NWYM is partnering with the George Fox Evangelical Seminary and Good News Associates to provide a 4 day leadership institute regarding corporate discernment. It will be on the campus of GFU, May 19-23, 2008. Credit is available for those needing continuing education. Details are available at: Leadership Institute for Group Discernment

Out of my Mind…

Exploring the Kingdom

II Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

In case you haven’t noticed, I am not perfect. If this at all seems a surprising revelation to any of you, simply ask my children, wife and/or co-workers. They will confirm my report.

Most days, I find myself liberated rather than defeated by this reality. No longer am I crushed and dispirited by my own imperfection. Instead, I think I have truly come to treasure and rely on the grace that both saves us and, in the end, transforms us when we can do neither on our own power or merit.

Paradoxically…

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Download or read the February Keeping Current here.

Articles in this issue include:

• Garbage Dump Baby - Sarah Probst

“Gospel Teams” February 2008

Sometimes for valid reasons we abandon useful things and effective practices, i.e., they’ve become dysfunctional, we lack resources, or we find something better. Sometimes for invalid reasons we abandon useful things and effective practices, i.e., we’ve misused them, we don’t want to put forth the effort, we accommodate uncritically to cultural fads. Fortunately, old things often get refurbished and function effectively again, like the oak chairs from which I scrape off gobs of green paint, restore luster, and make useful again. I’m not sure why “Gospel team” ministry declined. Continue reading …

Rex wears shiny dark brown cowboy boots with jagged stripes of lighter leather around the tops. His handlebar mustache, red and yellow western shirt, and blue jeans complete his outfit. He makes and repairs cowboy footwear. In our meetinghouse he usually sits over on the right side of the circle of benches. I had little realized the depth of experience and extent of his spiritual journey.

Continue to read or download the February 2008 Connection here in the PDF format.