An Invitation to the Mountains

Hello everyone;

I got a crazy idea last spring when I was out hiking. I always think of friends when I'm on a trail, and I thought, hmmmmmm, why not invite a group of friends to join me for some hiking and camping? So that is what I'm doing.

If you think you would enjoy some day hikes (nothing tough or technical), I invite you to consider joining me this August. Check out the opportunity at http://www.uhikealong.blogspot.com . I would love to have you join me.

Now I've just put this up online, so don't be afraid to be the first follower (besides me), and give this some thought.

Hope you'll hike along. We'll have fun!

David

BREAKERS News

Good news for me!

Do you remember me saying that I'd written the beginning to BREAKERS years ago, printed out some along the way, then my hard drive crashed. I lost the last parts I'd written, but I had a printed copy of most.

So what I've been doing with BREAKERS is basically inputting the old stuff when I get a chance, and editing/adding along the way.

Well, last week a friend offered to type in all of the old stuff, so I could have it in electronic form on my computer. I kind of laughed inside, because what I have typed out is in rough shape. I've edited with a pen (or now faded pencil) in margins, or in between single spaced lines; and there are arrows snaking their way from one page to another. I couldn't imagine anyone (besides perhaps my wife who typed my thesis in days before word processing) being able to face the chore. But yesterday, that brave woman saw the mess, took ownership of it, and is doing this task! I'm amazed.

I guess this means getting more of BREAKERS out there will be easier for me. I'll have fewer excuses--at least until I run out of what I've written. Anyway, I wanted to let you know there was some progress happening.

Peace.

Human Touch, and Divine

There are joy-filled touches in human relationships. Hurts and joys felt so deeply, they threaten to undo us.

In a theater with family the other evening. My arm is around my wife, and my hand rests on the skin of her upper arm. The tenderness in that moment plowed through my soul with such force, I lost track of the movie, and time. I only wanted to feel and hold onto her and that fleeting instant.

Cradling my grand-daughter in my arms, then laying her in my lap and looking in her eyes. She begins to coo and speak with me. I speak and am quiet. She "speaks," then waits. Eventually, she wiggles her entire body trying to "say" what is in her. She smiles and I melt.

Sometimes when my children hurt or are sick, I'll hold them and tell them I'm leaking love into them. Or I'll say I'm soaking healing into them through my embrace. And I believe it.

What does love look like? I'm not always sure. But I know what it feels like. It stops time, it suspends my needs, it invokes deep passion for the better of the other.

I think of Jesus calling his Father, "Abba." The word is like our "Daddy," or "Papa." We are told the relationships within the Trinity are perfectly loving. I want to understand that. I want to believe that when I make my noises and wiggle with my fears and strive in my praying that somewhere, somehow God hears me and gets it. And then, I want to believe God begins to embrace and leak love into me...

Take peace in such hope.

The Importance of Human Touch: The Way of Honesty

It is a difficult thing to pay attention to our conversations, relationships and simply being in the presence of others. We rely so heavily on cliche, routines and posturing. From the opening moments of human interface these relational habits kick-in with the force of the most powerful addictions. What do I mean?

"Hi, how are you doing?"

"Fine!" A pause and tilt of the head sideways. "And how are YOU doing anyway?"

"Couldn't be better," he lies.

Fake smiles--yeah I've been caught in a few. I had a guy in one church that would give me back my Guy Smiley smile every time I posed it.

Why can't we live in the real world? Why can't we truly mean what we say, interface with sincerity and truly touch one another with authenticity? You need to be seen today. Has anyone looked at you? Has anyone studied your eyes and your face and really asked about you? You need to be heard today. Is anyone listening?

Would you touch someone this day by making a real conversation--by being honest when you are with them and looking them in their beautiful eyes and expressing some form of human contact? Would you listen to someone who needs to be heard.Oh God, please help us love each other!

Sometimes when people tell me I'm special, I'm tempted to think they just like being loved. They just think it's cool being seen, or heard, or spoken to in the present tense and moment... Funny idea, isn't it?

For more on this topic click here.

BREAKERS: First 8 Chapters! And THE RUNAWAY PASTOR Feedback Needed.

Hey, thanks for your interest and for asking for a copy of the first 8 chapters all in one document. BREAKERS is giving us an opportunity to explore on one level the idea of a Christian dating a non-Christian. More importantly, we explore some commonly accepted assumptions regarding how we define "Christian."

So welcome. Click here to read the first eight chapters of BREAKERS! And as always, please give me some feedback on the check boxes below, or via the comment option, or email me at samshill@sbcglobal.net.

IMPORTANT!! Also, I had a nice call from my agent yesterday. Once again, a couple of publishing houses have shown interest in The Runaway Pastor manuscript. I'll keep you posted on any progress, if it comes. If you have read the posted chapters of The Runaway Pastor, then I have a request to make. I need to compile a list of comments for my agent to use. Would you send me a short paragraph on facebook, or comment here or email me at samshill@sbcglobal.net? I would appreciate it.

I'll look forward to hearing from you.

Peace.

Higher Ways and A "Calling"

This morning I'll read of Isaiah having a vision of God in the temple. And I hope to wonder aloud about my own visions of the Invisible One, and the ways that One encouraged me to pursue. As a child, when I wanted to kneel in front of the sanctuary like the adults...was there something profound in that? I still remember it forty-four years later.

And then in a fifth grade Social Studies/Geography class I said for the first time what I wanted to be..."A diplomat." That vision remains a clear and distinct calling for me to this day. I represent one kingdom, while living in another--or several others.

And in church youth camp, "I want to be a missionary." And I have been, and always enjoy trips to teach or serve in other cultures. Then in college, "I want to run a retreat center and just help people be away and think about their lives and faith." Oh yes, I've enjoyed speaking at dozens of retreats and still hope a retreat director position could be a part of my future.

And in my twenty-second year, "I want to really know that I know the one I believe in. I want to be real." And those words drove me to a month of desperate seeking and a lifetime of longing.

Let me ask you: As you retrace your journey, where have you been confronted by the Holy One and desires that seem to come from those visions? Are you open to God's calling? What part of you resists? What part of you is still awake?

If you haven't read my novel The Runaway Pastor, you can see the first seven chapters by clicking the link above and on the right. And if you want to read my newest--BREAKERS--you can go to the post immediately below and find links to read it.

Grace and peace to you.

BREAKERS: Chapter Eight!

Well it's record time for a chapter, but I owed you! I wanted to go ahead and get chapter eight online--it took so long for seven.

So click here for the next installment of BREAKERS.

Give me some feedback please.

Peace.