Day 1

Peter B. here, we had our first Community Group meeting last night and most importantly it was timed perfectly to be the day before the Big Kick-Off of the Soul revolution, 60-60 Experiment. I thought it might be helpful to relay a few thoughts we had regarding getting started. First I was surprised how many people didn't know what was expected of them during the experiement. We talked about what to do when your alarm goes off. There are no wrong answers, here's a sampling: Thank God for what happened during the passed hour; Thank God for where He has you at that very moment; Invite God into your next hour; Just acknowledge God's existance; Pray for help in the next hour; and my favorite response "Use the beeper as you would a friend poking his head in the door and saying 'Hi'. How would you respond back to a friend? Great stuff!
We also talked about the practicality of hourly reminders. Most folks in our group had yet to secure any kind of beeper or plan...ouch...hurry! One crane operator said he has both hands on controls for hours at a time and couldn't possibly risk safety and take his hands off to turn off a beeper. Suggestion was made that he get just a chimming watch that beeps once and turns itself off. He responded that he is really concentrating on his job and if we were underneath him we wouldn't want him to be distracted. I couldn't argue with that. Another, a teacher said it wouldn't be possible to withdraw for a few minutes of solitude with God while teaching a class. It was suggested that solitude was not always a necessity, but perhaps a silent quick thought to God was all that was needed. We bottomed lined to say that the goal was not to be legalistic with it or produce any guilt for failure, but any increase in relationship with our Creator would prove very beneficial.
We also talked about what we hope to get out of this experiment experience. Personally, I desire God's direction on a decision that needs to be made. It's not a sin issue, that would be too easy. Both options have the potential to be either productive or failures by worldly standards. My desire would be for God to look into the future and tell me which option to take. I'm hoping that as I grow more in tune to God in my relationship with Him, that I will sense His leading and approval with this decision, regardless of it's worldly outcome. That's the big rub for me, the word regardless. I don't always mean it. I have the spiritual head knowledge that God's ways are best, regardless. But that human side of me wants the worldly success, always, along with the spiritual. So, I guess this is the real goal for me. May regardless, be a reality in my heart, not just in my head. Enjoy your experiment, peter.