First there is Michael Katzenberger who is our fearless or fearful leader -- ha ha. I had to throw that one in. Here are some words that I might use to describe my boss. Teddy bear, humorous, pastor, visionary, amusing and a good friend.

Then there's Michael Warren, our fearless retreat leader, who is doing a fabulous job! He is what I would almost epitomize as warm and friendly, non-judgmental and wise.

Then there's Michael Treadway who came with me from New City Church of LA. It is his first time outside of the US since he was a little boy. His level of excitement prior to the trip was beyond what I can describe in words, but maybe I can try. Here are some words that come to mind: eager, eagerness, enthusiastic, over enthusiastic, delighted, overjoyed with delight, animated, peppy but not like pepe le peu.

Why would I bother to write about the three apparent Michael's and the issue of how and what to call them? After all, they are three very different individuals. Because I have been thinking about the importance of names. The Bible is careful to tell us the meaning of some names and with that almost is a prophecy over that person's life. For instance, Jesus, as we know comes from "Joshua" which means "YAHWEH is salvation". And from that we know that Jesus came to earth to save.

What about the name Aaron? The most popular Aaron in the Bible was that who was the brother of Moses. It has an Egyptian origin and means "high mountain" or "exalted". Biblically, Aaron was Moses' older brother (and keeper by God's command). He was the first high priest of the Israelites, remembered for the miraculous blossoming of his staff or rod.

What about Michael? I am surrounded by them for 2 weeks. What does this name mean? "He who is like God?". It is a rhetorical question because no one can be like God. In the Book of Revelations he is portrayed as the leader of heaven's armies. Ok.

Now, in Russia "Michael" is spelled "Mikhail" and I immediately think of Mikhail Gorbachev. Not wanting to get into political debate at this point, it's probably best that I stop writing about the name Michael.

So, what about you? What does your name mean?

Nancy is a variant of Ann which means grace. Ok, everybody, please don't fall off your chairs from laughing too hard. I recognize that I wear this meaning lightly. I tend to trip over my own feet, so I have no grace there. I sometimes speak too quickly and the words that come from my mouth are offensive and hurtful. Yep. No grace there.

Here is the interesting part. Ann is a form of Hannah from the Old Testament of the Bible. The name appears briefly in the New Testament and refers to a prophetess who recognized Jesus as the Messiah. The name was also borne by several Russian royals, including an 18th-century empress of Russia. It was also the name of the main character in Leo Tolstoy's novel 'Anna Karenina' (1877), a woman forced to choose between her son and her lover.

So.... that's my connection to Russia! Whew. God does know what He's doing. :)