OnFire Encouragement Letter
Hi Folks:
Someone asked me this week, “How come we don’t hear very much about Jan?” She doesn’t always appreciate the limelight, and so I don’t often mention her, but this week I will. She is doing well. She wasn’t upset when I made the correction last week. I just didn’t want you to think she had a weird sense of colour.
She’s already subbed quite a few days. Not much last week, but it picks up again this week. Against her own better judgement she accepted a day at the high school, but found it too much. The attitudes and behaviour can sometimes be a little overwhelming (I remember how we treated our subs. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Some on the list will remember a series of sub French teachers in grade 7 at Athena Intermediate).
This week Jan will tend the home fires as I’m away for a few days of board meetings. I’m very aware that my schedule affects her. Normally I get the boys up and going in the morning but she’ll have to do this.
One word about Mark, our youngest. He has a chance to compete in a cup
stacking event in
That’s all for now. Blessings for your week.
PS - I now have a large print version. Email me to change your name.
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I love learning how things work. Growing up, my brother and I took things apart all the time. Sometimes we even got them to work again!!When we lived on Grand Manan, I found two lawn mower engines in the junk yard and took them apart to see the difference between two-stroke and four-stroke engines. When my chain saw broke down, I wanted to be there when it was fixed so I could see how it works. I love watching those shows on TV about how they make things.
At the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1ff; Mark 9:2ff; Luke 9:28ff.) Peter got to see a glimpse of how heaven works. Jesus took Peter, James and John up to a private place in the mountains, where his clothes became dazzlingly white and Elijah and Moses appeared with him.
[It occurred to me - Peter had his business partners to hang around with. Who does Jesus hang around with? Moses and Elijah - cool]
This was a mini-conference between Jesus and
two of
What a privilege for Peter, James and John to be on the mountain with Jesus. It is little wonder that they took up such central roles in the early church. Jesus took them along for these important times, and they would never forget the words God spoke from the holy cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him.” (Mk 9:7)
One lesson in all of this is the importance of mentoring, of inviting people to come along side to see the inner workings. As Peter went along with Jesus, he learned things he would never forget, and in time he passed them to others.
As I look over my OnFire list I see that many of us are in a time of life where we have gained a little experience. And perhaps God has placed people in our lives to whom we can pass some of this experience. We should never do this in a kind of patronizing, “I can do this better than you” kind of tone. Rather, we come alongside someone and make them a part of our lives so that they can reach a fuller potential.
I know what this has meant for me. My first mentors were camp counsellors, Sunday school teachers and youth leaders. In ministry I have often looked to more experienced pastors and once in a while someone takes me “under his wing.” There have been several times when this has happened formally, and we had regular, structured meetings. It all helped me a great deal.
I’ve tried to do this, more so since Arrow Leadership, and it is a lot of fun. Most of it is listening. Some of it is telling the old “war stories.” Some of it is sharing pain - mine and theirs. Once in a while I give a little piece of advice and hope it helps. But is all neat. To see the light bulb go on because someone has seen how it works. Very cool.
Is there someone you could come along side of, to take an interest in, and help to see the inside?
A challenge. Be on fire.
ON FIRE is a weekly letter
of encouragement by