At work I would stay late to clean up my desk area. I wanted to walk into "order" when I started my day the next morning One afternoon a coworker commented, "You know a clean desk is a sign of a sick mind." I think he was joking. Irregardless, I took it as a compliment. I agree with your comments about discipline and order. I remember a friend with long hair and funny sense of humor who enlisted in the Marines. When I saw him after boot camp, I was shocked. He was a completely different person. I asked why he wanted to be a Marine, he said he wanted to be disciplined. He succeeded. I admit I missed the young man he was before. Maybe we can develop our own "Christian boot camp". I would be willing to sign up.
I’m in total agreement that hard times create strong men. I would add to that: Trials and tribulations facilitate the conditions needed to create strong churches. Just look back to when Christianity thrived the most; it was when it was considered weak by worldly standards. It’s still true today where underground house churches are expanding in cultures that are repressive toward the Christian faith. I don’t think it coincidental that historically speaking, an increase of affluence in the West paralleled a decline in authentic Christianity. In my opinion, we’re heading towards hard times. Are we prepared? Methodism as a movement has within its spiritual DNA the needed response to hard times that lay ahead.
Jeffrey, for many of my generation, Scouting and organized sports moulded us to know that, if we arrived late, the game or activity would not wait for us. Like a train of a flight reservation, it will depart on its schedule, not mine. The same for Church & Sunday School, punctuality benefits everyone. Even Ellis Island is an enduring example of “Orderly Entry.” Thanks for reinforcing these aspects of Methodism.
Some important insights. I'm glad I read it.
Thank you for this thought-provoking article.
At work I would stay late to clean up my desk area. I wanted to walk into "order" when I started my day the next morning One afternoon a coworker commented, "You know a clean desk is a sign of a sick mind." I think he was joking. Irregardless, I took it as a compliment. I agree with your comments about discipline and order. I remember a friend with long hair and funny sense of humor who enlisted in the Marines. When I saw him after boot camp, I was shocked. He was a completely different person. I asked why he wanted to be a Marine, he said he wanted to be disciplined. He succeeded. I admit I missed the young man he was before. Maybe we can develop our own "Christian boot camp". I would be willing to sign up.
I’m in total agreement that hard times create strong men. I would add to that: Trials and tribulations facilitate the conditions needed to create strong churches. Just look back to when Christianity thrived the most; it was when it was considered weak by worldly standards. It’s still true today where underground house churches are expanding in cultures that are repressive toward the Christian faith. I don’t think it coincidental that historically speaking, an increase of affluence in the West paralleled a decline in authentic Christianity. In my opinion, we’re heading towards hard times. Are we prepared? Methodism as a movement has within its spiritual DNA the needed response to hard times that lay ahead.
Jeffrey, for many of my generation, Scouting and organized sports moulded us to know that, if we arrived late, the game or activity would not wait for us. Like a train of a flight reservation, it will depart on its schedule, not mine. The same for Church & Sunday School, punctuality benefits everyone. Even Ellis Island is an enduring example of “Orderly Entry.” Thanks for reinforcing these aspects of Methodism.