Pastor George started his sermon this morning with a story about driver's ed. The would-be drivers in this week's picture still have a few years before they are ready to drive, but they do log quite a few miles with their mom and dad. They see what speed is driven, protocol at stop signs, etc.

Who have been some key spiritual examples in your life?

Quite the set of topics the last three weeks -- usually not ones you take pictures of to share with friends. We did have an unhappy hiker at Cascade River State Park this past summer who got her picture taken.

Thoughts, comments, and questions on these topics?

This week's picture was taken in August when one of my daughters was helping the other get up on a rock in Lake Superior....an example of being 'for' someone else.

Part of the sermon dealt with being a "grace giver". Last week we were using stone blocks in our analogies, but they are rigid and have lots of friction. This week's sermon would remind us to be fluid or smooth so that when someone close to us creates some friction, we can easily adjust and, per Ephesians 4:2, "make allowances for each other's faults".

To open discussion this week, any practical ways to be a "grace giver" or an encourager?

I made it to Chicago and back this past week and head out again for Illinois and Iowa this afternoon. Consequently, I won't have the benefit of having heard the sermon prior to making my initial post for the week. All I have is the sermon notes with the blanks left blank.

I don't know how much longer my daughter's tower lasted after this picture was taken. Is there something about structure/placement that goes with the blocks to form something strong and lasting?

Last night I was looking a Mayan ruin pictures taken by a friend who visited South America last summer. The blocks were irrigular in shape, having been hand cut, hauled six miles, and then placed to form a structure that has lasted for centuries. We all have different gifting, skills, and passions that God brings together in the community of the church. Is a church stronger for all its members' differences in the process of community building?

Your thoughts and commments on the above or on Sunday's sermon?

No photo this week. My scanner is out of service and I'm blogging ffrom the Fargo airport where my flight to Chicago is delayed by the heavy rains that moved through our area yesterday. Would be nice to get to my hotel by 11 PM. We shall see.

If I did use a picture, it would be one of me practicing a 4H demonstration back in the 1970s. 4H is a club for kids age 9-18 and every summer I would develop a 15-20 minute presentation to give at the county fair. As a teenager, the topic was electricity and my demonstrations were good enough to earn an opportunity to give them at the Minnesota State Fair. Eventually I ended up as an electrical engineering professor at NDSU, still giving demonstrations.

Pastor George used the extension agent example of a "demonstrator" in today's sermon. 4H is part of the extension service and was overseen by extension agents.  Besides test plots with adults, they worked with adults who worked who helped kids with "test plots" in a variety of subjects.

Some food for thought, to start this weeks discussion, from my 4H demonstration days:

* A key to the content of my demonstrations was a junior project leader, a friend and fellow 4Her three years old than me, who mentored me in electronics and software. He had a major role in my career selection.

* The content was based on truth.

* The demonstrations were planned and intentional.

* The demonstrations were to share a learned truth with others.

What analogs and differences do you see between the 4H demonstrator and the Christian demonstrator?