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 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 church...

        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 dr...