Letters

I was thinking the other day as I was rambling on to Court about something and had a new thought (this doesn't happen very often, I almost hurt myself). As I was thinking about the letters in the NT and all the different authors and all the different time periods, I realized that many of the 1st century churches may have never received or read any number of those letters. I wonder what implications that has for the church today? Don't crucify me just yet, let me clarify. For a long time we have looked at each of the NT letters as a comprehensive rule book, or a list of things not to do. And certainly there are some extremely important lessons to be learned from the mistakes they made. But if all the first century churches didn't get to see some of the letters written, what did they do? I have a feeling Acts 15 gives us a hint. It says, "It seemed good to us and the Holy Spirit". These people were arguing over some very serious doctrine and this was the answer they came up-"It seemed good". Not, "Here's what the Torah says". Not, "Here's what Jesus says, or what Moses did". They prayed about it, sought after the Holy Spirit and made a decision based on the information they already knew. I would be curious what our churches would look like if we did this more often; obviously not throwing out our core doctrine. However, we must be careful to discern what is tradition and what is doctrine. I wander what kind of letter Paul would write to our churches today? Whatever would be included in it, I hope we have better luck than the Galatians did.

What do you think Paul would include in his letter?

Opinions

Opinions are a tricky thing...or are they. Really, I am an expert on my own opinion. So are you. But, here's the tricky part. If I don't value your opinion, then it doesn't really matter what you think does it. If we are just a bunch of people spouting off our opinions and not really listening to anyone else, we have accomplished nothing. So, the next time you disagree with someone else's opinion, you should listen. They might actually be right.

A movement of God

"A movement of God can't be planned, but must be prepared for-Scott Hodge (Minister). I think way more often then not, I am not prepared for where God is leading me. This requires flexibility, a shift in thinking, constructive criticism, a change in actions...so many things that don't come easily. I know they are coming, eventually, cause they always do. However, I don't do anything to really prepare myself for them. I don't really have an answer for this difficult concept. Maybe it just requires us to listen closer. I don't really like that answer though because I feel like I'm trying. Sometimes I feel like I listen to long and to close and then I've missed where ever he's trying to lead me. Thoughts?

Courage

Courage is a difficult thing. It takes courage to do a lot of things. It takes courage to state your opinion when it isn't popular, it takes courage to stand up to your boss, it takes courage to speak in public and it takes courage to be a Christian. I read a great quote about courage from Michael Hyatt. "Courage is not the absence of fear, it is acting in spite of it." When was the last time you had to act in spite of your fears? When was the last time you knew what you had to do, didn't want to do it, and did anyway?