Humility and the inaugural weekly meeting

So I started reading Humility by Andrew Murray since I've been on project, and it has opened my eyes to the importance of humility in our walk with Christ. It's a small book and a quick read, but I have decided to take it at a chapter a day that I might digest it and retain it more permanently.

I have heard a few good definitions of the word before, such as, "humility is not thinking less of yourself, its thinking of yourself less"; a solid definition, but perhaps not complete. The definition works decently in the context of my relationship with other humans, but it lacks in describing my relationship with God. For when I view myself in light of Him, I must realize that I am nothing. Check out Philippians 2:5-11.

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Yikes.

Check out how Jesus "made himself nothing, taking on the form of a servant". This is the mind that we are supposed to have. And its the mind that we must have if we want to imitate Christ as much as possible. Murray has rightly made much of the element of humility in our walk with God, and He says it much more eloquently than I ever could. And Jesus says it more eloquently than him.

On the project front, things are just starting to get rolling. The Teva Mountain Games kicked off tonight, and our next few days will be consumed meeting these elite outdoor athletes and just shining our light on them. This weekend, the valley will be crowded more than ever, so obviously its a strategic time for us.

Tonight, we had our first weekly meeting as a community. These are going to happen each Thursday night, and will include some testimonies about what we see God doing as well as a praise and worship time. As a "worship leader" back home, it was pretty refreshing to get to approach God in song myself, without a mic and without being up front. It felt about 10 times more intimate. The night wrapped up with us breaking into groups and discussing issues that can help us grow as people and in our relationship with God (my group discussed stewardship). This time seems like it could be pretty beneficial to us each week, as we seek to grow as Jesus did, "in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man".

That's it for tonight. We continue to pray for our job situations, our growth as a community, and our impact on the Vail valley. Join in if you like, and check out the blogs of the other guys for more insight. A couple of them are linked on the right hand side of the page.

Growing up in Him,

Allen