eYS Highlights
It’s been a great week in Nashville. In fact, in my opinion this gathering was the best of all the eYS events over the last three years. It was such a good time of being with the Emergent family. I feel physically tired, but emotionally and spiritually refreshed. Here are, in no particular order and without coming close to exhausting all that was good, some of my conference highlights:
Listening to LeRon Shults tell west Texas family reunion stories that were so funny that even hearing them the second time, I nearly soiled myself. Theological brilliance and self-deprecating humor make a lethally potent combination. Run, don't walk, to anything that contains these three words: LE RON SHULTS.
Hanging out with Denise van Eck and Shauna Niequist and the four horseman of the Apocalypse: Nate, Matt, Brad, and Nate. God help Mars Hill Bible Church, especially if Nate ever sings that squirrel song in public again. Don’t forget to mind your dog-jaw, boys.
Anytime I see John Bradley, the wandering fisherman.
Meeting Miriam Mendez from Portland, Oregon, and Liz Rios and Edna Quiros from Wounded Healer Fellowship in Florida. We met at the Emerging Women’s Leadership lunch hosted by Mars Hill Graduate School. These are three amazing women who all hale from Puerto Rico, then New York and now Florida and Oregon. The conversations I had with them were some of the best of the week. Talk about some attitude. I want to be like these three when I grow up. I hope our paths cross again soon.
Trying to continue to take page after page of notes, despite the cramping hand, from Dan Allender’s seminar, “Leading with a Limp: Being the Chief of Sinners in Your Community.” I purchased the CD because I need to listen again.
Sneaking away Wednesday night with Mike King and Dieter Zander to watch the second-to-last episode of “Lost.” Oh, baby.
Watching Phyllis Tickle and her husband Sam walk everywhere, hand-in-hand, like two young kids in the first-flush of love. There is nothing trite when I say that in them I see the joy of the Lord. Being exhorted by Phyllis to reckon with the priestly function of ordained ministry wasn’t bad, either.
Listening to Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones speak our gratitude and blessing to Mark and Jeanne Oestreicher and Carla Yaconelli of Youth Specialties.
Chatting briefly with the very kind Adele Sakler in the Bridge Bar. The free Krispy Kremes were nice, too.
Seeing Rodger Sellers one year from the week he came to NPC, immigrated to eYS, set off on an 84 day cross-country emerging church pilgrimage and has since planted a church.
Having a nice, quiet meal and conversation with Ivy Beckwith and Tim Conder.
Feeling the crackle of energy in my brain listening to Brian Walsh and Brian McLaren answer questions about the Scriptures, especially their explanation of who, exactly, gets “left behind,” and why Matthew called the Gentile women a Canaanite while Mark called her a Syrophoenician.
Meeting DJ's delightful wife Rachelle.
Alan Roxburgh.
Drinking coffee and eating creme brulee late with Joe Myers and Dwight Friesen. I love these two guys.
Anytime I see Troy Bronsink is a gift. Getting to hear him sing only added to the blessing.
After spending the Fall of 2004 trading e-mails and talking on the phone with Will Samson as we redesigned the Emergent website, it was really great to meet him face-to-face, even if I am the last person in Emergent to do so. Good luck on your move to Kentucky, bro.
Sitting in the airport waiting to fly to Kansas City and receiving a phone call from Mimi telling me that we get to move into our new home on June 18, not August 1 as we had feared.
Seeing my wife's face when I stepped off the plane tonight.
Thanks, friends, for a good week. I needed it.
Meeting Miriam Mendez from Portland, Oregon, and Liz Rios and Edna Quiros from Wounded Healer Fellowship in Florida. We met at the Emerging Women’s Leadership lunch hosted by Mars Hill Graduate School. These are three amazing women who all hale from Puerto Rico, then New York and now Florida and Oregon. The conversations I had with them were some of the best of the week. Talk about some attitude. I want to be like these three when I grow up. I hope our paths cross again soon.
Trying to continue to take page after page of notes, despite the cramping hand, from Dan Allender’s seminar, “Leading with a Limp: Being the Chief of Sinners in Your Community.” I purchased the CD because I need to listen again.
Sneaking away Wednesday night with Mike King and Dieter Zander to watch the second-to-last episode of “Lost.” Oh, baby.
Watching Phyllis Tickle and her husband Sam walk everywhere, hand-in-hand, like two young kids in the first-flush of love. There is nothing trite when I say that in them I see the joy of the Lord. Being exhorted by Phyllis to reckon with the priestly function of ordained ministry wasn’t bad, either.
Listening to Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones speak our gratitude and blessing to Mark and Jeanne Oestreicher and Carla Yaconelli of Youth Specialties.
Chatting briefly with the very kind Adele Sakler in the Bridge Bar. The free Krispy Kremes were nice, too.
Seeing Rodger Sellers one year from the week he came to NPC, immigrated to eYS, set off on an 84 day cross-country emerging church pilgrimage and has since planted a church.
Having a nice, quiet meal and conversation with Ivy Beckwith and Tim Conder.
Feeling the crackle of energy in my brain listening to Brian Walsh and Brian McLaren answer questions about the Scriptures, especially their explanation of who, exactly, gets “left behind,” and why Matthew called the Gentile women a Canaanite while Mark called her a Syrophoenician.
Meeting DJ's delightful wife Rachelle.
Alan Roxburgh.
Drinking coffee and eating creme brulee late with Joe Myers and Dwight Friesen. I love these two guys.
Anytime I see Troy Bronsink is a gift. Getting to hear him sing only added to the blessing.
After spending the Fall of 2004 trading e-mails and talking on the phone with Will Samson as we redesigned the Emergent website, it was really great to meet him face-to-face, even if I am the last person in Emergent to do so. Good luck on your move to Kentucky, bro.
Sitting in the airport waiting to fly to Kansas City and receiving a phone call from Mimi telling me that we get to move into our new home on June 18, not August 1 as we had feared.
Seeing my wife's face when I stepped off the plane tonight.
Thanks, friends, for a good week. I needed it.
Glad you're home safely, Tim... Hopefully, things are smooth from here on out. Let us know if you need help movin'.
Posted by: timsamoff | May 23, 2005 at 03:32 AM
Wish I could have been there.
Posted by: Clint Walker | May 23, 2005 at 09:14 AM
Doug and I had the pleasure of spending an evening last summer with Will and Lisa Samson. Wonderful people!! Lisa is my favorite novelist, and a mentor of mine. I love that girl. Glad you got to meet Will! And glad you're home safe and sound.
Posted by: Katy Raymond | May 23, 2005 at 02:24 PM
Tim, I am honored to have met you, bro, and glad to serve alongside you and Emergent any way possible. Meeting you, conversely, was one of my highlights. What a blessing you are!
Posted by: will | May 23, 2005 at 03:50 PM
tim, what a treat to meet you and spend a bit of time hearing your story. good to meet a fellow sojourner...looking forward to the unfolding story!
Posted by: susie albert miller | May 23, 2005 at 04:59 PM
Hey Susie! I forgot to add our conversation as a highlight...which it was! I was up too late to remember all that. By the way, when I woke up the next day I had an e-mail from Liam Atchison after not hearing from him since the fall. Our conversation must have stirred the Spirit. Great to meet you.
Will, great time, my friend. I'm excited to see you in Minneapolis in a few weeks.
Couldn't agree more, Katy.
Hope you get to join us soon, Clint.
We'll take your help, Tim.
Posted by: Tim Keel | May 23, 2005 at 05:18 PM
Tim, seeing you walk over, offer a hug as a greeting, and catching up reminded me of all the connections, friendships, and mutual journeys I've entered into this past year! Thanks for all the inspiration, prayers, and friendship you and all the folks at Jacob's Well have been for us at The Portico. Don't know when it'll be, but I'm already looking forward to coming to KC to visit again. Pass along my love and greetings to all our friends at Jacob's Well.
Grace and Peace,
RPS
Posted by: Rodger Sellers | May 23, 2005 at 06:26 PM
Tim-
after being in 3 of LeRon's classes over the past three years at Bethel, I too love that man. I can't wait for his new book to come out...Thanks for realizing the gem he truly is and the impact he has on the world. I'm fortunate enough to be planting a church with many of those who have been touched by LeRon's work.
Posted by: meghan | May 24, 2005 at 09:59 AM
hey tim!
i'll be thinking of you tomorrow night as the 2 hour season finale of lost is being watched at the lewin home!
thanks for the krispie kremes and the laughter!
the squirel song is still a highlight for me too!
tell mimi we missed her.
a lewin pilgrimage to kc is definitely in the works, so we'll keep you posted!
great to see you. lil
Posted by: lillylewin | May 25, 2005 at 04:54 AM
Tim,
It was a pleasure for us to spend time with you as well. Can't wait to see you in August. I was wondering if I might be able to convince you to send me your notes from the Intuition seminar you did? Talk to you soon.
Brad
Posted by: Brad Nelson | May 25, 2005 at 09:03 AM
Tim, likewise! Thank you for your kind and gentle spirit. i hope we will have the chance in the future to talk more and get to know each other on a deeper level. Blessings! Pax, Adele
Posted by: Existential Punk | May 25, 2005 at 09:07 PM
Tim
Thanks so much for your willingness to just hang out and let me share my heart. I would love to continue these conversations. (I am sure we will) I heard you may be up to Mars Hill a few days early. Sweet. I would also love your notes from the intuition seminar. WOW. What an amazing week. I have new visions and dreams for myself and this conversation we are all a part of. I would love to get involved in emergent in more ways. Let me know if you have any ideas.
Nate
Posted by: Nate Dawson | May 26, 2005 at 02:45 AM
good to have the sources, seeing as I walked out on the presentation in San Diego!! Boy that was a mistake.
hope you are well my friend.
Posted by: Naomi Schwenke | May 27, 2005 at 01:55 PM