Soakin' Up Life . . . at a 100 MPH!

Went for my first official 3-mile run of the year today. I've been running for specific amounts of time - 20-30 minutes - rather than distance to build up endurance. The weather certainly cooperated. It was clear, sunny, a slight breeze and in the low 70"s. Ran it in 26:05. I was pleasantly surprised. WOOHOO!!! Of course I didn't run alone. Took the boys from Boston with me. They still provide a great running tempo to help with the pace. Still have room for improvement. And if the weather continues to cooperate, I'm looking forward to better times. Run on, Mike Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

OK...so I'm just getting caught up, but I'm trying out another new way of posting to my blog...via email. Just another way to let you know what's going on! Mike Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Cindy and I are attending Oasis, a conference/retreat for church staff and their spouses in Seaside, OR. Seaside is on the northern Oregon coast. This morning I went for a run on the beach. I love running on the beach. There's something about running on the sand with the waves crashing and lapping up the shoreline that I find tranquil. Besides that the sand is great on my aging and abused knees. As I was running I was thinking about the concept of oasis - a place where one finds refreshment in the midst of a desert. I began thinking about MY oasis. It finally hit me that I have two places of refreshment: Running - when I run it's just me...and my watch and my surroundings. It's what charges me up. Always has, always will. Quiet Time - I love getting up early in the morning and sitting with God. Sometimes I read, sometimes I write, and sometime I just sit and listen. What's your oasis? Mike

Hanging out at the house this morning. Just kinda vegging. It's a beautiful day to just hang. This week's been pretty busy...good, but busy. Cindy's been busy subbing at a couple of the area schools. She's also been working on getting last minute items together for her Africa mission trip. She leaves in just three weeks! She's getting excited. Tomorrow we host Greater Gresham's Membership Workshop. I'm excited about getting to help with it. It's my first workshop where I'm getting to help at GGBC. I love helping people get connected with what God's doing at Greater Gresham. Next week Cindy and I head to Seaside, OR for NWBC's Oasis Retreat. Cindy can't wait to see the ocean again. I have to admit...I'm looking forward to seeing the ocean as well. OK, I really look forward to seeing my wife seeing the ocean. Enjoy the weekend! Make the most of what you have. Mike

Trying something new...at least it's new to me. I'm posting to my blog from me phone. This means I don't always have to be at my computer to post to my blog. Probly won't be very long, but that's ok. Mike

Continuing my reading of David Putman 's (@davidputman on twitter) book , Breaking the Discipleship Code . This morning I'm reading about the value of connecting and providing a place where people can connect - those who are searching and those who have already become and started the discipleship process. In one paragraph David writes. . . "As I've said over and over again, to love God and love people is to live and love like Jesus. That's the point of the gospel. It's not about what we consume, or what we learn, or how much knowledge we have. It's not about how spiritually involved we are or how closely we follow a moral code of conduct. Living and loving like Jesus is about loving God and loving people and belonging in healthy relationships with both." I'm not sure you caught what he was saying. But having classrooms or homes full of people who are checking off the next Bible study is not what the gospel is about. It's about people. .

I've started reading David Putnam 's book, Breaking the Discipleship Code . I love this line about becoming personally missional - we've got to live like Jesus, love like Jesus, and leave behind what Jesus left behind. I think that sums it up pretty well in a nut shell what it means to become a disciple of Jesus. Near the end of the last chapter he states that "we have to say no to religioun in order to say yes to Jesus ." I love that line. I grew up, for the most part, in the church. I was there every time the doors opened - or so it seemed. I thought the church was where things happened - ministry, relationships, worship, discipleship. I've learned, and am still learning, that WE are the church and things like relationships, worship, discipleship, and leadership training doesn't always take place at the "temple." Often it takes place at Starbucks, over lunch, serving our communities, on game nights, and date nights, or at the playgrou

I was reading Genesis 37 & 39 this morning when it hit me that Joseph's journey to greatness wasn't a straight line. There were dips along the road. There were trials he had to encounter. . . being sold into slavery by his own brothers, accused of sexual harassment by his boss' wife thrown into prison As all of this was happening he remained obedient and faithful to God. And if you track his progress it seems that each dip in the road was worse than the last. Yet, each dip moved him closer to God's plan to save his family and the nation of Israel. Each trial he endured moved him closer to a place of eternal influence. (I have a graphic I made, but it doesn't show up very well on my blog. I'll have to re-do it and post it later.) I was thinking through all of it this morning and I came to a would you rather question. It is a question I believe God is asking me. So here it is for you to ponder. . . Would you rather experience the dips and trials lik