Pilgrim People

From Challies.com

Six Years Blogging

Today this blog is six years old. It doesn't feel a day over five!

When I started on April 1, 2008, I was a little afraid that the whole thing would be considered an April Fool joke. But joke or not, I'm still here. Thanks to all of you who read my quotes and musings -You are greatly appreciated.

Here's what I wrote in that first post.

Why did I choose the name "The Journeyman" and whither goest he?

When thinking about a nome de blog I considered several ideas, some of which were pretty cheesy. I choose this one for two primary reasons.

First, The call of the Lord Jesus to each Christian is not "Say a sinners prayer so that you can go to heaven when you die. Meanwhile sit still in church and do not get into trouble!" His call to us is "The Kingdom of God is at hand! Turn from your selfish ways, believe my good news and come, follow me. I will make you fishers of men. Together we will go to seek and save the lost. Together we will see and hear what my Father is doing and join his work and mission. Join my journey of obedience to the Father. Come walk with me!"

What I will write here are observations and disciple notes of one guy learning (and forgetting and re-learning) how to walk with Jesus on His journey and join in His mission. It's all about Him, not me.

Second, in the world of trades and guilds, a journeyman is the next step up from an apprentice. Someone with this status is considered to be a skilled and trained worker who no longer needs to be taught the basics and overseen in everything he does. However, he is not yet a master carpenter, plumber, electrician, or whatever- he needs to work with a Master who will judge and vouch for his work.

I hope that after years (decades now) of experience in Christian leadership and teaching ministries that I have learned to do somethings well and have proven trustworthy. I have had the privilege to work with and be trained by many wise men in the Lord. But I always know that I need close attention from The Master or I will go astray. 

I'm only a Journeyman, not yet a master.

Love Me Through My Journey

Oh Father, Who Keeps My Journey

Father of all humankind,
who keeps my journey
and marks the horizon of my destiny,
love me through my journey toward tomorrow.

Son of God,
leader and keeper of the maps,
show me not the whole road at once,
but give me the distance to be gained in single steps.

Spirit of God,
who holds my inner compass,
may your presence on the journey
awaken trust within me
when I don’t know what lies around the bend.

- Calvin Miller, The Path of Celtic Prayer: An Ancient Way to Everyday Joy

Hat Tip: Trevin Wax

Free Book: Journeys of Faith

There's a give away drawing at Kononia blog today for a free copy of an interesting  new book titled  Journeys of Faith.

Journeys of Faith tells the stories of Evangelicals who have converted to Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Anglicanism, as well as members of those traditions who have joined Evangelicalism. After each story, a representative of the tradition that was left responds by defending their choice to stay faithful to that tradition.

Contributors include Wilbur Ellsworth (Eastern Orthodoxy), with a response by Craig Blaising; Francis J. Beckwith (Roman Catholicism), with Gregg Allison responding; Chris Castaldo (Evangelicalism) and Brad Gregory’s Catholic response; and Lyle Dorsett (Anglicanism), with a response by Robert Peterson.

The average American will change religious affiliations at least once in their life, which makes this is an important phenomenon for pastors, scholars, and all people of faith to understand. Personally, I know a number of people who have considered a move to more liturgical traditions, and the stories recounted in Journeys of Faith have proved a great place to start in better understanding the reasons for the decisions they made.

I entered, and would love to win a copy. Check it out for yourself at the link above.