“…The seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” – Jesus: Matthew 13:23

For me, Tuesdays always start out beautifully because our congregation offers the Men’s Bible Study at 7:30. So I get up early, put some coffee on, walk Max and then saunter over to the church in time for the gathering.

It is always a powerful thing to just sit at the end of the table and listen to the chatter and the laughter, to see the handshakes and the hugs, the hands resting on another’s shoulder as concerns and joys and prayers are shared, the spirit of love and respect, the very real light that animates the room.

There is an energy in the place that speaks of the Spirit of God; there is love; there is encouragement; there is tangible belief; there is depth.

The depth part is palpable. This morning we read the Matthew 13 passage where Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower, talks about people who have eyes and ears but yet remain unwilling to listen or perceive, then explains the meaning.

Jesus talks about seed that springs up quickly but then dies because the soil is shallow. If there is one thing about this group of men I can point to it’s that they are anything but shallow. There is a passion here for substance and meaning that inspires and encourages me every time I hang out with the group.

Sure, we all have much to learn and the challenge is not just to be good soil but also to grow: this place, this conference room where we have to squeeze around the table then line chairs up along every inch of wall space, this is Holy Ground.

Holy Ground. And I do not say this lightly – DEREK