EE Potluck

So, I said our final week of EE was a couple of weeks ago, but we still had a graduation potluck to celebrate and recognize the semester's graduates.



Trent getting his certificate, which is actually worth three credit hours towards his seminary masters degree.







Trainer, Marty, razzes our fearless leader, the most holy right reverend Chris.

Food!

We watched a video called "The Harvest". I have seen it several times, and just like movies and books, I learn, notice or think about something new every time. The video is about what a boy learned from his father and a community which took up the job of a bountiful harvest which wouldn't have been possible without the involvement of many workers. Obviously, this video was about the harvest of redeemed through the Gospel of Christ, carried by believers.

The father in this video, who dies somewhere near the beginning, was a strong example of a Godly man. What he passed on to his children by teaching and example, had a key role in leading them to trust in God's sovereignty for their comfort and purpose. I realized how far away I would be from anything like that to a family of my own, and some other aspects to consider in choosing relationships that don't always seem so important now on this side of marriage.

In regards to being far away from the example I envision, one thing must exist in order to get there. A willingness to be changed. The only one who can change a heart is God, through His Holy Spirit. But that requires a contrite (broken) heart, a willingness to be what God wants us to be, not what we want. I've seen too many examples of Christians who attend church, Bible studies, or heaven forbid, discipleship ministries, just to walk away with a little bonus idea or comfort, and not an externally guided and motivated challenge. I do not want to be such a person.

I have to consider the example my child's parents must be to them. To get that example, certain standards in external appearance or internal purpose that don't seem a big deal now will make all the difference later on to a child. If I want my child to be willing to run the REAL race with stamina and joy, he/she will have to see it in both parents giving up their life for something greater than themselves. It helped me, in an odd way, to consider the realities of what I or my future wife must not compromise in in the search today. I have never made a compromise or low standard in dating, but thinking of all the relatives or co-workers who have had an opinion on who you should date, I notice that every year it gets easier to consider compromise, ease and satisfaction thanks to an insidious emotion called loneliness.