Experience and Expertise

My husband and I are having the most interesting conversations of late, which I really enjoy.

So Sunday, at church the pastor made a comment that when a young man is courting a woman he should also court her mother.  He then said, "I'm no expert but I have experience."

This led to a number of back and forth questions (in church).

Eventually after church, I asked, "Can you have expertise without experience?"

Before I tell you my final conclusions, I'd love to hear what you think.

Can you have expertise without experience? If yes, how? Isn't that just knowledge if there's no experience? Is one better than the other? Is this true for certain areas and not others? Do you think this relates to your Christian walk? Can you be an expert at being a Christian? Or can you be an experienced Christian? Or can you be both?

Wimpy Christian

Recently, I had a breast cancer scare. To make a long story short – I found a lump in my breast and went to my doctor; she recommended a mammogram and an ultrasound. After the ultrasound procedure they recommended that the lump be aspirated and if necessary a biopsy would be done.

The day I went in for the aspiration, I was nervous yet peaceful. I was not worried about the outcome. While in the waiting room there were other ladies – all of us sitting around in these ill-fitting gowns trying not to think the worst and hoping for the best. There was one particular lady who struck up a conversation with me. She was very worried. I told her, not to worry; I would pray for her. She said "Thank you." I really wanted to ask her if she was a Christian, but I talked myself right out of it.

During the aspiration, the doctor and the ultrasound technician were surprised that the lump disappeared as soon as the fluid was drained from it. Listening to them, it seemed as if this was not the normal course of events. I thanked God and sent up another prayer for my nervous lady friend.

I hope she has a positive outcome.

I hope she’s a believer.

I really wished I’d said more to her. I told myself, “It’s not the right time; she’ll think I’m crazy!”

I have something good to share – something that keeps me calm in trying circumstances. Now that I look back, I think most people want that.

Someone close to me said, “Wimpy and Christian don’t belong in the same sentence. While I know this to be true, I know, for me, many times I wimp out on the opportunity to verbally share. I’m glad that my life is different in a way that makes people curious, but out right sharing sometimes seems uncomfortable.

There, I’ve said it!

Going forward, I want to be bold yet wise as I speak about the Difference in my life. It doesn’t hurt to share the good news and we never know how God will work in a person’s life. Let's each of us do our part in telling others the Good News.

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I (Paul) have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 1 Corinthians 3:5,6

Do you have a hard time verbally sharing your faith? For those of you that are good at this, how did you overcome your fear?

A Chapter A Day - Proverbs 1

Proverbs 1 introduces the book of Proverbs. This first chapters lays out the purpose of Proverbs, states wisdom's foundation, and provides a warning if one does not receive wisdom.

Observations and Highlights
Written primarily by Solomon - considered one of the wisest men.
A wise man will hear and increase learning - we must be willing to seek and accept Godly counsel, even if it's not what we want to hear

The foundation of wisdom is the fear of the Lord (v7).

A fool is not one who is mentally deficient, but one who is arrogant and self sufficient and orders his life as if there was no God.

This first chapter is a bit hard to decipher and capture in an easy to read format. But stick with me, it will become easier as we do this.
What sticks out for you from Chapter 1?