RichRock : Running Free

Finally made it to ‘The Two Towers’ in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Looking forward to reading the battle for Helm’s Deep, as I don’t actually remember reading that when I read the books before.
When I finish Lord of the Rings, I’ll move on to the Silmarillion.

Well, I’ve done it again! I’ve managed to throw myself in at the deep end. On Sunday, I ‘volunteered’ to lead the Bible study/teaching for our homegroup, which I haven’t actually attended for quite some time. So I don’t know what the situation is like with people’s commitment, where they’re at spiritually, or even what to do!
I guess it’s time to pray. Hit the nail on the head and get myself sorted. I’ve been looking for the inspiration to do this for some time. One of the things I realise is that the preparation for teaching gives me a focus. I love the study that is involved with the preparation, it teaches me too.
I do have one idea, and that is to follow on the Sunday’s sermon about direction. However, the conflict of topic arises when it seems that people are expecting a contemporary issue. Can I combine both of these? Hmmm….
Well, I really have to go pray about this, and see what I can come up with that would be a blessing to both myself and the others of the group.
I’ll let you know what happens anyway.

I was reading the Word For Today yesterday, and was struck by the main passage and theme. The scripture in question was :

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…”
Zechariah 4:10, NLT.

The overall theme was that even the smallest thing that you can do to make a difference to people’s lives is worth it. I think of the woman who gave the only amount she could muster :

“And sitting down opposite the treasury, Jesus watched how the people threw copper coins into the treasury. And many rich ones threw in much. And a certain poor widow came, and she threw in two lepta, which is a kodrantes. And He called His disciples and said to them, Truly I say to you that this poor widow has cast in more than all those who have cast into the treasury. For all cast in from their abundance. But she, out of her poverty, has cast in all that she had, all her livelihood.”
Mark 12:41-44, MKJV

So, even the smallest amount can make a difference. Even the small steps we take as measures of faith can make a greater difference to our lives in the longer term. Think about an exercise regime. Is it easier to jump in the deep end and do a full workout every other day, or to gradually build up strength, routines, good habits? Go to a gym and you will see the answer. Many of my friends go to a gym, and one particular friend has gradually built himself a variable routine by learning new things each week, one step at a time.
So, our spiritual lives could benefit from the same. Not to jump into the Bible and read it all like a piece of fiction, but to benefit from smaller chunks of scriptures that we can apply practically day-by-day. In my opinion, that is why the daily devotional journals like Word For Today, Every Day With Jesus work. They work because they take a measured approach to devotion, a practical approach to our faith, and encourage us to put in the small times each day to make our longer term lives more faithful.

Of course, this is not to say that bigger studies are not necessary. Sometimes in order to understand longer or more obscure passages, then some larger study is required. But the essence of this starts in the good habits of a little, day by day.
Links :
Word For Today - Word For Today main page.
E-Sword - Free Bible Software. Used for my Bible quotes.

There. I hope this is of some help to someone.

Yup, I’m reading again. The lack of alcohol and also the vastly reduced caffeine intake are helping me. Now I’m at the stage of almost mentally recovering from this tirade of abuse that I have subjected my body to, I can start to focus on other things. Rather than drinking and watching a movie, I sit with a decaff coffee or a fruit juice and read… Lord Of The Rings. Okay, I’m about halfway through The Fellowship Of The Ring, but I’ve read twice as much as it has taken me the last four months to do.
It’s great at the moment, as Aragorn has just helped the Hobbits escape the Ring-Wraiths from Weathertop. But I know I’m coming to a really challenging section - Rivendell. The meetings that drag on and on. At least some things haven’t changed. Meetings still drag on and on.
I have a plan to read The Silmarillon after I have finished Lord Of The Rings. I would like to compile a decent Tolkein bibliography and see what other books are around.