Look - Margins

LOOK

There is a saying:  “nature abhors a vacuum” – which means if there’s empty space (or “margin”), somehow it’s going to get filled up.  An empty room in the house seems to magically collect items until it’s filled to the brim.  The free hour you have in the morning gets sucked up by watching the morning news – and so on!

1.         Can you recall a time when you consciously felt you had extra margin in your life?  What caused that space in your schedule? 

2.         How long did it take for that space in your schedule to get filled up – or did it actually stay free space?

3.         Do you consciously try to keep some free time (or “margin”) in your daily schedule?  Why?

Took - Day One

TOOK

We have begun another First Day in our church year and at St. Nicholas! 

1.   (Other than the rain), What stood out for you on the First Day at St. Nick’s new location?

2.   Have you started working on your wish list?  What have you done so far?

3.   Thinking as big as you can, what wish list item can you give to others in the world around you? 

Book - Day One

BOOK – Matthew 24:36-44

Jesus answers the disciples’ questions regarding the end of the age.

1.      Do you think the disciples were hoping for a different type of answer?

2.      What do you find most challenging about this answer?   Why?

3.      How does Jesus expect us to “be ready”?

Matthew 24:36-44

Jesus said to the disciples, "But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."

Look - Day One

The first day:  Of school!  Of a new job!  Of a new house!  And on and on – first days can be very exciting, can turn out to be really bad, and can take loads of preparation to get ready for.

1.         What first days have you experienced that stand out for you?  Why? 

2.         Do you have a worst first day, or a best first day story?  Share . . .

3.         How did you prepare for those first days?  Could you have used even more time to prepare?