Paul and Christie Johnson

There is always need for balance in life and in ministry. We’ve got to work from different angles to make sure that we’re covering all the needs.

This past week I’ve had two very different tasks on my plate.

As I’ve mentioned here before I’m participating in a class on the Pauline Epistles to discuss the establishment of the church. Our assignment this week was to write out a provisional strategy for the establishment of a church. We were to draw on our study of all of Paul’s letters that we’ve done over the last three weeks. It’s been a fascinating project as well as discussion.

On the other hand I’ve also been working on putting together a summer program for 2013 in Wisconsin Dells. The object of this program would be to help “establish” the college students in the gospel, discipleship, fellowship and so on. We’ve been doing summer programs for a looooong time now and it’s been fun to connect what we’ve been doing with what I’ve been learning from my class.

Aww… not enough time to write it out now.

More to come.

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?