Note to Rick

Brother Rick, We'll be away the week of July 24, in PA. I'm enjoying participating in the Alpha course (did I tell you about that?). Thoughts on teaching:

You mentioned once that you don't feel that you have a gift for teaching. But, as I think about it, in one very real sense you are an excellent teacher. (This came to mind as I thought about your comment that the Cambridge fellowship asked you to not travel but once per month.) You set a fine example for younger believers-

1. Commitment to knowing scripture and living in obedience to scriptural teachings, even at significant personal "cost"
2. Being interested in the lives of other believers
3. Expressing thoughts and questions that reflect a knowledge of scripture and scriptural principles
4. Rejection of the American culture's rampant material-ism, consumer-ism, status-ism, hedon-ism, etc.
5. Not striving for personal recognition or status or attention
6. Commitment to support other believers in various ways
7. Prayerful decision-making
8. Patience

Teaching Christian maturity by example may make a greater impact than more traditional "teaching," in the classroom sense- seeing a sermon, so to speak.

cs