Hi folks,
Just a couple items of clarification as we get ready for our "soft launch" of The Original Church Community here on Locals. In case you aren't aware, the way locals works is that there is a limit on interaction for communities with fewer than 50 supporters/subscribers (and FYI, I've been using the words "supporters" and "subscribers" synonymously to mean the people who are paying the $10 per month). So since we do not yet have 50 supporters, we are limited to a half hour for live conversations. This means if we don't have 50 supporters by Saturday, our Q&A will be limited to a half hour. No big deal, we'll manage.
And if we don't have 50 supporters by the time we start the Bible Study next month, again we will be limited to a half hour at a time. That's a little more of an issue, but we will press forward and make it work until we get 50 supporters. So now's the time to spread the word and invite your friends!
Also, until we get 50 supporters, we are limited to 5 live conversations per month, so if we get into December and we still don't have 50, then the weekly Bible Study will take up 4 of the five, and we'll be limited to only 1 more per month, but again, we'll just go with the flow until we get to 50.
Finally, I think I need to clarify that although it is possible to be a "member" (like a follower) of a community, only supporters/subscribers can participate in or watch live events and comment on posts. There may be some posts that non-subscriber members can see, but for the most part the assumption is that the content here is for subscribers/supporters.
So here's where we're at with events so far (more to be added soon):
This Saturday morning, 10/15 at 11 ET/10 CT: The Piazza - live Q&A
Next Saturday evening, 10/22: The Pub - pour a drink and join me!
Saturday morning 11/26: The Journey beings! Weekly in-depth Bible Study
Dear friends - Please take 10 minutes to watch this personal update from me:
I'm back, up and running, and ready to go - I should have a new JOURNEY episode within the next week or so - and because you are my loyal peeps, here is an exclusive, just-for-you, behind the scenes SNEAK PEEK into my new office:
I mentioned in The Journey that I wrote a song based on Isaiah 2, which is one of my favorite OT passages:
In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain, and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
I hope you like the song!
The problem with us men is that often we don't have the wisdom to be a father until we're a grandfather.
This may sounds like some ironic statement that makes you nod your head in agreement but shrug your shoulders in resignation, thinking, well there's nothing we can do about that. But the practical application of that is that it demonstrates how important it is for kids to grow up around their grandparents. But as in our culture the family becomes ever more fractured and spread out, that is harder and harder to do.
Lately I've been thinking that part of the problem is the whole concept of college. It used to be that everyone thought a person had to go to college to make a good living. Not only is that not the case (truck drivers make more money than I do) but now college has gone from useless to actually ruining our kids. But when I went to college, what you were supposed to do is figure out what career you wanted (as if anyone knows that at age 18) and then go away to the college ...
And don't forget, if you would like to read my latest novel:
The Sword and the Clover - just let me know by email.
I'm happy to send you the PDF version, even if you haven't been a monetary supporter of the community - all I ask is that you don't share it with anyone else.
My email address:
Keep in touch!
JIm
If you haven't already signed up - this comes to your inbox no more than once a month, and will keep you updated when new books come out, or when we're leading pilgrimages, etc:
https://jimpapandrea.us16.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=a7c3793af6d238b47f3463784&id=2abdd7219d
