More Listen Less Talk

I was reading a devotional today put out by Purpose Driven Life. It was a good article but what really stuck out to me was reading Romans 14 along with the last paragragh. Here is what they have:

"Learn to listen - Listening means more than just hearing someone talk; it means carefully considering what the other person is saying and actively trying to understand his or her point of view. The Bible says, "Listen before you answer. If you don't, you are being stupid and insulting." (Proverbs 18:13 TEV) That's pretty clear! It means we shouldn't evaluate what someone has done or said until we've heard the full story. God gave us two ears and one mouth, perhaps to tell us we should listen twice as much as we talk. Ha!"

I am concerned with this thought of adding my own offense in reaching out to others who I am trying to reach for Christ. We tend have a set system of answers for how we are to respond to someone who believes differently than we do. It is always good and very necessary that we listen (which implies a relationship with someone that gives you permission to speak the truth in love into their life) a lot... before we prescribe.

Spiritaul Geneology

I was reading a devotional out of a publication put out by Moody. At the end of the devo it asked if the reader had ever traced his/her spiritual genealogy. I had not so I started to do a little research. Here goes...

1. My dad (Mike Holman) led me to Christ
2. His dad (Frank Holman) led him to Christ
3. Dr. Tom Malone led my Grandfather to Christ
4. William David Campbell (a circuit riding methodist preacher from Georgia) led Tom Malone to Christ in the 1930's.

I did a little research about the Methodists and found out that John Wesley went first to Savannah, Georgia in coming to the States with the intent to to convert the Indians.

If my math is correct William David Campbell's birth outdated Wesley's death by about 80 years. So there is probably 2 or 3, at most, spiritual generations in between he and John Wesley. Here the whole time I thought I was a Baptist by heritage... hmph.

Do yours - it will surprise you to find out that most of us can trace our own spiritual genealogy
back to a historic movement. Let me know what you come up with.

Feeling a little wierd

Does anyone remember the feeling you got when you came home from summer camp or a really good vacation? All the new friends and excitement for a few days and then you go home... and nothing.
I remember the summer of '93 - I was a Junior in High School and church camp that year was really good. Our youth group was awesome - we had all met new friends - and coming home was a drudgery. That Friday I came home I can remember taking a nap on the couch and waking up to find I was the only one home. I felt ripped away from all my friends and a deep emptiness like I had never felt before came over me.
I felt that same way today after coming home from Gospel Baptist Church. I cleaned out my office today after working there for six years. I came home and sat on the couch thinking about all that has transpired and felt really... really... empty. I knew I would feel it at sometime but it didn't hit until today. I will be fine but there are some separation emotions you get after pouring your life into something that are unavoidable. We will miss all of you at GBC and will continue to pray God's blessings on your life. We love you more than you know...

~Tim

"umm... I freeze things"

I came down this morning to see that Cameron (my oldest) was eating something crunchy out of a cup with a spoon. I asked him what he was eating. He hesitated a little and said, "umm... it's... umm... I freeze things." He was a little embarrassed to tell me what it was but once he did it wasn't so bad.

Big Breakthrough

Ok I had a major breakthrough tonight. I finally figured out how to get that email subscription box on my blog. It was easy once I found a website that lead me through it. The problem is that the people that take the time to show you how to do it are total nerds and use language that partial nerds don't understand. This proves that communication is not what is heard but what is understood.

It's a New Day

Yeah I haven't blogged in a while... I think the long pause was because I cannot find out how to get my blog set up to where people can sign up for a feed. Since I don't have that feature on I figured nobody will just stop by my blog to see what I've written.
We have been at Gospel Baptist Church in Galion Ohio now for almost 6 years. This Sunday January the 20th my family and I will be moving on to start a church in Marion Ohio - about 30 minutes south of us. If you are GBC family just know that we love you all and are praying for God's best on your behalf. We love Pastor and Lori, the rest of the staff, worship team, students, and the list goes on with so many people that have touched us or that we have come to know and love deeply. We love all of you and thank you for 6 wonderful years.