Learning to Live, Living to Die
Go overseas on your couch.
Several weeks ago, a few people from Christ Community began engaging in an English Language Learners online class with people from Chile. Working through partners there, several people from Kentucky were able to not only assist Spanish-speaking friends with English, but also learn one another's stories! Gospel impact is happening!
It was such a success that another round is starting July 14th and Daniel Bright is facilitating the group! It will go for 6 weeks on Mondays from 8-9:30pm. There are 8x the number of Chilean students they had last time! They could use your help!
You could make an impact overseas for the kingdom from your couch! What an opportunity!
If you have questions about this or you are interested in helping please contact Daniel Bright or email blake@loveshelbyville.com.
Make rest, pace, and prayer part of your usual.
I could share countless moments from this past weekend that have reminded me of the above statement. Whether it was time to reflect personally, conversations with CCC family members, or even being convicted by my own sermon, I've been reminded again how crucial it is to God's mission that we make rest, pace, and prayer part of our usual. Our ethos. Who we are.
It can't just be a once a year vacation rhythm. Though that matters.
It can't just be a response to burnout. But that's important.
It has to be our usual.
We have to learn to believe and trust in the pattern God set for us in resting. We have to respect our limits in terms of pace. And we can't keep waiting to pray until we've fallen in battle.
I need to reset on this reminder myself about 3 times a year. Probably more if I'm honest.
Make rest, pace, and prayer part of your usual, CCC!
The courage to take next steps.
Whether it was guys stepping forward confessing their need to make their faith public and be baptized, or people connecting to serving teams, wrestling with church membership or simply showing up after a long week, I was reminded several times of what great courage is required to take next steps in your faith journey.
As I spent some time reflecting on courage this morning, a couple of quotes surfaced:
The stories of past courage can teach, they can offer hope, they can provide inspiration. But they cannot supply courage itself. For this each man must look into his own soul. - John F. Kennedy
And so, if courage is found when we look into our own soul, I want to both pay attention to and care for my soul, but also encourage you to do the same. This next quote gave me a picture of what we should be looking for.
Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die. - G.K. Chesterton
Spirit, birth in our soul a desire to live life to the fullest that is paired with a readiness to die for things that matter in God's kingdom. Give us courage to keep taking next steps as we learn to join Jesus in going out to make disciples.
