So, we finally have some beautiful Colorado weather for more than a few hours! This photo was taken at about 7:15 a.m., and it looks like staying this way for the rest of the day. I’ve also put up a photo of Mike and Chris.
We had an interesting breakfast meeting with Ted Olsen this morning, who recently visited people connected with DAWN in parts of Africa. Some of the what he told us was surprising for me, resulting out of the differences in attitude and culture between Americans/Europeans and Africans. Mike and I will be heading off to the mountains tomorrow and Friday for prayer, pressing in to the relationship with our Father which has been occupying our thoughts for the past few days.
Day: August 17, 2005
Tentmaking?
I am reading Acts at the moment, and have just finished chapter 20. Paul is saying goodbye to the Ephesian elders; a touching story. What I really noticed was Paul’s statement in verse 34: “Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me.” Other books I am reading claim that Paul only worked when absolutely necessary as an example to others, and was otherwise supported by the local church, allowing him to devote his time to teaching. This verse apparently refutes that, being seemingly general, not specific to one particular situation.
However, we see other situations in which the leaders of the church probably were ministering full-time, and supported by church members: in Acts 6:2, where the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables.” It is possible, of course, that they also worked, and simply said that it would make more sense for them to use what little remaining time they had on the word of God. However, we see no reference to their fishing boats in Acts, in contrast to the gospels, so it seems reasonable to assume that they were focused full-time on teaching the word of God, and supported by the church.