This Sunday will begin a summer long look into the history of the Hebrew people in 1 and 2 Kings, Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah. This is usually called the Deuteronomistic History by some scholars that begins with Deuteronomy, continues through 1 &2 Samuel, 1& 2 Kings, and ends with the prophets Amos, Hosea, Micah and the first chapters of Isaiah. It carries several common themes of retribution and redemption important to the people of God between the Exodus and Exile.

​Looking forward to hearing about Elijah's clash with the prophets of Ba'al on Mount Carmel. Side note: Faith Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon has a block of stone from Mount Carmel in their Stone Garden (170 Mansfield Rd). (map)

It was good to have Dan and Coralee with us on Sunday after their return from the Philippines. I was able to brag about them a little bit while in Kansas City this week.

Last Week's Travel to KC
On Tuesday night to Thursday morning, I was at meetings with World Mission personnel Marty Hoskins, Grant Christy, Jenna Stout and Verne Ward as well as eight Nazarene missions professors from the US/Canada universities and seminary. 

I was also able to meet with eight MVNU graduates attending seminary. I also ran into Mikey McPherson staying with his family until his assignment begins next week at Indianapolis Shepherd Community as well as another student of mine on an internship with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.

I was a little proud, I admit, to hear that Kelly Vargo, one of my ICS students, wrote a paper that won an award and will be presenting it during the Compassion Conference in July held at Olivet Nazarene University (it's the same week as our district assembly or I'd be there!).

It was a long 72 hours but it was good to be back in Knox County when I pulled this Friday morning at 4:00 a.m.

PALCON
Next week is PALCON (Pastors and Leaders Conference) being hosted on MVNU campus. There are plenary sessions in the evenings starting at 6:30 p.m. with Dr David Graves on Tuesday evening, Dr Dan Boone on Wednesday, and Dr Scott Daniels on Thursday. (I'm not sure you can come without registering but I'm not sure anyone will turn you away at the door!)

I will be conducting a seminar on hard to reach people on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. in the Campus Center 244. 

​Organic Church Network
On Friday morning, June 3, I will be part of the team putting together the Nazarene Organic Church post-conference Meeting. We have 30 registrants including some DSs, pastors, and lay leaders from across the country. It will start at 8:30 a.m. in the Jetter Business Center round room. Howie Shute, Bill Wiesman, Mark Montegomery and myself will be the speakers. We will also have a significant time of prayer and brainstorming on how to reach the Great Lakes megaregion through church multiplication. 

It was great to hear the reports during the annual meeting for Shepherd's House this past Sunday.

The meeting was held appropriately this year on Pentecost Sunday, the day Christians celebrate the Spirit-infused initation into being sent into all the diversity of this world with the verity of the Good News.

Among the highlights was a report on the house churches from Rev. Hank Spaulding, a district licensed minister and leader of the MVNU house churches. The first group of 24 crammed into the living area of the on-campus apartment of Phil and Lauren Lanz. The group fixed a meal, spoke honestly about their lives, prayed for each other, read the week's lectionary passages, and celebrated the Lord's Supper. Eight months later, there are now six groups with almost 60 meeting every week some place on campus. Next year a couple of the groups plan to expand off campus.

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This year we also sent Dave and Coralee Behr to Asia-Pacific Nazarene Seminary to serve in the communications department. They will return this week on their half-time APNTS & MVNU assignment with World Mission as part of the Global Faculty.

Last Sunday
Sunday Word & Table in Apple Valley
Attendance: 35
Giving: $1438

This Sunday at Church
Worship at 10am in Apple Valley
Home Group at 6pm (meeting at church)

Readings for Trinity Sunday
Call to Worship: Psalm 8
Old Testament Reading: Prov. 8:1-4, 22-31
Epistle Reading: Romans 5:1-5
Gospel Reading: John 16:12-15

Here are a few of the books on my short reading list for this summer: 

The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings by Philip and Carol Zaleski (2015)

The Lost World of Genesis One by John H. Walton (2009)

Rendevous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke (1973)

American Nations: A History of Eleven Rival Regional Cultures in North America by Colin Woodard (2012)

True Confections: A Novel by Katherine Weber (2010)

You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit by James K. A. Smith (2016) 

Church Unique: How Missional Leaders Cast Vision, Capture Culture, and Create Movement by Will Mancini (2008)

The Gospel and Pluralism Today: Reassessing Lesslie Newbigin in the 21st Centuryby Scott Sunquist and Amos Yong (2015)