This past Friday night, we were grateful to have Andrew Marin speak at Gathering. Andrew is the author of Love Is an Orientation, and heads up The Marin Foundation. The foundation’s aim is to build bridges between the LGBT community and the Church. Tim Perry and I have been looking forward to this event for awhile.

I had the privilege to hang out with Andrew before and after the event. He is a man on mission. He preaches what he practices. He loves the LGBT community like no other.

I was glad we could stream the event live at the Online Campus. We had over 90 people watching online, and another 190 people at the event. Here are my edited notes from the event. (To listen to it, you can listen/download the event on this page.) Later this week, I’ll post some additional thoughts about the event, and the relationship between the Church and the LGBT community.

Read the rest of this entry »

One of the cool things with the Online Campus is connecting with people all around the world. Abby Anderson is one of those individuals for me. I didn’t know her before we launched the Online Campus, but now? I know her and a bit of her story. She serves in the Peace Corps over in Ukraine. She got connected to the Online Campus because a friend of hers posted about it on Facebook.

I asked Abby if she’d be willing to share some of her story, and the connection to the Online Campus. She graciously agreed, and produced this video. (Thanks Abby!)

Carolyn Thorson is a CCC international worker who, while home in Omaha on furlough from her work in Gabon, fell and broke her left wrist and tore up her left knee. Here is the latest update from Carolyn.

Dear Family and Friends,

Last Friday afternoon I moved into my new apartment and have enjoyed being on my own again instead of the two months I was in the hospital or skilled nursing care center. I have home health care so still have had a nurse, therapists and a blood drawer come right to my apartment.

Last evening I joined in on a Thursday evening Bible study here in my apartment building. They were just starting a study of the book of Acts. This morning there is a “Wellness Clinic” in the community room with coffee, rolls, blood pressures taken and announcements. Perhaps a speaker. I’ll go down to that and then my Occupational Therapist is supposed to be here at 11am. Friends are coming to visit this afternoon.

On April 18th I had surgery to take off the external metal fixater that went from almost to my ankle to well above my knee. After the fixater was off a series of Xrays were taken of my knee. Last Monday, May 1st I saw one of my orthopedic surgeons. Xrays were again taken of my left knee. What a difference!!  My knee had begun to slip out of position again, particularly one bone had slipped backwards and outwards. This is because two of my knee ligaments had been torn when my knee went out of joint on March 5th. That day I was sent immediately to a brace store to get a new metal brace for my left leg. It allows my knee to bend but it is necessary to prevent my knee from going out of joint again. I wear it day and night.

I do not have much news from Gabon since I last wrote other than that the Nursing School continues and students are doing well. Please pray that many new candidates apply to the Bongolo Nursing School and that they take the entrance exam that will be held in August.

Thanks for your continued prayers, cards, calls and visits.

In Christ’s love,

Carolyn

In the latest Beyond The Message video, I sit down with Pastor Steve Walters to talk about the good that comes with counseling. One of the things we address is the stigma, and shame, that is often associated with it by people who are receiving counseling, or are in need of counseling.

To watch more Beyond The Message videos, click here.

This past Sunday, at the Old Mill and Online Campuses, we had services focusing on the musical aspect of worship. From all accounts, it was a fantastic experience for everyone. God was glorified through the diverse musical styles. Read the rest of this entry »

Below is an update from Craig Hanscome, the Administrator at the Hospital for Women and Children in Mali.

Greetings from quiet peaceful Koutiala where life is not always easy but we are thankful to be here.  There are currently 10 of us back for the hospital. One challenge is that the power is cut in town for about 12 hours each day, which is a bit hard since this is the hot season and life in 90-100 degree weather without even a fan is not always pretty. Fortunately the power has not been cut as often at the hospital and even when it is we have a back-up generator.  Our nursing staff is stretched right now as we have 5 western nurses, two who will go on home assignment from May to July, then two more go from September to December, so please pray for them.

Politically things have settled down into a sort of power struggle with the existing political class and the group that staged the coup. Those groups have been assigned the job of restoring democracy to Mali through an interim government.  So far we have a new temporary president with a prime minister who worked with NASA in the past that are trying to put something together.  But the captain who lead the coup is still involved and there are maneuvers for power going on all the time.  There are negotiations going on with the rebels in the north and also some small signs of divisions and infighting among those rebels and the African regional bodies are also talking about military intervention.  So all in all we have kind of a status quo with a partially functioning government that is able to maintain only the most basic services. It could blow up at any time or go forward towards stability.  We are waiting and working while we can.

We have one huge prayer need to place before you all.  It concerns Dr. John, an OBGYN and fertility specialist who in his 50′s felt led to sell his practice and their dream home and go to France to learn French and then move to Mali and work at the hospital.  He was recently placed in charge of the Maternity side of the hospital and has been working on a program to let us train OBGYN’s with a USA degree.  His wife Carol has been starting our dental department.  They are key players at the hospital, but last month while on a short home assignment John found that he has brain cancer.  He had the tumor removed and the diagnosis is that apart from a touch of God on his body he may have only 1-2 years to live.  Would you please pray with us for a touch on his Body?  Thank you!

Greg Nunamaker produced this amazing recap of Project 4:4 so far. If you’ve been wondering about whether or not to jump into Project 4:4, watch this video and then pick up with today’s reading!

Here’s another story from a recent Intersections participant.  The idea is to tell your story in a short printed format as a way to prepare for opportunities God gives you to share your faith.  See dozens of stories in addition to Connie’s at this link:

100 Word Essay

Living Life God’s way is My Goal

I have been in church since I was a baby.  I have been a children choir leader, member of the choir, MYF President, and did many active things for the Medodist Church growing up.  I grew up with a mother who never gossiped or said anything bad about anyone.  I was corrected all the time if I did something unkind. When I left home I realized not all men were like my dad who was also a Christian man.

I excepted the Lord when I was 14 years old with two of my best friends at that time.  I have found having the Lord in my life makes me a better person and love for all.  I am a risk taker so I sin from time to time and have to get back to basics.  I lost 3 jobs 11 years ago and really had God by my side.  It was extremely hard as I lost them due to lies, jealousy, and doing too good of job.  Next I got ovarian cancer stage 4 and my limp-nods were full of cancer too.  Cancer just returned last year.  I am cancer free at this time.

I found CCC church, put myself in a Journey group, Gathering, and a Woman’s Bible study called “Rock Solid” to work on getting God closer to me.  I always tell God I am yours and help me follow you.  We all are sinners and have to work at not being a “Hypocrite”.   It was a blessing for Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and me to loose my jobs and get cancer, as I can be more of a witness for God the Father.  People can’t understand why I am so happy.  You put Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy Spirit together and you come out with grace, compassion, and forgiveness in your heart and mind.  It is so much better to have Sunshine in your life instead of darkness.  God is the light in our lives.

Connie

Right now, in Project 4:4, we are reading about the life of David. Despite David being one of the most influential characters of the Bible, and in human history, we are only having one Sunday message about him. One of the reasons for this decision is back in 2009 we did a thirteen part series on the life of David. The series was called “Where Is God When?” Read the rest of this entry »

Here is the video introduction to the the Easter 2012 message, “Easter Outside the Box”. In this piece, Lead Pastor Mark Ashton provides context, and a thorough explanation, of the Temple.