Post conference

So, as usual, we came, we saw, we tried to conquer. We walked hills and dales and we wound up this year less animated and less vocal.

It was a grand Annual Conference, and what struck me the most was that it was mostly full of joy and laughter. No longer did we fuss.

Oh that the coming years can be so.

Pauls said of schisms or divisions among us in a letter to the church in Corinth, "In the first place, I hear when you come together as a church there are divisions (schisms) among you, and to some extent I believe it." And he adds later, "so that there should be no (schisms) in the body, that that is parts should have equal concern for each other.

Unfortunate, there have been schisms throughout the history of the church, which is why we've wound up with many hundred denominations. That doesn't make it any less sad.

The Eastern church separated from the Western church. The Protestant church separated from the Catholic church.

And on and on we go with little idea of what comes next, in any denomination. The topics of the day have always caused division. Arguments over race and slavery and women and gay persons are just the tip of the division causing arguments.

The answer is out there, and it starts with Jesus. But we're not accessing it very well. I pray we do. I really, pray we do.