Cruise Pictures

Tuesday evening, we all went on a cruise exploring the Boston harbor. It was a great night of fellowship and fun!

Home Again

It's so good to be home again with Judy and family! I love Lancaster county! Thank you Lord for safe travel! On the interstate, a tire flew off the back of a pickup truck in front of me and bounced and rolled back and forth between the concrete barriers on both sides of the road. Thankfully, both I and the trailer truck beside me came to a stop before the tire/wheel hit our vehicles.

I waited patiently for the Lord.
He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of a slimy pit and set my feet on a rock.
He gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to God!
Psalm 40:1-3

Almost Done With Classes

Tomorrow is the last day of the DMIN classwork for the second residency. My first year project has been accepted. My second year project and final thesis have been approved and I have been officially accepted as a DMIN candidate. Tomorrow noon (Friday), I begin the drive home. I can't wait to see you Judy, Janelle, and Jessica!

The title for my second year project is "Spiritual Exercises for Life and Blessing" (Blessed to Be a Blessing - A Way of Discipleship). What are the things that rob God’s blessing and life from people in the New Holland context? What opportunities exist in New Holland to give life and blessing? How did Jesus receive the blessing of the Father? How did Jesus bless and give life in his context? How might our church and community be transformed if we received and shared the extravagant blessing of God?

These spiritual exercises will invite people to come to God to receive God’s blessing and to go forth sharing God’s blessing with others. Through prayerful listening and dwelling in the Word, participants will be led into mutual dialogue with God and the riches of God’s spiritual blessings. When blessed by God, one cannot help but bless others. Blessing others overflows from a grateful heart experiencing the joyful blessing of God.

During the next year, I will develop an outline of the spiritual exercises and their purpose and target group. I will test one or more sample exercises in a pilot group. For the final thesis, I plan to complete the spiritual exercises, implement them in a test group and record their impact on participants. The goal is to bring spiritual renewal to our church and community by developing disciples who are experiencing God’s blessing and who are actively blessing others.

Week One Completed

We completed the first week yesterday - very motivating and engaging studies about spiritual renewal movements during 16'th - 18'th centuries. Today, I traveled to the seacoast north of Boston. Visited Halibut Point State Park - beautiful place and then spent afternoon and evening in Rockport. I miss Judy and children and my church family!

Psalm 37 - Trust in the Lord and do good, take delight in the Lord, commit your way to the Lord, be still before the Lord, wait patiently, do not fret, and refrain from anger.

At Gordon-Conwell

After a long drive on Sunday, I have now completed the first two days of classes. There are six students this year. This week we are reflecting on spiritual renewal in the 15'th through 18'th centuries. This is a time of great reformation with many issues of debate. Where is God in the midst of it all? What would cause Christians to kill other Christians simply because of differences in belief? Today, most Christians don't shed blood over differences among ourselves, but we still have many weapons to inflict great pain. Will unity in the church ever be possible before heaven? As a class, we represent Catholic, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Congregational, Assembly of God, and Mennonite. It's been a rich experience of dialogue and interaction.

Had an unfortunate accident tonight - someone rear-ended me while I was waiting to pull out onto a busy highway. Thank you Lord that no one was injured.

Psalm 34:
Lord, teach me to boldly worship you - extol, boast, rejoice, glorify, exalt you (1-3).

The theme of gaze continues in this Psalm. Those who look to him (gaze upon him) are radiant (5). The eyes of the Lord are (gaze) on the righteous (15). Lead me into the depths of this mutual gaze today Lord.

Return from Promised Land

We had a wonderful weekend camping at Promised Land State Park - one of most beautiful displays of God's creation. Judy is now back at work and I am preparing for DMIN class and trip to Ecuador. Also continuing the first week of Ignatius spiritual exercises focused on cleansing from sin. I am looking forward to the benefit auction at church on Saturday.

Meditations from the Psalms:

Psalm 29 - Note the many voices of the Lord conlcuding with "In his temple, all cry 'GLORY'!"

Psalm 31 - Note all the present, past, and future descriptions of God's works concluding with the exclamation in verse 23 "Oh love the Lord all his saints!"

Psalm 32:11 - Rejoice in the Lord and be glad you righteous, sing all you who are upright in heart.

Psalm 33 - In Psalm 27:4, David gazes upon the beauty of the Lord. In Psalm 33, the Lord's gaze is upon us. The Lord looks down and sees... (13). From his dwelling place he wathces... (14). The eyes of the Lord are on... (18). As you gaze upon me O Lord, show me what you see.

Anniversary Weekend

Judy and I leave this morning to celebrate our wedding anniversary by camping at Promised Land State Park in the Pocono mountains. We also hope to attend a music festival in nearby Milton. - Ron

I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:13-14

Return to New Holland

Had two lovely days of retreat in Big Valley with Judy. Read books for DMIN class in mornings. Spent yesterday afternoon on top of mountain at bird lookout overlooking Allensville and Belleville - saw Indigo Bunting and Baltimore Oriole. Evening campfire with hotdogs and marshmellows. Last night delicious strawberry shortcake. Spent this morning going through the first spiritual exercise of the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola. - Ron

Wednesday: One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may DWELL in the house of the Lord and GAZE upon the beauty of the Lord. Psalm 27:4

Thursday: The Lord is my strength and my shield. My heart TRUSTS in him and I am helped. My heart LEAPS for joy and I will give thanks to him in song! Psalm 28:7

Beginning the Sabbatical

Judy and I leave today for a couple days of retreat in Big Valley. Thank you Lord for a beautiful morning! - Ron