Another week here in St. Louis at the International Center, the second week of our mandatory orientation. While last go-around focused on helping prepare people to make presentations to congregations, this week focused more on considering and preparing for the monumental shifts that come in relocating to another country. Spiritual and emotional health need to… Continue reading Orientation Completed!
Reading Ramblings – April 18, 2021
Date: Third Sunday of Easter – April 18, 2021 Texts: Acts 3:11-21; Psalm 4; 1 John 3:1-7; Luke 24:36-49 Context: As we continue in the season of Easter (and every Sunday is really a celebration of Easter, regardless of the liturgical season) the readings emphasize the effects of the resurrection reality. Though a bit confusing… Continue reading Reading Ramblings – April 18, 2021
Envy
It’s hard to know what to talk about at this point in our preparations for overseas church work. It isn’t as though things aren’t happening, it’s just that they aren’t the exciting sorts of things that partners are looking forward to hearing about. We aren’t deployed to the field yet. We don’t have beautiful pictures… Continue reading Envy
Reading Ramblings – April 11, 2021
Date: Second Sunday of Easter – April 11, 2021 Texts: Acts 4:32-35; Psalm 148; 1 John 1:1-2:2; John 20:19-31 Context: Easter is a season as well as a specific date. Our Lord rose three days after his crucifixion, and this unparalleled event in human history is given a liturgical season to better flesh out more… Continue reading Reading Ramblings – April 11, 2021
Reading Ramblings Intro
For years now – over a decade – it has been my practice to provide some food for thought on the readings for worship. This does several things. It helps me begin my process of thinking about the texts for the upcoming Sunday, including some preliminary isogogical and exegetical work. It also hopefully has been… Continue reading Reading Ramblings Intro
He Is Risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia! There is nothing else that matters as much as this. No deeper reality. No greater hope. No more present comfort. He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Orientation
Maybe you’ve heard presentations from people at your congregation before. Talking about going off to distant lands and inviting you to partner with them. You might have marveled that anyone could consider such a a strange venture. But you probably also marveled that these people could get up and give a presentation in front of… Continue reading Orientation
Vocation
Vocation’s a big word with a lot of nuances depending on the context you find it in. Some people equate it with a career, but it traditionally draws in the idea that you have some gifts or abilities in the area being discussed. It’s more than making a buck, it’s doing something you were designed… Continue reading Vocation
Making New Friends
We know, of course, that we aren’t doing this alone. We can’t. This will only work with partners. Friends. People behind us and alongside us and ahead of us. These friends and partners will be of value in so many different ways, just as different parts of a body should. Having hosted close to 70… Continue reading Making New Friends
Orientation Bound!
My wife and I get up at a truly awful hour tomorrow morning to begin a somewhat circuitous journey towards our first mandatory orientation as I start up as a Theological Educator bound overseas. We’ll make a pit stop in Iowa to visit some fantastic supporters, then jump back on a plane to St. Louis… Continue reading Orientation Bound!
The Nelson Family Indonesia 