Yesterday I said I'd post Part 2 of my Atlanta reflections, and the reason this is in more than one part is simply because I got a little wordy in that post (nothing new) and I didn't have time to write more yesterday... and it's not because I think everyone's just dying to hear all my thoughts. =D
Anyway, instead of typing it all out, I thought I'd do a video! And no, Free Spirit and Leonard, this is not me doing the Macarena!
Grace Roots Blog
Showing posts with label radical sonship conference. Show all posts
Showing posts with label radical sonship conference. Show all posts
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Atlanta reflections
Well I was gone from home for approximately 72 hours and now it's been approximately 72 hours since I arrived back home.
After two days of looking online at the flight status of my plane out of Cedar Rapids, and seeing that Tuesday's and Wednesday's flights had been canceled, and then Thursdays was delayed due to "needed crew rest," I was wondering what kind of troubles I'd have with my Friday morning flight! But thankfully everything went very well. In fact, that first flight, from C.R. to Detroit, was probably the best ever flight for me. I was tired, and pretty much wanted to be left alone, and that's what I got! I had a seat by a window, and as we took off from dark and gloomy, rainy C.R., I rested my head back and rested. And then I got to see the most amazing thing. We were flying over miles and miles of a beautiful blanket of white, puffy cotton balls, and off in the distance I saw a little orange ball begin to appear over the cloud-horizon. Due to the fact that we were going 500mph, give or take, and heading east, the sun rose more quickly than it would've, and it was simply a glorious sight for my tired eyes!
Landing in Detroit, I was rather bummed because in the past day or two I had gotten a wild hair about having Bino come to the airport during my layover, so we could finally meet and just spend perhaps 5 minutes together, but we had both come to the conclusion that that probably wouldn't work in such a busy airport. I knew I was so close to him, and yet so far! (But Ohio is coming soon)! And right after I got on the plane I was extra bummed, because they announced that the flight would be delayed an hour, due to heavy rains in Atlanta. But then within a few minutes we moved out to the runway and we ended up being only 15 minutes behind schedule.
I was greeted in Atlanta by John Fincher, who, along with his wife Donna were VERY cordial and hospitable to me throughout the entire weekend! I'm so thankful for friends like this! And to think we've only known each other through our blogs, for about half a year! John drove me to his home, south of the big city and we had some really great conversations about God's grace and all that jazz. Later in the afternoon we came up to the city again, and grabbed a bite to eat at a mall near the hotel where the Radical Sonship Conference was being held. Then it was over to the hotel, where I caught my first glimpses of Ryan, Jamie and Matthew! Some tears were already beginning to be shed as I approached Jamie and we had a big ol' hug! You have to understand, although I've known Jamie for a fairly short time (since last summer or fall), she has become like a very close sister to me. This may sound strange, but I was adopted by very wonderful parents and to me Jamie looks somewhat like a cross between my birth mother (who I've met), and what I imagine my biological father looks like. In other words, it's as if she's my birth sister that I never had. =D But so much more than all that, the conversations and the grace we have shared, along with all the other brothers and sisters in our little grace community, have been such a great thing in my life!
And then I got to see Matthew face to face and hug him for the first time as well! There is such special affection in my heart for Matthew. "Brother" fits the bill perfectly, and I guess I've also sort of felt like an "uncle" or something as well, perhaps due to the fact that I'm almost twice his age. :) We've known one another since the summer of 2007, when Matthew was very new in his grace walk, and it has been such a thrill to be a part of his life as he's grown, and as I've grown right alongside him. It was sweet meeting John, and then Matthew and Jamie, as well as Ryan, who up till that time I'd not had a whole lot of interaction with, but yet I felt I really knew him through Jamie. To be standing there with these four people was very surreal at first! My mind couldn't comprehend it all. But it didn't take long before it began to feel so very natural and real, and I felt like we'd all known each other forever! We all seem to fit together.
Then right before the first session of the conference began on Friday evening, I looked over and saw Gary Kirkham, along with his wife Sherry! I went over to them and was able to share in another long awaited hug with Gary. Again, having only known Gary through blogging, it was incomprehensible to my mind to be standing right there chatting face to face with him!
We were also able to chat briefly with Paul Anderson-Walsh, who came over to us as I think he recognized me through previous online interaction that we've had. Paul has such a welcoming, loving presence. He doesn't just preach it, it truly comes across as he interacts with others. Later, I think after the first session that evening, it was also a pleasure to chat briefly with Steve McVey. I bugged him about coming back here to Waterloo/Cedar Falls, and he said he'd give Pastor Dan a call. The Vineyard church here in town, which my family has been a part of since early 2000, has had visits from Steve ever since the mid 90's, I think. Anyway, we chatted briefly about that, and about our blogs... and Twisted Sister even came up in the conversation! ;)
And there was morning, and there was afternoon, and there was evening, and then there was Part 2, yet to come... :)
After two days of looking online at the flight status of my plane out of Cedar Rapids, and seeing that Tuesday's and Wednesday's flights had been canceled, and then Thursdays was delayed due to "needed crew rest," I was wondering what kind of troubles I'd have with my Friday morning flight! But thankfully everything went very well. In fact, that first flight, from C.R. to Detroit, was probably the best ever flight for me. I was tired, and pretty much wanted to be left alone, and that's what I got! I had a seat by a window, and as we took off from dark and gloomy, rainy C.R., I rested my head back and rested. And then I got to see the most amazing thing. We were flying over miles and miles of a beautiful blanket of white, puffy cotton balls, and off in the distance I saw a little orange ball begin to appear over the cloud-horizon. Due to the fact that we were going 500mph, give or take, and heading east, the sun rose more quickly than it would've, and it was simply a glorious sight for my tired eyes!
Landing in Detroit, I was rather bummed because in the past day or two I had gotten a wild hair about having Bino come to the airport during my layover, so we could finally meet and just spend perhaps 5 minutes together, but we had both come to the conclusion that that probably wouldn't work in such a busy airport. I knew I was so close to him, and yet so far! (But Ohio is coming soon)! And right after I got on the plane I was extra bummed, because they announced that the flight would be delayed an hour, due to heavy rains in Atlanta. But then within a few minutes we moved out to the runway and we ended up being only 15 minutes behind schedule.
I was greeted in Atlanta by John Fincher, who, along with his wife Donna were VERY cordial and hospitable to me throughout the entire weekend! I'm so thankful for friends like this! And to think we've only known each other through our blogs, for about half a year! John drove me to his home, south of the big city and we had some really great conversations about God's grace and all that jazz. Later in the afternoon we came up to the city again, and grabbed a bite to eat at a mall near the hotel where the Radical Sonship Conference was being held. Then it was over to the hotel, where I caught my first glimpses of Ryan, Jamie and Matthew! Some tears were already beginning to be shed as I approached Jamie and we had a big ol' hug! You have to understand, although I've known Jamie for a fairly short time (since last summer or fall), she has become like a very close sister to me. This may sound strange, but I was adopted by very wonderful parents and to me Jamie looks somewhat like a cross between my birth mother (who I've met), and what I imagine my biological father looks like. In other words, it's as if she's my birth sister that I never had. =D But so much more than all that, the conversations and the grace we have shared, along with all the other brothers and sisters in our little grace community, have been such a great thing in my life!
And then I got to see Matthew face to face and hug him for the first time as well! There is such special affection in my heart for Matthew. "Brother" fits the bill perfectly, and I guess I've also sort of felt like an "uncle" or something as well, perhaps due to the fact that I'm almost twice his age. :) We've known one another since the summer of 2007, when Matthew was very new in his grace walk, and it has been such a thrill to be a part of his life as he's grown, and as I've grown right alongside him. It was sweet meeting John, and then Matthew and Jamie, as well as Ryan, who up till that time I'd not had a whole lot of interaction with, but yet I felt I really knew him through Jamie. To be standing there with these four people was very surreal at first! My mind couldn't comprehend it all. But it didn't take long before it began to feel so very natural and real, and I felt like we'd all known each other forever! We all seem to fit together.
Then right before the first session of the conference began on Friday evening, I looked over and saw Gary Kirkham, along with his wife Sherry! I went over to them and was able to share in another long awaited hug with Gary. Again, having only known Gary through blogging, it was incomprehensible to my mind to be standing right there chatting face to face with him!
We were also able to chat briefly with Paul Anderson-Walsh, who came over to us as I think he recognized me through previous online interaction that we've had. Paul has such a welcoming, loving presence. He doesn't just preach it, it truly comes across as he interacts with others. Later, I think after the first session that evening, it was also a pleasure to chat briefly with Steve McVey. I bugged him about coming back here to Waterloo/Cedar Falls, and he said he'd give Pastor Dan a call. The Vineyard church here in town, which my family has been a part of since early 2000, has had visits from Steve ever since the mid 90's, I think. Anyway, we chatted briefly about that, and about our blogs... and Twisted Sister even came up in the conversation! ;)
And there was morning, and there was afternoon, and there was evening, and then there was Part 2, yet to come... :)
Monday, March 30, 2009
Growing in Grace - Radical Sonship Conference Recap
I just arrived back from the Radical Sonship Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, which was hosted by Steve McVey of Grace Walk Ministries and Paul Anderson-Walsh of The Grace Project / Grace London. In this week's Special Edition of Growing in Grace, I chat with Mike about my experience at the conference. It was a weekend full of beautiful friendship and wonderful teaching about what the love and grace of God looks like as we not only soak and marvel and revel in it ourselves, but also as we actually partake in the divine nature (see 2 Peter 1:4), and God's love and grace is poured out of us into the lives of others.
Throughout the weekend, Steve and Paul said that they had far more material than they had time to present, so you can imagine that we barely even touch the tip of the iceberg with this short program! But we hope this program will at least provide somewhat of a glimpse into the radical nature of our lives as adopted sons of God (see Gal 4:5, Eph 1:5).
gigcast.graceroots.org
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Last set of Atlanta pics
"Blogging Buddies"
Me, Jamie, John, Matthew, Gary
Outside the Cafe Intermezzo, hanging out before saying our goodbyes
Jamie, John, Ryan, Sherry, Gary, Matthew
Outside the Cafe Intermezzo, hanging out before saying our goodbyes
Jamie, John, Ryan, Sherry, Gary, Matthew
Flying in to Cedar Rapids
It SNOWED while I was gone!
My car at the airport
A wonderful welcome home from the kids!
More pics from Atlanta
Jamie and Ryan chatting with Paul Anderson-Walsh
A pic of John, along with Matthew taking a pick of Paul, Jamie and Ryan :)
See the photo Matthew was taking here (third photo)
A pic of John, along with Matthew taking a pick of Paul, Jamie and Ryan :)
See the photo Matthew was taking here (third photo)
Sherry and Gary Kirkham
Matttchew!
At the Cafe Intermezzo
Radical Friendship
A lot of this past weekend is still sinking in. A weekend full of memories that will last a lifetime! Words are not coming to me at this time. I think my body and mind are tired, all due to some very wonderful things, so I'll most likely post more words about the weekend at another time.
Steve McVey and Paul Anderson-Walsh hosted the Radical Sonship Conference in Atlanta. It was definitely some radical teaching, all based on some themes lifted from the book of Ephesians. But like I said, I'll have to focus on sharing some of the radical teachings later, and for now I'll focus on my radical friends with whom I got to share in all this! I really can't even adequately describe the feelings I had this weekend, as I came face to face with these friends who have only lived inside my computer up till now! It was a sweet, sweet time.
First off though, a pic of the miles and miles of fluffy cotton over which I got to see the most beautiful sunrise ever! On Friday morning I left Cedar Rapids in the early hours of the morning, while it was dark and cloudy. Heading east towards Detroit, we flew above these clouds, and soon I saw a little orange ball in the distance, rising fairly quickly as we were heading towards it at 5-600 miles per hour, with the earth below spinning quickly in the same direction! I wasn't able to get the camera in a position to photograph the sunrise, but it really was a beautiful glimpse of the beauty of God.
Steve McVey teaching
More to come. See also descriptions of the weekend and pics from Matthew, Gary, Sherry, John, Jamie.
Steve McVey and Paul Anderson-Walsh hosted the Radical Sonship Conference in Atlanta. It was definitely some radical teaching, all based on some themes lifted from the book of Ephesians. But like I said, I'll have to focus on sharing some of the radical teachings later, and for now I'll focus on my radical friends with whom I got to share in all this! I really can't even adequately describe the feelings I had this weekend, as I came face to face with these friends who have only lived inside my computer up till now! It was a sweet, sweet time.
First off though, a pic of the miles and miles of fluffy cotton over which I got to see the most beautiful sunrise ever! On Friday morning I left Cedar Rapids in the early hours of the morning, while it was dark and cloudy. Heading east towards Detroit, we flew above these clouds, and soon I saw a little orange ball in the distance, rising fairly quickly as we were heading towards it at 5-600 miles per hour, with the earth below spinning quickly in the same direction! I wasn't able to get the camera in a position to photograph the sunrise, but it really was a beautiful glimpse of the beauty of God.
Below - Gary Kirkham, Matthew Campbell and me
John Fincher and Jamie Weeks
A partial view of the conference room
A partial view of the conference room
Steve McVey teaching
More to come. See also descriptions of the weekend and pics from Matthew, Gary, Sherry, John, Jamie.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Atlanta, baby!!!
Just time for a quick update on the Radical Sonship conference with Steve McVey and Paul Anderson-Walsh. I arrived in Atlanta yesterday and was promptly greeted by John Fincher, and I fully appreciate all the hospitality he and his wife have shown me! Later in the day I got to meet Ryan and Jamie, Matthew and Gary!!! It's been a long time coming!!! Last night's session was wonderful, and we're looking forward to a full day today. I'll try to post some pics later.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Atlanta / Blogging / Community
Three days till Atlanta!!!
I'm not hopping "in my Chrysler that's as big as a whale" (see video below) but I'll be hopping on a couple of big jet airplanes (thanks Ryan and Jamie for making that happen!!) on Friday morning and heading down to Hotlanta for the Radical Sonship Conference with Steve McVey and Paul Anderson-Walsh! I exchanged a couple of emails with Paul a couple of weeks ago, and I'm excited about what's on his and Steve's hearts regarding this weekend.
I'm also excited to be meeting some friends that I've known only online up to this point! Ryan and Jamie, Matthew Campbell, John Fincher and Gary Kirkham are among those who I've enjoyed "blog" fellowship with, but now will be meeting live and in person! I'm very excited about all of this!
Did I mention I'm excited!
Many of us have come to know each other by a means that we never would've thought of, even as little as 1 to 3 years ago! The blogging world has truly opened up a whole new realm of relationships for so many of us! We all have our "real life" (in the flesh) relationships, but through blogging and commenting God has brought some of us together in a very wonderful way. Check out what nAncY said in this short post yesterday on the subject of blogging and commenting. Among other things, this sticks out to me: "...making it a place of relationship, communion, sharing." Yeah!
When the Lord whispered 'graceroots.org' in my ear 5 years ago, in answer to a question I asked Him, He didn't fill me in on whole lot of details. Some of the details have been filled in since that time, but at first I thought it was primarily going to be a place for me to share my writings about grace. I had no idea what a blog was, so I simply typed up a couple of "articles" and posted them on the website, having no idea who would read them, or if anybody would at all. Then in June of 2006, Dave Lesniak asked in the Grace Walk Forum if anyone had a blog. I didn't have one, but if I remember correctly it was within 24 hours of his asking that question that I started this blog. Again, at first I thought of it primarily as a place for me to write about grace, and I had NO IDEA how all these friendships would come out of it!!! I'm so thankful to the Lord for joining so many of us together through our various blogs. Life has never been the same since, and will never be again!
Unfortunately I'm in a season in life in which I'm not able to spend as much time blogging or commenting as I have in the past. I hope this changes, but for now I'm simply enjoying the simplicity and beauty of the friendships that have evolved in the past 2 or 3 years!
"Headin' down the Atlanta highway..."
(P.S. I think this live version needs more cowbell!)
I'm not hopping "in my Chrysler that's as big as a whale" (see video below) but I'll be hopping on a couple of big jet airplanes (thanks Ryan and Jamie for making that happen!!) on Friday morning and heading down to Hotlanta for the Radical Sonship Conference with Steve McVey and Paul Anderson-Walsh! I exchanged a couple of emails with Paul a couple of weeks ago, and I'm excited about what's on his and Steve's hearts regarding this weekend.
I'm also excited to be meeting some friends that I've known only online up to this point! Ryan and Jamie, Matthew Campbell, John Fincher and Gary Kirkham are among those who I've enjoyed "blog" fellowship with, but now will be meeting live and in person! I'm very excited about all of this!
Did I mention I'm excited!
Many of us have come to know each other by a means that we never would've thought of, even as little as 1 to 3 years ago! The blogging world has truly opened up a whole new realm of relationships for so many of us! We all have our "real life" (in the flesh) relationships, but through blogging and commenting God has brought some of us together in a very wonderful way. Check out what nAncY said in this short post yesterday on the subject of blogging and commenting. Among other things, this sticks out to me: "...making it a place of relationship, communion, sharing." Yeah!
When the Lord whispered 'graceroots.org' in my ear 5 years ago, in answer to a question I asked Him, He didn't fill me in on whole lot of details. Some of the details have been filled in since that time, but at first I thought it was primarily going to be a place for me to share my writings about grace. I had no idea what a blog was, so I simply typed up a couple of "articles" and posted them on the website, having no idea who would read them, or if anybody would at all. Then in June of 2006, Dave Lesniak asked in the Grace Walk Forum if anyone had a blog. I didn't have one, but if I remember correctly it was within 24 hours of his asking that question that I started this blog. Again, at first I thought of it primarily as a place for me to write about grace, and I had NO IDEA how all these friendships would come out of it!!! I'm so thankful to the Lord for joining so many of us together through our various blogs. Life has never been the same since, and will never be again!
Unfortunately I'm in a season in life in which I'm not able to spend as much time blogging or commenting as I have in the past. I hope this changes, but for now I'm simply enjoying the simplicity and beauty of the friendships that have evolved in the past 2 or 3 years!
"Headin' down the Atlanta highway..."
(P.S. I think this live version needs more cowbell!)
Friday, January 30, 2009
Radical Sonship Conference - Atlanta - March 27-28
Heads up on what looks to be a great conference in Atlanta in March! Paul Anderson-Walsh and Steve McVey are joining together for the Radical Sonship Conference, to be held Friday evening and all day Saturday, March 27-28. For details and registration information, click here. The conference is free, with an offering received to cover expenses. I'll be there, thanks to the help of some of my great friends!
It may be a surprise to some, but this will only bee the second time ever that I've attended any type of grace/exchanged-life conference or seminar! I suppose the reason is simply because there hasn't been much of that type of thing around here that I know of. In the past, Steve McVey has held Grace Walk Conferences at the Vineyard church here in town (before I knew of the church), and he's been here a couple of times since then, once for what I'd call 'weekend preaching' and once for a conference other than an actual Grace Walk Conference.
I've actually had thoughts in passing, but never impressed all that heavily upon my heart, to host this sort of thing myself. I think it would be hard work, but well worth it! I've got plenty to keep me busy for now, so we'll see. :) Maybe I should open up an exchanged life Midwest chapter. LOL... Anyway, I just wanted to pass on the info about the Radical Sonship Conference.
It may be a surprise to some, but this will only bee the second time ever that I've attended any type of grace/exchanged-life conference or seminar! I suppose the reason is simply because there hasn't been much of that type of thing around here that I know of. In the past, Steve McVey has held Grace Walk Conferences at the Vineyard church here in town (before I knew of the church), and he's been here a couple of times since then, once for what I'd call 'weekend preaching' and once for a conference other than an actual Grace Walk Conference.
I've actually had thoughts in passing, but never impressed all that heavily upon my heart, to host this sort of thing myself. I think it would be hard work, but well worth it! I've got plenty to keep me busy for now, so we'll see. :) Maybe I should open up an exchanged life Midwest chapter. LOL... Anyway, I just wanted to pass on the info about the Radical Sonship Conference.
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