Junk Religion?

Well, here I am listening to fighter jets practice touch and go landings at Fentress airfield, about three miles away. It is about 4:00 PM and I am in my office. These things can get loud! I have been trying to dig out from under the mountain of administrative details that surround this position and see God fresh and new for the day. It gets hard sometimes, but He shows up when I let Him. In the devotion from Richard Rohr today, he asks, "Is your religion helping you transform your pain?" He goes on to say, "If it does not, it is junk religion." Rohr challenges me to transform my pain, not just transmit it onto everyone else, especially those closest to me. This doesn't mean we bury deep inside and just wait for it to explode, it means we actually allow God to transform it into something of use in His Kingdom. If all we are suppose to do is learn facts and grow buildings and budgets, then we really don't know how to transform pain, do we?

God be with you on the Journey!
Kevin

Things Going Well

We are starting to settle in to life in Virginia. We still have a mound of boxes to deal with, but things are feeling more comfortable every day. Thanks for your encouraging thoughts and all your prayers. Couldn't be doing it without you all and God!

I got to see zoo animals in the extended care program this morning: hawk, skunk, huge snake, lynx, alligator, bush baby, and more. It was fun! Then, on my way to lunch with one of the deacons, I got to see fighter planes landing at Fentress Air Field. Cool! Then VBS meeting tonight. Full, fun day!

I'm going across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel in the morning to see some folks on a ministry trip to migrant workers on the Eastern Shore. My first staff meeting is tomorrow and then we are going to try to hit the beach for a bit on Wednesday. Good times!