Tag Archives: Update

More on the Program

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Well, my good friend Curt asked that I be a bit more specific on the Doctoral program I’m looking at. So, I thought I’d just do the update here for all to see.

I want my concentration to be in Spiritual Formation, so that left quite a few schools out. I found a program I liked at Gordon-Conwell, but didn’t feel comfortable with the theological slant. I am very much Wesleyan-Arminian, so I don’t believe I would be very comfortable in a Calvinistic environment (which I believe Gordon-Conwell is).

So, I went back to the other program I had been looking at. It is Asbury Theological Seminary’s Doctorate of Ministry. They have a concentration in Spiritual Formation. This program was also listed on Reovare’s site under training.

I was hesitant because I received my M.Div degree from Asbury. But, after looking at the program I felt like it was more in line with what I’m hoping to accomplish. The program at Fuller looked interesting….but it would mean trips to California ;)

I’m filling out applications now. IF I make it, I’ll post more information.

Thanks Curt for making me do this update!!!

It Had to Happen….

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Well, I said I would drive my 1992 Geo Prizm until it stopped…and it did. Too bad I was about an hour from home. Also, too bad my wife was with me (so she couldn’t come and pick me up).

While driving the transmission went completely out. So, we were there on the side of the road. Good thing I knew one of the local UMC pastors. He pointed me to a good towing service, who then pointed me to a good repair shop.

I don’t have my car right now. We decided to get it fixed. It was more than I want to pay on a car with 165,000 miles, but it was cheaper than I expected. Now, I guess we get to start the process of looking for a different car so we can replace the Prizm.

So, I am a bit stressed trying to keep up with everything at church, the Katrina Relocation Plan (although Jeff is doing basically _all_ the work now), and trying to find a new car.

Although I have found a cool Volvo, I think because of family issues, we will end up with some type of 1999-2001 Ford Taurus Wagon.

That’s where I am…and why I haven’t written much here.

p.s. Make sure to check out The Katrina Relocation Plan and find some way to implement it (or some type of plan) in your community. This is something that everyone should be involved in because it really does effect all of us.

Back from Vacation

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Well, I made it back from vacation. I actually added a couple of audioblog posts to my audio blog. Still messing around with that a bit.

On Sunday I went to church at Mar’s Hill in Grandville, MI. It is only about 2 hours away. I have some pictures that I might post later in the week. I also plan to post some of my reactions to the church.

I wanted to go because I have been listening to the audio of the sermons and wondered what the rest of the service was like. I also was curious about their location and their buildings. Stay tuned…

Podcasts…or Audio Blogging

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Well, this is pretty cool. I just signed up for AudioBlogging (Podcasting). I’m not sure if this is the same as a podcast or not. I know it could easily become podcast. Well, anyway, the link is here. For my audio blog.

Basically, I can call in from any phone and leave an entry. Since I have free long distance on my cell phone, I can call on my cell, leave an entry and it doesn’t cost me a thing…pretty cool. Of course, now I will have to have something to say. :)

VBS Done

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Well, it was a pretty good week for our VBS. We allow kids from age 3 through grade 5 to participate. We had no idea we would have about 18 preschoolers there…man…do they have energy.

Last year we decided to do VBS a bit differently. We decided to begin it on Sunday instead of Monday and to have a celebration night on Thursday night. What we discovered is that it seems VBS goes quickly. Sunday works well because people don’t have to rush home from work (we do the VBS at night).

What happened on Thursday was simply amazing. We decided last year to have a full blown celebration rather than a “VBS Program.” This means, we call the kids up and have them sing songs (with a live band consisting of my wife and me, some of our praise band members and some high school students). The music is ‘edgy’ and the kids love it.

I do the story time. Instead of just telling the story I brought some kids up and had them help me act it out. That worked out well.

Each day we took up an offering. We made it a competition between the girls and the boys. We were giving the money to Hefer International so we were trying to connect the kids with the animals and how they would help families. The kids raised $175!

We had planned on challenging the congregation to match that, but someone from the congregation matched it on Wednesday, so we were up to $350.

Then the amazing happened. After the celebration night one of the grandparents came up and matched it! That brought us up to $525. Also, someone came up and handed on of the helpers some money for the offering (we didn’t take one up). They said that they just wanted some part of the “joy in this place.”

Of course the workers were amazed…to say the least. There was joy that night and many were probably surprised. My prayer is that same joy will spill over into the congregation. The emerging church folks keep saying that we (as the church) need to move from propositional truth, to experience. During the VBS celebration, I did not preach a 3 point sermon on joy, yet, there was joy. People didn’t leave with new knowledge about joy, they experienced it. Perhaps we need more experience of God’s truth on Sunday mornings…

Like Falling Off a Bike

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3861407

Hmmm….. It is been qite a while since I’ve made an entry. Blogger has changed some things too. Not sure what the number above is (or if it will show up on the post).

Anyway, the past four months have been interesting to say the least. I’m now at my new appointment….still trying to make the transition. I’m learning that I was in denial before I moved. To make a long story short, I made quite a few changes (career, location, house, etc), but I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal. Now, I’ve slowed down a bit.

To be honest, things are going fairly well. The kids have adjusted quite well and really like their new school. That took quite a bit of pressure off.

I’m trying to ‘relearn’ how to be a pastor. Actually, I’m not sure I knew how to be a pastor before. I was all about building a kingdom and trying to impress other people. Now, I’m trying to remember that there isn’t anyone I need to impress. My goal is to listen for the movement of God and move in that direction. At times, I feel like I should be “doing”, but I keep hearing God’s voice moving me in a new direction. Some of my old goals and directions have changed.

I’ve been reading a book by Philip Yancey. I love his writing. It rings true with my soul. Everyday, I’m dealing with people trying to understand what it means to be a christian within the context of their lives. I feel like many times the church doesn’t help with the struggle. Instead of helping people to become all God is calling them to be, the church puts demands and asks a lot of their time of energy.

If there were one thing God was calling the church to do….what would that be?

That question haunts me. My fear is we are so busy doing many things…we aren’t doing the one thing.

enough for now…..Dave.