article in paper on my staph infection

The Akron Beacon Journal did a front page spread of two articles on the spread of staph infection including an article about my bout with it.

http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/15637159.htm

church picnic

For years Fairlawn-West has had a catered meal called a picnic on the front lawn of the church. Folks ate and then left. This year we went out to the Ledges in the Cuyaghoga Valley National Park and a potluck with pulled pork barbeque shipped from Memphis and hamburgers and hot dogs. People hiked. The kids played out in the great field. Here are some pictures. Oh, that's only me. Here's the slide show from the picnic with some good blues for background.

back to my old haunts

I am back to the old Coco's, but its under new management, remodeled, and more personally connecting with the new owner Michael Litt. Here's my old "Coco's in Exile" website updated and the new Nervous Dog website. Had a wonderful time there today with Bruce Cole in town from Chicago.

slowing down to go forth into the world

I have been slowing down...and that has included not taking the time to post here. Morning and evening devotional time has been essential. Also, walking and swimming. And doing the Daily Bible Journaling process of SOAP.

But doing this isn't about getting away from the world. It is about preparing daily to go out in the thick of the world. Too much of the religious meditational life, including in institutional Christianity has led people to belief that they can move away from the clutter of the world. The Trappist monk, Thomas Merton, has disabused us all of that illusion.

At the same time, we can't be a "good" Christian without being part of the mission of Jesus Christ to go forth into the world. And to really do that in the spirit of Christ means we are in the world but not of the world. Too much "Christianity" has been reduced down to so-called morality or ethics. It has no heart of the spirit. All action whether of the conservative or liberal bent gets consumed by the clutter and the demands of the world IF they do not take the time and the practice to listen to God. The Complete Guide to Prayer Walking - amazon.com site for the book. Internet article: Prayer Walking: exploring faith through exercise.