Friday, January 27, 2012

Preparation

Preparation has been on my mind off and on for about a week now.  I suppose it's something we're doing pretty much all the time.  We're preparing for bed, preparing breakfast, preparing for the drive to work, preparing for the workday, preparing for lunch, preparing to take a break, preparing for a meeting, preparing to go home, preparing for dinner, preparing for bed and on and on and on.  It's easy to get lost in all the monotony of continuous preparation.  

Before we can prepare for all the other stuff of life, we must take time to prepare ourselves by setting aside a time for the experience of connection, conversation, meditation or how ever it is you talk to or experience the spirit of God.

I've been preparing for a speaking engagement.  Pastor Larry Hastings of Park St. Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Charlottesville, VA asked me a while back if I'd be able to bring the message one Sunday morning.  I was glad to accept his invitation to come and help highlight our combined work with the Dineh people of the Navajo Nation in New Mexico.  So, I've been thinking; preparing something to share for this coming February 5th. 

Preparation is important in, as pointed out, in just about everything we do.  It's important because by preparing you tend to establish a foundation to work from, or in the case of my remarks, I'm thinking and preparing my heart and mind during the time leading to and right up to the very few minutes before sharing my thoughts with others.  

Preparation is my topic today, because lately I feel that I've not really personally been preparing for every day as I should.  My good friend, Derek Maul has helped me think about things like preparing for the day by becoming devoted to setting time aside for yourself to talk with God, to meditate, read scripture or a devotional everyday.  Man! It's hard isn't it?!

I felt like I was doing good there for a while.  I've found that trying to honestly prepare myself at some point in the day for devotional time seems to get harder and harder to do.  But, I'm not going to make excuses.  I could, but I'm not.  I start off telling myself that I will prepare and then the next thing I know, my head is on the pillow and sleep is upon me at the end of a fast paced day ends in another missed opportunity.  How many of you have this problem?

So, as I began to think about all the importance of preparation and how integral it is in our life's journey.  I began thinking about my preparation for the speaking engagement.  I caught myself listing in my mind what I would do over the course of the next few days in order to center myself and immerse myself into my topic.  This mental prepping for the speaking engagement has caused me to re-recognize how important daily spiritual preparation is.   It's made me want to write about it and share it with you, the reader, cause I'm sure you can relate and it's made me see that I need to be better at preparing for each day by making sure to set aside some time, at some point in the day for quiet reflection.  I recognize that I miss what I was doing and that's a good thing.

So as you prepare for the day or perhaps your preparing for bed or making preparations for a meal, a trip, a storm, a test, reading a book, a workout, a visit with a friend, making an important decision, writing and/or delivering a sermon, walking the dog, moving a parent to a nursing facility, entering rehab, a family intervention, a birthday, a date, a court date, finding a new job, college, a talk with your teenage son or daughter, a talk with your parents, a wedding, moving to new home, a funeral for a friend or loved one, a new baby, to go see a movie, some work around the house, welcoming home a spouse from war, rejection, acceptance, asking for forgiveness, forgiving a friend, etc., etc., etc. and etc.  Whatever your preparing for, don't forget to make the first and most important preparation of your day.  

Listen...be still and discern.  It'll certainly prepare you for life's journey.

So now, I've thought of a great song that just popped into my mind as I was preparing to finish this entry.  Enjoy some Stevie Wonder

And if by chance you're preparing to be in the Charlottesville area February 5th come on out for a visit to Park Street.  I could use the support!   

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am". -John 14:3

Peace,
Ray









Sunday, January 15, 2012

Want to Know More? Well, Check These Great Promos Out!

Next summer in Bethany, West Virginia, men from all over will assemble for 'The Gathering'.  'Xtreme Faith-Bold Action' is the event that we've been working on since the fall of 2009.  It's all coming together.  The event will be held at Bethany College on July 13-15, 2012.  Early bird registration is now over.  Phase II Regular Registration is now ongoing and will end on May 5th.  Make your plans now!

Ben

Ralph

If you're interested and want to know more, please take this opportunity to check out these great video promos that our video promotional team of Ben Saunders and Ralph Wesley have put together.



PROMO #1 http://vimeo.com/12322458    The first video introduces the excitement of the event during the Disciples Men regional retreat at Smith Mountain Lake 4-H Center near, Wirtz, VA.

1- Smith Mtn. Lake 4-H, Wirtz, VA
PROMO #2 

2- Commencement Hall, Bethany College
http://vimeo.com/17179996 
The second promo highlights the historic location of the event, Bethany College, Bethany, WV.




 PROMO #3  http://vimeo.com/22628861  Promo three promotes the hope that men of all ages will participate in the Bethany event.  Thanks Melvin and Ed!

3- Byrd Park, Richmond, VA
Derek Maul
PROMO #4 http://vimeo.com/24054571   The 4th promo is our keynote speaker, Derek Maul's special invitation to the event.





PROMO #5  http://vimeo.com/26128276  This overview promo was shown at the 2011 General Assembly, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) event this past summer in Nashville, TN.


PROMO #6 http://vimeo.com/33984752 Number 6 promotes registration.  NOTE: Early Bird Registration has now ended.  Our regular registration, Phase II, is underway. 
Act now before registration costs increase again on May 5th! 


So, there you have it.  Ralph and Ben have worked hard on these and there will be more to come.  Can you tell we're excited about this great men's event opportunity?  Again if you need more info logo on to www.gathering2012.org today. 

Peace,
Ray