It's early a.m. (Well, actually it's 8:40 a.m. and some call that early!) I was thinking about writing my prayers online this morning and sharing with you.

Then a steady stream of instruction came through and I'm scrambling to remember it all. And, I'm like, "Wait God!! I don't have anything to write down with and You know how bad my memory is!"

So, now I'm writing down what God said before I forget it!

I'm designing our Water's Edge website and it's been more than challenging. The hugest part of the issue has been that I've been playing both designer and wordsmith. I've got a good design. But I figured out yesterday that I couldn't keep going down that road because the design is taking more time (too much time) and where my attention needs to be is on the words and images that, hopefully, move people to join with Jesus in life!

So, I just hired a guy who I think will do a fabulous job. After much angst, by the way, I've decided to use Wordpress as our CMS on this site with that consultant's input.

But I digress.What did God say?

Here's the way the dialogue went. (And honestly, I was minding my own business and just thinking ... until God butted in. LOL)

Okay, so apparently I'm helping plan a Dockside happy hour! Let me explain . . .

One of our liveaboard neighbors doesn't got off to work in the morning. I suggested that we go grab lunch together one day, and she countered with "How about breakfast?" Interesting and fun lady. It was my first opportunity to really go "deeper" with anyone down at the docks. So, we went to Jimmy's - a local spot in Fells Point. Great conversations about life.

That tumbled into her showing me around some - because I'm still getting to know the neighborhood and she's lived here a long time. She's got a great spirit of hospitality! That led into her taking me to the laundromat she uses to do her laundry. (Honey, got the laundry done!) By noon, we had parted ways happy to know each other ... and looking forward to more down the road, er water.

God has blessed me with simple friendship around simple things.

(Picture a movie setting with a voice over) Later, back at the docks . . . She's back "home" and I'm returning home with sacks in hand. "I really, really had a good time with you today. I was thinking that we should get together all of the liveaboards and have "Happy Hours" on Fridays down here at the docks! What do you think? My husband says I'm an instigator. But it'd be fun! Let's go talk with John (dockmaster)."

Okay, it was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. But it counts!

The reefer (refrigerator on a boat) quit working this past weekend. All of our food went south fast. It was not a fun job pulling that food out of there, let me tell you! No, I did not take any refrigerator experiment pictures for you.

Moving onto the sailboat is filled with all sorts of challenges. We have been ferociously sorting, labeling, velcroe-ing, finding cubby holes to stuff, buying Rubbermaid/Sterlite containers, pulling extension cords through openings and figuring out how much an extension cord can take before you trip the breaker, making boarding steps and a landing area to the boat, filling water tanks and 'getting the antifreeze out of the lines', setting up the TV and figuring out how to keep it from falling over when weather is rough. Every surface area has been full of stuff to figure out it's future permanent location. It has been difficult finding one seat some evenings.

 I think of our pioneering fathers and mothers in the United States who crossed the prairie, and built one room log cabins where the family of 12 would live, eat and play! We've moved to a "one room cabin" - but with only 2 people and one dog. So far, our dog's most familiar words to hear are, "Watch out Rudee ... you're in the way."

We've been moving boxes on board and celebrated when we found a place for all of our clothes/shoes/bathroom stuff!! Here, have a mini-celebration with us, "Woo-hoooooo!!!" Tomorrow, I'll tackle the galley and see what I need to re-think.

A guy in the parking lot, looking at one of our loads of boxes commented, "After we get her all stocked out (meaning the boat), we're lucky if she doesn't sink!"

If you didn't figure it out already, SPACE is the issue down below. Out under God's sky, there's plenty of space. But down inside the cabin, it's tight and cozy! Basically there's seating for 4, so that always leaves one seat open, if you count the dog. There's a shower, but I have yet to try it out! (Don't worry, I DO shower. The marina has public showers.)

We've been asked this a lot. I think partly it's difficult to answer because ... it's so different than the way we think of church currently! But also it's difficult to pinpoint because it is still evolving. As we start out, it will change and take left turns, right turns, or whatever other turns God wants us to explore.

So, first thing about what we'll be doing: We will be staying flexible and praying a lot! Innovation takes a lot of prayer - to make sure we're following Jesus, and not some whim.

Secondly, we'll be doing what's called "incarnational" ministry -- "Jesus with skin on" among people who aren't in church. Here's the way we picture that happening down at the marina . . .

Finding the costs and fees for starting up ... is hard to find anywhere! Here's what it's taken so far:

• books to understand the process ($50)
• State Incorporation: lawyer or online company (who are not lawyers by the way) ($450)
• State Filing Fees (Virginia, $75)
• Room for extra lawyer fees if multi-state
• Lawyer fees for filing Federal ($2500 minimum)
• Federal 501(3)c filing fees (for company income >$10,000 annually) ($850)
• Accounting software (Quick Books)
• Company Seal
• City Licenses (allow $100)
• Rental of Virtual Office ($50/month)
• Phone ($8/month)
• Website Design (variable)
• Logo Design (variable)
• Website Hosting ($8/month)
• Business Cards (approx. $42/500 cards)
• Liability & Business Insurance (still working on a price for that)
• Accountant Services (if you don't find a friend)

We are stunned. You won't believe our first half hour at the new marina where we'll be living!

Drum roll please! THANK YOU JOHN RHEA!!!

When starting a new ministry in this day and age, you need a face that says "Yes, this is us!" And John, with a very bumbling pastor in describing what I was looking for - HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD! (or went fishing in the right ocean!)

Please comment on the logo!

To be or not to be - That is the question!

In general, the United Methodist structure makes it difficult to start a new stream of opportunities for forming a new community. There's the "we want new ideas and ways to gather people" talk. And then, there's the "but you have to do X-Y-Z, and we need a "label" from our current structure." Don't you love the "we've never done it this way before!"

"I am flabbergasted by the widespread refusal across this land to think big about a loving God. Like nervous thoroughbreds being guided to the starting gate at Churchill Downs, many Christians bray, bridle, and bolt at the revelation of God's all-embracing love in Jesus Christ.

In my ministry as a vagabond evangelist, I have encountered shocking resistance to the God whom the Bible defines as Love. The skeptics range from the oily, over-polite professionals who discreetly drop hints of the heresy of universalism, to the Bible thumper who sees only the dusty, robust war God of the Pentateuch, and who insists on restating the cold demands of rule-ridden perfectionism. . .  ."    --- Brennan Manning in The Ragamuffin Gospel

Theological landmines. Yep, there's that universalism. Yep, there's that holy side to God that can't be ignored. Yep, there's Bonhoeffer and his warning not to make grace cheap (ignoring the cost it was to God and not responding to God's love).

But . . . God is love. Period. 

How often I forget to end the sentence there: God is love.

His love is absolutely astounding, extravagant, almost non-rule bearing, deep, wide, and everything we stake our life upon.

His love is life itself.