Hey all! Hope your day is going well. It's been a great morning for me. It started with an hour-long Bible study of the requirements for overseers in 1 Tim. 3. Though not an elder/overseer myself, I do know many men who meet these qualifications and for whom I have nothing but the greatest admiration. I have seen firsthand how difficult pastoral ministry can be -- tears, hurt feelings, really tough decisions to make, misunderstandings -- but I have also seen capable leadership and sterling character in droves, men who have refused to cave into the Superman Syndrome, who refuse to carry the weight of the whole world (or even the whole church) on their shoulders. In the words of the great Michael Green, they enjoy a "fellowship of leadership." Their dedication to the word of God is not rooted only in the study of it or even in the teaching of it but in the living of it. Brother pastors, I love you!
After my morning devotions I spent an hour at the gym working on abs before heading off to the track to get in a final 3-mile run before Saturday's 10K in Birmingham.
It was lovely to see the change in foliage and the prospect of colder days and the winter months, which have a beauty all of their own.
While running I listened to a fascinating conversation.
It was between Jordan Peterson and Newt Gingrich.
Both men are geniuses. By the way, Newt is also a very talented fiction writer, and his book Gettysburg is one I reread quite often.
It seeks to answer the question, "What if Lee had listened to Longstreet at the end of the first day of battle and had withdrawn his troops to get between the Federals and Washington?" I love historical novels and I give this one 4 out of 5 stars. It's almost as good as Shaara's Killer Angels, and that's saying a lot.
I am thankful for God and the opportunities he places before me to serve him in a variety of ways. I'm thankful for the body I have been given that has allowed me to feel the earth beneath me, breathe fresh air, and experience the beauty of God's creation. I am overwhelmingly thankful for his precious word that adds a delicious dose of wisdom, wit, and encouragement to my daily life. Mr. Anonymous once said, "Live life so completely that when death comes to you like a thief in the night there will be nothing left for him to take." May we all live this day and every day that God grants us with such enthusiasm.