02/25/2019
Years ago while on a safari in Africa, the lions taught me a very good lesson. We traveled in a Jeep for two weeks following the great migration of animals. The Jeep was without doors, barely a roof and we were clearly exposed. If any animal was hungry, they could have easily attacked us and our tour would be over. When we would draw near a group of lions or other great creatures, the guide would remind us to not make any sudden movement, not to speak loudly and not to get out of the vehicle (not a problem, really!) The key was staying together inside of the Jeep. When we stayed together, when we journeyed together, we had a strength and a fearsomeness in the minds of the lions that we would not have had if we were standing alone.
This principle holds true in the jungle of Africa and in the jungle of Carmel UMC. This is why we talk so much about grow groups. You need to find your people because as long as you walk alone, you will never know your strength. Your greatest strength is not when you can prove that you don't need anyone; your greatest strength is when you no longer have to prove that you can do it alone.
If you contact Chris Thornsberry ( cthornsberry@carmelumc.org), he will find a grow group to start or join!
Archived Posts
Blessed People Bless People
But that Blessing Can Come with a Cost as Well
I’ve enclosed several insights I got while I dug into the scripture from Genesis 12 last Sunday. For you who love Bible background here’s a few thoughts to share:
Back and Forth with Chat GPT
Many of you know that I’ve found a new consultant to bounce my ideas off in regard to preaching. My good buddy Chat GPT and I sometimes disagree—often miscommunicate—but usually come up with some fruitful illustrations.
One More Thing About Becoming Wholly Human
I was talking Sunday about the work of Hare and Woods and their idea of ‘the survival of the friendliest.’ Essentially, they conclude that “our greatest evolutionary advantage wasn't that we could do everything ourselves. It was that we could do things together.”
Here’s a preview of our congregation’s Core Values
In the coming weeks we will be exploring the importance of presence, prayers, gifts, service, witness, and growth in grace. These are at the heart of what we commit to when we join a Wesleyan grace-led church like ours. But we choose to broaden them out and state them in a new way…
The Biblical prayer we don’t know what to do with
Psalm 137 is written by people who have experienced catastrophic loss.
They have been conquered...
Patience and Trust
Sunday, in my benediction (which traditional folks did not hear) I talked about the Marshmallow Test. The original results of that test with children was that those who could delay gratification did better in life than those who could not.
Gandhi and the Sugar
I wasn’t preaching Sunday, Reverend Jackie Chandler was. And she talked about the power of influence you get when you practice what you preach. This famous illustration came to mind. It fits Jackie’s points quite well. Enjoy!