Dear New Life Friends,
Learn something new every day…
I don’t know if it’s a life mantra, a deeply held value or just something that’s been impressed into my mind.
Learn something new every day.
I know I’ve been shaped by the Founder of the Methodist movement, John Wesley, who said things like…
- "Reading Christians are growing Christians. When Christians cease to read, they cease to grow.”
- “Whether you like it or not, read and pray daily. It is for your life; there is no other way; else you will be trifler all your days, and a pet, superficial preacher. Do justice to your own soul; give it time and means to grow.”
Learn something new every day.
I love books, documentaries, podcasts, conversations with friends. I may be a little strange this way, but I even love calling out information for my kids to prepare for their tests.
There’s always something new to learn.
That’s also why I love that our denomination and church encourage continuing education. I’m actually required to report that I’ve spent a minimum number of contact hours every year.
This year, I feel like I’ve had and am going to have even more conference opportunities than ever before:
- Your Community is Your Church with Rev. Ben Campbell
- Deep and Wide Tour: Making Our Faith Irresistible Again with Andy Stanley
- Preaching Prophetically with Bishop Will Willimon
- Canoeing the Mountains: Leadership in Unchartered Territory with Tod Bolsinger
And that’s just for this first quarter!
There’s always something new to learn.
So that the time is used as an intentional investment, each conference I write down the main 2-3 things I want to take away, share with others and implement into either my personal or professional life.
I’m not sure what continuing education moments are coming your way this year either personally or professionally, but each day brings with it an opportunity to learn something new.
Actually, it’s a good question for us to ask of God each day… God, what do you want me to learn from this conversation, situation, encounter, difficulty, celebration today?
That way we are always open to what God wants us to see from his perspective.
Perhaps it’s even something that has been around us all the time, but we see in a new way that day… much like the disciples walking with Jesus from Jerusalem to Emmaus after his resurrection. It wasn’t until he broke the bread that they recognized who he was and that he had been with them the entire time (Luke 24)!
There’s always something new to learn... May you be blessed as you look for it today!
In Christ,
Pastor Mike