back from home

I was so lucky to be able to spend the past week up in New England on the North Shore of Mass., where I spent 5 pre-Tampa years. They were amazing years there and it was a wonderful reunion. I am taken away by the simplicty of life there and the freshness of everything. My friends homes, although I had never ventured their, seemed so familiar and inviting - wooden, wrickety, full of warmth and color and pleasing smell..fresh colored flowers and greens and grass that does't feel like astroturf.....it was wonderful - thanks Sam & Rye + Andrew.

I like going back to place where I began .....where I really began to think and formulate and where this current person took her first steps of independence in life, money, thought, education, and relationships. It wasn't always pretty - but a good place to be during some of the most restless places of my life. I tell my students to go where you think you will find God - and I promise them that He will show himself to them.....I had one of those moments my self at the Cliffs - I knew he would be there and was....

On the plane ride I started reading a seminary book on my sylabus - "A New Kind of Christian" by Brian McLearn. It is a good read - if you are unsure of the concept of the Post-modern emerssion I highly recommend it - however know that Mclearn's books are harder to read then Nancy Drew books and getting through them can take you a bit....but a very interesting look at the church and culture - culture rapidly changing and tossing us around like lost sheep - what is the churches response? What is our response as individuals - pagans or Christian? Where do we go from here....check it out. "Generous Orthodoxy " by Mclearn is a great book as well.

I am spending many hours at the local bookstore preparing for the Fall here at the end of my vacation. While I was their last night I indulged and bought - also had to order - "Son of a Preacher" - the life telling of Jay Bakker - Jim & Tammy Fae's son. When I first saw Jay and heard what he had to say I was blown away. This man is moving mountains in an area of the church that very few are venturing from. He's shaking the box of our current thoughts on religion, community, relationships, tolerance, and faith and I think it's radically great and wonderful. I am chomping at the bit to read the book.....order it if you can.

Viva la Reveloution is Jay's group - check them out at http://www.vivalarevolution.org/
Thanks for all your trailblazing Jay....

Let's see what the day has for me....
Blessings for the journey