​GOD’S WILL AND MY DREAMS - DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
 
Talk about one or more of the following with a friend or family member.
 
- Tell a funny story about a time when things didn’t work out the way you thought they were going to. What were you expecting to happen? What happened instead? Why was that funny?
 
- Who is the best planner you know? What makes them good at getting things done?
 
- Would you rather be in charge of building a house, planning an international trip, or directing a play? Why did you choose the answer you did?
 
Discuss with someone who can point you back to Jesus and His love for you.
 
- Do you tend to be more open-handed or close-fisted? Does your answer change depending on the setting or topic (at home, at work, with your time, with your money, etc.)? Talk about why that is.
 
- Sometimes we have to let go of our expectations in order to receive what God wants to give us.  Share a time when that was true for you in the past, or an area of your life where that might be true now.
 
- Is there anything in your thinking, acting, feeling, or planning for the future that Jesus is asking you to set down? If Jesus is asking you to set that down, what promise does He want to give you
in its place?

Would you rather get 2 teeth pulled or speak in front of 2,000 people?
 
Would you rather join your favorite singer on stage for a song, or spend an hour with your favorite author in private conversation?
 
What do these preferences say about your personality or history?
 
Talk about a time when you felt really inadequate. What was the situation? How did you deal with it? How did it turn out?
 
Talk about the following with someone who can point you back to Jesus and his love for you.
 
-If you had a clear invitation to join Jesus in his kingdom work, would you more likely avoid the situation or try to take charge of the situation? Do you have a story from the last week that fits?
 
-What does dependence on Jesus look like in your daily life? What do you want it to look like?  What kind of support would you need to bridge that gap?
 
-The bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness is one image for the forgiveness we receive because of the cross of Jesus. What images of forgiveness are most powerful for you?

This is the first video in our series of videos for our Lenten series "Thy Will Be Done"

​STORY from “LEAP” . . . February, 2018 . . . 
. . . PASTORS AND SCHOOL PRINCIPALS MEET TOGETHER REGULARLY
 
In 2011, representatives of our area Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod churches and schools began to engage in
strategic planning for what would eventually become the “Lutheran Education Advancement Plan – LEAP Alliance.”
Already in those days, one of many objectives for building an alliance was to bring pastors and school principals
together on a regular basis to collaborate on matters of shared ministry.  Late in 2013, the first such “P2 Pastors and
Principals Meeting” occurred.  Such “LEAP P2 Meetings” are still occurring, three times each year.
 
Mrs. Jennifer Enge, Principal of St. John (Amelith) Lutheran School in Bay City, has been, and continues to be the
Coordinator for the “LEAP P2 meetings” which are held at our various LEAP church/school sites, including churches
that do not presently operate parish schools.  The meetings often provide opportunities for touring the church and school sites and hearing the stories of ministry actions that occur there.  At the “P2 Meetings,” primary meeting attention is given to hearing and discussing interesting and timeless meeting topics.  Examples have been “Children’s Church,” “TEAM Ministry,” “Being Lutheran in a Post Church Culture,” “Funding Options,” and many more.
 
While pastors have conferenced together often for many years, and school principals have done the same, the “LEAP P2” pastor-principal meetings have proven to be beneficial and appreciated.  Pastors and principals have shared resources and ideas as a result of the “P2 meetings.”  There have been best practice question-and-answer-conversations leading to learning what various congregations and schools are doing to meet needs and to respond to challenges.  It has even been beneficial for our church/school leaders to learn once again that many of the challenges they face are rather universal.  We pray God’s continued blessing upon the “LEAP P2 Meetings”!
 
     /// LEAP - on the web at LEAP-alliance.com and on Facebook at LEAP-Lutheran Education Advancement Plan ///