Royal has for months now been telling us about his kids. Sometimes there are more than two, but Ellie and Eva have been there since the beginning. They’re both five years old and live down the street (usually). They have a knack for arriving wherever we’re talking about, which means they’re often world travelers.
Thanks to Amie buying “Joyful Journey,” I’ve begun to experiment with interactive gratitude. The purpose is two-fold: 1) to multiply the number of positive experiences with the Father in recent memory and 2) to help re-connect me with those I love when my relational circuits have shut down.
I’ve copied the basic instructions to my website at the link below.
https://alexbilson.dev/stones/james-wilder/steps-to-interactive-gratitude/#jump
Amie renewed my New Yorker subscription this week. She loves me so well 🙂 ❤️
For the first time this year a person joined me on one of my Centennial Trail hikes!
Skyler and I managed a 7-mile hike from Brush Creek to Sheridan Lake. It was actually closer to nine miles after we lost the trail and backtracked. My hamstrings are still tight.
Since all my hikes have been alone, I wasn’t sure how to behave. Should we talk, or hike in silence? It turned out to be a mix of both.
I’m grateful to have gotten to know Skyler a little more. We’ve been working together to integrate DBS questions and facilitation techniques into the youth program’s Wednesday meetings. I’d seen his passion for mentorship but I hadn’t grasped his love and expertise in communication. Now I kinda want to work on my public speaking skills; there’s a Toastmaster’s meet up on Saturday mornings I could probably attend.
Amie and Amanda (Skyler’s wife) launched their first DBS group last Thursday. There’s an energizing mix of women, from the well-versed Bible nerds to those with almost no experience in the texts. We’re stoked to watch what the Spirit does with these wonderful people and are praying that their obedience will plant Kingdom seeds to grow through and beyond the MOPS community and the women of Westminster.
On the 13th of September, right before we left for Chicago, Skyler launched this year’s youth ministry at Westminster. I had the joy of collaborating with him on the design and the privilege of helping with the launch. Skyler’s taken the ministry over from Andrew after he followed the Spirit’s leading to pivot towards the Basecamp Climbing Gym community full-time.
We’re equipping Middle School and High School kids to discover the Biblical Jesus in the book of Mark by reading the Bible in community, responding to what we’ve learned and sharing our discoveries with those we know. It’s so exciting!
That first night I facilitated a reading of the first passage in Mark with mostly Middle Schoolers. I wasn’t prepared for how challenging it would be.
One of the strongest personalities interrupted every two minutes asking if it was over yet. I never got the breathing room I’m accustomed to and so the whole time felt rushed and burdensome. I was flustered. When I heard how Skyler’s group of mostly High Schoolers had responded, however, I was encouraged.
I missed the next Wednesday but made it for the third. Again Skyler and I each took a group but this time I had more High Schoolers. So much easier! It was a joy to see everyone participate. We even did a group I WILL: 15 seconds of listening for Jesus' voice. I don’t know what else Jesus may have done in others but I saw the image of a lighthouse. May these folks know themselves to be lights in the world and salt upon the earth!
This Wednesday Skyler and I will take a backseat for another to facilitate. It would be a win if either adults or youth would facilitate, but youth would be the most awesome. I’m asking for God’s courage for Tyler and Selah, and also Becky among the adults.