Right now I am transitioning back to Kansas City after time in Louisiana on a mission trip with the youth from Resurection. Hopefully more about the trip soon…

I first read Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Changes by William Bridges in the summer of 2006. I took the opportunity to read this book again this spring. The content is excellent.

Bridges addresses the common elements in all sorts of transitions in life. These range from the natural transitions in life time, relationships and work. In his own words,

“The subject of this book is the difficult process of letting go of an old situation, of suffering the confusing nowhere of in-betweenness and of launching forth again in a new situation (Bridges, 4).”

Bridges works through these three movements of a transition in ways that seek to make meaning out of each step. It is encouraging to me to know that when in the middle of a transition there is a framework around which to wrap the experience. While each transition is individual, there are common elements of all transitions that hold true across our life and the lives of others.

I find this book to be helpful each time I read it. It has also provided helpful guidance for my calling as a pastor. I will continue to look to this book for insights in transition and commend it to you.

Tomorrow morning I am headed out with a team of students from Resurrection on a mission trip to the Gulf Coast. We will be back next week.

It is my first mission trip since being appointed to Resurrection.

I am excited and anticipating God’s work within and without.

I invite your prayers for the team as we travel and serve.

I am going to take a blogging break while away and will provide an update when I get back.

• Beginning Another New (Appointive) Year is an excellent reflection on the appointment process and one leader’s experience.
• I appreciated the guidance at 10 Ways to Create Margin.
• I want to always be able to say, “I do not counsel people. I teach them to pray.”
• Three Months with Twitter chronicles @ashleealley’s venture into this media.
• I was encouraged by I Have Decided…
• Being a church leader is more like being an entrepreneur – Are You an Inventor or an Entrepreneur?
• The risk/reward confusion is alive within the United Methodist Church.

I hope that you have an excellent, celebratory and safe Fourth of July!

As of July 1, 2009 I have completed three years under appointment as a United Methodist pastor. At this point my appointment history is pretty simple:

• July 2006 to present – Appointed to The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection

As I begin my fourth year of appointment, I am looking forward to ordination in 2010 in the Kansas West Annual Conference. I hope to continue to serve God as a United Methodist pastor for many years to come.

6 Questions for The United Methodist Church is an open project and I have been encouraged by the response.

If you are interested in data of participation from the project check it out at http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=r06wd0oDSanzEZ3I9gWArVQ&output=html

Data for the day should be added in the morning. Feel free to use the data how you want.

By September 30, I believe that it is possible to see 10,000 people submit 2,500 questions and cast 75,000 votes.

What do you think?

To participate visit: http://bit.ly/6qumc

To read more, visit: http://www.umcyoungclergy.com/6qumc

Another question that has been asked of 6 Questions for The United Methodist Church,

“Where is it leading?”

Ultimately, I pray that this project is leading where God wills.

The stated purposes of the project are:

• Raise important questions for next steps in the life of the denomination.
• Provide guidance for future face to face gatherings.
• Shape the discourse across the denomination.

In addition, I hope that 6qumc will raise conversations that lead to the fruit of God’s kingdom being produced in the lives of people across the denomination – both inside and outside the church.

After September 30, 2009 the top six questions in each topic will be compiled and made available, possibly through print publication, but certainly via the web.

I believe that next steps will become clear over the course of the project. In the meantime, I believe that the conversation may be more fruitful than the results. It is hard for me to say for certain.

What do you suggest?

To participate visit: http://bit.ly/6qumc

To read more, visit: http://www.umcyoungclergy.com/6qumc

Within the first day of 6 Questions for The United Methodist Church, someone asked,

Is this only for young clergy?

The answer is a resounding no. While 6 Questions for The United Methodist Church is hosted by www.umcyoungclergy.com it is open to all people of The United Methodist Church.

The project becomes better with each person that votes or submits a question. I trust the witness of the Spirit active in many people.

To participate visit: http://bit.ly/6qumc

To read more, visit: http://www.umcyoungclergy.com/6qumc

Today is the first official #6qumc Tuesday.

What is #6qumc Tuesday?

Thanks for asking.

#6qumc Tuesday is a part of 6 Questions for The United Methodist Church. As a part of #6qumc Tuesday:

1. Invite others to take part in 6qumc by posting the link, http://bit.ly/6qumc, on Facebook and Twitter with #6qumc (a Twitter hashtag – What’s this?).
2. Include a question which you have added to 6 Questions for The United Methodist Church in your update.
3. Use http://search.twitter.com/ to search for #6qumc and see what others are posting.

#6qumc Tuesday – Every Tuesday from today until September 30, 2009

I am excited and encouraged by 6 Questions for The United Methodist Church.

The purpose of this project is to: