Wake Up Call

There are several blogs I try to read on a regular basis, if not a daily basis. One of those belongs to Rachel's cousin Gretchen. Her post today really made me think about something that I'm reminded of often, but this time I'm going to write it down.
She mentioned how she loves to read and is always talking about what she's read and giving others advice on books and so forth (her last few blog entries have been on this topic). Today, though, she realized that she "rarely offer up insights I gained from my personal Bible reading".
This brings me to my thoughts. I'm constantly thinking of ways to help grow the church--new ideas, new methods, training leaders, discipling, etc.--but I sometimes lose track of my own growth, my own training, or my own discipleship. Today was one of those days that I just truly got into my personal Bible reading. I just wanted to keep reading more! I love those days!
If there's one thing I've learned over the last few years, it is this: be a life-long learner. Once you reach a point where you think you have things under control and you set life on cruise, which I seem to do way too often, there's a problem. I hope to never reach a point where I no longer want to grow or learn. Yes, I sometimes get lazy, I'll admit that, but deep down I still want to continue growing in knowledge and faith.
I don't think Gretchen even knows I read her blog, and I highly doubt she reads mine, but still the same, thanks for the reminder, Gret.

ST

Humbled...Again

This seems to happen to me quite often. Every time I start to think I'm doing a good job and that things couldn't run without me, God quickly reminds me how untrue that is.
The discussion last night at small group centered around how we can fulfill the Cultural Command around us. It was great because I didn't have to say a word about what "we should do" as a group. This small group has stepped up and realized that there's more to their individual lives than themselves, and they've come up with a plan to begin reaching out to all the new people who have been attending our church over the last few months.
I can't tell you how awesome it is to see God working in their lives. It's even more awesome to see how they are allowing God to work in and through them!

ST

Point to Ponder

We had our small group on Wednesday. I love small group because you never know where our discussions will lead. We usually end up on rabbit trails, but they're interesting rabbit trials and times of growth.
This week one of the rabbit trails led to a discussion of the Trinity (God the Father, God the Son [Jesus], and God the Holy Spirit). As I was trying to think of an intelligent yet simple way to describe a concept our finite minds cannot even begin to comprehend, someone (I can't give names because we have a confidentiality agreement in our group) explained that you can compare the Trinity to an egg: all three parts (shell, white, yolk) are individual but still one egg. As we were all amazed at the simplicity of that answer, someone decided to be funny and ask which part of the egg would be the Father, which part would be the Son, and so on. Once again, before I could say that you can't read into it that much someone else gave this awesome explanation:

The egg's shell is the protection (God). The egg white is the inner membrane that purifies the egg (Jesus). The egg yolk provides the nutrients for the growing embryo (Holy Spirit).

Very interesting.

ST