I spent some time during lunch today updating my google reader account so that it is more in-sync with my blog roll. In doing so, I realized I had somehow missed a great post that Steven Manskar at Accountable Discipleship has about a recent meeting that all of the cabinets in United Methodism had called “The United Methodist Way.” One of the focuses of the meeting was Wesley’s General Rules. Manskar talks about what he hopes will come of this meeting.  It is worth a read.

Today, I am working on my sermon for this Sunday. I am preaching on the Gospel reading from the lectionary, Matthew 3:1-12. This morning I have been reading the commentaries I have on Matthew. One of the commentaries I bought when I first moved to Lamont was a commentary by D.A. Carson that was on sale at one of the nearby Christian bookstores. I often use it as a supplement, but this morning I was struck by his characteristic of repentance:

What is meant is not a merely intellectual change of mind or mere grief, still less doing penance, but a radical transformation of the entire person, a fundamental turnaround involving mind and action and including overtones of grief, which results in “fruit in keeping with repentance.” (The Expository’s Bible Commentary, Matthew 1-12, p.99)

I don’t know that there is much that I have to say that would improve upon that explanation of repentance. I simply would say amen and hope for God’s grace to continue to enable true repentance in my life and in the live of others.  At this point in my sermon preparation, I think the focus of my sermon will have something to do with a deeper understanding of repentance.

A group of pastors in the Enid District of the Oklahoma Annual Conference began meeting together in September to work through Reclaiming the Wesleyan Tradition: John Wesley’s Sermons for Today. I think the study went over well, but we also found that we just enjoyed getting together and having a chance to check in and see how things are going in our ministries. So, what began as a group meeting specifically to go through one book has become more permanent as we decided to continue meeting.

We met today to discuss what to do next. We decided to read together Bishop Robert Schnase’s Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. I am excited to read and discuss it together because it is a book that has been on my radar for awhile, and I just haven’t gotten around to picking up a copy. The way we decided on this book was that we all brought books that we wanted to recommend and then we talked about each one and finally arrived at a consensus to read Bishop Schnase’s book. I really enjoyed getting to hear from different folks about the books that had spoken to them, and now my “Book to Read” list is several titles longer!

The best part about this group, though, is that we are really getting to know each other. I think we are starting to form a degree of trust and comfort with one another. It has been exciting to me because I now feel like I know some pastor’s pretty well that I didn’t know at all before. It has increased a sense of collegiality in our district and it has caused me to feel a deeper sense of hope for our conference and our church as I have come to realize what gifted and passionate pastors God has blessed us with. I have often heard people mention that they are struggling to feel connected to other people. I think the simple act of committing to meet once a week with members of the covenant community is a powerful way to connect to each other, and strengthen the connection that all Methodist ministers are a part of.

Are you in a group of other pastors? What have you done that has made you feel the connectional system was strengthened?

It was good to be an OU fan last night as the Sooners pretty well dominated a very good Missouri team. I was not sure we would be able to beat them twice in the same season. It is amazing that Bob Stoops has now won his 5th Big XII championship with his 5th different starting quarterback. I would not be shocked if his 6th championship comes under the current quarterback.

Meanwhile, the BCS has been exposed as ridiculous at a whole other level. (Check out this poll at espn.com where more than a quarter of a million people have voted and more than 80% would approve of a playoff. Apparently the one place where public opinion does not rule is in college football.) I will not even make the case for OU to be in the national championship game. So many teams can make a good argument for why they should be in it this year, that it is almost absurd. I will just say that I would, of course, love to see OU playing for the championship and I think that they would give whoever they played a run for their money. But this afternoon fans of Ohio State, LSU, Georgia, Virginia-Tech, USC, Kansas, Missouri, Hawaii, (insert your team’s name here) are all saying the same thing. No matter what happens it will probably be tough to say with a straight face that there is a consensus “best team in the country” when the season is over.

Either way, just as long as we don’t play Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, I will be happy!

This week’s Friday Shout Out goes out to Bobby Gruenewald. Bobby is the “Pastor, Innovational Leader” at LifeChurch.tv. He is also one of the co-authors of Swerve, LifeChurch.tv’s blog that deals with “leadership, technology, and innovation.”

Ok, Bobby, here is how this works. You have received this week’s “Friday Shout Out.” All you have to do now is shout back. I would particularly be interested to hear what role you think communal formation, especially small group accountability, will play in the internet church, or in online communities in general. Do you prefer physical gatherings for more vulnerable things like holding one another accountable for growing in faith, or do you see potential for online community that could not be met through more conventional small groups? These are just some things I would be particularly interested to hear your thoughts on, but the microphone is yours! You are free to say whatever you like, all you really have to do is shout back!

I know I have been off-line for awhile. I apologize for the absence. I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with both sides of our family. It was a relaxing time and great to reconnect with family. The best part of the vacation was when my dad and I teamed up against my brother in Axis and Allies (the board game that my brother always destroyed me at when we played). Although we didn’t get to finish the game, we were beating him pretty bad.
Brad, my brother, might see that a little differently… but this isn’t his blog.

This week I went to Canyon Camp for my last round of Board of Ordained Ministry Interviews. I had my interview at 10:00am this morning, and I was approved for ordination at this Annual Conference. The process towards ordination has been going on so long, I think I had sort of become numb to how much it meant to me. When I was called back into the room and told that they had voted unanimously for me to be ordained, I became a bit overwhelmed and teared up.

I have been especially aware today of what a blessing it is to be a member of the Oklahoma Annual Conference. I am excited to become a part of the covenant community at this next Annual Conference. Thank you to all of you who have helped me along the way, whether through giving advice and wisdom, support, encouragement, or a listening ear. I have been blessed by so many different people’s love and support. Thank you!

God is so good! May God’s love touch your life this day as it has graced mine.

I am enjoying some time off and getting to relax with Melissa’s side of the family. We came to Norman Wednesday night and are spending Thanksgiving with a large group of family in Southwestern Oklahoma. Friday we will have lunch with the other half of Melissa’s family and then head to visit my family Friday in Tulsa.

When it is all said and done we will try to drive on every road in Oklahoma… But it is great to be with family! Blessings to you and yours this day!

I noticed today that a few people have recently clicked on the Book Reviews tab. In all honesty, I forgot it was there. So, the page was empty. But no more!

I have updated the Book Reviews Tab at the top right of the blog. If you click on the tab you will find a picture of every book that I have reviewed so far. From there you can click on the book to go directly to the review I posted. Also, if there is more than one post related to the book, they are all listed sequentially under the picture of the book.

If you have any suggestions as to how I can improve the Book Review section, I would be grateful for your feedback. (I would also gladly listen to any feedback or suggestions you have about the site in general.)

Often other people say things and I think, I wish I had said that! So, I would like to redirect your attention to some excellent recent posts in the world of blogging:

• Steven Manskar at Accountable Discipleship makes a powerful case for returning to our Wesleyan DNA, which is essentially missional.
• Andrew Thompson at Gen-X Rising discusse the importance of small group accountability, specifically the role that that Covenant Discipleship has played in his own spiritual growth.
• Andrew Conard at Thoughts of Resurrection writes about a strategy for getting 20 somethings to go to church.
• Do you know your Methodist History? Take Michelle’s United Methodist Quiz at 33 Names of Grace.

What are you still doing here? You have a lot of reading to do!

I opened my inbox and to my delight had a message “Yancey: Wesley’s England.” I almost deleted it before it sunk in. The email is the daily CHRISTIANITY TODAY email. Yancey talks about reading Wesley’s journal on a recent trip to England. He compares his relatively comfortable experience traveling though England to Wesley’s much different experience. He also mildly criticizes Wesley, writing in the margins of Wesley’s Journal, “Lighten up, John!” It is an interesting and thought provoking piece, that is worth taking three minutes to read.

For those of you who do read, what is your reaction to Yancey’s take on Wesley?