JeffThigpen.com

Robin Royal is seen in the middle. Crunched between David Smith and Debbie Johnson to the left and Marcelle Fowler and Robin’s mother.   Robin has had a courageous battle with cancer over the past few years.  We pray that she is comfortable,  getting rest,  and feels the prayers we lift for her well being.  The staff at the Register of Deeds office, her friends and former co-workers in the mail room have her close to their hearts tonight and hope you do as well.

The Servant Leadership School of Greensboro has been around for over 15 years.  This effort is ecumenical and has been one of many influences on my own Christian faith and understanding of the ministry of Jesus Christ.   As the coordinator of the School in the mid 90’s,  I was given the opportunity to spend time with Gordon Cosby, Diana Chambers, Killian Noe among others through Church of the Savior and the Servant Leadership School in Washington DC.   

The effort focuses on concepts like servant leadership, contemplative prayer, call, the influence of power and priviledge, importance of exposure and being in a relationship with the poor, and understanding the nature of addictions as we deepen our relationship with God in community.  As Christians, how do we accept God’s love, listen for guidance, and go to the places we’d rather not go sometimes in His service?   This profund effort can be personally troubling and painful if done authentically.  May not be for the weak knee’d, haha, but you can make some good friends.

The works of Henry Nouwen, Ched Myers, Richard Rhor, Killian Noe,  Kayla McClurg, and Walter Wink a just a few that stretch the heart, mind, and challenge the soul as we struggle to realize 21st century christian leadership.   

Here is the Fall 2008 course schedule.

At Messiah College.

I’ve been in shock the past few days.

Filing closed on Friday at noon and I survived unopposed. For whatever reason…great changes in our office, good press, or just plain disinterest by the public, I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve another term as Guilford County Register of Deeds.  I was reflecting on Friday that I’ve never had a pass on anything and this was truly an unexpected surprise.

There is still much work to be completed.

Customer Service. Performance. E-Recording. Redaction. Cross-Training. Move to the BB and T building.

I’ll certainly have much to focus on…. Thanks to the citizens of Guilford County.

Here are some alternative tips on observing Lent.

Catholic Charities has 40 days as well.

Wow, carbon fasting is a new term but cool.

What a great gift and honor I had to meet Dr. James Forbes in Greensboro on Sunday, January 28th.

Dr. Forbes recently retired from The Riverside Church, one of the largest multicultural congregations in the nation and now leads the Healing of the Nations Foundation in New York. Dr. Forbes’ wife Bettye Franks Forbes, taught at C.F. Pope School in the early 1960’s and is now the Director of the Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble. Dr. Forbes was the 2008 Mullin Forum Lecturer at First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro and on his way to the New Baptist Covenant Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

I was surprised and energized when Ed Booker called on Saturday. He asked if I knew of Dr. James Forbes and I responded that I did. But I was intrigued to learn he was born in Burgaw, NC and I was then offered an opportunity to meet him. Needless to say I found myself at First Presbyterian.

Dr. Forbes is a brilliant scholar with a unique insight into biblical inquiry and current issues. He is spending his time now building the foundation and focusing on spiritual renewal in America.

US scientist clones himself from skin cells

“Samuel Wood, a researcher at Stemagen Corporation in La Jolla, California, plucked cells from his skin and injected them into donated eggs that had been treated to remove their own genetic material. The eggs developed into very early stage embryos that were genetically identical to the scientist’s own DNA.”

The closely held company hopes to make embryos that are clones, or genetic twins, of patients, then harvest stem cells from those embryos and grow them into replacement tissues.

Company claims cloned humans and made stem cells.