I truly appreciate listening to my brother Barney when he has something to say.
He's a big man, in many ways. Tall and formative, but also big-,hearted.
When he speaks, he often appears to pause, choosing each word carefully. When he says something, I often sense the Spirit of God speaking to me. So over the past few years, getting to know him, I pay attention.
I remember once when Preacher Mike was preaching and questioned wether people pick up a penny when they see it, or not? He asked Barney directly if he would, and Barney's reply was, "Yes, because 99 more make a dollar."
I thought about that, how it's the little steps that slowly add up to something. To not neglect them, even if I don't see the combined value right away.
Another time, in small group at ReFuel, he simply wrote a single word on a piece of paper, and sliding the paper in front of those of us at the table, said, "Envy is a four letter word."
I still have the paper, it's a great reminder.
This past week at ReFuel, we were talking about not letting people get under our skin. Barney said, "Don't let someone live rent-free in your mind."
To me, those words had the Holy Spirit in them. I had let several people stay in my mind as I thought about the things they do that bug me. Basically letting them occupy that space, while I'm sure they were giving little thought to me.
The next day, each time one of those thoughts came into my mind, I thought about what Barney said and evicted it!
Just as Paul said, in 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV)
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." (emphasis added).
As far as I know, Barney has never preached a sermon, but listening to the things he says reminds me of why it is so important for all of us to contribute, to share the things that the Lord has taught us.
That is how we grow together in the Lord. That is true fellowship.
"What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up." 1 Corinthians 14:26 (NIV)
What about you, is there a wealth of wisdom the Lord has taught you that needs to be shared with the rest of us?
