My Word

Recently, the group I completed Spiritual Direction training with in 2002 met for prayer and conversation.  We have been challenged by one another to share a 'word' that best illustrates what is happening in our lives and how we really are.  Then, as we share our words we are to be in prayer holding the word for each person.

Finally, this morning on my drive to the church office my word came to me.  "Deploy"  is my word. Often in both the Old and New Testaments we hear the word, 'sent', and know that to describe how God's Spirit moves among us and through us for the betterment and completion of God's work.

Our United Methodist heritage lives this out by sending or appointing pastors to congregations or bishops to conferences.  We, ordained Elders, are sent.

Well, I like sent.  It captures the change of location and status.  But lately, I have been musing on the word 'deploy'.  I could have said my word was chaos, transition, mystery, stress, move or change.  But deploy rings for me.

Deploy has the same sense as sent, but then adds the dimension that a person is sent on a mission or purpose to do a thing for which they have the giftedness and training to accomplish.  I am deployed to the Munster community and Ridge United Methodist Church for a mission and purpose as an ordained elder in the UMC.

Now, I need only for the Spirit to begin to reveal the details around my deployment... goals, mission, objectives, purpose, so that my gifts will be focused on what God wants them to be focused upon.

Pray for my (and our family's) deployment in then next 12 days!

Amazing Send Off!

 Sunday May 31, our congregation at Calvary United Methodist Church in Brownsburg, Indiana gave us most loving, gracious, personal and fun send off EVER!

We were thrilled with the foods (delicious cake, sweet tea, BBQ, and all the special foods we like).

The decorations (blue & white) and personal touches of racing, labyrinths, Duke, and Steelers stuff was a great touch.

 The program was so fun!  We loved the music, the speeches, the 'almost arrest with the retaining order', and the gifts (i.e. snow shovel was a great touch).

We feel overwhelmed with love, well-wishes, blessings and affirmation.

Thank you to the team!

Thank you to all who contributed to the gifts and the giving!

Thanks be to God who makes all things possible!

Including our time together.