Great news.
As I entered my home this evening after an interesting day’s work a package was there waiting for me. Now I know I didn’t buy anything new, so I was genuinely wondering what it was. Barely containing the excitement and intrigue as to what it would be, I dashed away the coat and bag and gleefully opened the package to discover …
There it was – months of hard work on the part of so many to put together this print version of the brainchild of the man Eric Carpenter. In and among those bloggers and writers was that there chapter by Christopher Dryden. I have got to say it is a highlight of this year to see this come to fruition. You can find more about the book by clicking the link.
Things have been a bit busy of late for me to be able to read the whole book to be able to review it, but I’ve got a break coming up for the end of the year, I hope I can crack on and read it then. Once that is done I will review it for your good pleasure. You don’t have to wait for it to read it yourself, though, it’s available both on Amazon and at Redeeming Press.
I was so delighted to see it. As I sit and type this, though, I am reminded of the team approach that put it together. There’s the collaboration of the 24 different writers to dedicate their time to putting together their respective chapters. There’s the editor and publisher who would have worked closely to come to a final published copy. There are those at the publishers who would work together to turn the electronic version into the print copy I held in my hand.
There are so many others in the process, a number of them, however, working together to turn an idea into reality.
I am saying it takes a team. There may be different parts of the process who don’t always meet, but a lot of the connections need that working alongside each other to make it work.
The same thing is seen in other workplaces and it’s seen in good homes. Father and Mother are on the same page and co-ordinate who will be responsible for what. As the children develop responsibilities so they play their part in effective, functioning family life. Together we make a difference. Together we get so much more done than we could ever do on our own.
This is something I notice in the Bible. Especially in the ministry of the apostles. Paul for example. He was in a team with Barnabas and when he and Barney went their separate ways, Paul still maintained the team ethos. It wasn’t him on his own doing everything. Silas, Timothy, Aquila, Priscilla and so many others helped him. After all it wasn’t him – it was the good news, it was the Kingdom.
There’s a lot to be said about the team approach. Which brings us neatly to the church. Sometimes I wonder if we’ve really caught a hold of that. I’m not talking about the paid personnel who are part of an institutional infrastructure. I’m talking about brothers and sisters, made one in Christ, who now realise their lives are not their own and together they are to be the temple of the Living God. I wonder if we realise that to be that temple takes a team effort.
I wonder if we realise this team effort is not just about what happens in set services, it’s about we can do life and mission together.
I wonder if we realise how many missions have been completed by people who realise their calling to be in this together as a team. I wonder if we see that the way I will realise what God has called me to be is done in relationship with you and others. The team means it doesn’t have to be in the hundreds or thousands. We can do life with a few others, commit to ministry together and be amazed at the outcomes God delivers as we work together for His glory.
That’s more than writing and publishing books. That’s setting up hospitals and schools in impoverished areas. That’s serving through food banks or regular visits and ministering to those in the prisons and hospitals. That’s working out ways to be of service to the community in meeting their needs. That’s helping children who struggle with basic skills find their place through what God has given them.
That’s His Kingdom come and His will done on earth as it is in heaven. Even as there’s a the element of it in the Godhead – so we reflect that element on earth as we work together.
That takes a team.
(Photo by Art Lasovsky on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 