May postponed to June

We are postponing May's meeting until June 28, 2007. We will meet at Galileo's in the Paseo District. We will be discussing the realties of global slave trade and its presence in OKC. If you are interested, check out www.notforsalecampaign.org. Sorry if postponing causes an inconvenience to anyone.

May 31, 2007

Since the last two meetings have been devoid of people, I am curious as to who can make it on Thursday, May 31st?

Where Do Babies Go?

Since my sister-in-law called to announce that my 2yr old (barely) nephew had accepted Jesus as his personal savior, and the Pope says (the) Limbo is a bad idea, I was wondering where do you gals and guys think babies go? At what point do you think they start going? Just for kicks you could also mention your thoughts on baptism vs. dedication (or whatever your church does).

I choose to think God's grace is big enough for babies. A good arguement might convience me they cease to exist. If there is a baby hell I am sure it is a lake of poopie diapers, and not fire.

March Meeting

Yes, we are meeting this Thursday, March 22, 7:00 p.m. at Tapwerks in Bricktown. Upstairs, behind the big wall. Jeff has asked what the topic will be, and we left off last time without planning anything. Maybe beer, food, and conversation this time with topics that are already on your mind? Let me know. And I'm sorry I suck at organizing.

Does Anyone Know?

What is the topic for this months meeting? I would like to imagine I would have time (take time) to read or think about it before hand.

Robert Webber and Prayer in the Face of Cancer ...

Robert Webber tells of his own experience with prayer in relationship to his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer. In light of our discussion on prayer and in particular "Intercessory Prayer" this caught my attention.
(HT: Jordon)

Many of you know that I was diagnosed with advanced stage IV pancreatic cancer on August 25th, 2006. Many of you have been praying earnestly for my healing and sending me e-mails to encourage and support me. I have been overwhelmed by the numbers of people who have upheld me in prayer and I want to update you on my condition and say a special word of “Thanks.”

After months in and out of the hospital with ever possible complication (kidney failure, emergency operation for a pierced bowel, massive infections, and chemo/radiation) I was sent home on December 9th with the words “You have two to four weeks left to live). On December 9th I was a virtual invalid. My wife had to bathe me, dress me, feed me and walk me. I slept 16-18 hours a day and rarely moved any place except to my bed and couch. I even went under the care of palpable hospice. However, instead of getting worse and dying as predicted, I gradually began to improve. Now, two months later I am practically leading a normal life. I care for myself, walk without a walker, go out to eat, work out (to pound weights) and write every day. I attribute this improvement, however long it lasts, to answered prayer – yours and mine, my wife. I have literally bugged and argued with God!

So, in light of my improvement, how do you pray? I want to ask God to heal me but what if he already has. But, I’m also reluctant to be presumptuous and tell everyone I’ve been healed given the statistical downside of pancreatic cancer and the fact that we are foregoing any definite tests for now, like a MRI, CT scan or PET scan.

So, here is how Joanne and I solved our dilemma. We live and pray one day at a time. We pray each day and say, “Thank you God for the healing you gave me today. Please heal me tomorrow.” It has occurred to both of us that if we were truly spiritually sensitive, we would have prayed that way all of our lives but it took the threat of imminent death to bring us to this point.

We cannot begin to tell all of you how we have benefited from your consistent prayers. We’re convinced that God is answering those prayers and that all the improvement thus far has come from God’s healing powers and that He is the source of all grace. I am confident that God sustained me today but I’m also painfully aware that I am “terminal,” at some point, in the larger sense of the word, as we all are. Thanks be to God that Jesus Christ has conquered sin and death and we all face a great future.

Please continue your prayers for both of us. Joanne will see her doctor and have some tests done as her stomach tension and discomfort continues. We think it’s “caregiver’ stress but want to be sure. Also, although I’m better, my strength is fragile and I fatigue easily. Some days are better than others. We appreciate the way everyone has maintained our privacy and ask that you continue to do so.

I hope that you all know that the love and prayers you have “sent” our way are being returned to you from us. We are so deeply moved by them on our behalf.

February Meeting

We're on for next week, Thursday, February 22, 7:00 p.m. at Tapwerks in Bricktown. Upstairs. We're confirmed for the private bar again, so life is good. Dani and Josh are scheduled to make short presentations on prayer, and then we'll discuss it: why, when, how, who cares, silence, frustration, "praise reports" (sorry, I love that old phrase). They've had a little trouble with the heat lately, so if it's cold that day, dress warm. Peace.

Registration Information for ETREK Road Trip

You may register for the upcoming ETREK Road Trip by e-mailing me - todd@etrek.com.

Registration -
Cost - $199
Deadline - Friday, February 16th
See previous posts for more details

Kicking off thoughts on prayer.

Sunday I was praying the pastoral prayer. It seemed appropriate to pray for those hurt in the ice storm, those who has lost their electricity, especially in the McAlister area. In that moment I imagined what it must be like to be cold and not have even the ability to plug in a donated heater. What were they doing to stay warm? All those fleeting thoughts in a matter of seconds. For one blip of a moment I had the notion that I should abruptly stop the prayer and say, "We ought to do something." That seemed more spiritual than what I was voicing, more fully human and decent. I didn't. I wonder if it were not God's Spirit interacting with me in prayer, "Tim, you sure do pray pretty. How bout taking up a collection instead."

January meeting

It appears Icepocalypse '07 is gone so things look good for this Thursday, Jan. 25, to go ahead and meet. We haven't settled on a topic yet, and we'll also want to talk about how we'll handle things this year. We may want different people to present an issue for discussion so the thing doesn't turn into just a book study or excuse to drink good beer (not that there's anything wrong with either of those).

We'll be at Tapwerks in Bricktown. Upstairs. Start at 7:00. I'll be there at 6:30 to make sure everything is set up and to have a beer before anyone else arrives, so if you want to show up early to chat...

ETREK Road Trip Registration Open!

Registration is open for the upcoming ETREK Road Trip (see ETREK Road Trips Comes to OKC Metro). Contact Todd at todd@etrek.com for more information, payment options and Renovare information. Registration for the Road Trip is $249. UPDATE! Price Reduced - $199

ETREK Road Trip Comes to OKC Metro!

“Leaders are learners” – this is an ETREK maxim. ETREK Collaborative Learning Journeys (www.etrek.com) will host a “Road Trip” around the subject of “spiritual habits/practices.” Currently ETREK partners with Biblical Seminary in Hatfield, PA to offer innovative educational opportunities. One of the goals of ETREK is to bring learning opportunities “to you.” We developed the Road Trip to include virtually the same features as our regular courses with the exception of travel to a seminary campus and the tuition associated with “courses for credit.”

The Road Trip Format

Ø February 16-17 (optional, $40, separate registration) – Renovare Conference at Crossing Community Church

Ø February 19 – April – 5 to 6 Conference Calls with “practitioners” and noted leaders in the area of spiritual formation/habits/practices.

Ø April – Two Day Spiritual Retreat in the OKC Metro Area with Spencer Burke

Conference Call Guests

We continue to develop our “conference call list.” These have been our past guests. Many will participate in this course. We are waiting confirmation.

Ø Frederica Mathews-Green (Eastern Orthodox) - CONFIRMED

Ø Karen Ward (Lutheran) - CONFIRMED

Ø Phyllis Tickle (Episcopal) – CONFIRMED

Ø Earl Creps (Assembly of God Theological Seminary - CONFIRMED

Ø Dan Phillips (Southern Baptist Chaplain, Centennial Medical Center, Nashville, TN) – CONFIRMED

Ø Surprise Guest in March - CONFIRMED

Details

Cost - $249

ETREK underscores the relational element in learning. For those who are able to attend the Renovare Conference at Crossings Community Church we will take the occasion to “meet” for the first time as a group. (This is optional. The cost is an “add on” taken care of directly through Crossings and Renovare by each individual). The teaching of Richard Foster and James Bryan Smith, and the worship leading of George Skramstraad, comprise the Renovare Team for the event. Those who plan to attend the Renovare’ Conference would meet during the lunch on Saturday, February 17.

From February 19 through the second week in April we will engage in 5 to 6 90-minute conference calls with one of our guests. We will attempt to schedule conference calls every other week. The intervening weeks may be spent in peer calls and/or online message boards/interaction. Spencer Burke, founder of TheOoze.com and ETREK Collaborative Learning Journeys will facilitate our calls.

In April we will share in a “Spiritual Retreat” at a Metro OKC “retreat center.” Depending on the number of registrants, we may be able to cover the cost for the one night stay at the retreat center. Otherwise, it will be an additional cost for each participant.

For more information and registration, contact Todd Littleton: todd@etrek.com or doc.todd@gmail.com.