Well here it is early Sunday morning. I'm up around 5AM (as per usual). i spent time this week writing and re-writing and reworking the book. It's harder doing this than some might guess. I'm familiar with the material - I've taught it from Ust Barguzine to Casablanca to Mobile - so it's not that I don't know the stuff. But getting it together and having my mind engage it at the depth I want is sometimes lacking. And after several hours, I'm pretty much spent. And my brain just turns to mush. As if it wasn't already.
So on the side I'm reading
The Shack. I've almost finished and am intrigued by the whole thing! I can understand why the Religion Police have been upset. I used to be one, so I understand why they don't
get it! Paul Young's premise is
it's all about relationships! Sound familiar? Remind you of anyone? It's all about a relationship with God the Trinity and with everyone else! Really! A true fulfilling relationship with God brings healing, hope, freedom and restoration. We say we know this, but most people - Christians - are so damaged and ego-centric that we can't get past the whole it's-all-about-me syndrome. How can we fulfill God's purpose if we can't get healed enough to step out in faith and actually accomplish something of eternal significance? And when I say "eternal significance" I don't necessarily mean a CPM in Borneo or Mecca. It could be an act of charity and kindness to a neighbor. It could be a kind word of encouragement at just the right time. Because I'll probably go to church today, I won't get much writing done so I hope to finish
The Shack. And I have several other books I want to look at.
On Thursday morning very early I fly to San Jose, Costa Rica. Zach is meeting me there. He's flying from Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale to San Jose. I'm flying from Pensacola to Atlanta to San Jose. Our planes are supposed to arrive within 1/2 hour of each other. We will see. Zach and I will just hang out together while I'm there to meet DeLynn Hoover and talk a little about missions. It should be a lot of fun. DeLynn and I've chatted on the phone and he sounds like a lot of fun and he seems to have a lot of visions and pizazz for missions and training the next generation.
Phyllis is still in Lakeland, Florida with Jeff, her brother getting him settled in his new home. I miss her a lot, but it is really quiet around here and good for writing. It's funny how after all these years you grow so close. But then it's all about relationships. It really is.