That the world is changing is yesterday's news. That it is changing rapidly and apparently without any discernible order or sequence is something many of us are trying to comprehend.

From the rising exodus of people in Zimbabwe to South Africa, to the struggling, starving people of Haiti who can no longer afford rising food prices, it is apparent that our world is experiencing serious disruption.

Sixteen-year-old Jenna returned from church with two extra large Ziploc bags, each containing a list of items to be included in a crisis care kit. The kits were designed to meet the immediate hygiene needs of a family in crisis due to a sudden calamity. With the last paycheck from her summer job, Jenna proceeded to the store to purchase the necessary supplies. She planned to assemble two of the emergency care packages for victims of hurricane Katrina. Shampoo, toothpaste.

I was 14 years old when rioting broke out on the streets of Northern Ireland, where I live. For 38 years I've lived through some of the darkest days of my province's history, in a world of car bombs, murders, punishment shootings, and people who have disappeared without a trace. The geography of Northern Ireland bears witness to the depth and extent of conflict. Names that should be locations on the map instead catalogue atrocity. The gruesome history is written on the walls of our cities.

One of the joys of being a university chaplain is watching students grow in their faith during their years on campus. They begin to separate the essentials from the non-essentials and make important decisions about the direction their lives will take.

October 10 marks a century since the First General Assembly convened in Chicago at First Church of the Nazarene. The title page of the official proceedings state: "First General Assembly of the Pentecostal Church of the Nazarene" with the note underneath in small print: "Being the Twelfth Assembly of the Church of the Nazarene" and the "Twelfth Annual [Meeting] of the Association of Pentecostal Churches of America [APCA]." The assembly concluded on October 18.

The Church of the Nazarene is truly a remarkable denomination. It has centered its theological focus on the critical issues relative to holy living, engaging mission, and growing local congregations. Our Articles of Faith keep us linked to the original springs of New Testament Christianity.

There is much of seeking that meets with disappointment because we do not heed the admonition "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God." We are told in Romans 14-17 that the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Do trees really clap their hands?

The island of Trinidad is a former British colony just a stone's throw away from the coastline of South America. Along with its partner, Tobago, it is home to over a million inhabitants in one of the most culturally diverse populations anywhere, near evenly split between people of African and South Asian populations but also including collections of Chinese, Europeans, and Hispanics.

Momentum is hard to sustain, and with men's ministries it seems particularly challenging. Perhaps your program is floundering. Or maybe your group is going well, but you're concerned about how to keep it going. Be mindful of these points to help your church's ministry to men keep the momentum.

Awakening the forces of change. Sounds innocuous doesn't it? Judging by the responses we received to Lee Woolery's article in the May/June issue of Holiness Today, this awakening may not be without incident or impact.

None can doubt that the winds of change are blowing across congregational landscapes.