chasing rabbits

Small groups are fun, aren't they? I know the one that Karen and I attend is. I enjoy it because I get to sit and listen to what others think when it comes to talking about a passage in the Bible. I enjoy the laughter (and there is a lot in this group), the food (most excellent), the prayers, and the discussions. Most of the time David will read a passage, help us to understand what the writer was trying to get across, and then the group starts to ask questions and we begin to see how this passage relates to all of us; sitting around in someones house. This small group is not any different than other small groups. I'm sure that if I were to ask each person that attends one of these groups, I would hear some familiar tales. Everyone would probably talk about the "food", "fun", and "fellowship"; and all that is great. But, I was reminded by my small group the other week about something very important that happens within a small group......this is a place to be encouraged.
Our group is going through a study of Proverbs, and during one of our "rabbit chases" through the scripture, they stumbled across a moment that lifted this time of study to a time of reflection, remembrance, and encouragement. I really don't know what started the "rabbit chase", but I enjoyed every minute of it. We were going from one thought to another, and before you could catch your breath........the "rabbit" headed in another direction. Everyone was in on the "chase".....incredible fun, and total encouragement for me. Somewhere during the "chase", the topic shifted to remembering the first time each person stepped foot into HRCC. They would all share about how they can still remember what Ray was speaking about; how he would sit down beside them and talk to them before the service; how welcomed that they had felt that first time.... and how they still feel that way. The "rabbit" led them to tell about how much they each love the church, and how real the presence of God is in the services and with the people, and how excited they all are in seeing the church moving forward, and it went on, and on........and my heart........ my spirit........

The best part of blogging is that you can't see me while I am reliving that night in my head, and trying to put it on a screen. You can't hear my heart pounding, nor do you have any idea how blurred this page is to me right now. I would just like to thank my small group for a time of encouragement that could not have come at a better time. This was one time of "chasing rabbits" that I will not soon forget.
And I am sure, that if you are reading this as a member of HRCC, you probably can remember when you first came here to a service; the greeters; the welcome; the music; the message; the volunteers; the Kids Club; the skits; the videos; the props on stage.............and if you are like me............there goes a "rabbit".

questions

This past Tuesday I had the privilege of speaking in a Chapel Service at North Hills Christian School. Mrs. Richards had contacted me through the church, and had asked if I would be interested in coming to their school. They have pastors from area churches to come and speak to their students during the year. I wrote back and told her that I guess I could do that, and asked her to send me some dates to choose from. The next thing I know, I'm marking on my calendar, September 9th at 1:30. No big deal......til Monday, September 8th. What am I going to talk about? What do they expect from me? Who am I to be speaking to students attending a "Christian" school? Will they ask me questions? Will I have the right answers? I am not ready for this.
Monday morning I call the school to see if I could just drop by and get a chance to see the Chapel; maybe even talk to some of the staff there. It is a pretty neat school. Not very big. Kind of quiet, as schools go. This might not be too bad. I think I can handle this. I leave the school feeling a little more at ease about speaking the next day.
I decide to show up a little early the next day to get myself ready for Chapel. I had decided to bring my guitar, and lead them in a little worship time before I speak. At 1:20, the students start coming in, and I begin to get a little nervous. At 1:30, the room is packed. I don't know about you, but a room full of middle school and high school students should not be as quiet as that room was. I am beyond a little nervous. Now, add to this the fact that a 6th grader sitting on the front row, sees the first slide of a song we are about to sing; opens his Bible and asks me, "What passage of the Bible is that statement from?" We haven't even started, and he's asking a question that I can't answer. Can you feel my palms starting to sweat? The next 40 minutes...........was cool. Not because of what I said, or sang, or how the students responded; but it was cool because God had used a question from a young man to help me see that He wants us to ask questions. He wants us to have a heart and mind that hungers for more of Him. So..............my challenge to the students was for them to continue to ask questions, especially when it came to reading and studying the Bible. I mentioned to them about how that students in Jesus' time could only continue their education with a Rabbi "if" they could answer a question from the Rabbi, and then ask him a question. If the Rabbi said to them, "Come, follow me", they would be able to continue their education and one day become a Rabbi themselves; which was a highly revered career path. A student longed to hear those words from a Rabbi. If the Rabbi did not feel that the student was "hungry" enough for knowledge, them he would just turn and walk away. Their education.....quest...... journey.......was over.
Isn't it amazing that those are the words that Jesus said to his disciples when he selected them. And, they called him "Rabbi". They also asked a lot of questions. If we continue to ask questions; have a hunger for God; we will hear, "Come, follow me" every day. I guess that is why we are known as "Christ followers."