Good morning. It’s been a while since I've sent out one of these epistles. As you know I've been on a six-week sabbatical, although I've only used five. Will use the sixth next week when Judy and I go to Boston to help Logan celebrate his fifth birthday.
I am grateful for the time away. I was not completely out of the loop as there were several things dealt with by phone. However, my thanks to Gene Williams and the District Advisory Board for their work. Gene, the servant that he is, took his interim assignment seriously and served well. He is an amazing man.
I tried to use my time profitably. I rough drafted a book, played a little golf, did some reading, attended both the Panama City and Ft. Walton Beach Churches of the Nazarene, and relaxed. Worked in both the District Superintendents Retreat and DSLPD as well as playing in the Larry Watson Memorial Golf Tournament sponsored by Olivet Nazarene University to raise money for scholarships. Parenthetically, the weather was not Wichita, but neither was it balmy with warm gentle breezes. Nevertheless, even the mid-fifties with sunshine felt pretty good. The high forties with rain did not.
- Then annual ministers’/spouses’ retreat is just about five weeks away. We will again be at the Lodge of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri. I am pleased to announce that we will schedule lots of free time for your relaxation and enjoyment. I am especially happy to let you know that Dr. H. Ray Dunning will be our devotional speaker. This well known author/theologian/professor will give us four sessions regarding the Christology of Colossians. He is one of the most gifted teachers I've over heard. I asked him to speak on this subject due to some of the current fuzzy, and even unorthodox teaching regarding the understanding of Christology. Be sure to bring your pens and paper. There will be a wealth of usable material. I'm sure his material will qualify for CEU credits.
- My friend since seminary days, Jon Johnston, emailed me recently to let me know of an upcoming event that may be of interest to you. It’s the meeting of the Association of Nazarene Sociologists and Researchers on March 25-27 at the Marriott Crown Plaza Hotel, located about a mile from the new Global Ministries Center in Lenexa. The theme this year is “Ministerial Attrition: When Pastors Call It Quits”. Friday night the keynote address is by Jeron Rowell and Saturday there will be speakers, questions, and discussion. If you are interested in attending you may call Laura at 800-306-9928.
- I heard some horror stories about health insurance situations on other districts while I was with the district superintendents. Believe me, we can be grateful for Kansas Blue Cross/Blue Shield and the coverage we receive for premiums paid. I honestly don't know of another district that has a better group policy than we have. Our main concern is to keep our level of participation and family units up to the level required. If you are on the bubble and deciding what to do in the future should you have opportunity to move elsewhere for whatever reasons, please touch base with us before doing so just to make sure you are getting correct comparisons.
- In my personal Bible reading of this year’s version I got half way through while in Florida. I am amazed as to how God’s patience is reflected in His revelation of Himself as He worked with ignorant people. Some of the things they did in their cultures that they thought reflected God’s will were baffling to say the least, and totally unacceptable in the light of God’s full revelation of Himself in His Son, Christ Jesus. I could give examples, but would simply say that all of our theology and Biblical interpretation should in the final analysis be refracted through the prism of Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Lift Him high during this Lenten Season as you approach Holy Week and Easter Sunday. He will draw all men unto Himself. May His blessings rest upon you all in grace and strength.
- For those of you that don't receive “Leadership Magazine”, here’s a great cartoon from the latest issue.
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