The Holy Handgrenade

I am but a tiny speck, surfing across a Quantum Whirlwind that flows out from God, on the foamy wings of the Holy Spirit... I live to serve. I serve to live. I model myself after Jesus The Christ.

In the past three days I have had a wonderful church experience, a long chat with my bestie Anne, and not one but two conferences related to LGBTQI inclusiveness in Christian praxis. I am starting to see a local community... a community of religious thinkers, yes, but more importantly a community of religious doers.

Certainly, I did not expect the summer of 2011 to proceed like this. It goes beyond just dropping the Berkeley Summer Greek Intensive Workshop; it even goes beyond the decision to drop the MABL and pursue "just" the MDiv. It goes to the fact that I am coming to understand my identity... I am a minister. One of the many gifts that City Of Refuge has given me is the understanding that ministry is not just about a title, or a degree; it is a process, a praxis, and a state of mind. I am a minister-in-training, certainly, but I serve a living God: I will always in some way be a minister-in-training. Praise the LORD. Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. (Proverbs 17:1)

I gave my first testimony at church. Sunday 8/14/2011 marked 1000 Days, and I offered it up as an example to the congregation of what God can do. The wall of applause was deafening. I did myself a favor: I stood there, closed my eyes, and let the Spirit wash over me through the sound of the applause. It was, truly, something I hope that everyone gets to experience at some point in life. Seeing my name on the order of servce... Brother Philip Tanner... wow. Just, wow.

That's about all my mind can regurgitate right now. 

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

για Δόξα του Θεού αιώνιας. ΑΜΗΝ.