Be the Light

Been praying over the Be the Light 

Bible Journaling On-Line 

Conference that began today.

It is sponsored by Bible Journaling Ministries with 

Tracie and Lonny Rollins.

This new endeavor
  has been a blessing for me.

Moving out of my comfort zone

 to try something different.

How might the Holy Spirit

 use this opportunity?

It is in His hands.

Today there are 4,420 participants 
signed up for the session
 I teach on Friday-
 Introduction to Visual Prayer and the Devotional Life.
Not sure just how many
 will actually be "on board."
Amazing what happens these days 
with technology, 
and the way we can impact others around the world.
We can truly be "deployed digital missionaries."
To God be the Glory!

Half a Million

This is a Mahonia bush.

 I just love the color of the berries.

It is outside the Blue Ridge Conference Center

 in Roanoke, Virginia.

In the past day there has been a milestone

 that I will make note of here.

One half million page views

 of Vintage Grace- 500,000.

Never dreaming when I hit that first published

blog on August 20, 2011 

that I would still be writing here.

1,266 blog posts.

I have a small blog, 

generally a very small readership,

but in the quest to be a 

deployed digital missionary-

someone is reading.

Who knows how they are encouraged,

find hope,

see something new,

or make connections.

I really leave that all up to the Holy Spirit-

that is HIS territory.

I just write and hit publish.

And for anyone who has EVER 

read anything here at all,

 I say thank you.

 I am grateful.

Blessings to you!

Faithfully Connected- Book Review

Faithfully Connected-

 Integrating Biblical Principles in a Digital World

 by Ben Boche and Jake Hollatz.

I have been waiting for such a clearly written

 and user-friendly book on spiritual eformation

 for our homes, churches and classrooms.

Concordia Publishing House 

teams up with Dr. Ben Boche-a former

Professor of Education 

at Concordia University - Chicago. Ben is now
at the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh 
as an assistant professor of education
 in the Dept. of Literary and Language.
 Co-author Dr. Jake Hollatzz is the 

Principal of St. John Lutheran School

 in Orange, California.
This duo delivers a timely and useable resource.

They frame their outline of digital citizenship

 with the responsible use of technology. 

Boche and Hollatz weave in foundational 

Biblical principles with a Catechism focus.

They give a framework 

for both parents and educators

 as we all navigate learning 

in this rapidly changing digital world.

  Included in their book are classroom lesson plans

 with essential questions, standards or goals, 

assessment and a list of instructional materials.

Digital topics included in their book include:

access, commerce, communication,

 literary, etiquette, law, 

rights and responsibilities, 

health and wellness, and security.

This educator team are on track 
for helping us facilitate

 the faith journey in the digital world

 from citizens to leaders.

A great tool for family life educators

 in the church and school setting.

A wonderful resource to help parents

 have meaningful conversations 

with their digital native children.
Thanks to Ben and Jake for this timely tool
to help foster important conversations
 about we will live faithfully 
in this trans-media generation.

Digitized- Spiritual Implications of Technology- Book Review

I have been teaching and talking about

 living as deployed digital missionaries

 for about 10 years now.

This 2018 Concordia Publishing House book

 by Bernard Bull actually uses this

term within the framework of eformation.

Bull has studied technology trends 

for more than 20 years 

and is an associate professor of education

 at Concordia University Wisconsin.

His book is divided into 2 parts.

Part One:  How is Technology Shaping Us?

The chapters deal with information overload, 

information addition, the "daily me", 

hyperreality, celebrity, digital safety and security.

 I hear many conversations 

about the changing technology paradigm 

and the shift of influence for parenting. 

I rarely hear where adults 

are seeking good information

 and thoughtful tending of the issues they face.

The strength of Bull's writing is that he offers

 a framework of reflections and questions

 to look at digital culture

 and its impact on Christians. 

Scripture is the source of truth 

and outlines the way we need 

to respond to technology.

Even when we might wish for a 

less complicated digital world- 

we do live here and now- 

for such a time as this.

(Esther 4:14)

Technology IS shaping our thoughts, 

actions, families, communities and employment.

So.....

Part 2: How Do We Respond?

Even though it appears EVERYthing has changed,

some things have not.

The Triune God, God's Word, Human Nature,

Fundamental Human Needs and Desires, and 

God's Promises remain unchanged.

With the longtime tension 

between Christ and culture, 

we must begin to think like a missionary.

We are called to be witnesses of the 

Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people.

In order to do that we need to engage the culture,

 learn the language, and build relationships.

This is the outline for living on mission

 in this time and place. 

Bull outlines 10 ways 

to embrace a missionary mindset.

This list is worthy of contemplation 

and discussion with collaboration and fellowship.

God's Word is a Lamp and Guide 

in the digital world 

and we need to build discernment skills

 that will equip us for this lifelong endeavor.

There is also a review of possible ways

 to approach faith and life in the digital world.

That can include everything from blogs and 

digital storytelling to podcasts and video sharing.

Bull's writing stresses the importance 

of asking questions, and evaluating 

rather than just offering distant criticism.

He also cautions about 

"jumping to overly judgmental or legalistic claims

 about the digital world, 

as well as the opposite extreme 

of blindly accepting and embracing

 every new development or innovation."

Digitized- spiritual Implications of Technology 

can be helpful for families navigating 

the intent and purpose of digital forms

 as well as school and church staffs and communities.

It is time to outline a plan to 

"think like a missionary."

Visual Faith- The VRSLY Project

The roundup for November.

My images.

 My journey.

With words of affirmation

 or encouragement.

His truth

My reality

My response- Give Thanks!

 With the gift of the cross

 in the center of it all.

Amen.

Reformation 500-The Business of Prayer

I have been seeing this image
 on Pinterest alot lately.

The wall is a lovely brick wall
 at the Retreat Center - 

Richmond Hill, in Richmond, Virginia.

I added the words probably 

4 years ago with Pinwords.

 Don't event think that site is still around.

It shows up on Boards titled- 

Reformation, Martin Luther,

or Prayer.

Sometimes it is good to revisit a simple thought,

with a simple image.

Powerful.

Reflective.

Memorable.

That is what drives social media- 

and the following interactions.

Pin Away.

Gifted To Influence- Leadership Conference

Had an opportunity 
to attend this conference

 this year as a presenter and exhibitor
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

We were able to share the story of

 Visual Faith Ministry

 and launch the new website.

Visual Faith Ministry

With Co-Founder-

 Patricia Maier- at our exhibitor's table.

Show and Tell for ideas 

for visual faith practices.

Our new logo for Visual Faith Ministry.

WLI Director - Darcy Paape

opening with "story" at the Honors Dinner.

I shared conversation and presented 

with the topic of Deploying Digital Missionaries.

Pat shared the vision for Visual Faith practices.

A bite for lunch downtown Milwaukee.

Some evening fun with comedian-

 Leslie Norris Townsend

And THIS foursome-
Patricia Maier, Wendysue Fluegge, 
 Deb Burma and myself
 will be leading an 

Extravagant Love 
Caribbean Cruise - 

February 9-14, 2019 with EO TRAVELS

Mark your calendars now!!!
Never ceases to amaze me
 about what the Lord is up to!

VRSLY UPDATE

Never ceases to amaze me what I find in the garden

 that makes a great background 

for Scripture or words of encouragement.

                                                                                       photo credit to Teresa Davis

   Photos and words to share and pin.

Living as a digital missioner 

in the Kingdom.

What is Visual Faith?

So just what is Visual Faith?

This is an attempt to gather 

some of the processes,

 and reminders of faith 

that tell part of the story 

for followers of Jesus.

We are made in the image

 of a creative God,

and visual faith tools honor 

His creative sanctification 

of believers on a daily basis.

It is the basic process of bringing together

 our great gifts of prayer and His Word- 

and adding visual, kinesthetic, 

and tactile adaptations that make meaning

 for us in our daily life.

It is the answer to the question-

What does this mean for me?

Visual Faith

Bringing together images of everyday life

with words- typography, 

that communicate a Biblical truth.

Visual faith photo booklet

with faith language affirmation.

Graphic displays and text 

cement words of hope

in beautiful transformative ways.

Manila Tag booklet 

for specific liturgical seasons.

(with age-appropriate language)

Theology- the study of God,

lived out in our own 

lives and experiences.

The language of faith- discipling words

that become part of faith-life living.

 Small tactile remembrances 

of God's dramatic intersection in our lives.

 Daughter Jessica's -Baptism story.

Faith milestone.

Faith foldable- "Faithable" to

Gather the story of faith milestones.

And Confirmation story.

A tool to witness to family, 

friends, neighbors,

and the world- 

of God's gracious faithfulness to us.

Prayers for my Children-

Scripture Flipbook 

Visual faith is the intentional process 

of using reminders of faith 

in our prayer life.

God's Word to pray over our children.

Prayer cubes for Meal time, 

Bedtime, Anytime.

Visual faith includes 

teaching methods to instill 

words of prayer

 in the lives of our families.

Visual theology 

allows the connections

 to be personal,

and a part of the story-telling

of God’s faithfulness.

 It is seeing and understanding

 the truth about God.

Scripture Printable (from Pinterest)

and added to a flat canvas.

Visual Faith is the intentional placement

of God's Word in front of us in our homes 

so that we may 

See and Remember.
These tools deal with the diagnosis 
we all have of spiritual amnesia
 and forgetting God's faithfulness to us.

Faith Foldable- Accordion Booklet

It is the gathering of the STORY 

of our faith journey-

along the way- 

and documents our spiritual formation.

Faith Family Rolodex-

an ongoing project that collects 

words of meaning and milestone events,

 and the rhythm of the liturgical seasons.

Visual faith is the response

 to conversations with families 

about what is helpful

 in the teaching of "faith culture".

Meeting families right where they are.

Baseball card holder with 

prayer cards for individuals.

Visual Faith is a way to lift up 

people to the Lord in prayer.

And remember who we are praying

 for in our daily walk.

Prayer card made for a friend

Visual faith is a way to bless others

 in our lives with the images that 

bring prayer to the center of our lives.

Visual faith can be in the margins

 of our Bibles

where God's Word 

meets the world of our lives.

Gratitude journals and cards

Visual Faith is an intentional plan

 to pay attention to our daily gifts,

to create hearts of gratitude.

Visual faith can be the journaling of prayers,

 Bible Study, and sermon notes. 

Visual faith is connecting 

our response to God's text message to us.

The centering of the growing relationship

 we are blessed to experience in prayer

 and time in His Word.

Visual faith is our ongoing spiritual formation,

worked out by the Holy Spirit

 in an Individual Education Plan. 

It is the journey of our Heavenly Father

turing the broken into the beautiful,

and our witness of this process

 that is covered in Grace.

What can YOU add to the conversation
of how the Lord is working out 
His plan for your life?
And how you Tell the Story....