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"32 Random Thoughts"
You may not know Tim Challies but he's made a name for himself as a very discerning Christian author. I became aware of him when a few of his book reviews were recommended to me. I found his thoughts to be very wise and thick with a concern to keep God and His gospel at the center of everything. He blogs at https://www.challies.com and has authored several books. Recently he wrote "32 Random Thoughts" about the local church. As usual, I thought they were insightful and worth a read. So I'm going to roll those out here in the next 8 newsletters (I may provide some additional commentary if I think it's necessary). If you don't want to wait for all 32 you can read them all right here. Here are random thoughts 29-32:
29. When you are on vacation or otherwise far from home in a country that does not speak English, make it a point to visit a church. In all likelihood, there is someone in the church who speaks English and who can help you get settled. You will be surprised and encouraged by how much you can still participate and how much you can still benefit even when you barely understand a word. Worship is a universal language.
30. When visiting a church that is not your own, do your best to attend as an observer rather than a judge. Some elements may appear strange or even wrong, but if you pay close attention and ask good questions, you may find that each element makes sense within the context of that church.
31. As soon as a worship service ends, make it your goal to meet someone you have never met or to spend time with someone you barely know. You can catch up with your close friends later. The first two minutes matter most.
32. The older you get and the more your children move away from your home, city, and church, the more you will treasure sitting in church with your family. So learn to enjoy it while your children are young, rather than dread it or complain about it. These are the good ol’ days and the time will come when you will find yourself wishing they would return.
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