Didn't see that one coming
Smarter people than me can't figure out my life. I mean that.
However, it's always good for a laugh. There's a lot going on that I don't blog about, mostly out of respect for the privacy of the people involved. There was a time that I didn't care all that much about that. You live and learn, though. Besides I'm finding that it's a small world, and mine gets smaller and smaller every day.
I don't put a lot of stock into the things I see, but often this or that will be like a little clue that something odd is going on. The car with Indiana plates I saw yesterday at the light on 36th would be one of those things. There are people from all over in Ogden. Texas, Missouri, Montana, Idaho, and the list goes on and on. There are lots and lots of people from Oregon here. And yesterday there was someone from Indiana in my neighborhood the same time I was going to work.
It doesn't mean anything. It wasn't a "sign". I'm just saying I saw it.
There are twenty plus people in our little Bible study group on Wednesday mornings. We've lost three since we started. We had new faces today. New faces got hit in the face with the fundamental element of Christianity this morning. It was a stark, honest, no bones about it lesson in Christianity. You could have heard a pin drop in that room this morning at one point. But then the discussion that followed was insightful.
As we continue to spend time together, you can feel a sense of trust and of community beginning to build. Those are important things. Although it's only for a half-hour a week, all of us are growing in our faith. That's a good thing.
Many of you remember my latest ex. I hate having to talk like that, by the way, but the facts are that I have a sinful past. I can't seem to get away from it. I can't even begin to explain what happened a couple of weeks ago at our Bible study except to say that God's pretty serious about what He wrote in the Bible. Anyway, there's a tie there, one that's a little too close for comfort, but I'm getting comfortable with it because after all, it's not about me or how I feel about things. It's about Jesus.
The ex is from a very small town in Indiana which is situated on the Indiana-Ohio border. It's wee dinky. It's called Richmond and this morning I now know another person from Richmond, Indiana.
As we were speaking to one of the younger men in our group, he mentioned he was from Indiana. I had to ask, "Where are you from?"
"Richmond"
Of course you are. I dropped my Bible on the table. My pastor started laughing.
Even I have trouble believing my life.
Look, I laugh too. God is awesome and He just does some stuff that is so unbelievable that all you can do is laugh about it. It's not disrespectful. I'm not laughing at God, nor making fun of Him. Karl wasn't laughing at me. The situation is just so unbelievable that laughter is about the only response. I had to explain to the young man that there was a lot of stuff going on that he didn't know about. He was cool with it.
On the upside, though, it's a way to build a relationship. I know where he's from. We talked of places in Richmond. I can understand his background because I know what kind of town he grew up in. We have a common thread that will help us relate to each other. Those are things that God can use to open communication.
It doesn't mean anything but that, as far as I can tell.
Still though, it's a bit odd. Or maybe not. I don't quite know.
What I do know though is that it didn't happen by accident because as I read my lesson in my workbook today, it talked about how God doesn't add people to a congregation of a church by accident.
I'm thinking that it's a bit untraditional but the guys at the Rescue Mission are a congregation to themselves and it's no accident that we're all in the same room.
God is good. All the time.
However, it's always good for a laugh. There's a lot going on that I don't blog about, mostly out of respect for the privacy of the people involved. There was a time that I didn't care all that much about that. You live and learn, though. Besides I'm finding that it's a small world, and mine gets smaller and smaller every day.
I don't put a lot of stock into the things I see, but often this or that will be like a little clue that something odd is going on. The car with Indiana plates I saw yesterday at the light on 36th would be one of those things. There are people from all over in Ogden. Texas, Missouri, Montana, Idaho, and the list goes on and on. There are lots and lots of people from Oregon here. And yesterday there was someone from Indiana in my neighborhood the same time I was going to work.
It doesn't mean anything. It wasn't a "sign". I'm just saying I saw it.
There are twenty plus people in our little Bible study group on Wednesday mornings. We've lost three since we started. We had new faces today. New faces got hit in the face with the fundamental element of Christianity this morning. It was a stark, honest, no bones about it lesson in Christianity. You could have heard a pin drop in that room this morning at one point. But then the discussion that followed was insightful.
As we continue to spend time together, you can feel a sense of trust and of community beginning to build. Those are important things. Although it's only for a half-hour a week, all of us are growing in our faith. That's a good thing.
Many of you remember my latest ex. I hate having to talk like that, by the way, but the facts are that I have a sinful past. I can't seem to get away from it. I can't even begin to explain what happened a couple of weeks ago at our Bible study except to say that God's pretty serious about what He wrote in the Bible. Anyway, there's a tie there, one that's a little too close for comfort, but I'm getting comfortable with it because after all, it's not about me or how I feel about things. It's about Jesus.
The ex is from a very small town in Indiana which is situated on the Indiana-Ohio border. It's wee dinky. It's called Richmond and this morning I now know another person from Richmond, Indiana.
As we were speaking to one of the younger men in our group, he mentioned he was from Indiana. I had to ask, "Where are you from?"
"Richmond"
Of course you are. I dropped my Bible on the table. My pastor started laughing.
Even I have trouble believing my life.
Look, I laugh too. God is awesome and He just does some stuff that is so unbelievable that all you can do is laugh about it. It's not disrespectful. I'm not laughing at God, nor making fun of Him. Karl wasn't laughing at me. The situation is just so unbelievable that laughter is about the only response. I had to explain to the young man that there was a lot of stuff going on that he didn't know about. He was cool with it.
On the upside, though, it's a way to build a relationship. I know where he's from. We talked of places in Richmond. I can understand his background because I know what kind of town he grew up in. We have a common thread that will help us relate to each other. Those are things that God can use to open communication.
It doesn't mean anything but that, as far as I can tell.
Still though, it's a bit odd. Or maybe not. I don't quite know.
What I do know though is that it didn't happen by accident because as I read my lesson in my workbook today, it talked about how God doesn't add people to a congregation of a church by accident.
I'm thinking that it's a bit untraditional but the guys at the Rescue Mission are a congregation to themselves and it's no accident that we're all in the same room.
God is good. All the time.
And I had to laugh some more when I read your post. For me, though,the exciting part was when we asked how we could pray for some of these guys,and this particular one piped up with "I want to get baptized". And you just might get to be a part of that. Isn't that even cooler than the won he's from?
ReplyDeleteOh, absolutely! It's not about me and I'm thrilled this young man wants to be baptized. Hopefully he picks the river. I think that would be cool!
ReplyDelete