faithrunner

Summer got her first road bike and accessories yesterday ! Thanks to Jim Craig of Legacy Cyclists , who encouraged and taught her to love the sport and Alex B at Richardson Bike Mart , who was patient with her (us) through the purchase and fitting of the bike. She was able to afford the bike she wanted because of RBM's discounts and a gift from a friend she teaches with . She has already signed up for the MS150 in May , and I can't wait to experience more rides with her and the team. Last week, thanks to Jay and Jenny Allison , the pastoral staff of Legacy spent two and a half days at their home on Possum Kingdom Lake . They generously shared their home and all of its amenities so we could retreat from the routine of ministry in order to reflect, evaluate, and plan for the months ahead. The times of quiet and ruckus laughter in that setting revived us and helped mold us together as a ministry team . From four-wheelers to fishing at sunset we experienced God in the creation ...

Today I got to spend the day with one of my heroes . We brought Calvin Miller in to spend the day with our pastoral staff. He was his gregarious, insightful, and candid self. We laughed and cried at his honesty and creativity. I am so pleased they got to know him in some way like I do. Calvin became a hero of mine when I read in his book The Singer , "Life is the Song and not the Shrine." I had just started seminary, begun to serve on my first staff, and got married that year. The line and Song hit me in the heart, and I never saw the church and my faith the same way. From that time on--some thirty books and several personal conversations later--Calvin became a mentor, inspiration, and above all, a friend. (He's graciously commented on my writing projects I sent him, and wrote the forward for two of them.) He walked us through his memoirs , Life Is Mostly Edges , and chased any rabbits that ran across our trail. He spoke of topics from disloyal staff members to his lif...

Last week Kim and I attended the National Pastors Convention in San Diego . She came a day late because she got sick on Monday, but she made it out in time for a couple of days of inspiration and encouragement. Brian McLaren , Rob Bel l, and Christopher Wright made the event meaningful. The high watermark of the speakers was Paul Young, the author of The Shack . To know is personal story that led to him to write the story for his children is to understand why the story has captured the heart of so many. Some of that story is here . You can also hear those who fear it's message at the same site. We got out some and saw the sun set on Torrey Pines Beach , and the next day we walked down Mission Beach . It was cloudy and cold, but still the beach. Along the way on Mission Beach, a young girl on a bike waved and said hey. Kim said, "What a friendly girl." A few moments later the Walpoles rolled up on bikes ! They were there for Courtney's hockey tournament. Small world....

This past Saturday we hosted our first " First Saturday Serve " project. We are emphasizing our Serve purpose this year, and we kicked it off with a trip to a local nursing home to host a Valentines Party for the residents . We overwhelmed them with food, flowers, and kindness. I was proud to watch those who participated genuinely involve themselves in the lives of the residents and to see their responses. We had more than we needed in the living room so some wandered back to the rooms and spread the love with those unable to make it to the front for the party. Thanks to Troy and the Missions Team for setting this up so we can be a visible presence of Christ's love in our community. This year we are highlighting one of our mission partners each month. In January we collected baby bottles of change and money for Real Options for Women . I'll let you know our final collection total when we finish. Yesterday, Sam Say, of Bolaven Farms , Laos , told us his story an...

Monday I left DFW early to speak at the Wyoming Southern Baptist Evangelism Conference . They had heard about my new book Evangelism Where You Live , and felt it would match their theme: Beyond the Church Doors. My message and their mission did connect, and I left looking forward to the trip. When I got to Denver a storm had moved in as you can see, and they canceled my flight from Denver to Laramie ; which upon reflection, I am glad they did! Whe n I called Don Whalen and told him what had happened, he said, " Rent a car. The roads are still open." Well, what was "open" to a native of Wyoming is anything but that to a Texan. But, I wanted to be there as bad as he wanted me to be there, so I rented a car and carefully drove through the winter storm north to Cheyenne and then west to Laramie . Here's a view from my windshield. I sang Carrie Underwood's " Jesus take the wheel " several times! I got to the church, Laramie Valley Community Chapel b...

No matter your political leanings, you have to admit that yesterday was an historic and inspiring day as we inaugurated our 44th President. I followed the action on the web and through texts with one of our Legacy members who tried to make it to the mall in time for the ceremony. (He never made it due to the size of the masses.) I was struck first by the size of the crowd and the stories of those who never thought they'd see the day an African-American would be the President of the United States. One of our staff members grandmother who chopped cotton in the deep south was there to see it for her own eyes. So many proclaimed the impossible had become reality. I was moved by Rick Warren's prayer that honored God and invited all into saying the Lord's Prayer. If you missed it, go here . I got nervous when Chief Justice Roberts botched the oath of office, but I guess enough was said to make Senator Obama President Obama. Our new President is an orator , and we are drawn t...

For the first time since I have been at Legacy, we have closed the offices to observer Martin Luther King, Jr. Day . This decision came out of some conversations we had as a staff last year about the growing diversity of our neighborhood, staff and congregation and why we had not stopped and observed the significance of the day. It also followed Markus Lloyd and my experience at the DEEP Conference a year ago in Nashville . I have begun my day remembering the impact of this preacher on our society and the resulting possibilities that will be realized tomorrow with the inauguration of our first African-American President, Barak H. Obama. Yesterday, I reminded Legacy that King was first a Baptist preacher , who used his pulpit to mobilize his congregation to action. Popular historians forget this. The civil rights movement was first a faith-based movement that addressed local social and racial injustices in the name of Jesus. The King-led Civil Rights Movement rode on the back of Christ ...