Here's a fun one - a rather frank interview with J.R.R. #Tolkien from 1962, courtesy of @BBCArchive.
In this less well-known interview, he calls himself a "meticulous sort of bloke" and shrugs his shoulders when asked why he invented his world before writing The Hobbit.
"Our church doesn't have any community for you."
We say this at our "Start Here" class at the church. Why? Because it's both true and practical.
1) people are not commodities. We don't "have" them "for" you.
2) community is not a commodity. You can't take it off a shelf and hand it to someone.
3) community is about real and meaningful connection. That has to be made by every individual person and household.
4) people must see themselves as both able and responsibly to make and maintain their own relationships within the church. Pastors do not exist for the purpose of creating someone's social calendar or supplementing their lack of social skills.
So what does the church have?
"We have environments where you might make friends and build community. We create pathways where you're likely to bump into people who are also looking to create community. But you have to do it."
How is community made? Through curiosity and vulnerability. You have to actually want to get to know people and you have to actually let yourself become known; it has to go both ways.
If you're just looking to use a person as medicine for your loneliness, you won't have a friend, you'll have a poorly compensated therapist-substitute.
Our plans often get interrupted. God’s do not. In fact, God’s plans include our interruptions.
So make plans. Accept interruptions. And entrust your plans and their interruptions to God’s providence.
Good work done in the wrong season is bad work.
Part of ministry planning is discerning the season before deciding on the work.
https://t.co/ivB6agYXGv
Coffee & Cigar Giveaway!
Reformation Coffee and @PatriarchCigars have teamed up for your chance to win:
The Legacy Sampler of five premium cigars: Cameroon Box Press, Cameroon Toro, Sumatra Figurado, Habano Toro, Maduro Toro.
Coffee and merch: 12 oz bag of Espresso Blend, Ref Coffee Logo Mug, Ref Coffee Logo Sticker.
Rules for giveaway:
1. Follow both @ReformedCoffee and @PatriarchCigars.
2. Tag a friend who’d like a chance to win.
3. Share this post for others to see.
Deadline for entry is Thursday (4/3) at midnight CST. Winner will be announced Friday (4/4).
I'll be leading a group through Systematic Theology and created a reading plan for Berkhof's Sys Theo. You can download a version of it here.
https://t.co/XAWWz36tK1