Ouch

I'm currently reading a book for my coach training called "Ministering Cross-Culturally - An Incarnational Model for Personal Relationships" and it is really hitting me hard.  In the book, the author discusses the cultural differences we can easily identify across cultures, but that we can also see within cultures.  For example, do you have more of a time orientation (concern for punctuality and amount of time expended, carefully allocate time, tightly scheduled, goal-directed activities), or do you have an event orientation (concern for details regardless of time required, consider a problem until resolution, "come what may" attitude)?

There are several other categories to consider (status vs. achievement; crisis vs. non-crisis; etc.), but the one that hit me the hardest is the task vs. person orientation.  It's quite revealing to consider how I can have such a strong orientation to the point that I don't consider how someone else is oriented.  I really need to focus more on Philippians 2:3: "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."  Ouch.  God, help me accept and even embrace the differences in others and not always demand my own way.

New Site

Wow, my first post on a new site.  We're switching our website host soon, and the regular one isn't cooperating, so I thought I'd try something new.

I'm enjoying going through 2 Corinthians in my personal quiet times.  There's so much good stuff in it.  Paul was an amazing follower of Christ and a great writer.  Of course, it helps that his work was inspired!  I preached from 2 Cor. 4:7-18 yesterday, and it's a great passage.  I encourage you to read it if you haven't lately.  It's great  being a jar of clay with an amazing treasure inside.  I just need to share the treasure more!  Do any of you struggle with sharing the good news with others?  I don't know if it's because I'm an introvert or because I've been in the Christian bubble for so long, but I have a hard time doing this.  Let me know how you share the gospel in a friendly way.