Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.

If you were with us on Ash Wednesday, you heard this said to you as Fr. Ed McNeill and I imposed ashes upon your forehead. If you missed it—sorry! You missed a powerful time of worship and encouragement.  The season of Lent begins with a stark reminder of our mortality, and therefore our cause to reflect over the manner and priorities of our lives. This theme is balanced by the theme of God’s triumphant Grace.  This season is a gift. We willingly choose to allow more time and space for the Holy Spirit in our lives. We ask Him to examine our hearts, reveal changes that should be made, express real sorrow over sin and real resolve to move forward in the changes God convinces us to employ.

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Inspiring, Fun, Strategic, Convicting, Hopeful, and Snowed-in for 3 days, wow, lots happened in Greensboro, NC during the last week of January. In many ways I am still gathering my thoughts from the conference. Here are some highlights.

One significant message I came away with came from Archbishop Kolini.  He ended his sermon during the opening worship service and also a tribute session for him hosted by the Mission, with this question, “Will you obey the Lord?” He speaks from personal experience and the personal experiences of many Rwandan and other African priests and bishops. They have been shot at, threatened and some killed in service to Christ and his Church. “Will you obey the Lord?” is no simple question. Instead, will we obey when we lose a building, see a program fail, lose members or gain others? Will we obey in the face of opposition? Will we obey as the Lord guides, for it is His church into which we are called and given roles to play?  This is what ++Emmanual Kolini asks. Will you sacrifice your finances, time, convenience, and priorities—whatever it may be—to obey the Lord?

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