Tonight marks the first training session for the Leadership Opportunity from Peacemaker Ministries. I have been eager to get this training started and I think it is another important step in embedding Biblical peacemaking principles in our church. As I have seen first hand in churches over and over, just because we're all professing Christians doesn't mean that we all act the right way when conflict comes. Tonight's session will focus on leaders being peacemakers. So often we see conflict as a bad thing and fight against it or hide from it (or both). We add to the conflict by our reaction. When handled by a strong, Biblical leader, conflict can be positive. We have seen this play out at BCBC several times to the point that I really feel that one of the reasons we are seeing such growth and excitement now is because we have grown stronger through recent conflicts as God has taught us and refined us. I'm looking forward to meeting with the Deacons and Deaconesses tonight to begin this training (and any other leaders who want to join us). Phase two will begin this fall as we continue the training in the Organizational Meetings. It's going to be a great night!

I think there are some impersonal Christians. Don't get me wrong, I don't mean they are unfriendly or aloof. Instead I am referring to their relationship with God. The Bible warns against merely understanding without knowing God. When the Bible uses the word "know" for salvation, it almost always uses a word that denotes a personal and intimate connection, like when Adam 'knew' his wife and she gave birth to a son. That's pretty intimate. Yet many Christians seem to focus more on being close to God through information than intimacy. They can argue about his Word and win. They know the finer points of theology but they have little intimate open relationship with God. God reveals in the Bible that His heart, and the heart of a relationship with Him is built on love. God is love. God loves the world. God loves us. We are to love Him. This love for Him will also be reflected in how we react to others. In other words, if you want to know how someone's love for God is doing, look at how they are reacting to others.

1 John 4:19-20 We love, because He first loved us. (20) If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

1 John 2:9-11 The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. (10) The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. (11) But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

This is where our theology gets intimate. Do we loudly and proudly proclaim His truth, meditate on His truth and think great thoughts about God but not open our hearts and lives to Him in humility and intimacy? Do we find ourselves more defined by our theology stands and ability to judge people based on proper theology than on how loving we are to the world that God loves?

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. (2) If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. (3) And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

I think that without a personal, intimate connection to God, we end up with people who are theologically accurate but a bunch of noisy gongs. They understand, they meditate, they even preach, but they do not reveal the characteristic love that defines a true intimate life with God. When you have come to know Him, in true deep intimate ways, you will be filled with love, for God and for others. You will be known for your love for the brothers, for your enemies, for everyone. Are you an impersonal Christian? Do you spend a lot of time learning, studying, and meditating on His truth, but little time being intimate with Him? Are you known for your love?

Had a great time at church this morning and now we are enjoying a quiet rest of the day with some good weather. The kids are playing in the backyard and I have made it out onto the back porch to catch my breath after a busy morning. I thought this morning went really well with all the different parts coming together to create a great day. We had a big turnout for SonRose service and breakfast. They tell me they served over 100 for breakfast alone! The kitchen crew did a great job with plenty of great food. Moving the Sunday school classes out into the new addition did give us a lot of new space that made it easier to fit more people in. The family sunday school seemed to go really well and then the morning service was fun. Now for a reflection that connects to this morning and my post on Friday. This afternoon I watched as my two oldest came together, hugged, and then walked along with their arms around each other. This was while playing out back. I was happy to see that and then I realized that they have witnessed that behavior a lot. Not only are Sarah and I demonstrably affectionate with each other in front of the kids, but they witness a lot of demonstrated affection at church. This morning I hugged a lot of people or put my arm around them or just touched their shoulder or elbow as an affectionate gesture. My kids regularly see me sharing affectionate gestures with the people at church. As a result, they do what they have seen modeled. They demonstrate affection for one another and for us. It just drives home the importance of demonstrating love. It is not enough for people (spouses, children, friends) to know you love them. It is often not even enough for them to hear that you love them. They must experience that love, be touched by it in real ways for it to really get through. Some people are better at that than others but just because you aren't good at it is no excuse not to work at it and find ways to tangibly demonstrate love. After all, that is what God did with the incarnation and does today in the indwelling. Just wanted to share those thoughts today as I reflect on a great morning and enjoy a great day. Happy Resurrection Day!

Had a great meeting with Nate this morning. I continue to so deeply appreciate his partnership in the ministry. One of the things that he mentioned this morning was the way that we (him, the deacons, myself) express love for each other. He mentioned that at work he has sometimes been asked if he had been on the phone with his wife after they hear him end a call with "I love you." They are surprised and confused when he tells them it was not. It is so great to be working with a bunch of men that are not afraid to not only love, but to express, both by saying it, and by giving a good hug. The more we express our love to one another as men, the easier it is to stay unified and working together. Of course, that does not do all of it. You also need to work hard on communication and conflict resolution, but those work better when there is an atmosphere of expressed love. I am so thankful for the deacons and Nate and other men in the church that tell me they love me and are comfortable with me telling them that I love them. Like the Bible says, let the love of the brethren continue!

Today has been strange. I keep thinking it is Friday not Thursday. I don't know why I keep resetting to Friday. Anyway, just some odds and ends for today's blog post. I finally corrected an issue I had with the blog. It had always bothered me that there was no 'comment' link on the blog homepage. You had to click on an entry and go to its own page to be able to see the comment section. This has now been remedied. I also was able to space the entries out a little better. The CSS that I'm learning is really helping. Had another blue screen of death with my laptop. I think the time is coming to buy a new one. Sigh. Hate to spend the money. IV was a lot of fun at UMF last night. A good turn-out and good time talking with some of the people there last night. It is great to experience the brotherhood of Christ. I'm really looking forward to the services this weekend. I think both Good Friday, SonRose, and Easter services are going to be a lot of fun. Should be a good weekend. Finally, I am really glad that it stopped raining. We needed the sun just on an emotional level. The kids have loved being able to be outside today. So, I think on Saturday we should have a lunch "flash mob" and everyone show up at church with their lunch and we'll picnic in the awesome weather. Whose with me? **Update** Oh, I almost forgot. Last month marked a personal record for me beyond rainfall. :) I had 20 blog posts, passing my previous monthly record of 19 in June of 09. Doesn't really mean a thing, but I was proud of myself for doing better.