Feb 2010

We have a couple days off from classes thanks to homecoming at JBC so I thought I would get caught up on some of my future assignments. Turns out I would do this and work on our house. We have been refinishing floors with polyurethane. This isn’t nearly as fun as it sounds. Nonetheless, it is coming along well.

This semester has proven challenging. On top of my 21.5 credit hour course load, we are restoring the house we bought here in TN. It was built in 1930. We are really enjoying the house. Not so much enjoying the work involved therein. Classes have been very nice. I can truly say I am enjoying them all, even Old Testament Poetry. They have all been very insightful. Acts with Dr. Owens is great. He loves teaching and has great material to work with; this makes for a spectacular combination. This study has offered so much insight into the early church through Luke’s “snapshot.” I find it interesting that Luke didn’t give us a systematic view of what the church should look like. It’s almost as if the church was designed to evolve given the extent of the book’s content. Another interesting point Luke identifies is the need for “unity” in the church. Too often church leaders get this word confused with “uniformity.” The results of this mindset can render a body as ineffective. The last thing YHWH wants is an ineffective church.

I have been doing a ton of reading in my Evangelism and World Missions class. I have read Irresistible Evangelism, Missing in America and Blue Like Jazz. I actually read Blue Like Jazz twice, it was that good. I may do it a third time, who knows. The models of evangelism we are learning seem so productive. It is a model I began encouraging in our YM back at DeLeon Springs many years ago, ”relational evangelism.” It mirrors the model depicted in the NT beautifully. Were I to go back now with what I have learned I would push for “intentional” relational evangelism. We Christians got a bad rap trying to conquer the world for Christ. I don’t believe that was His intention at all. Donald Miller does a spectacular job sharing his thoughts on Christians as he states them “from a non-religious” view (Blue Like Jazz). We need to learn to listen to people so we can meet their needs, not win them, or save them. These terms turn me off to Christianity, and I are one… We need to love them. Did I mention I’m enjoying my classes…

As for my Non-Profit Management classes I have really enjoyed Principles of Organizational Behavior with Dr. Pierce. I can’t wait to go back to see my C12 friends and share with them. I have already experienced most of what we are learning about. Now, however, I can put a name to it. I just finished reading “Diagnosing and Changing Organizational Culture” by Cameron and Quinn. Spectacular read! I enjoyed this book as it confirmed several of the moves we made at Blackwell, as well as condemn some others. This book offers a clear methodology for doing exactly as the book is titled. This is an owners/managers must read. As I read it I also thought about how effective it could be when used in a church setting. This would be a great tool for church leadership to measure their goals against.

As for my recently lost love of land surveying, I found it. Plant services at JBC needs a master site plan of the campus. They also have some archaic surveying equipment and no one that can use it. I was fortunate enough to go to my Professional Land Surveyors forum on Linkedin established by my friend Eric Colburn to find a manual for their instrument. Thanks Greg! I have been working with them teaching them how to use the equipment to get the information they need to produce their CAD drawing (2009). This has been great as I feel like a duck in water playing land surveyor again.

I don’t want to bore the 3 of you any more than necessary so I will end it here for now. I will be in Florida March 28 preaching at the Christian Church at DeLeon Springs at both am services so come on out if your having trouble sleeping, perhaps I can fix that! Please keep my friend Doug Rice in your prayers. We are praying for and expecting a miracle!

peace