tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-105899122009-10-29T18:00:21.216-07:00Keith Brentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08370891993969932472noreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-73249492076977955652009-09-30T04:06:00.001-07:002009-09-30T04:06:43.008-07:00

Meditations on Faith after reading Colossians chapter 1-Chris GonzalezA little faith is worth something, spotted and tattered as it may be. It is worth something because it exists. There is no better case against the forces of Evil than the existence of faith…faith in any condition or size. Evil has a no tolerance policy on faith and therefore any little scrap of it is an affront. A little

Fajitahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05704189756009543355gonza181@umn.edu0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-42390225011797100882009-09-28T20:27:00.000-07:002009-09-28T20:30:08.835-07:00

Diversity I always thougth diversity just happened.I always thought that diversity was easy.I always thought that diversity was someone else's job.I knew that diversity is beautiful.I knew that diversity is a sign of Christ.I knew that diveristy fires us up.I didn't know that diversity is intentional.I didn't know that diversity is easiest when we start over.I didn't know that diveristy means we

KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-8902408054323764412009-08-07T11:03:00.000-07:002009-08-07T11:06:39.557-07:00

Today is my son's 17th birthday. What a joy it has been to see him grow in our home.However, this post is probably more about me than him, and I guess I should begin by stating that. You can read on if you want, however as parents we do self reflection on our kids' important days at times.I had a dad who was emotionally distant and didn't connect well with me or my brother. He was an atheist and

KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-76366535510813086172009-05-12T07:36:00.001-07:002009-05-12T07:36:31.093-07:00

What does the word justice bring to mind? What did justice mean to Jesus?I think of the words "fairness" and "equity" and "dignity" among others.Today we're hosting Paul Kent from Habitat for Humanity Tulsa at the Green Country Event Center. We'll get his input on how our land or resources can be used to bring justice to those without adequate or affordable housing in Tulsa. We're also hosting

Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08755964710112615631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-3214100175330377742009-05-01T11:30:00.000-07:002009-05-01T11:33:34.008-07:00

As many of you know today is our monthly Friday prayer and fast day. I am cramming a handful of Lays potato chips in my mouth in preparation.The Vice Principle at Reynolds High School has recently challenged me to be praying about our work to develop boys groups in the high school. She has also been leading a committee to do a Human Trafficking conference in May at the school. She asked me point

KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-75251574646641201922009-04-21T14:02:00.001-07:002009-04-21T14:02:32.251-07:00

This message is from Michael, co director of Alternatives for Simple Living www.simpleliving.org How will you be spending Earth day? We hope you will be able to spend time enjoying creation and support efforts to encourage the wise stewardship of the planet earth.A common comment these days is "Now is the time we need to start living more simply." Usually this comment is made in the context of

Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08755964710112615631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-3854936807705684692009-03-06T13:31:00.001-08:002009-03-06T13:31:27.376-08:00

I'm staying with a high school friend and his family and enjoying reconnecting with them. I'm here for the ZOE Conference at the Monterey Church of Christ. I'm involved with ZOE because we help people break free from legalism and experience a new journey with Jesus Christ. We help people with stepping stones like articles on Wineskins.org, conference experiences in worship, great speakers such as

Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08755964710112615631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-54586452104536182802009-03-05T05:27:00.001-08:002009-03-05T05:27:05.227-08:00

During Lent I'm on a Daniel Fast. No, not Daniel in the Bible.My friend, Daniel Mwaza, in Uganda told me how to lose weight . . . He said, "Stop eating so much."So I'm eating half of the normal American calorie intake (which about matches intake of half the world), with about 4 oz of protein a day.I lived seven years in Uganda, and this fast helps me remember those days when I saw children in

Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08755964710112615631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-80733270340047543522009-01-17T22:52:00.000-08:002009-01-17T23:00:04.709-08:00

I walked past a van parked in front of a handicapped children's center recently. The symbol of a wheelchair was on a sticker on the window of the sliding door. It read, "Please, Leave Extra Room." Knowing that the people on board that van need extra space enables me to give it to them.If, somehow, we could look into each other's heart, and if we then realized that everyone wears a sticker on the

Stephennoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-76357265172853426922009-01-02T15:59:00.001-08:002009-01-02T15:59:26.920-08:00

Could you have imagined one year ago what 2008 would bring? Can you imagine what events will happen in your life in 2009, what will happen internationally?What can you do in 2009 to be ready for the changes that will occur in your life and in the world? Since I was a child I have made personal goals at the beginning of each year. I no longer make personal goals but try to think about the

Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08755964710112615631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-76416589989444703262008-12-23T21:31:00.000-08:002008-12-23T22:02:45.946-08:00

A MISSIONAL VIEW OF CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS“Merry Christmas” offends these days. Christmas trees offend, and The Ten Commandments too. Symbols of Christianity are increasingly getting the thumbs down…if you haven’t noticed.What’s the Christian’s response? How do we act and speak when our Bibles are contraband on campus, when our emblems are removed, when our buildings are denuded of their crosses? What

Stephennoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-63179211051193867782008-12-19T07:17:00.000-08:002008-12-19T07:22:25.755-08:00

A couple of months ago I listened to the FBI and Sheriff's dept. do a presentation on human trafficking and underaged prostitution. I was at the regular Attny Gen. Sexual Assault Task Force meeting where we had been discussing "sex industries" and prostitution. Interesting conversation that most ministers don't have on a regular basis. I would have to say that the team I work with (about 15)

KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-2429779342404134772008-12-05T13:32:00.000-08:002008-12-05T13:34:29.383-08:00

The UN has designated this year as a focus on human rights in communities. I was asked to participate on a panel at the Portland City Hall concerning domestic violence. I sat with 5 other professionals to talk and then participate in Q and A. One of the panelists, who was Vietnamese, shared her story about being at a store purchasing a tent. The store was out and the sales associate called the

KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-53645112662718969932008-11-30T18:36:00.001-08:002008-11-30T18:36:44.570-08:00

Today is the first day of Advent. The following format tells us about this practice but can also be used by families or groups, with younger people asking the question and others answering.What is Advent? Advent is a tradition of Christians that means "coming" and calls us to live in the tension of how Jews felt while waiting for the Messiah. They waited for Emmanuel, God with us.What do we wait

Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08755964710112615631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-90292443151099836702008-09-30T05:52:00.001-07:002008-09-30T05:52:20.796-07:00

Marcia Ford is hilarious. Reminds me of writer and librarian, Marge Wood, who has written for Wineskins. Ford is giddy about the fact that independent voters have become a major political force, from around 10 percent in the 80s to more than 40 percent today. This is a great development because it loosens the bounds to red and blue parties. She says, "The growing discomfort with the church's

Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08755964710112615631noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-49651730391841265662008-09-23T04:32:00.001-07:002008-09-23T04:32:21.903-07:00

Marcia Ford is a kindred spirit in her journey politically, spiritually, and as a writer. She describes herself as "a book author, with 18 traditionally published books. I'm also a ghostwriter, though of course I can't talk specifically about those books; let's just say that I've ghostwritten or contributed to 12 additional books. I'm also a book editor, book reviewer, writing instructor, writing

Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08755964710112615631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-3985982287315680452008-09-09T06:41:00.001-07:002008-09-09T06:41:47.861-07:00

Through my association with Uganda, Wineskins, ZOE, The Kibo Group, water projects, Neighborhood Kitchens, and Garnett Church of Christ, I hear about and participate in many non-profit projects and missions that are always needing funding. If you or your church would like to get involved in missions, donating or participating in amazing work serving God's children worldwide, please email me:

Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08755964710112615631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-20976013661412959432008-09-04T16:42:00.001-07:002008-09-04T16:45:42.569-07:00

The other night we watched the Olympic Womens' Marathon. Romania's Constantina Tomescu won the 26.2 mile race. She took a gamble and it paid off.For the first 1 1/2 hours the pack of runners (about 25-30) stayed together and ran a slower pace than normal. Shortly after this Tomescu bolted ahead of the pack and held her lead for the final 45 minutes. Sometimes she was as far as 1 minute ahead of

KMiVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01836485376510663761noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-64353071033814219442008-09-04T12:17:00.000-07:002008-09-04T12:35:35.755-07:00

I'm trying to decide who to vote for. Each election year I decide between the candidates. Now, I know that sounds a bit mundane and you may wonder why I'm even saying that. Don't we all choose a candidate. Not really. Most voters are Republicans or Democrats. Most voters vote their party. Still, many people vote for "the man (or woman), not the party!"So I'm an independent who leans toward

Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08755964710112615631noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-24557212391196849552008-07-01T09:55:00.000-07:002008-07-01T10:02:37.852-07:00

Thinking about tracks for the October 2008 ZOE Leadership Conference in Nashville . . . we're considering how we might do more on healthy leadership structures. Please help us brainstorm.What structures from non-profit world work that apply to church leadership?Are business models appropriate or inappropriate for church leadership? Why or why not?Ian Fair's book is being republished by Leafwood .

Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08755964710112615631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-2142812264896435102008-05-23T11:42:00.000-07:002008-05-23T12:23:31.455-07:00

No words can adequately express how you ministered to me through your prayers, visits, emails, texts, and calls over the past week. Over and over again, the song "You Never Let Go" kept ringing in my head and each communication I received from you reminded me that God was using you to remind me that He never lets go.Most of you are familiar with my story. My sister has been fighting all her

Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08755964710112615631noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-11925100659035060562008-05-21T23:23:00.000-07:002008-05-22T05:19:43.387-07:00

Life support was removed from Kristi Blank tonight and she died five minutes later. Eric is hurting. We mourn the loss of Eric's sister, who had three children and one grandchild.Thank you for your prayers and please continue to pray for Eric, Natalie and the rest of the family.

Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08755964710112615631noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-91765646832160728612008-05-20T21:16:00.000-07:002008-05-20T21:28:26.500-07:00

From Eric in Spokane, Washington:First I want to thank you. I don't have words to express how these messages you've sent, the prayers you've lifted have kept me going.It has been so encourage to stop, sit and pick up my phone and read the prayers and thoughts of so many. It has been a very emotional roller coaster. Below is the latest.Kristi has two doctors seeing her and they have very

Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08755964710112615631noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-45934547023956654702008-05-20T06:52:00.000-07:002008-05-20T07:06:22.401-07:00

Eric texted me yesterday with these words . . .This is so hard. In addition to having to re-live the death of my (biological) mother 12 years ago, I am witnessing my sister, who I cared for when we were kids, dying right in front of me.Kristi has not been awake since we arrived Sunday. She is breathing on her own, but breaths are more and more shallow and heart rate has gone from 124 to 134.It

Greg Taylorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08755964710112615631noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10589912.post-89316136817801883992008-05-09T16:35:00.001-07:002008-05-09T17:10:02.796-07:00

"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." ~

Keith Brentonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08370891993969932472noreply@blogger.com0