Travel Time

The Apostle Paul was intentional about discipleship in its many forms. He was a preacher and a teacher, but did not limit his discipleship to the crowds. He invested in individual people, in individual conversations. Perhaps no one was so thoroughly influenced by Paul as young Timothy. They spent time together -- not just "doing ministry," but traveling, eating, talking. I imagine they both challenged each other and grew quite a bit through those times.

That's what a lot of world-changing discipleship looks like -- friends talking about life while sipping coffee, parents talking with their kids while driving from place to place, groups of people chatting before and after church on Sundays. We are shaped in significant ways through our everyday relationships with others.

I'll be going to youth camp again this year. It is not an insignificant distance -- around seven hours of drive time each way, in addition to the usual stops. Because camp starts in the morning, we will leave the day before and stay that extra night in Idaho. Practically speaking, the distance adds quite a bit of expense and inconvenience to the whole experience. But there is far more to life than speed and convenience.

I'm looking forward to the trip because it is an opportunity to invest in relationships with these young people, and I pray that God will guide and bless our time together.

Filling Cracks in the Heart

We're touring the District this week for the annual SDMI training event. This year, we have been enjoying the company and teaching of Pastor Hal and Debbi Perkins. They are passionate about and committed to making Christlike disciples who, in turn, also make disciples. This is the life to which we are called.

Hal and Debbi are parents of four grown children. Their parenting years started with a set of triplets and grew again with the birth of the fourth several years later. I love Debbi's account of the significant role Hal played in the life of their son David during a particularly difficult time. The video below tells that story, including the impact years later.