pilgrim in progress
jason kovacs | life, faith, adoption, church, culture, and other randomness
Micah Sixeight
We got the phone call on Monday night and picked him up from the adoption agency yesterday. The Lord has been so kind! Lots to share and give Him glory for!
Starbucks Going Back to It’s Roots
Free refills on drip coffee…finally! I heard about this the other day but just read the TIME article about Starbucks going back to its roots. Along with free refills here are a few of the other things they are doing…
“We are doing everything we can to differentiate Starbucks from everyone else that is attempting to be in the coffee business,” Schultz said at the company’s annual meeting in March, alluding to McDonald’s,Dunkin’ Donuts and several convenience-store chains that have been making a run at Starbucks’ customers. Starbucks will once again grind beans in its stores for drip coffee. It will give free drip refills, offer latte upgrades and provide two hours of wi-fi to anyone with a registered Starbucks stored-value card. Soon the company will roll out its new armor: a sleek, low-rise espresso machine that makes baristas more visible and gives them more control over the process. It has launched MyStarbucksIdea.com for consumers to talk to one another and the company. “This,” says Schultz, “is just the beginning.”
Pressing In
I’m reading through Luke these days.
This morning I read about the crowd “pressing in on Jesus to hear the word of God” (5:1) and thought about how that ought to be the case with me each morning. It isn’t, but as I read on I found myself wanting to “press in on him” more and to hear more of what He has to say.
Praying for myself and for all that we would “press in on him” today and hear His word!
Health Care 101
Being from Canada the issue of heath care is of great interest to me.
I listened to the Dianne Rehm show this morning briefly as her guests shared different visions of what health care reform should like in the United States, and what it would take to achieve them.
If you were President what would you do?
I’m still trying to figure out where I stand and if Canada really has it better?
Four I’s
There are four words that I have gone back to again and again when it comes to the big picture purpose and mission God:
Imputational - A life built upon the righteousness of Christ alone and not on my own works. Living in light of the life and death of Christ being imputed to me, counted as my very life and death. This is the Gospel and the foundation of all. It is the reality that what makes me acceptable to God is nothing of my performance but everything in His perfection.
Intimational - A life of deepening intimacy and love for Christ. We are called to relationship with Him and this is the most important, central relationship of all.
Incarnational - A life of imitating Christ in our attitudes, words, and deeds. Being the head, heart, and hands of Christ in this broken world. We incarnate Christ in the way that we relate to others, the way we live in community, the way we love and face conflict. We incarnate Christ in our marriage, our parenting, working and our friendships.
Intentional - Pursuing, obeying, proactive, sensitive living in God’s ways. Not only pursuing God himself but others. Taking initiaive to use our gifts to their fullest potential.
Would you add any?
Free Books
These were the free books given to each attendee at the T4G and Band of Bloggers conference! Because of this I was able to resist the lure of the bookstore and came away without buying any books. I’m one of those guys who has way too many books already that I have yet to read; not to mention a list of books that they didn’t carry at the conference to buy first.
FRIDAY PHOTOS
Here are a few from last months trip to Minneapolis. The vending machine was at the Minneapolis Airport. I stood around for a few minutes to see if anyone needed a last minute iPod.
Back Home
The conference was great but there is nothing like coming home after being away! It has been a sweet reunion - a small foretaste of when I will really ‘come home.’ I am reminded of this quote from Scougal’s ‘Life of God in the Soul of Man‘ on the nature of love:
Another thing which disturbs the pleasure of love, and renders it a miserable and unquiet passion, is absence and separation from those we love. It is not without a sensible affliction that friends do part, though for some little time; it is sad to be deprived of that society which is so delightful, our life becomes tedious, being spent in an impatient expectation of the happy hour wherein we may meet again; but if death have made the separation, as some time or other it must, this occasions a grief scarce to be paralleled by all the misfortunes of human life, and wherein we may pay dear enough for the comforts of our friendship. But oh! How happy are those who have placed their love on him who can never be absent from them! They need but open their eyes, and they shall everywhere behold the traces of his presence and glory, and converse with him whom their soul loveth, and this makes the darkest prison or wildest desert not only supportable, but delightful to them.
~ Henry Scougal (The Life of God in the Soul of Man)
T4G
Spent today in a car with 6 of my pastors on the way to Louisville, KY for the Together for the Gospel conference. Looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new. I miss my family already. Next time remind me to take them with me!
