A "GREAT STORIES" Sunday

Prince of Peace is in the process of what is called a "Walk To Jerusalem".  It's a virtual walk - for 12 weeks the people who signed up (over 90 of us) are keeping track of miles walked, and also receive points for good health habits, diet, devotions, caring conversations, service to others, keeping traditions and the like.  For instance last week I literally walked some 10 miles - each mile is a point; Karina and I did devotions - each twenty minutes counts as a point; we had caring conversations with each other as well as other people - again each 20 minutes are recorded as 'points' - if we watch our calorie intake, that counts;  we are challenged to hold "screen time", both computer and TV to less than two hours per day 

(not counting necessary screen time at work) ...  you get the idea.

At the beginning of the journey we received passports, in which we have our names and pictures, and passport pages of the states we will cross (basically I-90 states across the northern US) - and this being week three - with the ratio that has been derived 5:1 for every mile/point that is accumulated - as a congregation we were in St. Cloud, Minnesota, this morning - some 7000 points times one/fifth - for 1400 miles.  We plan to be in New York in two weeks.  Well, each Sunday the adult Bible Class is working through the "walk with Jesus" devotion and Bible Study - and this week's theme was "detours".  I wasn't there ( I was teaching another class) but was told of this great 'detour' that the class leader, Chris - a psychologist in the congregation, had to share with the group.  His detour was a 'career' change.  He had been planning to go and was accepted in med school, but within the first weeks of school his mom died.  He dropped out of med school and went on to pursue psychology.  he made it to a new school and walked into his first class and saw that there were only two chairs left in the room.  he got to one of the chairs and as he described it - there was only one left.  the class began and in walked this last student - late of course - and she took the last chair.  the she, of course turns out to be Patti, who would later be his wife (also a psychologist).  his point of course - detours aren't necessarily bad things - they just sometimes make us take the time to go the extra distance - but what we thought was our intended outcome can take us in new directions - for Chris it was his wife, and new career, and family.  any detours in your lives?

anyway - it was (as I hear) a great discussion starter for the Bible Class.  by the way the journey to Jerusalem is to be completed on Palm Sunday - 12 weeks - and we will all walk into the city with our "Hosannas" and "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord" - we will have completed about 9000 total or 6000 land miles when we will arrive.  Plus it happens during Lent - a wonderful time to ponder the journey of our Lord.  So - that's one of the stories I had to share.

but the other is a story I ran across for my sermon today - Love you enemies and pray for those who persecute you.  rather than relate it here I will send you to the website on Tuesday - It's not online yet but a wonderful story of responding in kindness to someone who has hurt you.  so you'll have to wait and see. 

http://poplconline.org/

click on Church - Sermons - and 7th Sunday after Epiphany - "Be Teleios"

the illustration comes early -  so if you don't want to listen to the whole sermon, that's fine, 

but don't miss the story - it's a good one!

other than that, things are going well here.  had the opportunity to show a cute movie clip at church today - all stemmed from the luau we attended in Waikoloa.  if you followed my Hawai'i blog it's the one clip of  the three hula dancers.  when they were performing Karina said "that's what our praise team needs - new outfits and instruments" (maracas).  so today in the power point announcements

before the services there was one slide that said:

PRINCE OF PEACE PRAISE TEAM (2nd Service)

is considering new costumes and rhythm instruments for

Jody, Phyllis and Sandy.  We appreciate your feedback.

It might look like this:

(then the video clip followed)

though it took some people a little longer to realize what was going on, 

it was well received with many giggles and laughs!  

it's always fun to surprise a congregation.

that's about it for today - except, Judy W - if your reading this -

Karina's still waiting for an answer ... do you share homemade cinnamon roll recipes?

love ya,

K and D