By Pastor Tracey Leslie
Scripture: Matthew 18:15-20 What good is the Church to the world? What can the Church offer the world? A young father, studying the Jewish Torah, was making every effort to raise his child in the faith, yet meeting with little success. He went to his rabbi: “Rabbi, what am I to do? I love my child. But, he’s disobedient and surly. He’s rebellious and he violates some of the laws in the Torah, the Talmud and our tradition. He even does just stupid things. He disagrees with what I say and he does what he knows will annoy me or hurt me. He spends time with people I abhor and evil-doers. What can I do?” The rabbi looked at him with great compassion and said, “Love him more!”[i] What good is the Church to the world? What can the Church offer the world? [i] Story found in Matthew: the Book of Mercy by Megan McKenna; New City Press; 2007; p. 98
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By Pastor Tracey Leslie
Scripture: Psalm 139:1-18 Last week on Facebook I read about the passing of my high school choral director, Donald Batiste. In 6th grade, I signed up for chorus. Soon my parents learned that Mr. Batiste taught piano lessons and asked if he would be my teacher. In middle school, I was socially awkward and terribly unsure of myself and who I was meant to be… as so many of us were at that age. It wasn’t long before Mr. Batiste asked me if I would be willing to accompany the school chorus. The offer both terrified me and thrilled me simultaneously. That one choral selection became many over time and, by the end of senior year, about 90% of what both the Junior and Senior High choruses performed was accompanied by me. Mr. Batiste also trusted me to rehearse the small vocal ensemble when his schedule required him to, impossibly, be in two places at one time. I owe a lot to Mr. Batiste. But, what I didn’t realize during high school was that Mr. Batiste was helping me discover something unique and basic about the person God had created me to be. I am a collaborator. I didn’t remain a professional accompanist, but to this day, any project, task, or activity is more enjoyable to me when I work on it with someone. Later this month I’ll begin Coaching training with the conference. The first required text for the training is a book entitled “Co-active Coaching.” Or as they define it in the book, collaborative coaching. |
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Pastor Tracey
On a lifelong journey of seeking to live out God's call on my life and to reflect His grace. 10 Minute SermonsCategories
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