Grow, Grow, Grow!

My Mom told me that kids grow in the summer because they do not have to learn. She insists that kids cannot learn and grow at the same time - which is why they don't appear to grow as much during the school year.

I don't know if she is right or not, but I know that I don't grow spiritually at the same rate all year round. At some points, I just don't have the mental free space to focus on memorizing verses or the necessary alone-time to get through my prayer lists. Not that praying and memorizing verses are the only ways to grow. Anyone can grow by taking in God's Word somehow (devotions, Bible study, preaching, teaching, spiritual conversations) and then using what they know in a practical way (witnessing, building habits, praying, teaching, serving).

Actively focusing on ministry is a great way to grow spiritually. Roughly forty of the members of the college and career class will be gone this summer doing specific ministries. But, being faithful in a "normal" place can get you pretty far too. We have a good reason to teach kids "Read Your Bible, Pray Every Day." That simple habit makes it possible for Christians to grow, grow, grow!

We don't have a list of people staying in town, but here is a list of people traveling this summer. Let's be in prayer for each other that both those ministering away from our church and those ministering at home will grow in a way we can't during the school year. Then, when we get back together in September, we can see who is taller... spiritually.

This picture was hijacked from the Wild's website.
You can find it if you follow the link to the church website and go on from there. 

Give an Ear to Those in Need

I am sitting in my seat, listening to a colleague describe the personal problems through which he is going. All of them seem to be pointing towards a divorce. I try to comfort him and encourage him to try to reconcile with his wife, but it is clear that he is not considering this as an option. I told him that I would pray for him on this topic, after which we went our own ways.
While this might sound like a typical counseling situation, the actual location was anything but that. I was sitting down in my seat in the orchestra, getting ready for the dress rehearsal for a concert that we would be playing the next day. In all actuality, such conversations are not out of the ordinary, but are quite common. In fact, I find it more of a surprise when such topics do not come up either before a rehearsal, during a break, or after rehearsal.
What I have learned in situations such as these is that I need to view my profession as a mission field and not just a career. Granted, most people will not want to listen and will want you to know that they do not need God, but you will be surprised just how many people are out there, looking for help and burdened down with cares. We as believers need to react in two ways:
       1.      Listen attentively. They are hurting, and we need to show an interest in not only hearing about their problems but also in showing that we care for them as a person.
       2.      Encourage them to act biblically. While the chances are they might not want to do the right thing (as in the story I mentioned above) there is always a chance they will listen. The key is no matter what the situation is to always point them in the direction that they need to go. You might even get a chance to share the gospel, but most likely, all you will have time to do will be to simply given an admonition about what they need to do.
Remember, we are all called to be witnesses for the Lord, and it does not matter what our profession is. Whether we are a janitor or a politician, we need to make sure that we view our job as an opportunity to present a gospel testimony to the lost, showing people that life does have a purpose and that there is a God that cares about both you and me.


Even Duke

Graduation Tips

A few people from our class have reached a milestone in their education. That means they have run full-speed into a big rock, and now they are lying on the ground wondering what happened and wishing someone would give them an ice-pack.

Well, here is a little ice-pack from The Road.

1. God remains the same through transitions. The security of school routine was a gift from Him. You can't graduate from God, so you can never lose your true security.

2. Graduation ceremonies are meant to be enjoyed, so figure out a way to enjoy it. Get signatures on your program, count the number of guys with pink tassels, think of something funny to say to the person who shakes your hand in line, see if all the people giving testimonies have a word or a topic in common, or imagine what it would take for you to get an honorary doctorate. Don't just sit there.

3. Figure out a way to hide a tissue in your robe. If you don't need it, someone near you will.

4. Get pictures with everyone you can think of. You will want them later.

5. Plan to come back and report often. If you go away, we will miss you. (If you don't go away, we will be happy.)

Everyone who is not graduating will be praying for you as you recover from your milestone collision.


Rachel Potter

One Another #7

Up to this point, our exploration of the "one another" passages has been fairly general. Everyone knows we are supposed to love each other, pray for, and serve each other. No one purposefully tries to hurt a brother or sister in Christ. But our relationship to one another is something God wants us to grow in. That means we have to move beyond agreeing with the Bible to obeying it.

For different members of the class, obeying the directives of the one-another passages will mean different things. Summer will drastically alter the schedule of college students in our class. If you are a student, you should consider how the plan for your summer will affect your brothers and sisters in Christ. Maybe instead of planning all the experiences you want to have, books you want to read, or activities you want to do, you should plan for people you want to invest in - like your parents, siblings, or friends. And what about those people whose name you know, but you do not know much more? Maybe you can use some of your summer to find out why they are here and what they are like.

For some people in our class, summer will not make one bit of difference. But just because our schedule does not change does not mean that we are exempt from growing in relationships. It just means that we have to be more creative. What about taking a half hour some evening to think about what you can do to increase your connection to other church members. Get a notebook and think for fifteen minutes about who your friends are and how you could improve your relationship. Then, take fifteen minutes to think of people who are not your friends and what you can do about it. Write down at least one goal for each category.

In summary, the "one another" passages are not just something to add to the summer to-do list. They give us an orientation by which to evaluate our to-do list. If Christ-likeness is our chief summer goal, we should keep John 12:35 in mind, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."



Rachel Potter