Friday, July 25, 2008

Hey bloggers,

I'm at Kennesaw State University in the student center, and this is the first chance I've had to be at a computer since we left town yesterday morning. The meetings in Washington were great...I have a lot to tell you about them (later). We got to bed around midnight after the second planning meeting for the GPF, and then got up at 4:00 this morning in order to catch a cab at 5 for the airport, because we had to be at a parents' orientation for KSU at 8:30 (where Judah will be attending this fall). He's here somewhere on campus for his own orientation. We haven't seen him because he was coming from Covington as we were coming from Washington this morning, and we've been in separate meetings all day.

What I didn't know until we got here this morning is that the orientation goes until 4:00 PM!!! I thought it was just going to be for about an hour, but I was apparently misinformed.

It's the end of the lunch break, and I've got to go back in for the afternoon sessions, but I wanted you to know why nothing had been posted for today.

If you want to post something, feel free to do so. It helps to keep me awake.

Check back later.

Peace

______


Later (currently 12 comments) –

Hey bloggers,

Thanks for the interest…and yeah, we made it through the rest of the long but productive day…and, thanks…your comments helped make the second part go faster…

Judah got registered and got his classes…I am very impressed with KSU…

Check back later...

_______

Even later (18 comments) –

So anyway, Debye and I have been asked to be co-chairs of the GPF (along with Dr. Michael Beckwith, who is one of the ministers that you see on The Secret), which just means that we are even more involved with the actual planning of it. The gospel group Phillips, Craig and Dean has also just signed on to appear that day. Many of you have asked about the program schedule, and we are still working on it (we’ll be back in D.C. next week for that), but it has definitely been moved back an hour (from 5 – 8 PM) because of the heat.

One thing that was really cool about last night is that we got to spend some time with Rev. Walter Fauntroy, who will be one of the keynote speakers for the GPF. Any of you who know about the Civil Rights movement know who he is, and it’s awesome to talk to him, and to hear how he sees this event as a part of the fulfillment of Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech (he was there for it on the other side of the mall that day, 45 years ago).

All of the people in the bigger meeting last night were so impressed with how so many of you are getting involved with the acts of service and kindness.

I’ll tell you more about it Sunday.

That’s all for now.

21 comments:

Donald said...

SNAP OUT OF IT!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Stay awake! Lord knows what'll happen if you fall asleep during your sons orientation. Sounds like good stuff happened in Washington, along with that, I'm more excited to hear the Word Sunday...just have a feeling it's going to be great. When we were worshipping Wed. night I really wanted to sing the song that has the lyrics in it..."you have invited us into your presense, invited us to feast at your table, you've given us a name and called us your own.."..something like that. Man I love that song! 2 hours and 40 minutes left..you can make it.

dgm2007 said...

oh orientation.. there orienting u,... lol.. my eyes are glued to the tv screen.. im sure u know that Obama just had a press conference with Sarkozy very interesting news.. waiting on mccain to say something.. im sure u will catch it all and more tonight and for the next few weeks...

Anonymous said...

Bish,
I am headed to McDonalds at Stonecrest to get coffee to stand in the gap for you while you do what you gotta do. The time is 1:53 and 20 seconds. Hang On...

NTL

Anonymous said...

Bishop,

Intercession this morning was great as always. Sad to see Pastor Ben leaving, but he has a great work in Uganda to do. Loved what he said, "whether you are African or American, you have I Can at the end.

We are all at such a transitional place. God is taking us from glory to glory. As for our house we have been somewhat stripped to bare bones. We never forgot who our source was but we have become more reliant on that fact. We never forgot to be thankful but we are more apt to see the small blessings and provision that perhaps we would have previously overlooked. We know we are being positioned to do something greater than what we have done before. The flesh must drop to the ground, the fear and many of our responses being determined by our circumstances or natural ability.

I was reminded about a teaching you did once on spiritual gifts and the idea of coveting the best gift. The thought was what is the best gift? The best gift is the one that is needed at that time. We each have gifts and callings to minister to this local body and to help establish The Kingdom here on earth. As we walk in love and really discern "the Body" and let God show us what gift is needed and watch Him supply, the natural needs we were ringing our hands about will be taken care of too in ways beyond our wildest imagination.

Anonymous said...

WOOOO HOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BEST COFFEE I HAVE EVER HAD.

YOU FEELING THAT? WOOOOO HOOOOO

JUST HOLD ON, YOU'LL BE STANDING ON YOUR SEAT JUSTA HOOPIN AND AHOLLERIN IN JUST A LITTLE BIT.

WOOOOO HOOOOO ERRRRRR-T ERRRRR-T
ERRRRRRR-T

NOW THATS WHAT I'M TALKIN ABOUT.

YOU SHOULD BE AAAAAAAAWWWWWAAAKKKE
NOW

I THINK I'M GOING TO GO FIND AN ALL NIGHT PRAYER MEETING...

WOOOO HOOOO

NTL

Unknown said...

Forty-one minutes to go!

More later, when I don't have to keep changing the minutes every time I preview--(smile)!

Anonymous said...

Got my JITN yesterday Wow; its great, I wont be able to get my nose out of that one for a while…….

Here is something to keep you awake Bishop....Considering the use of the original words and there meaning for fire, hell, brimstone, test, ect…...

GENESIS Gen 1:26 says;

THEN GOD SAID, "LET US MAKE MAN IN OUR IMAGE, ACCORDING TO OUR LIKENESS

Making mankind into God’s own Image is a process that involves a lifetime of trials and tribulations that includes the crucifying and mortifying of the carnal human mind and body. I realize that from the King James and many modern translations it sounds like it was a "past tense" made in His image at creation, but actually it was not. Gen. 1:26-27 is equivalent to our English imperfect. Here is how the concordant version translates it:
"And saying is The Elohim, Make WILL WE [a continuing action] humanity in Our image…"
and
"And CREATING [a continuing action] is The Elohim humanity in His image" (Gen. 1:26a & 27a Concordant Literal Old Testament may have been updated a little since this off the internet),

SO....

'HE'S STILL WORKIN ON ME'
To make me what I need to be
It took him just a week to make the moon and stars
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be
'Cause He's still workin' on me

There really ought to be a sign upon my heart
Don't judge him yet, there's an unfinished part
But I'll be better just according to His plan
Fashioned by the Master's loving hands

In the mirror of His word
Reflections that I see
Makes me wonder why He never gave up on me
But He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray
Remember He's the potter; I'm the clay

'HE'S STILL WORKIN ON ME'
To make me what I need to be
It took him just a week to make the moon and stars
The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars
How loving and patient He must be
'Cause He's still workin' on me

BURNING BRIDGES,
BUILDING NEW ONES,'
ICONOCLAST

Anonymous said...

I agree, Beth, that Pastor Ben's "small word" was big--I CAN. He added that asking for FAVOR always brings the blessing of God and then honored Terrendus for being the first one at CITN to pray for him--so all that he has received here in America is because of his prayer. Way to go, Terrendus!

I was inspired, Bishop, by your asking us to make a demand on you. Because of that request, I asked God to make a demand on me and I'm lovin' His response! It's helping me prioritize more, find and slough off the unnecessary things, thoughts and "to-do's" and stay in that flow that makes time seem totally irrelevant. Thanks, Bishop.

On college orientations, I remember one orientation meeting for son Ernie very well. That's where my perspective on caring about other's education completely changed. The speaker explained the numbers of the social security system. When first established, 40 people helped pay the ss of her mother. She didn't much care about those people. They had a job. Her mom was fine. But, at the time of the meeting we were in, 10 people were going to be paying the speaker's ss. She was a little more interested in those 10 and prayed for them. But, by the time WE were going to be receiving ss it would be closer to 2.

NOW, she said. I'll bet you're real interested in what kind of job those two people have and how much they can earn 'cos that's going to directly affect your ss. You're probably even interested in how they're eating, if they're taking care of themselves and that they drive safely!

I don't remember much else, except the tour. But THAT paradigm shift. Well, let's just say, its been 15 years since I first heard those words.

It's real close to 4pm! Safe travels...you might be one of my two! :-)

P.Avery

Anonymous said...

You made it through the orientation? The same thing happened to me for Casey last week. He will be going to GA Perimeter- Newton Campus... I thought it was a 1 hour orientation and it ended up being all day..
GO JUDAH, CASE and AARON!!!

HAPPY RESTING

linda said...

Hey Bish
Hope the orientation was okay and that you stayed awake during the entire thing. College is an exciting time.
Now you have to stay awake during the drive home, unless Pastor Debye is going to drive
Either way be safe, see you ITB

Linda

Anonymous said...

Bish,
I know that last one I sent was a little over the top, but I hope you at least got a chuckle out of it.

NTL

tracy said...

Alright u were supposed to be out at 4 Avery posted at 4:01 have you been abducted by the Kennesaw Job placement people, are you now Bishop-Pastor-Father-Grandfather-Friend-Husband-PROFESSOR Swille/ Just Curious?

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Thanks, everyone...

Anon 1:21...I can't believe you said that about that song (which Pastor Jimmie wrote)...no kidding, I nearly led that Wednesday night, which would have been unusual, because we typically only sing it for communion service...

I even felt like I missed God in not singing it...very interesting that you mentioned it...

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

and thanks for the good word about JITN, Iconoclast...

and it's all good, NTL...

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

good one, Tracy...

Anonymous said...

Very cool!

Donald said...

Yes it's wonderful to see a young man begin his college career and have high aspirations.
It is so amazing to watch them grow and change.
I can remember when the kids were young and mail would come addressed to them. Oh the excitement they would experience.
My son dropped in this weekend since his girlfriend's birthday was yesterday. And there was this piece of mail with his name on it and he was not the least bit excited about it like he was in bygone days. My how things change. He just presented it to me with no resistance whatsoever.
Tuition statement! Hallelu-jer!!!
A word to you young parents. When your employer comes around and attempts to get you to sign up for Savings Bonds and tells you its a good way of preparing for the kid's college expenses, feel free to tell him that you can't purchase enough savings bonds in a lifetime to pay for college and still have grocery money left over.

Anonymous said...

tell me about it

Anonymous said...

Expectations of expectations, can cause people who might normally be patiently patient, to become anxiously anxious.

And sometimes that which they are anxiously expecting isn't going to manifest until they get their
priorities, patiently back in order.

NTL

Anonymous said...

My three oldest children and one of their friends have been planning our DC road trip this week. Their excitement and expectation of the GPF has me totally jazzed. It will be the hi-lite of our summer!
-shannon