Comments on: Online Book Discussion — Chapter One

By: Online Book Discussion: The Law of Education « Life Together

Online Book Discussion: The Law of Education « Life Together — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:15:46 +0000

[...] Read some earlier comments below [...]

By: missy

missy — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 02:50:35 +0000

i want to address the “running water, stagnant pool” comment.
there are days that i feel so stagnant and i recognize it as a direct attack from satan. he wants me to just sit and become covered in “algae” i then go to the lord “immediately” and spend time with him and then i feel the water running through me, it is god’s love. he gives me the strength to be a clear running stream and not a stagnant pond.
also, there are sundays when i get to church and i feel “stagnant” and it only takes a smile from one of my precious students then i feel “fresh” and life is good again!!! blessings, missy

By: Julie Wolf

Julie Wolf — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 20:04:32 +0000

Jeff and I are reading this together, and I am in unison with all the above comments. There was so much that spoke to my heart in this first chapter that I find it difficult to focus on just one thing. But, the excerpt from page 29, about the “wild” kid we teach who may one day be a pastor or missionary–wow! Makes me so conscious of how much I need to listen to our kids and be patient…

Convicting, too, is how we should always be in a state of growth. I will never “arrive” until I see HIM!

By: Lisle

Lisle — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:22:18 +0000

it has been good reading this book again and this is real cool to have a discussion about it.
here are some quotes that were challenging to me.
“If you stop growing today, you stop teaching tomorrow”
“son, i would rather have my students drink from a running stream than a stagnant pool”
“as long as you learn, you live”
“your reading too much if you reflect on it too little”
“experience does not necessarily make you better; in fact it tends to make you worse, unless it’s evaluated experience”
The quote the rang so true to me is “the greatest threat to your ministry is your ministry” – wow, when you have been here for 12 years you see this to be so true.
I believe it was John Piper who said that books do not change lives but sentences do – so i pray that these will have an effect on me and on all of us.
May God give us grace to continue to be life long learners!!!

By: Slippery Slope of Conflict « Life Together

Slippery Slope of Conflict « Life Together — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 16:36:26 +0000

[...] those of you in the Online Book Discussion, see you [...]

By: Riggsy

Riggsy — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 18:08:28 +0000

I think this is great. Dr. Hendricks is a great teacher I hope all of our LIFE teachers enjoy this book. It’s much better than Oprah’s

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:46:59 +0000

I wonder if I compartmentalize my life too much. Do I see physical exercise or taking care of my body as a spiritually benefical thing? I know that Dr. Hendricks delineated these areas to help us get specific about our growth, but it may be helpful for us to remember that all of them are connected. It’s interesting, but most often when I am disciplined with my eating habits and exercise, I’m also more disciplined in my times with the Lord. And of course the flipside can be true as well. When I’m walking close with Jesus, I long to be closer to people socially and I’m more aware of my need to grow in other areas too. What do you think?

By: Cybil Gault

Cybil Gault — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 00:29:46 +0000

“we cannot develop spiritually unless we develop in other areas as well-intellectually, physically, socially, and emotionally.” For me this is very true. I am looking at it from a young mother perspective however. For me too, it was easy in high school and college because it seemed to bring a balance of all those things. Well, put me in a house with two toddler boys all day and that’s a different story. Then I was truly stripped of everything I thought I knew. Sure I was reading my Bible and praying…but you add in lack of sleep, redundant activities etc… I really saw the effects in my walk with God. Don’t get me wrong I understand, in this season, these things will come up (I keep reading as many encouraging books in this area too). It wasn’t until just recently, when I started to get those things back into balance am I experiencing His blessings. Seeing the need for social involvement, eating right, exercising, connecting with my husband without the kids…or whatever it is…the Bible talks about all of it and I think he’s just saying, cover all your bases.

By: Josh

Josh — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:59:39 +0000

Totally agree on the accountability thing. Some of my best times of growth were in college when I was surrounded by and lived with godly Christian men. Unfortunately, I find it much more difficult to have those close male relationships now that marriage, work, and church have taken us separate ways.

On another note, I’m not sure I entirely grasp the quote “we cannot develop spiritually unless we develop in other areas as well-intellectually, physically, socially, and emotionally.” I understand the concept of having a well balanced life and allowing God to have control in all areas but is growth necessary in all areas? In order to grow spiritually do I really need to exercise more or make new friends? Maybe he is suggesting that all dimensions must be healthy in order for spiritual growth which makes sense to me. Maybe I missed something or I’m reading to much into the text. Any thoughts?

By: Doug

Doug — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:33:56 +0000

One more thing, Josh. Just to encourage you … I think repetition can be a good thing as long as we’re repeating the right things. Jesus is our model. He seemed to go back to the same themes in his teaching (e.g. the kingdom of God). Good teachers know how to repeat things but put them in a different package. That’s a challenge!