St. Julian's Centre, Nairobi, Kenya

The first few days of our mission in Kenya was spent at the Anglican Church of Kenya's Guest House, St. Julian's Center, located about 45 minutes north of Kenya.  In the middle of several rural farms, St. Julian's is a quiet retreat center with beautiful grounds which have been furbished with flowering plants from all around the world.  No internet.  No noise.  A great place to spend time with the Lord.

Our team gathered to acclimate, pray together, plan our time with the bishops.  It was good to slow down and hear from the Lord about what He wanted us to do and "not" do.  The Centre fed us well -- breakfast, morning tea time, lunch, afternoon tea time, and dinner.  Although I was not always sure what we were eating, we had a lot of it!!

Ministry in Kenya

This past week I had the privilege to join a SOMA (Sharing of Ministry Abroad) mission in Kenya.  Bishop John Guernsey and I joined the SOMA National Director and his wife, Glen and Debbie Peta, on to an invitation to minister to the bishops of the Anglican Church of Kenya.  

What a privilege to speak to, pray with, and fellowship with such wonderful men of God!!  Thirty of the bishops gathered in Nakuru for their House of Bishops meeting.  These are incredible men of God who have an incredible ministry among the 7 million Anglicans in Kenya.   Their passion for the Lord is evident and their heart for their people is refreshing.

The rest of our team: Debbie Peta, John Guernsey, and Glen Peta

Bishop John Guernsey preaching at St. Paul's, Kiambu

Bishop Joel of Nairobi with Bishop Bill Atwood

Bishop Joseph of Nakuru

Kenyan House of Bishop Praying in Small Groups

Archbishop Eliud Wabakala

From Richard Halverson

From Richard Halverson, former Chaplain of the U.S. Senate:

You can organize until you are exhausted; you can plan, program, subsidize all your plans.   But if you fail to pray, it is a waste of time.  Prayer is not optional for us.  It is mandatory.  Not to pray is to disobey God.

A New Bishop

I was privileged to participate in the Consecration of a new bishop on this past Saturday.  The Rev. Steve Wood, rector of St. Andrew's, Mt. Pleasant, SC, was consecrated as the first bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Carolinas.  It was a grand service with Archbishop Robert Duncan, bishops from around the country, and clergy and people from throughout the new diocese.

Our newest Anglican bishop, Steve Wood

Bishop John Guernsey

Archbishop-Elect Stanley Ntagali of Uganda and Bishop David Anderson

Bishop Derek Jones

From C. S. Lewis

Someone sent me this quote from C. S. Lewis (one to always make you think!)


For you will certainly carry out God's purpose, however you act, but it makes a difference to you whether you serve like Judas or like John.

It is Time to Take Stock

August Newsletter Column....
I know many people who view their life like a glass that is half-empty.  “I can’t believe this happened to me!”  “I missed out again.”  “I wish I had a better job.”  “Why can’t my spouse get with it?”  It’s like they live their life always regretting, always upset, and always needing more.  These folks are NEVER SATISFIED!

            There is nothing wrong with ambition, nothing wrong with wanting to improve one’s lot in life, and nothing wrong with seeking after more, but not at the detriment of counting the blessings of God in your life.  God has blessed us more than we can ever imagine or understand, and we just sail along in life feeling like we have been deprived and have nothing to rejoice about.  We focus on what we don’t have rather than what we do have.

            It is easy to take for granted being able to breathe until we meet someone with a lung disease.  It is easy to take for granted our ability to see until we meet someone who cannot.  It is easy to take for granted the job we have until we encounter someone who can’t find a job.  It is easy to take for granted our family until we learn of someone whose child was killed in a drive-by shooting or in a movie theatre.  It is easy to take for granted the home we live in until we meet someone who has lost their home because they lost their job.  It is easy to take for granted our freedom in this country until we meet someone from a country where they cannot choose how many kids they can have, what kind of car they can drive, or which god they can worship.

            The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (I Thess.5:16-18).  Can you do this?  Can you count the blessings you do have rather than the blessings you don’t?  Can you take stock and inventory your life at how blessed you really are?  If you can, then your life will be a wonderful experience! 

New Deacons!!

Deacon Bill Owens -- Ordained July 30

From Left to right:  Deacon Shane, Deacon Brad, Deacon Ben, Deacon Michael -- Ordained July 31

The Olympics Have Begun!

My wife and I always enjoy watching the Olympics and listening the stories of how athletes through discipline, adversity, commitment, hard work, and inspiration made it to the Olympics.  Of course, it is always good to see so many countries of the world competing in a peaceful setting.


We were not able to watch all of the Opening Ceremonies, but were disappointed to hear that NBC omitted a significant piece of the Ceremony.  The Brits put in a beautiful and riveting piece remembering those who died because of terrorism.  Was it because the scene had a Christian message to it that it was omitted?  Or was it because it had to do with terrorism?


The British, as always, presented this with good taste. NBC, on the other hand, exhibited bad taste in omitting it.  To see the omitted piece, click http://deadspin.com/5929778/heres-the-opening-ceremony-tribute-to-terrorism-victims-nbc-doesnt-want-you-to-see.

The Fourth In Atlanta

One of the big events in the Atlanta area on the Fourth of July is the Peachtree Road Race, a 10K run which amples down Peachtree Road from Lenox Square to Piedmont Park.  My wife and ran it with 60,000 other people.  It was her 32nd in a row!

Allison just before running her 32nd year in a row

Another Atlanta tradition are the fireworks in the evening at various sites around the city.  We viewed them at Lenox Square.  It was wonderful to see so many American Flags all over the city, and the participation by so many in local events.

Noah's Ark Outfitters

The Three Apostles Mountain Range

During my recent trip to the Colorado Wilderness with nine other Anglican bishops, the outfitters who led this Anglican Leadership Initiative was a group in Buena Vista called Noah's Ark.  Led by Chuck Chichowich and his team, all of us were quite impressed with the quality of Christian leadership we encountered.  Noah's Ark hires young people to serve as leaders and guides for rock climbing, white-water river rafting, and wilderness expeditions.  Through their training and equipping, literally thousands of leaders around the United States are serving the Lord in various ministries.  For more information on Noah's Ark, see www.noahsark.com.  If you are planning a trip to Colorado, be sure the check them out and what they might offer you.

David, Chuck Chichowich, and Ben Carrol, our Guides

Bishop Silas Ng and my tent at 12,000 ft.