http://pivotpointministries.org Supporting Those in Transition Thu, 14 Aug 2008 04:36:05 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I know that it is really popular to rip on the Church (I myself have been guilty) but I have been really touched recently by some little things at Church.  There is a woman in our congregation who is brought to church every Sunday by her son.  I think she ... http://pivotpointministries.org/unfiled/the-wonderful-body-of-christ/ Hospitality is the key to outreach with the Christian message.  There are so many reports of those, especially young adults, who will not connect with the Church because of negative perceptions and experiences.  This kind of damage is hard to undo but it can be reframed when we listen.  Listen ... http://pivotpointministries.org/unfiled/listen-with-the-ear-of-your-heart/ [rockyou id=119150696&w=426&h=319] http://pivotpointministries.org/unfiled/european-pilgrimage/ When I was first asked by the leaders at Camp Okoboji to lead a retreat for high school students teaching contemplative prayer and contemplative life I must admit that I was quite skeptical.  The retreats with middle aged and young adults had been very meaningful but I just wasn't sure ... http://pivotpointministries.org/unfiled/wonderful-experience/ I have had an incredible experience this past year while serving as a chaplain at a major medical center and working with two different groups of people in a program called Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).  I could probably write a book on this experience.  The experience has helped me to ... http://pivotpointministries.org/spiritual-direction/meeting-people-along-the-way/ She is confused. She has body lice. She has rat poop in her shoes but won't give them up. Her children love her. So does Jesus. http://pivotpointministries.org/unfiled/the-wonder-of-it-all/ Some people find it surprising that I like Lent. I really do like Lent. To me, Lent is a gift from the Church that invites me to step out of the ordinary madness of life and to slow the game of life down. Some friends of mine who are very ... http://pivotpointministries.org/unfiled/the-lenten-journey/ Shane Claiborne's book, "Irresistible Revoltion," is absolutely profound.  However, what he writes about is really not new.  Shane is bringing back for me the passions that I had when I was in high school and college and reminded me of our work for civil rights, ecology, peace and justice.  The ... http://pivotpointministries.org/unfiled/irresistable-revolutionsome-thoughts/ The YM 2008 Conference was wonderful. Dan Kimball did a wonderful job of raising questions. We could discuss the answers....I don't think we would totally agree....but I LOVE the questions. Kimball went back and wrote on his web page about the conference and then he did this part: « Imagining ... http://pivotpointministries.org/unfiled/what-would-martin-luther-do-today/ Ishmael is the gorilla's name.  Yes, he is under 600 pounds and he talks and he is a philosopher.  Ishmael is the prime character in three books written by Daniel Quinn  (Ishmael, My Ismael, The Story of B).  Ishmael helps his students understand that the world is divided by Takers ... http://pivotpointministries.org/unfiled/a-metaphor-from-a-less-than-600-pound-gorilla/