This Sunday at TRVC, we are giving out free copies of Ed Tandy McGlasson's excellent book, "The Difference A Father Makes."   Here is a little intro about the book that I got from Ed via email recently...

The Gift that every Father wants

There is nothing sweeter in my life than to have the trust and heart of my kids. I wish I could tell you that I started out as a good dad, but I didn't.  I struggled with my identity as a man, as subsquentially I didn't know how to connect to my kids. I have a great gift for you to consider giving your dad this fathers day.

I sat next to a dad on a recent flight to Florida, who said, "I wasn't a very good father,  I did not know how reach my daughter.&# ...

We are so excited for the 2nd annual LIVESTOCK!  LIVESTOCK is a free event of live music, food, and fun - focused on raising money to buy farm animals for families in need in Africa through World Vision.  Last year's event had 3 bands and about 200 people attending, who gave over $4000 towards farm animals!   This year, the event has expanded tremendously - now to 9 total hours, more food options, and 6 bands!   The hope is to double last year's fundraising.   For all the details go to http://www.livestockmn.com/     See you Saturday (and bring a friend!)

Sorry that it's been a bit since I have blogged.  It's been a very busy past month or two.   Today, I want to post some resources that Andrea and I have been utilzing in preparing to speak this weekend on empowering women in church leadership.  If you are interested in studying more on this topic, these are some good places to start.

Derek Morphew just released a book, "Different, But Equal: moving beyond the complementarian and egalitarian debates."  It's not the greatest title, but is an excellent addition to the scholarship on this topic.  The conclusions, Morphew comes to are likely the closest to how Andrea and I approach leadership and gender/family issues and their inter-relationships. 

A Church of God website with a number of articles about women in leadershi ...

Marty Boller, our pastor from Iowa, sent out this email today... some thoughts on Good Friday.

I encourage you today to not let this day slip away with taking a few moments of quiet reflection on the POWER OF THE CROSS.

Without the Cross, you and I are still lost in our loneliness, our despair, our sin, and most of all, left to our own devices to climb our way back into God's presence.

With the Cross, the power of God has been released on our behalf to rescue us not only from the outward evils of this world, but our inward selves, as well. No longer do you and I have to look inward to find the strength and ability to be a "good" person. No longer do you or I have to place our hope in our ability alone to keep on the "straight and narrow".

No, GOOD FRIDAY is GOOD...because it was God's day to display openingly to all the world, that He loves us so much, that He's willing ...

I've been back in MN for about 18 hours now... and have realized again that it is cold.   That's my deep thought for the day.

Craig Brooks gave me copies of all the photos he took on our trip.  I posted them on Facebook.  He has a lot better camera than I do, so these are better quality photos.  Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/al ...

This morning as we get ready to fly back to MN, I started thinking about astronauts. Yes, astronauts... Specifically, I was thinking about the process astronauts go through to re-enter the earth's atmosphere after having spent some time in outer space.

Puerto Vallarta is not “outer space”, but it is a very different world than I live my usual life in. During this past week, I have gained perspectives on love and life here that I hadn't seen quite the same way back in MN. The people of Puerto Vallarta, and especially the Santillan family – Mario, Lety, Anna-Elle and Luis – captured my heart in special ways. I will miss them, and hope to return to visit them soon.

We have had a wonderful week. We were thrust into the life of ...