Just came back from MTS Challenge Conference (formerly known as Club 5). It's a conference that challenges people to think about doing full-time paid ministry. It's been an awesome weekend catching up with old friends, making new friends, thinking about ministry, and being challenged by God's Word.

Some things I was challenged about/reminded of:

• We are the Elect Exiles - chosen by God, but currently away from my home in heaven.
  
• The path to glory is suffering. Jesus models this for us as he suffers on the cross on the way to glory with the Father. We need to have the same attitude.
  
• It is better to choose to do good, and suffer for it, than to do wrong. We often choose to sin in order to avoid suffering.
  
• We can only live differenly if we see things differently - if we see that suffering is the way to glory.
  
• Christian service is about accompaniment, not performance.
  
• Timing is important. Need to understand the time that we live in - it's time for God's judgement of the world, beginning with his people.
  
• A good leader leads people where they don't want to go. That takes courage. And it's a shame when the women lead in place of the men, because it says that the men are gutless.
  
• Count the cost of following Jesus, but don't worry about it. The cost will be nothing compared to the unfading crown of glory.

It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. ~ 1Peter 3:17 ~ A number of my friends will be doing MTS next year (a 2 year minitry training apprenticeship) or going into Bible college. Very exciting to see the next generation of gospel workers being raised up.

Give thanks for the time to talk to people about ministry and learning from the Bible. Pray for those who will be in training next year, that they can be growing in knowledge, skill, and most of all, in godliness.