Wondering Thoughts

"Building a Church of ICE"

"Building A Church of ICE" John Henson from john henson on Vimeo.

Heaven Bound

Tonight's hymn festival was incredibly moving, inspiring and comforting. The theme was "Heaven Bound" and it was a beautiful expression of hope, assurance and longing.  Dr. Al Travis was with us again this year as as the Leader and Guest Organist.  He was joined by the Sanctuary Choir (and they even let me sing with them), I-49 Brass, Chandler Teague (Timpani), Theresa Bridges (Oboe) and Horace English (bass-baritone) and with Randy LeBlanc as Conductor.

Dr. Travis mentioned his choice of the theme after thinking about the bus accident in our church and the deaths of Maggie Lee and Brandon.  And what a correct choice he made.  It was an hour full of reminders of the beauty and reality of Heaven.  Before moving into the hymns, Dr. Travis played "Variations on 'Savior, Teach Me Day by Day," a children's hymn beginning with bells and child-like chimes and containing powerful energy, movements and joy.  It sounded just like Maggie Lee.  What a gift from Sherry and Dr. Travis. 

The hymns were:

Saints Bound for Heaven
Praise the Lord! Ye Heavens, Adore Him
No, Not Despairingly
It is Well With My Soul
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
Be Thou My Vision
Amazing Grace
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
When We All Get to Heaven
We're Marching to Zion

Music, the greatest good that mortals know, And all of heaven we have below.  ~Joseph Addison~

  

Maggie Lee Scholarship for Women in Ministry

6th Annual 
Stagg-Tolbert Forum
for Biblical Studies
Theology is aVerb
Saturday, September 26, 2009
10 AM to 1:30 PM 
Broadmoor Baptist Church - Baton Rouge

I'm excited that Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Louisiana is naming their Women in Ministry Scholarship in Maggie Lee's name.  She would be honored.  The scholarship will be initiated Saturday at the Stagg-Tolbert Forum For Biblical Studies, held at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Baton Rouge.

The theme this year is "Theology is A Verb," with Colleen Burroughs, Executive Vice President of Passport and Founder of Watering Malawi.  

I'm heading down to attend.  If you want more information, visit here.

Over 9000 now

It is beyond exciting to see that there are now over 9000 people who have signed up to do one good deed on Maggie Lee's birthday, October 29.  If you haven't signed up yet, visit Maggieleeforgood.org.

"Praying When Your World is Falling Apart"

Praying When Your World Is Falling Apart from john henson on Vimeo.

Beauty in a Jar

Gary and Renee Lash gave us a chrysalis/cocoon a couple of weeks ago.  We placed it on the counter so that we could watch the beautiful transformation that would come from it.  This green package hanging from a branch in our breakfast room was a thing of curiosity and inspection at first.   But soon the three of us would just pass it by without stopping to observe it, as we didn't see any signs of change; taking for granted that it was pregnant with so much life and possibility.  All we could see was the green outside and not considering the colorful transformation occurring on the inside.  

Today, though, while reaching for something on the countertop next to it, I noticed it had turned black, with orange spots.  The time for transformation had come!  Within an hour, walking by again, I saw the most beautiful monarch butterfly I've ever seen.  It was apparently wanting to skip the "let their wings dry phase" and was wanting--was trying to get out of the container-- to get out and explore the world with its new body. 

What a great gift idea and what a reminder of the new and beautiful life our Maggie Lee is enjoying.

A gift from a friend
 Inside the chyrsalis grew
 New life indeed

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation:  everything old has passed away; see, everything has become
new!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ . . .  2 Corinthians 5:17

"Getting In The Way of Jesus" John Henson

"Getting In The Way of Jesus" John Henson from john henson on Vimeo.

"In the Hands of the Body"

From Sunday, September 6, 2009

"In The Hands of the Body" John Henson from john henson on Vimeo.

Preparing for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost

I'm working on my Sunday for this Sunday, which will be from Mark 8:27-38.  It's a great passage and I find myself going easier on Peter each time I read it.

Maggie Lee For Good Site is Up

Jinny has put together the website for Maggie Lee for Good.  It is amazing to see so many signing up to participate and to consider all of the good that will take place as a result.

The site is:  www.maggieleeforgood.org