Missional Imagination in Action

Missional Imagination is one of the most popular, most talked about courses in Missional Wisdom Foundation's online learning program, Launch & Lead. In this course, students are encouraged to actively look for places in which God is already breaking into the world, and ways in which they can join in and continue that work. It is my privilege to be married to the instructor of the course, the ever-eloquent Dr. Bret Wells, so I hear about Missional Imagination often. Bret and I also talk with our children daily about finding ways to see Jesus at work and in others.

A Life and Death Matter...

A Life and Death Matter of the Holy Spirit

The Active Presence of the Holy Spirit, Week 1

By Adam White

“Theology is truly a matter of life and death.”

This is what my then-professor, Dr. Joerg Rieger, said to all of us students on the first day of our Systematic Theology class at Perkins School of Theology in the fall of 2012. My immediate reaction was thinking – “I don’t think I signed up for the right course…I wonder if there is enough time to still swap classes. I hear Prayer and Spirituality is being offered this semester.”

Reports from the Spiritual Frontier

Reports from the Spiritual Frontier
by Benjamin Yosua-Davis

Reports from the Spiritual Frontier is a podcast series dedicated to telling the stories of people who live and work on the spiritual margins of our culture. Benjamin Yosua-Davis strongly believes that our religious pioneers may currently possess the greatest insight into what it means to follow Jesus and be the church in the 21st century. His goal is to provide a place for those pioneers to share their wisdom and experiences with the wider church, as we all figure out how to be faithful in our changing religious landscape.

Journey

Journey
by Robert Bishop

We at the Missional Wisdom Foundation have struggled with our elevator pitch almost since the beginning.

How does one describe all of Missional Wisdom’s various projects?

Our work touches a lot of people in a lot of ways and in a lot of places, and it can be hard to connect all of the pieces without a whole lot of explanation. We tried various metaphors to describe our mission in general terms, but never quite hit on a summative image.

Recently, we settled on a single, simple sentence:

Devotional, Wisdom for the WayMissional Wisdom FoundationFebruary 22, 2017journey, experiment, learning, Launch & Lead, Robert BishopComment

A Practice of Photography

A Practice of Photography
by Ryan Klinck

As we prepare to begin a new series of devotional thoughts in a couple of weeks, we are taking this time to spotlight some new work of several Missional Wisdom Foundation staff members.

This past semester at Perkins School of Theology, I led groups of students through a spiritual practice that I designed for a final project in my Spiritual Practices and Pathways class. This spiritual practice interwove aspects of lectio divina, silence, iconography, and film photography into prayer space. Many students were moved by the experience, especially during a time when they were overwhelmed with finals.

Why Do I Witness?

Why Do I Witness?
by Ryan Klinck

The Witness section of the Missional Wisdom Rule of Life calls for us to practice racial and gender reconciliation, to resist evil and injustice, and to pursue peace with justice. This story describes the efforts of one of our employees to live into that commitment…

Saturday, January 28th, a couple thousand strangers spontaneously gathered together at the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport to protest the detainment of nine human beings as a result of President Trump's executive order. While eating dinner that night, some friends and I received an invitation. We knew we had to go, what choice did we have?

Spotlight, Wisdom for the WayMissional Wisdom FoundationFebruary 10, 2017Rule of Life, Ryan Klinck, justice, witnessComment

Retrospective

Retrospective
The Rule of Life, Week 16
By Andrea Lingle

I commit to this rule of life and to the well-being of this community, out of gratitude to God who forgives, heals, and makes all things new. May my life be a blessing within and beyond God’s church, for the transformation of the world.
-From the MWF Rule of Life

So, we did it. We talked about a Rule of Life for sixteen consecutive weeks.

And I think it has changed my life.

Devotional, Wisdom for the WayAndrea LingleFebruary 8, 2017Rule of Life, Theme III, Andrea Lingle, spiritual practiceComment

Cade's 3 Pepper Salsa

Cade's 3 Pepper Salsa
by Justin Hancock, Denise Crane, and Rachel Wells

We have now attended two Julian Way dinners with this young man, Cade Ford, and his parents, Lance and Kim. As of this writing, Cade is a 17 year old high school student. He is connecting with Justin, Lisa, and the Julian Way because his family is beginning to see that thought should be given now to what a more independent life beyond high school might look like for Cade.

The Importance of Witness

The Importance of Witness
The Rule of Life, Week 15
by Adam White

We will share the redeeming, healing, creative love of God in word, deed and presence as an invitation to others to experience the transforming love of God
-From the MWF Rule of Life

You are a witness.

Really, you are! For instance, you are currently giving witness by way of reading a weekly devotional, for which we are very appreciative.

Devotional, Wisdom for the WayAdam WhiteFebruary 1, 2017Adam White, Theme III, Rule of Life, witness, Simple HarmonyComment

When Brunch Becomes a Feast

The Mix Coworking - When Brunch Becomes a Feast
by Rhonda Sweet

I had the pleasure of catering a wedding sendoff brunch for a wonderful couple here in The Mix. As their guests trickled in, each curious about this unique space, some began to ask me questions and were even interested in a tour. My client of course approved, and what I witnessed on this tour was a feast for the eyes and hearts.

Spotlight, Wisdom for the WayMissional Wisdom FoundationJanuary 27, 2017The Mix, Rhonda Sweet, community, hospitalityComment

Pursuing Justice

Pursuing Justice
The Rule of Life, Week 14
By Adam White

We will pursue peace with justice
-From the MWF Rule of Life

If you could live at anytime in history, when and where would it be? Who would you want to see? What would you do? Why?

As a once-student-of-history, these are the questions I still find time to dream about. Me? What period of time and location in history would I want to visit? Be careful asking that--this newsletter is supposed to be short!

Devotional, Wisdom for the WayAdam WhiteJanuary 25, 2017Adam White, justice, Rule of Life, Theme III, peace, Simple Harmony, WesleyComment

Stories from Bonhoeffer House

Stories from Bonhoeffer House
by Ryan Klinck, Bonhoeffer House Steward

When I first met Mike, he was a fellow from our group of homeless friends who frequented the Bonhoeffer House, that kept mostly to himself. He did not engage conversation much, came for the food, and was fine sitting quietly in the corner, doing his own thing.

Reflecting the Light Inside

Reflecting the Light Inside
The Rule of Life, Week 13
By Adam White

We will practice racial, gender, and other forms of reconciliation wherever we find sinful and destructive walls of division between people
-From the MWF Rule of Life

The first toy I ever remember playing with as a child was a glass triangular prism. I used to lie on the ground by the window on sunny days and play with the prism, refracting the light that was coming through the sun onto different surfaces. Sometimes, I’ll admit, I would shine the light into the eyes of my older siblings and parents. What captivated me most about this tiny, seemingly insignificant glass object was how the light could be refracted and present an array of colors that could change shape.

Devotional, Wisdom for the WayAdam WhiteJanuary 18, 2017Adam White, Rule of Life, Theme III, reconciliationComment

Bees & Honey

Bees & Honey
by Kate Rudd

We added an exciting feature to Haw Creek Commons recently - bee hives! We started with four hives: two Langstroth hives whose focus is honey production, and two top bar hives whose focus is beeswax production. The bee yard is complete with bear fencing (aka electrical fencing) as well as a privacy fence to deter hive theft (apparently a big deal in North Carolina).

Wisdom for the Way, SpotlightMissional Wisdom FoundationJanuary 13, 2017Haw Creek Commons, Kate Rudd, bees, AshevilleComment

Enough

Enough
The Rule of Life, Week 12
by Andrea Lingle

We will practice regular Sabbath as a means of renewal so that we can lovingly serve God and neighbor
-From the MWF Rule of Life

Sabbath is a word that, for me, used to sound a lot like restriction. It might be a strange pronunciation, but it was not until I found myself practicing Sabbath in the context of community that Sabbath manifested itself into the practices of rest and freedom that truly reflect this ancient directive.

Wisdom for the Way, DevotionalAndrea LingleJanuary 11, 2017Rule of Life, Theme III, Andrea Lingle, SabbathComment

Ahadi's Christmas Stars

Ahadi's Christmas Stars
by Ronda VanDyk

During the first part of December, White Rock UMC hosted a holiday luncheon in The Mix Coworking & Creative Space. The Ahadi Collective received the honor of being commissioned to make a small gift for each of the attendees.

Spotlight, Wisdom for the WayMissional Wisdom FoundationJanuary 6, 2017Ahadi, Ronda VanDyk, ChristmasComment

Ring-aRound-the-Rosies

Ring-aRound-the-Rosies
The Rule of Life, Week 11
by Andrea Lingle

We will practice mutual accountability with a covenant group within the community, for how we serve God and neighbor
-From the MWF Rule of Life

Ring around the rosies,

I resemble my parents and my children resemble me. The writers of the creation accounts included in the Torah made it clear that human-kind resembles its Creator.

Devotional, Wisdom for the WayAndrea LingleJanuary 4, 2017Rule of Life, Andrea Lingle, Theme IIIComment

Street Jesus...

Square Soul
Manager, minister at CitySquare has a new mission

Byron's Lens: "Street Jesus" Finds Grace Under Pressure
By Byron Harris, as printed on WFAA.com

*Jonathan Grace resided in the Bonhoeffer House, a part of Missional Wisdom Foundations' Epworth Project, for three years.

Jonathan Grace stands out in a crowd. He’s an imposing presence, tall enough that when he walks into a room you notice him. He’s also got shoulder-length hair and a beard, that’s the other reason he catches your eye. He’s usually wearing jeans, a open-necked shirt and work boots and bears a strong resemblance to Leonardo Da Vinci’s depiction of Jesus in The Last Supper. Your first reaction is: what’s up with this guy?

Blessed

Blessed
The Rule of Life, Week 10
by Andrea Lingle

We will serve God and neighbor out of gratitude for the love of God
-From the MWF Rule of Life

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

My family lost a baby three years ago. We have not yet healed from this grief. Sometimes I still find myself staring into the middle distance lost in a moment so large and disorienting that I have to, mentally, follow the bubbles to the surface. In the weeks following her death, I was screened for depression. “Yes, I cry every day. Yes, I feel detached. Yes, I have lost interest in my normal activities.” We decided to watch and wait. Situational depression due to grief should only last three to six months.

Haw Creek Proposal

Haw Creek Proposal

A few weeks ago, my children, Laine (8), Annabel (6), and Oliver (5), had the opportunity to present a project they have been working on for several months to a granting agency in the Asheville area. Here are their ideas in their own words. Oliver’s was aesthetic…he was not going to be left out!

They will begin working on implementing their projects at Haw Creek Commons in the coming year.

Enjoy.
-Andrea Lingle

Spotlight, Wisdom for the WayAndrea LingleDecember 23, 2016Haw Creek Commons, Andrea Lingle, children, outdoors, AshevilleComment