I literally cannot walk across my office floor. Every desktop, table, or otherwise remotely flat surface is covered with candles, art work, oragami paper, and glue sticks. It looks like the 50 lb suitcase full of supplies that I lugged to Emergent SD exploded in here. Thankfully I’ve found a bag of hershey’s kisses so I have sustenance. That, and I’m listening to “What is this thing Called Love” on This American Life so I should be okay ….

This morning the girls and I did centering prayer. I told the girls to close thier eyes and imagine the God who Created us, the Son, and the Holy Spirit sitting around the table, with a space for each of us. (Based on Rublev’s icon of the Trinity.) Then we took a deep breath in and a deep breath out and asked them to show us what they were doing today. Eden said:

“I see a yellow path with green grass all around it and red flowers. … I really did see it, Mommy!”

I don’t know what she’s made of that today. But it was an encouragement to me. Dorothy and her travel companions have made … {read more…}

Upon returning home from Emergent SD and realizing Lent starts Wednesday…

Hey Dwight,

Just spent a week with some of the best minds in the Emergent world. I didn’t come away with much that was applicable (from the main sessions), as they had to speak to the majority and the majority were evangelicals beginning the tiptoe towards kneedeep postmodernism.

So now, it’s nearly Lent, and I need help. From a practioner. You know, a guy who really has ants in his basement.

Here’s the thing. My tribe, they are all over the place with who Jesus is/was. The divinty of christ is up for grabs. The reality of the ressurection is up for grabs. How the bloody, violent cross … {read more…}

What a lovely little romp we’ve had! Jen’s top secret plan to host Emergent.alt was a raging success. We gleefully managed to fill almost every “session time” with our own personal gatherings at the lunch table, the poolside, or bellied up to the bar. One night we had about twenty people crammed in to our hotel room. I’m not sure how, but several bottles of wine and a dozen microbrews turned up, along with a half dozen bars of gourmet chocolate. I suspect that Juliana and her travel expenses account from Jossey-Bass had something to do about the wine….Can I just pause here and say that the fun and fashionable Juliana was one of the top five new finds … {read more…}

I’m such a newbie! I prepped my first powerpoint presentation for the seminar I’m presenting on Friday. It’s got all these cool slides and a bunch of notes. But I just realized that there is no way for me to SEE the notes without also PROJECTING them up onto the screen….and I didn’t print a hard copy.

What a dork!

Now I have to go to the AV room and beg for help.

Go ahead….laught at me now!

Hey Y’all! Its Rachelle blogging to you live from the digital lounge at Emergent SD. I will gleefully say that I have not attended ONE session all day today because the dish in the courtyard is just too good and the sun is just too bright and shiny. Jen and I reunited last night with much joy, and have proceeded to flap our jaws off ever since. We’ve tucked in with Sally Morgenthaller to discuss lecture tours, worship art, and of course, the fine art of relaxing in massage chair while someone does your nails. Lunch found us round the umbrella tables with the bloggers – about twenty five people or more – pointing at each other’s name … {read more…}