Kindling the Flame

Education is the kindling of a flame, not the filling of a vessel”. Socrates

I saw this quote when I took my final seminary class last week. It was on my professors door. I thought it was a great reminder to me in my line of work. I am trying to educate students on the importance of God in their lives. I find myself often wanting to fill them with information about God in hopes that it will lead to life change. What I should be doing to engaging where God is already at work in their lives and kindle that to flame. I understand even more after working in ministry for around 10 years that information doesn't change people. An encounter with a living God changes people. My job is to help people see where God is already at work.

I found this video to be thought provoking.




We miss so much of what we are not looking for. Spiritually, I feel like we miss seeing God often because we are not looking for Him to really move in our lives. Quick to credit good luck or fortune but not looking to see God's blessing in our circumstances. Christianity in America seems to be more about right answers all while losing the enjoyment following a life giving God. I pray that my faith never becomes just about right answers. I want God that compels my heart to enjoy life and living it to the fullest.

I'm Back

I know that I might be writing to myself at this point, due to the fact that I took a semester off to finish up seminary. I love the exercise of writing out what God is doing within my life, so I am going to take it up again. Let the fun begin.

I read Ecclesiastes 4 today, as a part of reading the bible in a year plan, and it said "a threefold cord is not quickly broken." Excellent verse for what a good marriage could be. Life with its changes and uncertainty are hard but it is great when you, along with your spouse, don't face it alone. I know apart from God that Terri and I wouldn't prevail. Not because of Terri, but more because I know me. I would seek selfish comfort and grow passive until our marriage is broken. Thankful we serve a God who offers marriages a 3rd cord in the form of the Holy Spirit. Every day we don't draw near to God is a day we give opportunities for our relationships to be harmed.