It is a windy and cool Monday in the Ozarks of Southwest MO and there are a few snow flurries blowing around outside. I suppose it's pretty typical weather for early February. It's just that we've become accustomed to a pretty mild winter this year.
Today seems to be a bit more of a slow day than most Mondays. In truth, most Mondays are just another day. Maybe it's due to the last moment call (about 45 minutes before service time) to preach yesterday morning.
To be fair, it's not like there isn't plenty of material in the Bible. I know that I've read the book, prepared a few sermons and from any place will get to God's great love for us and salvation by faith in His Son, Jesus.
But still -- between getting ready and getting to the church -- 45 minutes isn't much time.
Also, there is an energy drain from preaching that most people would not expect. With two services on Sunday at Hopedale, well let's just say that I was feeling it yesterday afternoon. Even after my three mile walk I wasn't feeling re-energized like I usually do. I found myself in the extremely rare situation of taking a Sunday afternoon nap. I didn't set out to nap. It just happened that I sat down in my chair and the next thing I knew an hour had gone by!
The bad thing about Monday rolling around after a Sunday sermon is that it is now the time to practice what you've preached -- making disciples, teaching what Jesus taught.
As I said yesterday, making disciples -- teaching what Jesus taught -- is a difficult command to follow if you don't know what Jesus taught. We have to be disciples in order to make disciples.
The YouVersion Bible reading app is trying to help people get in the habit of daily reading by establishing a 21 day habit of reading every day. The app has many different daily plans and for the first 21 days of February is encouraging readers to share their daily accomplishment on Twitter using the hashtag #BibleFor21. I think there is some kind of prize drawing at the end or something.
My current reading plan goes through Acts and the epistles in 85 days. I started on Jan 3, and have managed to keep up with it daily.
The real challenge now is to find somebody to tell -- God loves you and Jesus died for you!
I've seen Chris this morning and I have to make a trip to the post office today, but I doubt that I'll run into anybody while I'm walking today so my opportunities today will be somewhat limited. The same is pretty much true on any other day of the week. I just don't interact with many people throughout the week.
Maybe I need to join a gym or club or something. I suppose I could go hang out at the local coffee shop and be the guy that pesters other patrons. I've been thinking about a neighborhood Bible study or meeting at a coffee shop or other location -- I don't know, but I need to do something other than remaining in my happy little solitary life.
Personally, I'm perfectly happy in my solitude. It's just that it doesn't work very well with the make disciples thing.
So, I'm going to ask for your thoughts.
How would you suggest I meet people?
The neighborhood walks work well when people are out -- they're not in February.
What places should frequent? Where should I go? Should I join a club?
What do you think?
Have a great week!
God loves you!
Jesus died for you!
John <><
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2 comments:
You definitely got short notice to preach!
Possibly joining the YMCA might be a way of meeting people. Generally it's an accepting place, and there are groups for people with different interests.
Hanging out at the coffee shop might help; but at least there's coffee.
The Friends of the Library, if there is one nearby.
Adult education classes?
What do I think? Bowling.
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