Well I can say for the first time that I'm no longer neutral about whether Id rather be home working or in Chicago at school. I miss school. I miss my Moody buddies. I'm ready to go back... with over a month still to go. This job is wearing me out physically. Part of me is considering doing primarily Deli when I return in the future. Since the remodel, the Deli is less taxing work than Produce. All these late days and 4am/5am shifts aren't friendly with me it's seeming. More importantly, I'm just not sure I can cut it anymore. The amount of work and the demands on time are rather difficult. I'm getting sluggish and awkwardly clumsy with my work. Not a day seems to go by where I don't have a package of berries or grape tomatoes bust open, boxes fall over on the floor, I cut myself, hit my head on something, or bruise myself. I enjoy the challenge the days bring, but there's a point I'm thinking when enjoyment ends. Am I cut out for too much more of this kind of work? I'm glad the Lord wouldn't have me do this for a living for the rest of my life. Today I worked 6am-noon and got a lot done... but now my back doesn't like me.
I was also able to give a guy at work a copy of Living By The Book. He's a believer that goes to a Pentecostal and yet "Holy Laughter Movement" church. I've visited his church before incidentally. I will be praying that God uses that book to impact the way he interprets and studies the Bible. It's my tactful way of throwing some biblical material his way without challenging everything his church is teaching. He said he was thankful the Lord must have put it on my heart to buy him that book and that he received that and it made his day. The Lord certainly did put it on my heart... may He now continue to provide financially even though I'm spending money on things like this.
Nick (from church) and I found out last night that the best time to go preaching to the kids at the skate park is 8:30pm. it seems every time we go there the kids are either leaving, there isn't enough of them, or in the case of last night... the cops were there. Well... now we know. We ended up staying late at Capp Smith Park preaching until about 10pm. Nick had a little audience growing there. Two Hispanic women and 2 teens. As the teens left one of them told me "you're doing a good job." It's amazing to think what kind of impact this park ministry will have in regard to the growth of believers and the reaching of the lost when all we're doing is practicing really. God wasn't kidding when He said His Word wouldn't return void. I haven't been downtown for quite some time. In fact, I think it's only been once since I've been back.
Johnny and I have been hanging out Sundays and we're trying to plan a more focused set of spiritual activities for growth and so that we can put God first together. We've decided to study certain theological topics or questions we have and we're trying to organize a CSM reunion where I can teach on some of these we'll study together. Currently... interest in this event is limited to just us 2. We'll see what happens.
I'm here at TCC to start writing up my sermon notes for the Sunday night service coming up. My passage is Genesis 19:15-22:
15When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city."
16But he hesitated. So the men (A)seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for (B)the compassion of the LORD was upon him; and they brought him out, and put him outside the city.
17When they had brought them outside, one said, "(C)Escape for your life! (D)Do not look behind you, and do not stay anywhere in the (E)valley; escape to (F)the mountains, or you will be swept away."
18But Lot said to them, "Oh no, my lords!
19"Now behold, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have magnified your lovingkindness, which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, for the disaster will overtake me and I will die;
20now behold, this town is near enough to flee to, and it is small. Please, let me escape there (is it not small?) that my life may be saved."
21He said to him, "Behold, I grant you this request also, not to overthrow the town of which you have spoken.
22"Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there." Therefore the name of the town was called [a](G)Zoar.
Please pray for dilgence and perseverance as I work on these notes, practice, and continue to think and pray over this sermon.
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