Blooming Possibilities

Believe it or not, these are Knockout roses. I've discovered if you catch them in bud, they look almost like tea roses in a bouquet. Of course, they're not as pretty after they open fully, but hey, with Knockouts, there are almost always more to pick in a couple of days.
The flowers are in preparation for an overnight visit from Wendy Wagoner tomorrow evening. And because we'll be busy with her then and with Dan and Cindi Cooper Wednesday evening (our weekly shared dinner and viewing of our favorite TV show, Major Crimes), I needed to prepare my Thursday-morning Bible study this evening. That Serendipity New Testament for Groups was my ally in this week's preparation.
Two outstanding events of the day: had lunch with Mark Haas, former art director at Standard, to catch up, hear about his work with Rebel Pilgrim Productions, and talk about our long list of shared concerns, friends, and interests. Was proud to show him our new digital edition available on our new app. Was glad to hear how fulfilled and challenged he is by his current work.
Later talked with Dave Empson who graciously allowed me to have a table/display at the upcoming International Conference on Missions in exchange for a free ad in Christian Standard. Marketing budgets have been cut (again) at Standard, and the new marketing director had decided Standard wouldn't be going to ICOM this year. I can't blame her, but I'm very glad Dave and I worked out this deal so there can be at least some presence for Christian Standard at this large convention. We need to do whatever we can to keep this app in front of people.
The ICOM people want me to do some interviews, like those I did for NACC, with missionaries and others at ICOM. I'll enjoy that, and it will add to the video archive available to us for links from upcoming digital editions.

Sunday, Workday, Funday

We attended the 9:00 service this morning. Drew Sherman, minister at Compass Christian Church in Colleyville, Texas, was our guest speaker. He ministers where Trevor DeVage was associate for 11 years, and I know Trevor was delighted to be with him this weekend. We were pleased too, because he brought us a WONDERFUL sermon on the life of David, challenging us to allow ourselves to be used by God as David was.
We had breakfast at Marie's Scrambler. The food is fine, but in spite of the fact that the place is always packed, I just can't convince myself that it's a place I really like. It had been a long time since we'd been there, so I decided to give it another try, but my feelings about the place haven't changed.

The proof page for our November cover. Scott Ryan designed it, and
we think it will attract attention.

Mostly what I did this afternoon is read the proof for the November issue of Christian Standard, which goes to the printer Wednesday. For some reason, I've gotten a little behind this month; it's been awhile since I've read proof on a Sunday afternoon.
The November issue will center mainly on missions; we'll distribute it at ICOM in November. There's some really good stuff in it! :-)
I was at it from about 1:00 till about 5:00, with a nice break to talk with Geoff on the phone somewhere there in the middle. Jennifer called not long after I was finished, and we had a nice visit with her too. They're each involved in meaningful and important things. Geoff is editing his doctoral dissertation proposal down to the right word length before emailing it tonight. He and Lisa have found a new, larger apartment they'll move to on October 16. Matt and Jen are making final preparations for a 10-day trip to India to speak at a huge youth conference sponsored by Central India Christian Mission. They leave October 7.

Evelyn and I ate butternut squash soup from Costco for supper and watched the season premier of "60 Minutes." If we can stay awake, we'll watch PBS's "Foyle's War" at 9:00 before bedtime

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ICOM and WebEx

Dave Butts will be the president
of the 2014 ICOM  in Columbus.

Yesterday morning began with an area minister's meeting at White Oak Christian Church. Dave Empson, Keith Wood, and Dave Butts were there to promote the International Conference on Missions in Kansas City this November and its meeting in Columbus in November 2014. The men at White Oak cooked a wonderful breakfast, and I enjoyed hearing news about the upcoming gathering and seeing the passion, especially of Dave Empson and Dave Butts, about what this conference has accomplished and their dreams for it in the coming years.

Yesterday morning I did a trial run with something new we're going to try tomorrow: "Beyond the Standard," a call-in webinar offered to select subscribers to Christian Standard. The WebEx interface has been a bit confusing for me to navigate, but our test went well, and I feel mostly confident that I'll be able to host the event without looking like a dork tomorrow.

Dave Faust (left), Dave Empson, and Keith Wood posed before we enjoyed the breakfast

buffet served by the men at White Oak Christian Church.

On a Mission

Gayla Congdon with Amor Ministries

was one of the couple dozen folks 

there today.

I was invited today to attend a meeting of planners and leaders for the International Conference on Missions (ICOM, formerly National Missionary Convention). It was a blessing to spend time with so many fine people committed to spreading the gospel to the whole world.

ICOM, like so many ministries in our fellowship of churches, is coping with how to serve and lead our "tribe" while stepping away from the sectarianism that our culture has disavowed.

 The issues raised today have more questions than I'm ready to answer, in print anyway. Maybe later, either here, or actually in print.

Dave Empson, executive director
of ICOM,  presided at today's meeting.