Finally catching up

I can't believe it is Saturday! I'm sitting in legislative committee for Superintedancy...with phone in hand, iPad in lap and petitions loaded on both. I finally have time to catch up on my my blog. I haven't had much time to write it because I've been catching up other things. Catching up with the legislation via Twitter and conversation. What passes and what doesn't. Pain and joy...I've retweeted lots of things and will continue to do so I order for you to see the jist of attitudes. I've been catching up with friends, and family...my step mother-in-law and my sist-in-law are here...I'm even catching up on exercise(I wish I could say as much with sleep) The main thing I'm catching up with, however, is the need for grace. It is the foundation of whatever we do and we've seen lots of times where grace has been forgotten at gc2012. I know it's out there...I've seen it and experienced it...yet debate and grace are difficult friends. So how do we catch up on grace? How about using it as a word of reminder....grace, grace...remember Jesus is grace upon grace. I know this may sound like a Polly-Anna suggestion....but im pretty secure in saying Jesus was in much tougher situations and never let grace fall behind. We just need to catch up to him. Grace, Jan

Laity make us cry....

Mitch and I are used to it....tears after we sing a song, or occasionally during or after a sermon. But there's nothing more amazing then when laity make clergy tear up. I've heard our work as clergy is to work ourselves out of a job. Here, at General Conference we see the progress of that. Stories shared where people have been transformed by Christ,from Africa to Alabama...we hear their stories. General Conference is a place where laity and their reason for being here inspires. Many give up work, are far from family and choose to learn about our complex system with open minds and hearts. This is sacrifice. I'm rooming with a laity and it is awesome to watch her experience this gathering for the first time. I thank Courtney for the sacrifice she and all the laity are making to be here. It doesn't make me cry, but brings warmth to my heart. And as I sit in the morning session, we are hearing young person, from the Phillipines, whose visa was denied...yet she, throug a live stream, is sharing her story of faith. It makes me think, when laity are empowered by the mission of making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world...it becomes the sermon we hear, the holy song for the clergy. It makes us cry. Your transforming story in Jesus, shapes my story and urges me on to make disciples. If you are a laity reading this, think about how you can make a clergy cry. Share your story, or how you desire to be transformed by Jesus Christ. For you are a true, living sermon...the living body...and I look forward to sharing more tears forming in my eyes as I hear what Jesus has done for you.

Your credentials

So...today began with checking in and for the first times having credentials even though I'm a reserve, reserve:). I'm just thankful to be here...but I have to admit...a badge is cool. Indeed, allowing those who are a bit further down the voting list to be on the floor, just once, will make a difference in understanding and experiencing the General Conference. However, there are many ways to experience the GC2012. I've already witnessed a press conference, an amazing worship servie and you can observe....no badge necesssary. We've come a long way in the UMC media field. For instance, on the media links and new feeds, please follow those links in the sidebar. There are more bloggers-more tweeters...even an app called gc2012 for the iPad. So, you can watch the worship services- and all the "exciting" plenary sessions....and follow the legislation. Woohoo! Please note the live feed schedule when you go to that app. So here we are....badge, no badge.... We're listening to the rules of order as they are being presented...using Roberts rules.....yes, it's cool having a badge.

Heavy Luggage

Friends, Welcome to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church 2012 as shared by this preacher, pastor and servant. I hope you enjoy the posts and the applications I will be using for this blog. I have a live stream imbedded and the live stream schedule. I plan on posting links to other bloggers as well, and adding features throughout the week. As I write, I'm waiting for my luggage to arrive. I packed too much! Yet, as I wait for its delivery, I anticipate the approache of something more important....our opening worship. It will take place at 4:30pm eastern time, 3:30pm Central time. If you miss this, I'll have links to the video of the event. Worship is a place where we, who have packed too much...too much worry, too much control, too much agenda...can let down our heavy load. We don't pay someone to carry it for us, we experience Christ lifting it. In Christ, we let our hearts be one, as we prepare to let our minds work together for this particular denomination and community of disciples. I ask that you pray for this beginning, that we lay down our luggage and worship in awe of what God does in drawing us together. I also ask that you pray for all the delegations and representatives of this church body, that we example Christ in all we do! Finally, I ask that you pray for the person who is delivering my luggage- it is REALLY heavy! I'm going to tip her or him well...and hope our prayers make it seem lighter. Grace, JT