I am very used to working with college students. Stuff like failing classes, roommate difficulties and romantic relationships are old hat problems to me as I’ve been dealing with people struggling with those things for years.

But last night I went to Eastwood (a low income housing project) with a small group from the Rock to help with some yard work and interact with others from the community who were out working.

I must say that I felt fairly ill equipped to engage a 6 year old resident in conversation.

This kid’s life hadn’t been easy and he hadn’t had a lot of help from relatives or parents to work through the tough stuff. And here I was for a couple of hours trimming hedges and sweeping up. What can I do?

I can talk to him. Respect him. Be a friend. Care.

And I can go back.

James 1:27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

Let me tell you what I like.

I like talking about God.

I like discussing God’s word the Bible.

I like interacting about how God and his word effect out lives.

I get excited about sharing the gospel and challenging myself and others to do so with accuracy, consistency and joy. I get really excited about that.

I like thinking through strategy and vision; giving the people of God a unified, Biblical direction.

I love praying with my brothers and sisters in adoration, petition and thanksgiving!

These are the sorts of things (as well as others) that we’re doing on Sunday nights for the Rock Underground.

It’s been a lot of fun!

Wanna come?

I’ve been continuing my education with a series of Church based theological training classes called BILD.

The specific class that we’re doing this semester is the Pauline Epistles class – studying through the Apostle Paul’s “Strategies for Establishing Churches”.

We just finished our second class last night discussing what from Paul’s letters we can apply as normative in the church today and what strategies he used to establish churches. It was a good time to talk it over with the 16 or so that are part of the class. Obviously there were different opinions but I the discussion was good for everyone to work through and clarify their own thoughts and learn from one another.

This next week our assignment is to read through Paul’s first set of letters: Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Corinthians and Romans (I think that’s all of them).

It should be a fun week to read a lot of the word! I’m looking forward to the discussion! 🙂

See you next week!