Well, more than two weeks have gone by and I’m just now getting around to blogging again…

What can I say? I’m still trying to become more disciplined. I have an opportunity to get some weight lifting equipment at a pretty good price, but decided I should at least be doing basic exercises at home for a while before I spend money on equipment. I did ok for about two weeks or so and then slacked off… That was a month ago. I’m taking guitar lessons & have enjoyed practicing & playing (though I’m no good), but still don’t feel like I practice as much as I should. I’ve been sick the past two weeks and I’m taking classes three nights a week, so I can blame some of it on my schedule, but really, I just need to be more disciplined with my spare time…

I had been putting off reading until I was at a computer so I could capture my first thoughts & impressions, but then I really wanted to read this book. So, I snuck ahead & read 30 pages without blogging. I’ll attempt to go back and pull out some stuff before I go ahead.

Erwin compares pastors to Spiritual environmentalists stating that five characteristics must be present. One, a balanced ecosystem; two, environmental adaptation; three, spontaneous reproduction; four, the nurturing instinct; five life-cycle harmony. He explains that everything is connected together > all creation is tainted & condemned because of the sin of one man. The church does not see her role within the greater context of the whole of creation around us. We usually do not realize we are a part of a greater spiritual & societal ecosystem & that our role is to be the very fiber that creates health. “Just as it is critical for all living beings to live within a balanced ecosystem, the church can only thrive in the context of healthy relationships.” (pg 15)

We typically think of the great commission, but it was the commandment that Jesus called great > Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind AND Love your neighbor as yourself… The Great Commission flows out of the Great Commandment.

I’ll post more later. J