Thanks for your patience

My apologies to those who read the blog on a regular basis. It has been a bit "content challenged" lately. I tend to write on the blog when I have a couple of free minutes or when I need a break from something else I am working on. Over the last month, I have really been forced to work in a different mode trying to get as much done in as little time as possible. As I have written about before, between the adoption process, the ordination process and the rapidly accelerating pace at the church, it has been hard to get it all done.

It should slow down soon. And I hope so. I have lots to write about. I still have two sermons I have not posted and I have read some great books I want to write about. More soon!

peace,

will

Just One More to Go!

I traveled to Gonzalez yesterday for my interview with the interview team from the Board of Ordained Ministry. This was a group who read all my responses to the doctrinal question as well as my sermon and Bible study. The session was pretty uneventful and went well and the group voted unanimously to recommend me to the Board of Ordained Ministry for ordination. This means I have all positive recommendations for my final step, my interview by the full board on February 12th at Mt. Wesley in Kerrville. I will let you know how that one goes.

peace,

will

Martin Luther King Jr.

Today we celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Upper Room Daily Devotional has a wonderful piece on the topic today. Some of you may get the printed copy. For everyone else, here is a link to the website:

The Heart of Justice - The Upper Room

peace,

will

keeping up

My ordination process has certainly consumed a lot of my time and energy lately but with a lot of that out of the way, I don't feel much less swamped. There are lots of really big things going on at Grace. Sort of topping the fight for my attention is the upcoming move of the 9:45 service into the gym. The is a really large and complicated project and we are all lucky that there is a great team working on it. This week, the rest of the materials are being shipped. This weekend, we hope that the painting will begin. Over the next couple of weeks, you will really start to see the room transformed. Starting this Sunday, we will be recruiting setup and teardown teams.

While that is the biggest project on my plate right now, it certainly isn't the only one. We have a dynamite Adult Council and they are planning discipleship opportunities for the whole year. It all starts with Methodism 101 next week. Already on the calendar are Bible 101, Prayer 101 and Worship 101. There are even more in the works.

There are also two new small groups forming right now and another round of Genesis, our small group ministry incubator. (That should be the subject of a whole other post.)

We are already running full steam and it is only January. I haven't even yet had first of the year meetings with Missions, Congregational Care or Welcoming and I new their leaders have big things planned for 2008.

There are so many ways to be involved in all of this. If you want to get more involved and don't know how, drop me an email and I will give you some ideas.

peace,

will

Almost there

I want to report that I am one step closer to my ordination. I had my final interview with the Covenant Connection Committee on Tuesday morning and they unanimously voted to recommend me to the Board of Ordained Ministry for Ordination as an Elder and election to full connection in the United Methodist Church.

That was a pretty big step and this committee's recommendation carried a lot of weight. I have two more steps before June. Later this month I will be interviewed by a team selected by the Board of Ordained Ministry. They will read my answers to the assigned theological questions and then give me sort of an oral exam. There recommendation will then be passed along to the full Board. In February, I will travel to Mt. Wesley in Kerrville again where I will be interviewed by the Full Board of Ordained Ministry who will make the final recommendation. Then, if all that goes well, in June, at Annual Conference, all the clergy members in full connection to the conference will vote to admit me into full connection. This happens at a special clergy meeting. Then, if that goes well, the Bishop will ordain me on the last day of Annual Conference at the ordination service.

If this all sounds complicated, trust me, this is the easy part.

peace,

will

Quality Airport Time

I don't mind being stuck in the airport anymore now that most airports have wireless internet access. I am going to be here for a while though so I may need to look for a power plug soon. I have not posted my sermon from this Sunday yet since the copy with my edits and changes in back on my desk. I may try to edit it again and post it today. Has anyone done the homework? (If you weren't there Sunday, you will have no idea what I am talking about?) If you have done your homework, feel free to post it as a response to this post. Again, the questions is, "What are you going to do about Christmas?"

peace,

will