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I Didn't Need To Know What Was Going On

 Sleepovers were great as a child.

We would stay up late, tell jokes, eat delicious snacks, and have a great time.

One of my good friends, Dale, would have me over from time to time.  But the part I wasn't anticipating was how active his family was at Church.

Whenever I spent the night on a Saturday we'd pile in the car the next day and I saw things I had never seen before.

The first thing was Dale putting a quarter in a little offering envelope.  I was shocked that he was giving away his money.

Then we'd be at Church and I saw boys around my age wearing colorful robes and carrying candles.  I was sure they were doing something really important.

When I visited in December, Dale showed me his Advent Calendar.  Those chocolates looked delicious but he told me there was only one per day.

I share this today because these little moments shaped my faith - even though I had no clue what any of them meant.  If Theology is Faith Seeking Understand, faith comes first.  

Faith is ignited through experiences - and experiences are transmitted through stories.

I went through so many years when I thought I had to get my message just right before I shared anything with anybody.  But as I write down my own stories, I realize how important those moments were before I had any understanding.

More often than not, a person is not ready for deep theology, but your stories are always helpful because they connect with the other person give them a part of what was meaningful to you.  By telling stories, you're literally adding value to their life.

If you haven't already, be sure to like and follow my Facebook Page to keep up with the latest tips and tricks.  But most importantly, tell your stories.

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