Leave Room For the Holy Spirit!

[Carl Thomas Gladstone]

::The Conversation::                                      July 10, 2006 Do you remember middle school dances?  I just spent a week at camp with a cabin full of junior high guys and the dance at the end of the week took up probably 60% of their waking think time. First they talked about should they or shouldn't they ask a particular girl to go with them.  Then when they decided against that they moved on to who they would ask to dance once they got there.  And that just got the creativity flowing and all of a sudden I was running with them over to the girls cabin to sing "My Girl" as a serenade. There were a number of key players in this endeavor.  Jakob had an older sister so he was referred to on all matters of adolescent femininity.  Cameron is from the city of Detroit and therefore became the musical leader of this rag tag Motown doo wap group.  Keiren was a little twitterpated with some of the girls in the cabin and so was caught with a fit of nervous laughter, but served as a great encourager for the event. It was an evening I will remember as quite the example of what it means to be a part of a community whose members all serve certain purposes, each to his pre-pubescent ability.  Perhaps these guys could teach us all something about being the church.  Wouldn't it be great if we had the same excitement for ministry in Jesus' name as these guys had for the prospect of dancing to yet another playing of  N*SYNC's "God Must Have Spent A Little More Time On You." Carl Links the EMERGE community The Penny Project The NOAH Proj. Cass Community Baldwin Center Freecycle Plowcreek The Food Jesus Ate Foot Washing   Sister Gertrude The Modern Exchange Barna Geeks and God Soul Stretch READ Romans 12:3-12  What gift is God calling you to share?  Where have your gifts been welcomed?  In what ministry settings have they felt squashed or ignored?  If you are an ear on the body, what's on your iPod?

Upcoming Events Information Thursday, July 13 Emerge Community Worship/Coffeehouse, 8 PM with guests from the South Oakland Shelter Worship * Concerts * BibleStudies/Trips *

*For those new to this email list - each Thursday I send an e-message to students and young adults connected with BHAM First UMC, and with the developing EMERGE worship community for young adults.  These emails are meant to stay in touch with you, encourage you in your Christian journey, and pose some faith-filled questions that might spark some email correspondence.  If you have any questions about this list, just drop me an email at the address above. Peace.

.::Carl Thomas Gladstone::. 
Deacon, First UMC: Birmingham
“Original acoustic music on the prophetic edge”
www.carlthomasgladstone.com
ca...@carlthomasgladstone.com
(248)646-1200