living gifts

Pastor John asked me to describe the process I went through to understand my gifts for ministry. If he had asked me this question a year ago, my answer would have been something like – I’d probably make a lousy Sunday School teacher and I’m not a very religious person, so I don’t think I have any gifts for ministry.

Luckily, I was curious to see if there wasn’t some way I could get involved at Peace and took a course Pastor John offered on understanding God’s design for me in church.

I remember that one of the first things we were asked to do was identify our passion. For me that’s technology. I still couldn’t imagine what this had to do with ministry. It wasn’t until we broke into small groups and discussed our passions that I began to see the possibilities through others eyes.

Further prodding and exposure to various uses of technology at conferences set me on my way. Along the way, I’ve discovered gifts that I did not know I had. Like when Pastor John wanted to start using sermon slides. I really had no idea what I was getting myself into, but it has involved learning how to do image editing.

Even if you don’t have any idea what your ministry gifts might be, I encourage you to investigate the possibilities. Attend a membership with meaning class, the leadership summit, a conference or ask someone how your passion might be used in ministry.

Kim

Cleaning House

Just a short note about housecleaning. Pastor Greg recently encouraged us to do the Transformation Journal. Life-changing transformation guaranteed, or your house cleaned (did I get that right?). Well, I am into my second week or so of the TJ, and guess who is still cleaning his own house?

Of course, I am not surprised. I sensed Pastor Greg really knew he has a sure thing going. And, once I got this TJ thing figured out for me, like I didn't have to pick up a book and a pencil and make notes but could surf and blog instead, Pastor can breathe easy.

In fact, I have a pretty big house, filled to the brim with stuff, in dire need of spring cleaning. Yes, there is the physical house, of course, with all the rooms, and gadgets, and papers, but I am thinking now of the spiritual house that is so filled with life's clutter that there is little room for what is important.

Lord, help me discern what is truly important in life and how best to live it to your Glory. Amen.

Luther and Liberation

Ok, I will be the first to say that I am probably stepping into this way over my head. I have only the most rudimentary knowledge of what Liberation Theology is, and while I have been a church-going, baptized and confirmed Lutheran all of my life (at least from 3 months old), and have read and studied parts of the Book of Concord, am hardly an authority on Luther.

I am starting this Blog topic in hopes of walking myself, and others, through a deeper understanding of the links between Luther and Liberation Theology. Why? The idea came to me from an e-mail sent to me by Lindsay Mack, a pastor/social worker engaged in a two year mission assignment to Iglesia Cristiana Luterana de Honduras, through the ELCA. In her e-mail Lindsay described the ILCH as a "tiny church built on a Christian Liberation Theology, committed to serving the poor and advocating for justice in Honduras". The e-mail arrived to me this past Monday, as I was immersed in the Transformation Journal sequence on "Jesus and Freedom". Is that blind coincidence? I wonder.

Anyway, I vaguely recall reading of Liberation Theology, I believe from an old, old article in The Lutheran magazine, as something a bit controversial. More recently, with the passing of the Pope, I remember mention of the Vatican's opposition to the teachings and/or practices of Liberation Theology.

So, this is where I begin. Anyone who wishes to join in this thread, please do.

week 4 (part 2) Jesus and Freedom

Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you–although if you can gain your freedom, do so. For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord's freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ's slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. - 1 Corinthians 7:21-23

Check out this week's transformation journal.

week 3 (part 2) Jesus and Faith

But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

"Come," he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" - Matthew 14:27-31

Check out the transformation journal for this week.

week 2 (part 2) - Jesus and His Father

"I am the way, the truth, and the life!" Jesus answered. "Without me, no one can go to the Father. If you had known me, you would have known the Father. But from now on, you do know him, and you have seen him."

Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father. That is all we need."

Jesus replied:

"Philip, I have been with you for a long time. Don't you know who I am? If you have seen me, you have seen the Father." - John 14:6-9

Check out the transformation journal for this week.

what is a blog?

Based on some recent e-mails I've received, it looks like I have been remise in not defining what a blog is. A blog is a website where member(s) post content that is time-stamped and archived. Most blogs encourage interactivity, providing a mechanism for readers to provide comments to the posts. There are all kinds of blogs: personal journal, political, religious, technical, humorous etc. See the wikipedia for more information on blogs.

The purpose of this blog is to allow people reading the transformation journal to share their thoughts and ideas. For this blog, you do need to be a member to create a post. That is why each week I provide a post for the transformation journal topic of the week. However, anyone reading the blog can make a comment to a post. To make a comment, find the post you are interested in and scroll to the end of it.

• select comments


• select Post a Comment


• type comment under Leave your comment


• you can select Other (you don't have to provide name or URL) or Anonymous


• select publish your comment

If you are interested in learning more about blogs, how to set one up for yourself, and how to track ones that are of interest to you - I will be covering this topic in the May Technology Tuesday.