Misc. thoughts

I LOVE our new church!!! I don't know when i have been more fed and refreshed :) The pastor is not a dynamic speaker but has such great things to say. Last week he was sharing on the disciples and the dynamics of Christ's ministry out of Mark -- he shared this story:

A gentleman played the pipe organ at his church -- he was somewhat proud of his position and the ability he had to make this massive instrument work. He even told people it was by his effort to fill the organ pipes with air (pumping with his feet) that the organ could make such beautiful music. The organ needed service so a serviceman came to work on it. The musician commented to him how marvelous it was to make music from his efforts that pleased so many. The service man replied -- I'm sorry but that is not correct. When you pump the organ it drains the organ of air -- it is only when it is empty that the air can flow through it from the pipes and make music.

Pastor Mark then said God needs people who will empty themselves so the spirt of the Lord can fill us and make us bless others. Isn't that a beautiful illustration!?!?!?!? We need to be filled with the breath of the Spirit to be beautiful and useful to others.

This week he was teaching on being the "brethern of Christ" again from the book of Mark. He shared how Christ's brothers did not recognize him as the Messaih until after his death and that James (that wrote the book of James) is of course the brother of Christ. He said a neat thing however that I hadn't heard -- he said that James is marked in history as "having the knees of a camel" because he spent so much time in prayer.

Both illustrations struck me hard -- I don't know that I like the idea of having camel knees but I do want to be remembered for my walk with Christ. He challenged us to be people of the Word and of prayer. I have a long ways to go.