Packing the Case

Here is a moving excerpt from an Advent devotional -

Knowing God requires also that we become unafraid to know ourselves. Approaching almost a quarter of a century of full time service and pastoral ministry for God, I recall, times without number, the agony of the would-be follower of Jesus whose only strategy for living was to run away, and another who could not face examining his own motivations, and a third who never reached Bethlehem or Calvary for fear of what she might discover on the journey.

-On the Way to Bethlehem, Hilary McDowell

Be who you are

We had an interesting sermon this past weekend titled 'Beyond Gratitude' at my local chuch. Paired with the message was a short secular video featuring a photographer from National geographic. One of the take-homes from the video was Be who you are. By implication you would have to know who you are. Most people identify who they are with a job or title.

Since I am 'back in school', that answer doesn't quite work for me. After a 20 year haiatus, I am taking classes at VLI- Vineyard Leadership Institute, where I am a pastoral student. It was nice to see old study habits come back to life, particularly so, in the study of the Word. I've also picked up an old affinity for the Greek text, you may notice that in the url for this site.

We did a number of self evaluations and spent a fair amount of time comemplating this subject during a fall class. First and foremost, I am a disciple, a follower of Jesus. Or if you prefer in Greek -
μαθητής (mathētēs), οῦ (ou), ὁ (ho): n.masc.; ≡ Str 3101; TDNT 4.415—1. LN 36.38 follower, often a disciple who is a believer and close follower.