Ninas Family Missional Life

Like the pine trees lining a winding road, I've got a name,  I've got a name. Like a singing bird, and the croaking toad,  I've got a name,  I've got a name. And I carry it with me like daddy did, But I'm living the dream, that he kept hid. Jim Croce          My parents divorced when I was 3 years old, and I was pretty much raised by my stepfather Howard.  Although I did not bear his name, I knew that most people in the small towns where we lived knew him and my mother.  Thus, I knew that my behavior reflected on them as people and parents.  Of my 5 brothers and 3 sisters, only me and two brothers carried the last name Ninas.  I was always proud of my Prussian last name.  I have done my level best to keep that name clean and of good repute to pass on to my son Stephen.       I tried to pass onto my son that when he was out in the world the only thing he took of mine was our last name.  I emphasized that I gave it to him clean and he should conduct

     I had what could be called an epiphany several weeks ago.  Let me trot this dog out for you and see if he hunts.  You may remember I am in a discipleship group with a couple of awesome guys (Jeff and Eddie you owe me for saying that) working through the study written by Francis Chan and David  Platt entitled  Multiply Movement .  We are in our last few lessons and were studying Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 about us being the body of Christ.  Let me guess ...the Casting Crowns song just started playing in your head???  I have heard this passage taught many times over the past 30 or so years of my Christian life.  While preparing for our study on The Early Church  (Chapter 22), I was ruminating over the passage in 1 Corinthians 12.       Each time I have heard that passage taught, it has been in the context of getting plugged into your local church  body.  Having attended numerous churches over the years due to my Naval career, Lynne and I took this to heart and tri

        What can I say, I am back!!!  I made an agreement with my friends at New Day that I would continue to blog to stay in touch with them.  My last post was in December 2013, so what is the deal!!!  Right!!!!!  I have an excuse if you are willing to listen, but I still need you to forgive me for the interruption.       So here goes the excuse.   My Georgia teaching certificate is up for renewal in 2016.  That means I have two years to earn 10 Professional Learning Units (PLUs).  I began last July investigating how to earn my PLUs.  The Georgia Department of Education called for applications for their three course English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) endorsement class.  I dilly dallied, and finally put in an application ... one day too late.  The class is limited to 10 teachers and it had filled up while I dilly dallied.  They asked if I wanted to go on a waiting list in case someone dropped out, and I said yes.  Four weeks into the first class, Cultural Issues, I received