The Guardian tells Salam's story.

"There are 2,300 verses of Scripture pertaining to the poor. History will judge us on how we deal with this crisis. God will judge us even harder. We really must make this a priority."
-Bono, Lead singer of U2

34 million people in sub-Saharan
Africa have been infected with HIV.

90% of the newly-infected are children.

By the year 2010 there will be
40 million AIDS orphans in Africa.

Evangelical Christians are the least
likely to help AIDS victims in Africa:
less than 3% said they would.
-The aWake Project

I've begun reading The aWAKE Project.

The aWAKE Project: Uniting against the Global AIDS Crisis is the first book of its kind to target a general audience: AIDS: Working toward Awareness, Knowledge, and Engagement. We want the citizens of the world to wake up to this devastating disease that is killing our brothers and sisters across the nations. Upon awareness, we mourn the loss of these fellow human beings in a global wake, or funeral, for life itself. And, finally, we hope a wake of emotional and intellectual response follows worldwide by spreading knowledge for the sake of action.
In this book musicians, politicians, actors, athletes, writers, speakers, activist, experts, religious, and non-religious unite with one voice to speak to their realization, understanding, and experience of the pandemic in their own lives. It is our hope that you will hear the voices of those you know and respect as they speak wisdom from their corner of the world.
- Jenny Eaton and Kate Etue, Editors

-Contributing writers:
Nelson Mandela
Bono
George W. Bush
Tony Compolo
Out of Eden
Kofi Annan
Bill Frist
Helen Epstein
Danny Glover
Jeff Sachs
-the list goes on

Not much going on. I procrastinated on preparing to promote the One Great Hour of Sharing offering so I'm working on that. I hate the word promote. It makes me feel like I'm trying to sell something. I just want to make them aware of some needs, a way to help, and let Christ do the rest.

I attend a traditional American church in a small town in Indiana. Regular attendance on a given Sunday is around 100. How do we go from being an event on Sunday to being a community? A group of like-minded friends and family? Everyone is so busy with there lives. How do we go from being spectators to being disciples? How do we bring them up? How can I, being 25,.........ok-Christ is in me. I try to get out of the way to let Him be seen. If I am doing this Christ is present and visible in whatever location and conversation I am in. How do I start a small group? (i couldn't think of a better word than "start" at the moment) How do I, being in my space, make "church" a way of life? As apposed to an event on Sunday where we may come up with ideas to invite people into the building to offer Christ in theory, but don't represent him in practice............We meet together-this is good. Christ is at work. But are we? Are we worshiping in spirit and our daily lives? Not just going through the motions of a way of doing it that was done before us so it must be right? Is it working? Is our community seeing Christ when they look at you and I? Can they SEE that we've got something Monday through Saturday? Not just hearing the fact that we believe this one thing by our words? Why would Joe-Bob at the market want what you got if what you got is just a place in the pew on Sunday? Our church is having a problem paying the bills because "the economy is bad." Shouldn't we, who put our faith and hope in that which is not of this world, be giving ourselves to the needs around us without worrying about how our own needs will be met? ( Or whether or not we will be able to have fast food at least once a weak?) What happened to giving the shirt off our backs? What happened ....what happened...what happened that we've taken our freedom to worship and be "church" for granted? Christians in India, where it's not exactly safe to be a Christian, would give you the last egg...the last coin because it's in their heart to do so! Is it in our heart? Hmmm.........growl! growl! Sorry. Gotta vent sometime.

I have a desire to see our faith(Christ) fleshed out for those around me that they may see! I've come to believe that a small group setting for discipleship and fellowship will be a good place to start. Can anyone help me to start? I am pushing to get out of here and into our own place ASAP so we can invite people over for BBQ, coffee, or a shoulder.


-joshua's thoughts: i hear you, man. And while the circles i find myself in have already beaten our rant into the ground, we can't forget what started us down this path towards Christian community in the first place - - or we might end up where we were running from: a consumer-driven need to be entertained instead of loved, sitting along with the faceless others as we stare blankly at some person who likes to hear themselves talk. If we aren't careful to pay attention to Christ each step of the way, we'll repeat our atrocities all over again.

But what is church, anyway? i can't fully answer that. But i do know what it is not. Church is not a building. Church is not a worship service. Church is not a preacher and choir. Church is not a building program. Church is not a mission statement. Church is not a Sunday-best. Church is not your tithe (and please show me where church and tithe go together). Church is not a feeling. Church is not an order of service. (Please, feel free to add to the list.) i'm not saying these things are bad. They aren't. But they aren't church, either.

And although i cannot tell you all that church is, i would begin to say that a small group for discipleship and fellowship isn't just a good place to start, it IS church. When people are together "for BBQ, coffee, or a shoulder", it is church. Church happens when "we meet together."

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:23-25)

Bulletin Bloopers!
- Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and community.
- The concert held in the Fellowship Hall was a great success. Special thanks are due to the minister's daughter, who labored the whole evening at the piano, which as usual fell upon her.
- The song fest was hell at the Methodist church Wednesday.
- Today's Sermon: HOW MUCH CAN A MAN DRINK? with hymns from a full choir.
- Potluck Supper: Prayer and medication will follow.
- During the absence of our Pastor, we enjoyed the rare privelge of hearing a good sermon when J.H. Stubbs supplied our pulpit.
- Pastor is on vacation: Massages can be given to the CHURCH SECRETARY....lol
(appears in June's issue of the FAMILY TIES newsletter from First Baptist church of Monticello)
* I believe they are coming from dribbleglass.com

I want to thank Brad Sargent for his response to my May 22 blog.-Never met the guy. Never e-mailed him. Just my blog, his blog, some links in between and some good old fashioned Holy Spirit and the guy sends me the best and the most thoughtful e-mail I've gotten from anyone. Thanks dude. You reminded me how important my job as a Dad is and that I am not the first person to struggle with "understanding how to discern God's will, and learning how to wrestle with being in-between God's sovereign control/providence and our real-and-meaningful human choice." - also, "without Christlike character, man, it sure ain't pursuing anything!"
Anyway, pay brad a visit....he's one of the good guys.

(I am posting this as to remind myself that I have come to the Lord with it. That I need not run around in circles any more)

Hello. My name is Scott Miller. I know you know who I am Lord, but I've not been coming to you lately with my plights-or my thanks. I've stammered around looking for direction.......and you have been here all a long. "Where is your god", they ask. Sometimes I have asked this. You are right here!(pointing to my chest) Look at me...struggling to see where you want me to be. A few years ago my biggest worry was where I was going to find my next bag of dope........Your knocking......LOVE-made me turn my eyes towards you again. Look at me-wanting nothing more than to serve you and be the best Father and husband and friend I can be.

Thank you Father for my sobriety.
My wife.(the woman you have molded her into....what a testimony)
My beautiful children.
Father help me with my faith.
May I be a vessel for you to touch lives as you have touched mine.
Guide me Father-into the places you have set for me.
And Father......I'm not sure I know what I want.
I've spent so much time thinking about what other people are doing to serve you and my family........I don't know, if you were to give me the choice, what I would want to do.
Please help me with this Father.
Help me to take care of and nurture that which you have already entrusted with me.

Thank you for my family! Thank you Jesus. Help me not to forget that I have given this all to you.

Amen.

Heather, her mom Pat, brother Shane and I will be off to Cedar Point from the 10th of june through the 13th. Oh yah!

The Top Thrill Dragster
-420-foot-tall hill at a 90-degree incline
-speeds of up to 120 mph
- twisting drop of 400 feet at a dramatic 90-degree angle

This is just one ride. I believe they've got something like 65 more. Weeeeeeeeeee!!!

Well, it looks like Bloger's still having problem. As I type this my links are missing and there are only about the last 4.5 posts that show up.

UPDATE: After I pressed post & publish...there's my links and the rest of my posts. Yeah!

To yield means to give in to what one can no longer oppose or resist.(just thinking out loud)

The Lord is refining me at the moment and I could use your prayers. I'm just a humble stay-at-home dad. No degree. No tech. skill. Not much experience at doing anything but making mistakes and changing diapers. I love the Lord and I am willing to serve him here or there or wherever he leads.
I have gotten stuck lately in "analysis rigor mortis". Pray that when I am looking for guidance that I look to the Lord and that I would BE STILL to hear him...and ready for action. The Lord wants to use me......I know this......I just don't understand how.
But this is why he is God and I am just Scott.........

Derek has truly blessed me with his bloging today.

This is kinda cool!

The Albert Einstein Archives are now online.

A look at some of the bigger picture from Amy.

I have really noticed the Lord at work in my life, in the life of those around me and those half way around the world from me-bringing his bride closer to him.

I have felt, in my life, a greater need for the spiritual-a way to be still and see the Lord's presence in me and in the world around me. I have at the same time realized the need more and more for His discernment. The more I try to focus on Him the more distractions arise.

Two questions:
1. "we will have to have a little discipline in choosing which subjects and scriptures we meditate." How do I do this? Seems simple enough but I find it hard most of the time discerning what I want from what He wants.

2. "we will have to choose the unique path He has each one of us on. These times are so exciting! but we need His discernment." How do I do this? He has really put on my heart a burden for the unreached and more recently a realization for the need to "engage the world." I understand that being in relationship w/ him and being in this world, interacting w/ my fellow travelers God is present and will touch lives. But how do I decide or realize what and where he wants me to be? How much is up to this blundering fool? I have been told to be content w/ where I am at. Obviously some are called to GO. Shy of a lightning bolt or a billboard how do you know? I have grown up in the Church. I feel I should be off the bottle and feeding on meat by now. Hebrews 5:12

Please tell me your thoughts on these questions.

Allergies bothering everyone today. Kiwi's nose is like a faucet w/ no shut off valve.

I've realized recently, what seems so obvious, that it is my relationship w/ Christ and "a commitment to engaging the world" that the world needs---not another "big important person." 1Cor. 3:6-7

I want to be a good disciple and leader. I want someone to be able to look at me and say "I could do that" not "that Scott he's a good leader."

I believe we are all called like the 12. I just want to come to a deeper and deeper realization and relationship w/ him in my life.......I think the leadership will just happen.

I just need now some guidance on "engaging the world."

Played baseball with Mikah today. Chased him and Kiwi around the yard for a while.

I enjoy being Daddy!

Mikah throws the ball to me...I hit it and it goes to the other side of the yard.....Mikah's jaw drops and he says, "Good job Daddy! You're the best hitter ever! You're the very best Daddy in the whole world!"

Who am I to argue?

That feels good comin' from your son......was a good day.

Pray for me as I discover new ways of coming into an intimate relationship w/ Christ. I was introduced to lectio divina this weekend which has really helped. Derek and Amy's blog post today really hit home what I've realized over the past few days. I need to be reaching in and up before I can reach out. My relationship w/ Christ is key to my being a servant-and my relationship hasn't been all that close lately......I don't know what I need so how am I to know what the world needs of me.

Pray for me is I come into a deeper realization and understanding of his presence in my life. That I may just be your friend...and his friend.....and her friend....so Christ will just be there in the midst of that relationship touching and changing lives...mine and yours.

I love you all.

"Oh, what a miserable person I am!"

For months now I have been looking for this billboard or sign from God telling me what he wants me to do w/ my life. And also, some ideology or way of doing worship that was one-size-fits-all. I have realized through the work of the Holy Spirit and friends, here and abroad, the error of my ways. I have neglected to realize God's presence right here right now. I had been neglecting my family a bit too.

God has spoken to me through Exodus 3:1-4 and said, "BE STILL! While you are tending to your family I am there, I will speak to you. Just be still and say, 'Here, I am'." Now it may not be a burning bush through which he speaks to me so I do pray that he helps me to stay aware of his presence at all times. In all things.

I have been reconcile w/ God and w/ my family. I would also like to apologize to those of you who I have emailed and asked question after question in search of the "magic answer". Andrew, Sarah and Bruce, you have all told me that I need to be content where I am at. I don't know why I didn't get this at first. I thought I did.....but I kept searching. You have been dear friends to me and I thank you.

Forgive me father for forgetting that you have the power. That all things will be done in your time. Forgive me for my arrogance. Forgive me for not staying focused on you. Forgive me for not loving those around me as I should. May I be still and let You move, that your glory may shine through. Use me Father, as you will. Help me to remember that I am forgiven and not beat myself up over this so that I may move forward. May you get me off of the bottle so I can begin to eat meat Father.

Amen

Thanks, Jordon Cooper for this link to an old Next-Wave interview.

Dr. Grenz: The ultimate key is "community." The best apologetic we have in the postmodern context is the vibrant, local community of disciples who are loyal to Christ, that is, a community in which the power of the Spirit is transforming relationships. As many of my friends in IVCF tell me, postmodern persons are converted to the community before they are converted to Christ.

In addition, I think the church today needs to recapture a profound confidence in the power of the Spirit who remains active in the world today and is active in ways that we might not immediately recognize. Many Christians are tempted to become cynical and despairing along with people around them. In this way the downside of the postmodern ethos invades the church(please read whole interview). In a context in which people no longer find a humanly-based reason for hope, we have good news to share, namely, the gospel about the God who does what is humanly impossible...the God who brings life from the dead.

Acts 15

Please tell me my son Mikah is not the only 3 year old who likes to start the day off w/ an argument. Today it was about which is more important, a nutritious breakfast or playing w/ Bob the Builder Play-Doh.

Lord, give me patience.

Man! Kiarah(a.k.a Kiwi), who will be 18 months old on Monday, was just standing on her knees in her little rocker and tipped over backwards landing head first into the coffee table. When I turned to look.....man....it looked like she could have hurt her neck......but.....thank God....she's fine. Setting there holding her while she cried, I wondered how my parents felt when I would get hurt. I didn't realize how much they loved me until I had children of my own. Mikah and Kiwi don't realize how much Heather and I love them. Heck, they take it for granted most of the time. But they come to us,"Mommy....Daddy...this and that" all the same. I love them when they are sleeping. I love them when they are making a mess of everything. I love them when they are loven' on eachother. I love them when they are beating on eachother.

How much more is our Father in Heaven? We are to come to him as little children....not innocent, but incapable of doing anything to earn his love. He just loves us. May we trust that it just is and come to him saying,"Daddy...........

We are living our lives at full speed. Everything at the push of a button. Life has become a distraction. "Our distractions translate into a life lived on the surface. Energies spent in crisis management translate into stressed bodies and distorted values."-Corinne Ware
Many are looking for something more. Looking for a deeper relationship with God, not just in the good times, but in the bad and the "between times." We realize that "every pearl is formed around an irritant, something that can't be digested easily." This summer many will be taking a pilgrimige to Santiago de Compostela across the US, the UK and EU, "to bring healing into history." A merging between present and past, tradition and (post)modernity. It is, in a way, the church "facing the realities of a changing world." I think it is as much an inward journey as it is outward, upward or backward.
I wish I could be w/ you all in body for this journey. I will, however, be with you in a common goal and in prayer. God bless you all.

Thoughts about culture and victory for the people.

Mark 2:16,17
John 4:7-9

Hey! Joshua and Kristin Rudd have posted the first link to my blog.(that i know of) Thanks guys! I haven't had the blessing of meeting you, but me and my prayers are w/ you and your new family.

I would like everyone to take a moment to pray for Bruce and Sarah Stuart and their family. They will be leaving Australia June 19th to begin their journey to Prague(via the USA and the UK) where they will be joining Andrew and Debbie Jones and all those at the Boaz Project. Bruce will be taking up the role as the Director of Pastoral Care, "sitting at tables, listening to stories, shedding tears, telling stories where God's Spirit just showes up.". You can follow their journey here. Please contact them if you would like to help in any way.

John 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." It is a power not our own that we even show up on Sunday, the world being what it is. May we realize that it is not the place that matters, though. Or even the day. It is to be "in spirit and truth". He is with us always. May we live a life of worship 24/7 being honest about ourselves with the Lord and with eachother, that the world may see that this man and the "church" are something that function and are relevant in our time and the times yet to come.

Quote of the day from my 3 year old son Mikah::: "Mr. Potatoe Head put his mouth in his butt!"

Church Alive Big Event 5 this weekend. Church Alive is a ministry of the American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky. The questions that are beign asked, "How can you plan your worship time so worshipers can be focused on what God has done for them as they enter into the worship time?" "who leads worship in your congregation? Is there an opportunity for a variety of persons using a variety of gifts to lead worship?" "how would you define worship?" "how many people in your worship service experience genuine worship and how many are simply going through the motions? How can this be changed?" *Knowing that different people do respond better to different types of worship and music styles, is there room in your church for these differences?" COOL!!! Corinne Ware will be speaking there. We are reading her book SAINT BENEDICT OF THE FREEWAY. I had intended to read it all in one night so my mom could have it back, but I've been kinda busy. Hope to have it back to her tonight or tomorrow.

I love you Heather! Happy Mother's Day! Mikah, Kiara and I are blessed to have you in our lives. Happy Mother's Day to you too, Mom. How is it that you've put up w/ me for all these years? I hope, all the other days of the year, you realize you are loved and appreciated. God bless you both. And thank you God for both of them.

I will say The Bloggers Prayer for blog-rolling you whom I have never even met. I would like to say that many of you out there are the reason I'm clicking away now. And because of your posts I have realized that their is "something more". There is a better way. Thank you all.

Not much to talk about today. Trying to get the hang of all this. Until I understand ftp a little better I will probably just post a link to a photo gallery. Not quite there yet though. If anyone has any advice....I'ld sure appreciate it.

I'll get to this tomorrow(or is that today). Too tired to do much w/ it now. I want this to be a place for me to be me. What that means to you....well, we shall see. Maybe, just maybe, if I am honest about my journey you might see The Way in yours. Bless all of you, where your at.

check check 1 2 1 2. Can you hear me out there? Welcome, come join me on this little journey.