Baby Steps

Hudson and Jen recently spent two weeks in Mississippi. Our reason was that my brothers concocted a plan to graduate college and high school two weeks apart (even though they are 6 years apart) just to spend more time with my son. I stayed the first week, but came back the second week to work on our Youth Sunday festivities. I feel like its such a blessing and answer to prayer that my wife and and parents/brothers enjoy spending that much time together. But that's a side note to this post, while there my mom had a walker toy for Hudson where he walks around in a circle while playing with toys on a tray in front of him.

On our return, Jen and I have found that Hudson is no longer content sitting and playing with a toy (my favorite stage thus far as a parent), instead he now wants to walk around as he holds our hands. Thus begins the toddler stage and his long quest for mobility and independence. Whether its baby steps, even fifteen year olds and cars are an illustration of kids and their great desire for independence. As a parent its exciting to see Hudson grow, but something within me wants to protect him, keep him from going too fast or falling too hard. How do I as his father give him freedom, yet protect him from hurtful situations? That's probably a question Jen and I will ask thousands of times over the next few years. I want Hudson to grow and become independent. I can't wait for him to be the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, but at the same time I like him dependent on Jen and I. I realize there will be plenty of time with him at home while he still looks to Jen and I for protection and provision. But that time will go by just as quickly as the last eight months have progressed, I just wish they didn't grow so fast! It's already started because it all goes back to baby steps, so thanks Mom, thanks a lot...

To live is Christ,

Jay

Corporate vs. Individual Bible Study

I have been thinking through this subject for some time and finally sat down to write about it.  Recently my wife, Jen and I were discussing our personal devotional life.  As a person who grew up in Southern Baptist churches I have a background of the personal "quiet time" and its importance to a believers life.  In fact, I struggle with being legalistic about its importance.  How so?  For example, while on vacation at times I have considered having my quiet time of greater importance than spending time with family, at times even my wife.  For me it can be a temptation to live by the checklist.

Jen on the other hand, has mentioned how difficult it can be for her to find time daily to spend time with the Lord on her own.  Between taking care of Hudson, cleaning up after me, straightening up our house and finances, not to mention being an all-time Youth volunteer can take a lot of her time.  She talked about the importance she finds in spending time with other believers studying the word of God.  Monday nights I take Hudson while she meets with some young women in our church in a small group bible study.  You see for her, she finds this time in the Word of  great importance 

So which one is right; individual or corporate?  Its funny that you don't see Abraham, David, or Paul spending time daily in God's Word on an individual basis.  It wasn't possible, in that culture and time frame everything was done within the context of a community.  Individuals didn't have access to the Word of God.  Within Scripture almost all people encounter the Word of God in corporate settings.  In the Old Testament, Moses' address of the first five books was to the nation of Israel, or Nehemiah's reading of the law to the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem.  In the New Testament,  Synagogues and the temple were places that jewish men met to learn and discuss the Word of God.   This idea of the "quiet time" seems to be something strongly tied to the American brand of Christianity with its high emphasis on the individual.  

My conclusion, is that regardless of when and where we encounter the Holy Word of God we should be challenged and leave convicted and with new applications for our own life.  This may take place as we read on our own, or as we gather for a Sunday morning worship service as a community of believers, regardless the importance lies in being a doer of the word, and not merely a hearer...