Testing testing.

Our church is on a mission. To grow. No, I don't mean we are giving a car away to whoever invites the most people to church by Labor Day. I went to a church that did that a long time ago. No - this time we want to grow, individually.

It's a cool plan - first we hear some teaching about growth in the spiritual parts of our lives. Our Pastor is very good at this - an earned Doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary, a couple of decades of Pastoral experience on two coasts, lots of common sense, and amazing ability to hear from God and speak to people.

After we hear about growth, hopefully we will become challenged to want to grow. Then we take a test. We did this last night, and we took it home to finish by next week. It's called a "Spiritual Health Assessment," and it is a simple test which has no real right or wrong answers. But if you take it with thought, and then follow through by comparing your choices with the material provided, you can begin to find areas of your Spiritual Health which you may want to improve upon. Really what it is is a map. Shows you where you are, and then where you want to be.

Then, we will devise a plan. Yes, a plan. So many of us plan for shopping trips, vacations, days at work, days off work, even our evenings and weekends may be planned out to the minute. And many of us have a schedule which is their real 'boss' at work - I am one of those. As a technician I have to try to get around to customers' homes in an efficient manner and avoid call-backs to be profitable. And as the business owner, I have to be sure the sales floor is covered, merchandise arrives just on time, parts and supplies have to be on hand in just the right levels, bills have to be paid on time. Planning is a huge part of my life!

BUT -

I have no plan for my spiritual growth and development. How about you? Well, that's what we are working on as a church. And as individuals, I hope we will catch the vision: We all need to grow, and failing to plan is planning to fail when it comes to growth.

If there ever was an area where we need to examine ourselves, then form a plan for improvement, it is our Spiritual Health. Join me.