"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.

Moving aboard for an adventurous ministry!

A fresh coat of bottom paint and freshly waxed.

Almost ready for the water!

Sorry folks ... the blog's taken a hit as I've been working hard to get things squared away to start-up a new venture: Water's Edge Partnership.

I thought I'd share some thoughts I've gathered from people who have started up 501 (3)c's before. I talked with two friends about their experiences in the start-up and what they'd do differently. Here were their comments . . . 

From Tracy: "I wrote up the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws, and then made an appointment with a local lawyer. When they saw what I was doing, that lawyer offered their services for free. But the second and third nonprofits I started I used an online service to do the incorporation. The first time, they produced and filed everything quickly and kept up great communication with me. The second time, it took a long time and they weren't getting back to me when I had questions or was checking up on them. The third one should have been just as simple as the previous ones."

"So, I'm not sure what to say about online companies who do incorporation filing on your behalf. I think if you have a real person that you get a feel for who is really interested in what you are doing, it's better - whether it's online or a lawyer down the street."