I had the honor of meeting with the Milsaps College board this week. The leaders that make up this group are exceptional. As I listened to the reports and watched Dr. Frances Lucas share the successes and challenges, it made me proud to be affiliated with such excellence. In the midst of challenging times this institution is skillfully negotiating rough waters. The leaders of tommorrow will be formed here and they will be well equipped. As I think about the challenge we have to seek "more people, more young people, and more diverse people", I am watching this community of educators do it. I hope I can learn from them!

182,000 Strong

What does it mean to be United Methodist in Mississippi? Have you ever thought of that? Sometimes it feels like we aren't so united doesn't it...enough said!

But, what if? what if 180,000 people set their minds and resources to something? What if we decided to help Dr. Hank Bounds and the "Get on the bus" dropout plan?What if we all focused on poverty in the Delta? What if we all decided to get healthy and to challenge our friends and families to join us? What if we all invited a friend that doesn't know Jesus or have a church home to come to ours and learn about the one who is saving us?

180,000 people could do just about anything...hey...I'm game if you are! what do you want to take on? Let us know...let each other know. What if...doesn't that sound like possibility to you?
Live loved ,
Steve

Resonance

October 15, 2008 will be a landmark day in my life. I had the incredible privilege of sitting across the breakfast table ( in the University Club in Jackson,Ms.) from a great American heroine. It was one of those unique moments that you could never script. The Children's Defense Fund was sponsoring the event and Marion Wright Edelman was the guest speaker. The room was filled with quite an eclectic crowd. To my left was Dr. Frances Lucas of Milsaps College and to her left was Kamakazi (rap singer). But right across from me was Marion Wright Edelman.

Have you ever felt like you were in the presence of a prophet? That's how it felt. Her passion and relentless focus on children was breathtaking. Many of the people in that room had been forever formed or transformed by this woman. These were her children. She spoke with such profound simplicity. Her message was redundant..."Family is the crucible of the future". Her litany of challenges to us was compelling. Her call was for us to leave a better world for our children and grandchildren. The most stinging indictment was for us (community of faith folks). She looked right at me and said, " the faith community has to stop letting the culture shape it and must begin to shape this culture". It took my breath away.

The welfare of our children is not a political issue ,even though we need legal protection for our most venerable citizens, it is a spiritual issue. What are we doing to "transform the world" for our children? In this season of Children's Sabbath
are we making the right statement about the value of children to God?

ordinary day

Today i was reminded of the fact that any day is a gift. I didn't do anything spectacular...but the day was anyway. I really saw and heard and tasted the moments I was in and it was sweet. There have been times that I was oblivious to it all. Not good. Life is. and I am thankful for an ordinary day.
Steve

Now what?

This financial "crisis" has exposed the sad truth about our addiction to the public world of finance. We hang on every pundits word about what will happen next and then forget it as soon as the next word comes. Our anxiety level ebbs and flows with the market...but we don't love money! What if we paid the same attention to each other? What if we monitored the lives of people around us with passion and energy? The saying is "time is money". It isn't! Time is time...we just spend lots of it chasing money. It takes time to build love and friendship. Other things take our time...or do we give it away to those things?

All I know is that for me the loved life is better than the life of want. I'll take more people and less money everyday. I'll take more laughter and less stress everyday! Know what we get to choose.

Steve