pensees

Click here if you want to join the World Relief NEXT Facebook group!!

Last night was the last of the four spring semester classes to start at Kilns College.

Syd Brestel, Sr. Pastor of First Baptist Church in Bend, began his course on Hymnic and Wisdom Literature in the Old Testament.

In total, there are over 65 students in the four classes. Not bad at all!!!

Here is a sweet picture that was shot last night for use in college promotional materials.

So here's a picture of Kim "dashing" out of the office.

She was complaining to Kip about a picture of Justin always being on the worship night flyer... I threatened to switch it out with a picture of her and this was the aftermath.

O, so fun!!

Pretty cool!!

Mike Caba, who is a good friend of mine, goes to Antioch and also teaches at Kilns College just had an article published in Bible and Spade Magazine (an archaeology journal).

Check out the pictures below and stay tuned for his upcoming "Sunday School Class" at Antioch on The Bible and Archaeology.

Had coffee today with LV Hanson as he's cruising the northwest in the Catalyst Conference Vanagon.

Great conversation and great connecting with a passionate and creative leader out there.

Tonight was the kick off lecture for the spring semester of Kilns College.

The night was totally cool, but the neatest thing was the check a guy dropped on us for one month's rent.

I love generous people!!

For those of you who go to Antioch or are interested in High School, Kip just updated the Alpha youth group web site.

Check it out at: www.alpha.antiochchurch.org!!

I'm in Baltimore with the World Relief NEXT team for a presentation to the World Relief board of directors later tonight.

Antioch is a creative church.

It shows up in most everything we do in some little way or another.

One of my favorite things is the Doodle Pad on the back of the sermon notes sheets where people can "Draw the sermon... or pass the time."

Here is a little shot of one that Christina Lemke drew on this Sunday (She made the mistake of showing me at the office where we have a color copier!!)

This Sunday night is the Kick-Off lecture for the spring semester at Kilns College.

With three local Senior Pastors teaching and four great subjects, I am pretty excited about what is taking place.

We already have some full time students signed up for all four classes and are registering a lot of adults from around Central Oregon who are excited about quality bible teaching.

Below is a brief shot of the classes being offered:

HERMENEUTICS/BIBLE STUDY METHODS (BI 102)

This class will give you the practical tools and essential principles for interpreting and studying the Bible- a foundation for all of life and ministry. (Monday’s 6:30-8:30 p.m., Units 2, Instructor: Glen Schaumloeffel)

SCIENCE & THE BIBLE (SC 101)

This course will examine the historical and present interaction of science and Christianity and how the latest scientific discoveries relate to the Christian worldview. We will discuss how science informs Christian understanding and how the Bible informs science. Topics will include history of science, philosophy of science, dual revelation, cosmology, the anthropic principle, scientific naturalism, evolution, intelligent design, and the age of the earth and universe. (Tuesday’s 7-9 p.m., Units: 2, Instructor: Rick Gerhardt)

INTRODUCTION TO HYMNIC AND WISDOM LITERATURE/ PSALMS (OT 211)

Old Testament wisdom literature (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes) is filled with insights on living life to its intended fullest while avoiding dead end streets. The student will learn how to interpret and employ biblical wisdom in daily life as well as identify the various types of Psalms and develop a deeper appreciation for Hebrew poetry. (Thursday’s – 6:30-8 p.m., Units: 2, Instructor: Syd Brestel)

SONG OF SOLOMON (OT 212)

The Song of Solomon is the inventor’s definitive word on sexuality, romance, marriage and relationships…all set to music…we need to see, hear and feel the beat of a love that “has it all” before we can actually create it. We desperately need to be reprogrammed!

We need a new Song we can learn to sing with abandon…not just hum along with it, or just sing when we’re alone in the car…but something we can sing at the top of our lungs in a culture that is singing something really different. A song you can’t get out of your head! (Wednesday’s – 7-9 p.m., Units: 2, Instructor: Tim Kizziar)

If you have any questions or would like to register for a class e-mail us at info@kilnscollege.org

Saturday we had an all day Elder meeting and then reconnected that evening at the Wine Loft in Bend for dinner with the wives.

Also enjoyed having Cory Bittner sit in on the meetings as he has joined the staff as a volunteer helping us out with executive and organizational issues.

Pretty amazing privilege to serve with such a great group of guys!!

Yesterday we headed into a book study of the Gospel of John at Antioch.

More than any other series in recent memory, I'm excited about this one.

As I keep reading through it I can't help but think that we're going to cover just about everything -- almost all theological, psychological, personal and relational topics seem to come up in John.

It's going to be a good year!!

I've been on a "Team Unity" kick with the staff at Antioch lately.

The longer I go in ministry I'm beginning to believe that the best legacy we can leave as a church isn't necessarily the great things we do, but the mistakes we avoid. Put another way, church health over the long run is more powerful than a great event, perfect Sunday or any number of cool programs.

So if we're going to avoid politics and drama in our church, the best thing we can do is pour into each other as staff and build tight long lasting friendships. Team unity is a big deal.

This past week I went with the other pastors to see Gran Turino at the Regal over our lunch break.

I've worked at churches where that would be called a waste of time. Instead, I call it an investment.

Team unity matters.

Last night was the beginning of a 6 week collaboration between Kilns College and World Relief NEXT of a "Congo Learning Group."

The Learning Group is a focused course on learning the issues, history, culture and opportunities to help with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

There were 52 people who showed up...

For more information e-mail info@kilnscollege.org

Never in my life did I ever sit around and imagine that I'd be watching a ballet class. Guess what...

Life is funny that way!!

Ann Moran is being interviewed tonight on KOHD news at 6:00 p.m.

She'll be talking about World Relief NEXT and ways that people in Central Oregon can get involved in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Sweet stuff!!

I was with a couple yesterday graveside as they buried their 9 month old daughter.

Some things I learned that I'll never forget:
- Both parents reading lists of things they were "thankful" to God for in giving them their daughter for 9 months. It was a paradigm shift for me. I thought of burials as a time when we lose something... hearing the words of the parents made me realize how much is also gained.
- Life is short. We spend a lot of time building sand castles. How can we spend more time focusing on eternal things?
- Love opens you up for loss. Motherhood brings vulnerability. It is impossible to embrace life as God has given it and also avoid suffering. But where in modern culture do we talk about a theology of suffering or speak to this difficult calling?

I like this paragraph from the German theologian Karl Barth in 1948.

“What objection could we really make if it should please God to carry his work onward and reach his goal, not through a further numerical increase but through a drastic numerical decrease of so-called Christendom? It seems to me the only question in this matter is: How can we free ourselves from all quantitative thinking, all statistics, all calculation of observable consequences, all efforts to achieve a Christian world order, and then shape our witness into a witness to the sovereignty of God’s mercy, by which alone we can live-a witness to which the Holy Ghost will surely not refuse his confirmation?

Barth was commenting on the papers prepared for the first Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Amsterdam of that year in his essay entitled “NO CHRISTIAN MARSHALL PLAN,” in The Christian Century, December 8, 1948.

Sorry for the long break of blogging... hope to get some real stuff going again soon!!

In the meantime, here are some pics from sledding today (our new New Years Day tradition).