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Shallow Gal on the Deep End - October 07, 2005
My husband went to New Orleans this week to take a truckload of supplies to hurricane victims and to do preliminary work so our church can send down ministry teams for three to four-day work trips. We're hoping to send a team down every week or so throughout the long process of recovery. How our hearts go out to those who've suffered from the effects of Katrina.
I'm so pleased and honored that my hubby is representing my family and his church, helping and serving where the need is so great.
This next part, however, might frighten you a little. Because he's in New Orleans, I had to teach my husband's college philosophy class today. Look out! Shallow girl going over to the deep end! Totally NOT my side of the pool.
The topic for the class I had to teach? Socrates. Deep. Fortunately, I'd seen "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" so I was adequately and radically equipped to teach it. Party on, Dude!
Actually, so much better than Bill and Ted, I have the testimony and the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5: "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power." (NIV)
What is it that truly makes a "deep-end swimmer"? Eloquence? Superior wisdom? Persuasive words? No, it's all about knowing Jesus! It's about having a testimony of the power of God at work in a life. Instead of trying to pass myself off as a great philosopher (yeah, like they would've bought that anyway), I told them what I really am. Weak. But, praise God, I'm a walking testimony of the strength the Father gives to the weak. It's so amazing when we step into the shallow end of the pool and suddenly find ourselves in deep places, drifting peacefully along on the very grace of God, floating by His unsinkable power. Because it's all in HIS power, He can take even this shallow gal to His sweet, deep places.
Move over, Socrates.
Rhonda Rhea writes for dozens of Christian publications and speaks at conferences and events across the country. You can find her newest books, "Soup for the Soul-Tastes Just Like Chicken", and "Amusing Grace", at your local Christian bookstore
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