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.