| Along the Roads Christ is the sacrifice that takes away our sins and the sins of all the world's people. -1 John 2:2 “Then he told them: Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world.” -Mark 16:15 I’ve never been good at numbers. Especially the big ones. “For all peoples,” for instance. I can’t wrap my mind around that. This year in Novo we’ve been leaning into three places to flourish as a follower of Jesus: The Cave (in private with God), the Table (in fellowship with believers), and the Road (being a light and witness to the world). These years since returning from Asia, I’ve spent a lot of time in the Cave. After four years in Chattanooga, we're now sitting at many different Tables, and often have people around ours. In 2023 I've been on many kinds of Roads. Have you been paying attention to the roads you are traveling? Here are some of mine. | |
A 5-Lane Freeway of an International Metropolis As the year began, my family was having a cultural crash course in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Brazil. Nine nights. Each in a different hotel (Jim and Tyler planned the packed schedule). On the last night we traveled across Buenos Aires on a strip of highway we’d already driven more than once. The highways of major cities are just about the same in every country. As you drive, you pass blocks and blocks of apartment buildings. We pass by not thinking that behind every window of every high rise there is a human, or humans. Each has a story. Each wants to be seen. To be loved. I can’t wrap my mind around the numbers of people God created, Jesus knows, and the Holy Spirit woos. "Lord, you know them. You know their story. What do they need from you right now?" I lean my heart in to listen and intercede. "The gospel is good news for all peoples."
I can’t wrap my mind around that. | |
An Interstate between Nashville & Chattanooga  | | | |
It’s a dark night in February and I have a two hour drive home. A stream of white lights are on my left. Going back home on Hwy 24 from an event in Nashville. There are pairs of red tail-lights running on ahead of me. Sedans. SUVs. Semi-trucks.
Where are they coming from?
Where are they going? The pairs of taillights are all different sizes and shapes. I never paid attention to taillights before tonight. Inside the dark vehicles, behind those windows, are people of even more different colors, sizes, and shapes, and concerns. And dreams. It may be a single driver, or someone rides along. Who? "Lord, you know them. You know their story. What do they need from you right now?"
I lean my heart in to listen and intercede. "The gospel good news is for all peoples."
I can’t wrap my mind around that. ----- Click to read the rest of the story on the Novo blog a devotional series "What is the Gospel?" (Hint: My roads get smaller - to what I can wrap my mind around.) Or click here for the entire devotional series ebooklet. | |
Never stop learning! |  | | |
I'm just about to finish reading Streams of Living Water. Have you read this? It's about the essential practices of 6 great traditions of the Christian Faith. Oh my, how did I miss such a spiritually enriching book? I feel like I'm a brand new follower of Jesus as I read it! Nearly a quarter of the book is now underlined. Amazon makes the first part of it available through the Look Inside feature. Would you join me for some Summer Reading? If I can find a couple friends to read it with me, I'll just start right back at the beginning and read it again. If you'd like to join me I'd like to read at a clip of about 30 pages a week, shoot me a reply if that sounds appealing to you. The first chapter is a brief intro of all 6 of the traditions, then subsequent chapters take a deeper dive. I'm not sure we'll get through Appendix A & B (Critical Turning Points in Church History, and Notable Figures and Significant Movements). But it's so good, I've found myself reading all the endnotes as I read this first time. Join me at a conference? I've registered for Inner Healing Prayer and Deliverance, June 22-24 (in Costa Mesa, CA). Everfree is my Novo Colleagues Keith and Megan Peeler. I've registered for the conference online, but if someone wants to meet me there and attend in person, I'll book a plane flight). Keith was part of the retreat in Spain, and I've enjoyed learning from them on their Everfree podcast. I'll be in Ft. Worth, TX September 11-14 for Global consultation on Arts, Music, and Missions. I been able to attend this every 4 year event only once, and it was great! If you are a Creative living missionally, you will be inspired with some outside-the-box creativity and inspiration for sharing the Gospel. Some from my Makers Team in Novo will join me. Anyone else interested in a trip to Texas? Speaking of my Makers team...Will you pray for me? I leave Friday for 6 days in Hattiesburg, Mississippi with Novo colleagues. Alice Collier has invited me to help with a Women's Retreat on the weekend. She's cooking up some other things to do through creativity and prayer during the time. Jim's doing well too... As you are well aware, people LOVE Jim. The way he facilitates, coaches, and offers wisdom to meetings or Bible Studies has resulted in a fuller plate than this retired man had expected! He loves it. |
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