One of our interns at PSCC, James Wells, shared a heartfelt message from his life today: God uses the trials of life to bring consciousness of sin, then repentance, then spiritual health. Nothing new, but a message used by the Lord to bring many to the front of the sanctuary for prayer at the end of the service.

This morning's coffee discussion with Pastors Anthony Jordan and Dick Lasse explored the problem of our American "culture of privacy." In the African culture of Dick's experience (by contrast), everyone in town knows one another's business and every endeavor is pursued with the community in mind. What would it be like if all the pastors of Pierce County knew one another's business and pursued all their endeavors with the community of churches in mind? Is our "culture of privacy" one more strategy of the enemy to keep us isolated from one another?

I have been asked to teach on hermeneutics and on the archaeology of the gospels this fall, so my studies will focus on these subjects for the next several weeks.

PSCC arrived at 1 Cor. 13 in their 1 Cor. teaching series today. Kaj Martin emphasized that the context of the "Love Chapter" is the use of spiritual gifts. 1 Cor. 13.8-10 does not teach that gifts have passed away (not until we see the Lord face to face), but the entire chapter teaches that gifts exercised without love are unfruitful and even destructive.

Tonight, Kaj Martin at PSCC taught on the essential foundation for healing prayer ministry: compassion.

Trust The Pilot of the Plane

At the Pierce Pastors' prayer meeting this morning, the Lord reminded us of our tendency to pursue our own good ideas rather than waiting on Him for His. He also reminded us of our need to more fully trust "the Pilot of the plane." It was great to have evangelist Ernest with us, along with Anthony's son, Michael Jordan!

In view of the people in our community who are not currently attracted to traditional church services, Matt Allen of PSCC proposed today that Christians form common-interest groups by which to relationally draw in such non-church persons.

This week I reviewed the principle of Rev. 19.10, "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (cf. James 2.26). Had some great discussion with a group of ministry interns about how Bible prophecy unveils the character and work of Jesus.