I am not sure how die-hard bloggers keep up the pace. I have started a couple of blogs and then lost the inspiration to finish them. Things related to the earlier posts and things completely unrelated. I will find the inspiration to finish in the not-too-distant future.
In the meantime, I miss all of my dear friends in WA and hope to see many of you over the 4th of July weekend as we will be back in the PNW and at WAC on Sunday!
Jim
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Where everybody knows your name.
Not long ago in reference to our weekly men's bible study group, I said that it was kind of like a Christian version of the TV show Cheers. It had become a place where men would show up because everyone knew their name.
It wasn't a particularly positive opinion, as I was longing to find a group with more depth. Whatever that means. I guess I really wanted to find a place where I could have deep, significant conversations and be challenged both spiritually and intellectually.
This past Sunday I was alone in San Jose, CA and decided to venture off to Peninsula Bible Church in Cupertino. It's a small, older church with the classic A-frame architecture and wooden pews. I ventured to a spot where I could be a casual observer and the crowd seemed light so I thought I was perfectly situated.
Now for those of you who have attended Woodinville Alliance Church and complain about late arrivers, you got nothing on these guys. Most people didn't arrive to their seats until AFTER the 2nd song. So as the people showed up and we shuffled along the wooden pews to make room, I found myself sitting three people from the center aisle with folks pressed in on both sides. The woman next to me introduced herself, "Hi I am Mary and this is Joe." Hmmm...Mary and Joseph? She then sized me up and said, "You are a big fellow!" So much for being inconspicuous.
Well we sang the songs, honored the graduating seniors and heard a really great sermon from Isaiah. And then I shuffled off to the parking lot. At that moment I longed to be in a place where someone simply knew my name.
Jim
It wasn't a particularly positive opinion, as I was longing to find a group with more depth. Whatever that means. I guess I really wanted to find a place where I could have deep, significant conversations and be challenged both spiritually and intellectually.
This past Sunday I was alone in San Jose, CA and decided to venture off to Peninsula Bible Church in Cupertino. It's a small, older church with the classic A-frame architecture and wooden pews. I ventured to a spot where I could be a casual observer and the crowd seemed light so I thought I was perfectly situated.
Now for those of you who have attended Woodinville Alliance Church and complain about late arrivers, you got nothing on these guys. Most people didn't arrive to their seats until AFTER the 2nd song. So as the people showed up and we shuffled along the wooden pews to make room, I found myself sitting three people from the center aisle with folks pressed in on both sides. The woman next to me introduced herself, "Hi I am Mary and this is Joe." Hmmm...Mary and Joseph? She then sized me up and said, "You are a big fellow!" So much for being inconspicuous.
Well we sang the songs, honored the graduating seniors and heard a really great sermon from Isaiah. And then I shuffled off to the parking lot. At that moment I longed to be in a place where someone simply knew my name.
Jim
Sunday, June 12, 2011
A pilgrim on a journey.
Picking a good blog name is always hard given the millions of aspiring bloggers and the lack of remaining witty and compelling names. So I chose to use 'Plain Ease' as a reference from John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress".
Then Christian and Hopeful outwent them again, and went till they came at a delicate plain, called Ease, where they went with much content; but that plain was but narrow, so they were quickly got over it.
I love Pilgrim's Progress, it's such a great book. The way Bunyan describes this 'delicate' and 'narrow' plain where they could experience Ease is so indicative of our lives sometimes. The moments of true ease seem fleeting at times. Yet we know as pilgrims our true ease won't come until journeys end.
So, why blog? I am hoping this can be a mechanism to continue to engage in the great conversations of which I have become accustomed with my fellow pilgrims. So please join in, opine and share your thoughts.
Jim
Then Christian and Hopeful outwent them again, and went till they came at a delicate plain, called Ease, where they went with much content; but that plain was but narrow, so they were quickly got over it.
I love Pilgrim's Progress, it's such a great book. The way Bunyan describes this 'delicate' and 'narrow' plain where they could experience Ease is so indicative of our lives sometimes. The moments of true ease seem fleeting at times. Yet we know as pilgrims our true ease won't come until journeys end.
So, why blog? I am hoping this can be a mechanism to continue to engage in the great conversations of which I have become accustomed with my fellow pilgrims. So please join in, opine and share your thoughts.
Jim
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