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When I decided to throw together a quick post to introduce the writer of this Summer’s Adult Bible Studies series, of course I “googled” Kevin Baker.  In the course of following some of the links, I ran across one Methodist blogger that I’d read a couple of years ago and was chagrined to see that he’s “in the wilderness” as it were.  It ended up taking me away from Moses and Exodus for the better part of two or three hours, but I found a number of other blogs that basically had the same theme: disillusionment, disappoinment and disagreement with regard to regard to the church, the UMC church in particular and especially the process and expense involved in training and ordaining new pastors.

I’m not going to post the links here, and not because I want to silence anyone’s criticisms (let me know if you want the links, I’ll get them to you).  No, I’m not posting them because I think it will focus us on the problem instead of the solution.  Maybe in a future post we can discuss ways that we can do a better job of supporting those in ministry and those who are training to be in ministry.  For now, I can only say that I have renewed appreciation for Andy, Raigan, Jimmy and – especially – for Kevin.  We need to remember to lift them up in prayer always.  While we’re about praying, we can look to our East and pray on this subject as Bishop Willimon suggests.

In my previous post, I mentioned some thoughts about the use of blogging as part of promoting spiritual growth.  To that end, I’m taking a line (or two) from First Timothy:

6 If you put these instructions before the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching that you have followed.
7 Have nothing to do with profane myths and old wives’ tales. Train yourself in godliness,
8 for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is valuable in every way, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
9 The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance.
10 For to this end we toil and struggle, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
11 These are the things you must insist on and teach. 1 Tim 4:6-11 (NRSV)

We’ll post about other issues from time to time, but the focus of this blog is the study of scripture and its application to our lives.