Saturday, April 20, 2024
Spring Training
[This post is also a test of some infrastructure.]
Sunday, December 31, 2023
2023 in cities
Saturday, December 30, 2023
2023 in Books
Monday, November 13, 2023
Monday, October 23, 2023
October 2023 Update
Ember is still in business. But it is more like special projects these days. I've been on the board of directors for Communitas since early 2021 and that has been a fun perspective. I've also been helping with some organizational things with The Salaam Center. Intersections among these three have also been fun. As always, if we can help the young people that you know get involved in cross cultural leadership, get in touch.
I attended a one day conference called Renew at National Community Church [yes, still an unhealthy obsession with NCC] in September and although I had understood the ideas of sodalities and modalities from the Perspectives class, one of the sessions there really gave me some insight and focus for things Ember maybe should be involved in moving forward. Apostolic structures for apostolic people. Picture above [edit: via Tyler at Missional Labs]. If you want to chat about this over coffee, get in touch.
Deanna and I were in Europe for a few weeks this summer and traipsed to some new countries along with spending time at a Communitas gathering in Malaga, Spain. I have a goal for 50 countries by the time I turn 60 years of age, in 2029. I'm also potentially having a 60th birthday party to celebrate, in either Chamonix France or Valencia Spain and you are invited. Maybe make some plans. #50in60
Our oldest Katie finished grad school in May and started working for the Los Angeles Homeless Authority. Emily is a senior at Biola and graduates in May. Both are doing great and we will see them for the holidays.
Last week was a series of visits and meals with various people doing interesting things around the world - the current Communitas board chair, a young couple leading training starting in Kansas City, another young couple in London transitioning to the Balkans, a semi-retired couple helping mission teams in our local church, celebrating the one year anniversary of a church plant run by a dear friend in Baltimore, structures with The Salaam Center. A front row seat across the world.
Saturday, April 01, 2023
In Honor of Leslie
Saturday, December 31, 2022
2022 in cities
02 - Fairfield, CT, USA
03 - Seattle, WA, USA
04 - Vienna, Austria
05 - Crikvenica, Croatia
06 - Buffalo, NY, USA
07 - Wilmington, DE, USA
08 - New York, NY, USA
09 - Washington, DC, USA
10 - Hacienda Heights, CA, USA
Friday, August 05, 2022
Cultural Navigation - Highlandtown, Baltimore
Friday, June 17, 2022
Friday Burn
::: I Gave Up on Church
::: Why American Teens are so Sad
"And the more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild." - Chesterton
Photo: La Brea tar pit museum, May 2022.
Wednesday, May 04, 2022
Our Time at Eurocast
Monday, April 18, 2022
Eurocast - Communitas
Later this week, I'm traveling to Croatia to attend Eurocast, which is a leadership conference hosted by Communitas International. We've done a ton of work with Communitas, which used to be known as Christian Associates, our partnership dating back to 2007. My younger daughter Emily and one of her good friends, Karson, who were on The World Race together, are also joining me. I recently joined the board of directors for Communitas so this is a fun way to contribute. We start in Vienna for a few days visiting with an old college friend and his family and then drive to Croatia for the gathering.
This little jaunt represents our first slow restart of Ember and it also reflects a new cadence. From 2013-2019, we planned something every summer and I'm too old for that. Instead, the future will look like special projects I am interested in and invite others to. A slower more pensive, flexible pace.
Thanks for praying for our time. It feels super weird to be doing this again. There may be updates here later.
Photo: The 2007 Hungary team, over the Danube river in Vienna. Lots got started from that experience.