Man on Baley

This past weekend...














...about 12 of us went...


















...indoor rock climbing - as we...


















...kicked off our weekend together...
...as part of a 10-week conversation that we've been a part of.

We had a blast...
...climbing...
...connecting...with God and one another
...conversing...about life, our families & the men
we are becoming...

..."Man on Baley..."
..."Baley on..."
..."Climbing..."
..."Climb on..."

the Learned vs. the Learner

Following Jesus and the process of discipleship is a life-long journey.

The very word "disciple," means "a student" or "a learner." It's intentional, ongoing and organic.

Leonard Sweet offers an insightful comparison of the one who is Learned and the one who is a Learner. He calls is A LEARNED to LEARNER Litany of Transformation.

I used to be a learned professor. Now I'm a learner.

When I was learned, life was a quiz show. Now that I'm a learner, life is a discovery channel.
When I was learned, it was a question of how much I knew. Now that I'm a learner, it's a question of how much I'm being stretched.

When I was learned, knowledge was everything. Now that I'm a learner, kindness is everything.
When I was learned, knowledge went to my head. Now that I'm a learner, knowledge travels the longest foot in the universe–-the foot that separates my head from my heart.

When I was learned, I used to point my finger and pontificate. Now that I'm a learner, I slap my forehead all the time

When I was learned, I used to think I was the best. Now that I'm a learner, I do the best I can.
When I was learned, I was frightened of new ideas. Now that I'm a learner, I'm just as frightened of old ideas.

When I was learned, I looked to the past: to have confirmed the set of beliefs I already had. Now that I'm a learner, I look to the future: to grow, be stretched, and remain open to what I don't know.

When I was learned, I knew where I was going. Now that I'm a learner, I don't know where I'm going----but I know whom I've going with.

When I was learned, I loved to talk. Now that I'm a learner, I'd prefer to listen, because that's when I'm learning.

When I was learned, I had something to teach everybody. Now that I'm a learner, everybody has something to teach me.

When I was learned, I thought that all knowledge was a form of power. Now that I'm a learner, I suspect much knowledge is a form of weakness.

When I was learned, life was knowledge about God. Now that I'm a learner, life is knowledge of God.

When I was learned, mission meant "go to give." Now that I'm learned, mission work is becoming pilgrimage: mission means "go to learn."

When I was learned, my life revolved around what other people thought about me. Now that I'm a learner, my life revolves around what I think about myself and what God thinks about me.

When I was learned, I imagined myself the church's resident "know-it-all." Now that I'm a learner, I'm more willing to admit I don't know everything.

What I was learned, I was always trying to speed things up. Now that I'm a learner, I'm always trying to slow things down, even when I'm speeding up.

Discover Your Essence: Pathways, Temperament & Spirituality

"Read your Bible and Pray." This is what's typically prescribed to someone wanting to grow in their faith in Christ. This statement sounds nice, perhaps even true, but it's the cause of much spiritual frustration. "Read your Bible." Which way? There's more than fifteen different ways to read Scripture - from massive intakes of chapters at a time, to the slow drip meditative 'Lectio Divina'.

"Pray..." There are equally as many different ways to pray. I believe that there's more to authentic and organic spiritual formation than a patent answer. Each of these are good and serve a purpose, but how often do we pause and ask how does my personality make up influence my spirituality?

God has designed each of us to relate to Him in a unique way. But we are often only shown one blueprint for growth - read your Bible and Pray.

We each have a unique personality and temperament. These will and do influence our everyday spirituality for the good and the bad. The better we understand how God has designed us and how we are geared, the better we will be able to engage organic spiritual formation.

You will leave this workshop with a better understanding:

• how God has designed you to relate Him, as well as some practical ways to engage Him;

• how your personality affects your spirituality - the up's and the down's;

• practical ways to better facilitate spiritual formation in your everyday life.

Discover Your Essence Worship is designed to help facilitate a better understanding of these very issues.

When: Monday - October 15, 2007.

Where: Calvary Temple Cafe (off of the foyer).

Register: (click here to register online) Please register before Monday, October 15 at 12:00pm.

Childcare Provided:

Cost: $7 (cost includes materials & meal)

If you have any questions email me or call church office at 291.5230.

Contemplation is Like...