is who He is. He loves you because of who He is, not because of who you are. So, there’s nothing you can do or say or fix or change to make him love you more. What’s greater is there is nothing you can do or say or fix or change to make him love you less. He loves you because He loves you. Even when it hurts, and when you feel lost and alone. He loves you. And, if you ever forget it, sit. Sit still, sit quiet, and pray. Pray to feel protected and cradled in His arms like the cherished child you are. You will feel warmth inside your soul like you’ve never felt before. You’ll feel His arms console you. That’s Him reminding you that He didn’t leave you, that you’re not alone, and that He loves you.

He will always look out for our better interest. Even when it isn’t what we expect or what we think is best. As long as we remember that He loves each of us, and we have faith and trust Him, we’ll always make it through.

Sunday Morning...Psalm 23

It all began with a video on facebook...

Our most gracious God and heavenly Father,
giver of every good and perfect gift.
I welcome you into my heart, Lord.
I follow you wherever you lead, as you are my shepherd.
It is by you that I have everything I need.
You have made me to lie down in the greenest pastures,
You lead me beside the stillest waters,
You restore my faith in You, o God.
You guide me down a path of righteousness,
for the glory of Your name.
Even though I may walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will not be afraid.
I know that You are always with me,
beside me,
the light of my way in You, o Lord.
It is Your rod and Your staff that bring me peace.
You even prepare a table before me in the presence of my greatest opposition,
in the presence of my strongest enemies.
You, Father God, fill me with Your anointing until that anointing pours from my soul.
I am certain that Your goodness and Your mercy will follow me every day of my life,
and I will dwell in Your house, my Lord,
Forever and ever and ever and ever
Until eternity.
It is this I pray in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ,
and in communion and fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
Amen.