As I stated last week, I would like to start my week blogging about “Faith Foundations.”  This morning I arrived early to Cutter’s Point Coffee on the South Hill of Puyallup to meet with a Youth Pastor, Troy.  Whereas, last week, I felt the overwhelming need to be prayed for (so that was the subject of my first Faith Foundation) today, I was praising God for the opportunities for fellowship I knew I was going to receive today.  I just had no idea I was going to be blessed with it right away!

I knew I was going to be meeting with the YMAP (Youth Ministry Apprenticeship Program) Team (we like “team” better than “board”).  Some of my older friends in youth ministry are part of this team.  It is always encouraging to sit with them.  Then later tonight Elisabeth and I are going out to dinner with Marc and Debbie Gronholz, long time friends (and my most recent Sr. Pastor).  I knew today was going to have a “refuge” feel to it and I was excited for that!

But, my meeting with Troy was an amazing time of encouragement, fellowship, and mutual “spurring.” 

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:24-25 is one of my favorite passages.  Troy was able to speak to, what he called, “failure” in networking as a Youth Pastor.  I hope our two hours together will spur him on toward doing it more.  He is a little bit older than the average youth pastor and has much wisdom to pass on to some of the younger (and even older) YP’s.  There was no “failure” that I could see, he certainly gave me food for thought! He spurred me in the area of insights into a couple passages in Acts.  Some great stuff as we both are drawn to that book.  I loved his take on a couple passages!

I see the day approaching!  Do you?  Let’s be quick to encourage other believers, but let’s also be quick to live it out among the lost!  The day is quickly approaching and many do not see it coming; and how will they know unless we tell them?  Brothers and sisters, keep meeting together (it is a faith foundation), but may we also be quick to depart and do the work as well (serve, share and support… very “pastor-like” with the three S’s huh?)!

Grace,
Brian