The Americans Are Coming

Sorry that we have not been able to connect since your return from paradise! I am looking forward to hear how it was for you.  I miss you deeply.  I figured that I would write a list of things down that have been on my mind to talk to you about.  Not that we have to cover them all but so they are in the air between us.
1) The Americans are Coming.  Folks attached to the Laity Foundation are coming today.  We meet with them for the next 5 days or so to talk to them about a collection of projects that we would like them to fund.  If they do in fact fund then we might stay another year at least.  One of the projects is a Church and Society project that looks at church in mission with the world. I am excited about this particularly because I am having time to thing and talk with Fraser about a broader vision of the church in the world beyond personal piety and individual salvation (Not, as Sienfield would say that there is anything wrong with that!).  I have been reading books economic justice, Coventry Cathedral and have been engaging with Brueggemann again. Fuel in a fire.
2) Chapelwood.  I will more than likely be in Houston July (want to catch a flight back with me?) to preach.  For whatever reason I need to stare this down.  The time to think about the project above has given space both for vision and for my fear.  There are so many reasons why I 'should not' be thinking about this job and you have heard the list (a few times!), but still it is there and I need to face it.  I told them that there is a possibility that I would stay here for at least an addition year.
3) My boys.  I took Miguel and Gabriel to a dance performance called "Swagger" - I was hoping for more hip-hop and M. Jackson (which there was) but there was also a lot of cultural pieces.  When the belly dancers came out Miguel woke from his trance and said "Woah!".  After the piece and in the silence that followed my boys enthusiastic applause Gabriel said in loud voice - "Can mommy do that when we get home?" Even the sober Brits laughed.
4) Friendships.  We have them - but have not connected in the ways we did in Lubbock.  What I am finding is that this is giving me more internal space for our family and for Michele.
5) Visitors.  In the next few months Michele's friend L. and her partner are coming, Betsy is coming and 2  guys from Mercy Street are coming through.  It will be good to have folks we know in the house.
6) I have talked to Dale Ryan and have begun to sketch out a book with him on the 12 steps spirtuality as emerging church that I want to call "Trust God, Clean House, Serve Others".  I have been working on the overview and structure and it seems to be coming together.  We will see...
7) My anxiety. It is still there and comes and goes but I am talking with it when it is here much more than attempting to resist it.  It also feels like a flu of sorts and I know now that it will pass. The gift is that it points me towards the absence of God and even there the possibility of God exists (or insists as Caputo would say!).
8) Having more sex with Michele than ever before (jk).... you still reading this???

That is all for now.  Love you my brother from another mother.