Fine Young Man

I’m wrestling with the best way to teach my Bible class. This morning I think I confused a lot of people. In my attempt to help them understand the process of working through a text, I made it very confusing. I could see the frustration.

I don’t intend to make it seem so difficult that only scholars can do it. It also seemed to some that I was saying that we just couldn’t understand the text because of ambiguity in the terms. I didn’t want to suggest that either.

I was simply trying to teach a skill rather than what I perceive as spoon feeding. However, I have many years of training and study that they don’t have. Also, this is the way God set it up – teachers and shepherds to help His people. I made it sound as if they didn’t understand they didn’t want it bad enough. I think I want to absolve myself of taking a stance by refusing to tell them what I think it means.

I will repent and proclaim it clearly as I should next week.

Speaking of absolving responsibility…Drew has been complaining of abdominal pain this evening. His symptoms are similar to those of appendicitis on WebMD. Kristy asked me to look at it so we could talk about it. I threw a big tantrum because I didn’t want to make a decision about what to do. Where is my diaper and binky?!

Boat ride on Lake Hamilton

Yesterday was a full day. Sandwiched in the middle of a youth minister search committee meeting in the morning and putting the finishing touches on Bible class for today, the family and I took a boat ride on Lake Hamilton. It was a beautiful day, though that is not what the weather had predicted. When I got up, the Weather Channel on my iPhone said thunderstorms and a lake wind advisory. Neither was true. We explore the lake south of Hwy. 7. Then we found a the calm side of an island to anchor and have a snack. As we snacked on cheese cubes, crackers, pretzel sticks and sandwiches, we watched some Canada geese toward the end of the island. It was very nice to be outside and to enjoy God’s magnificent creation.

We had to cut the trip short because  Holley’s ear was hurting (we found out this morning it was an ear infection). I settled in to finish my class for this morning. After the kids were in bed, I returned to the church building to finish some prep for worship. To my surprise, some local artists had used their talents with sidewalk chalk in the parking lot. The messages were not very Christian. I took a couple of photos but I cannot share them with you here. However, here’s one in the parking space next to the one I normally use. Whew! I will have to admit that I did feel a little uncomfortable at the building alone at 10 at night.

The parking place next to mine

This is truth.

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To you, my white, middle-class, country-club friend: You are not my mission. You may join me on my mission, but you are not the one I am trying to reach.

I started today plotting goodness with my friend, Joel Adams. We are both coffee drinkers, so that’s what we did.

The pic is from Holley’s ballgame tonight. I helped out in the dugout. Things really go better when I stay completely out of it and play the role of cheerleader. Otherwise, I am too demanding and I always end up hurting her feelings. She did well in a new position, but the team lost by 1 run.

I now have some work that is due in the next couple days. I have been procrastinating as usual.