So a Pastor and a Rabbi...

For those of you who were at Element this past Sunday you know that we have recently launched a new series entitled "Metamorphosis", where we are looking at some key people in the old testament. More than a character study... i am looking to find a moment, or an event that shows us that a dramatic change has had to of occurred for them to act, lead, follow, or even fail in the way that they have.

On Sunday, i taught on David... but not all the usual parts (at least not for me). The big idea was where he is in the cave, fresh from cutting off a piece of Saul's robe... inches from ending the stress, turmoil, and wrongful hunting he has had to endure for the last who knows how long... and he stays his knife... he doesn't kill Saul... he could have, probably should have (if we are keeping score), but he doesn't.

This idea about not taking matters into our own hands is a big one for me... at least 20 times a day i feel the need to be back in the drivers seat, to right the wrong, or to course correct... this idea of trusting God in and with everything is way harder than we like to admit.

For instance, Jen, (our awesome accountant) came to me this week during our weekly financial update and informed me that February had not been one of our greatest months as far as our budget is concerned. We were on pace to be 2-3K under what we needed to take in.

Dec and Jan had been the first 2 months in the short history of Element where we had made budget, and as it looked setting a trend that this would be the norm... so when Jen said it looked like we were off, i was bummed.

Instantly i fought ever urge not to be reactionary... not to make a sacrifice to the "tithe" gods (as some call them), not to scrap everything we were working on, not to make a huge fuss... and more importantly not to FREAK OUT.

I felt like God spoke, and said... let today be a day when you trust me. Literally two days before this two people whom i trust had felt like God was going to bring some provision for Element... so i was here all alone in my office trying to believe Him.

I came to the conclusion that regardless, we were going to be fine... and we would use this month to be a way to teach from if we made it or not.

So Sunday after the gathering when the counting team came to me to tell me that we had taken in exactly what we needed that Sunday to make budget i was blown away.

It was funny because i feel like i am teaching as a student... maybe that is the best way... but wow...

On top of that, today i had the pleasure of meeting with Rabbi Robert Goodman, i met him at his home, had lunch with his wife Mary (who was a great hostess) and got the chance to be a student again.

Something about perspective changes the way we look at the characters found in scripture... and to hear Rabbi's (he prefers i call him Bob) brought all sorts of thoughts rushing to my head. I have to say it was not a bad way to spend the morning, he even gave me some of his books about the history of Israel.
Looks like i have some reading and some listening to do... i am looking forward to what God is going to prepare me to learn this week.