It's always been easy to recognize the significance of the cup that represents Jesus' blood. The Bible is clear that through the shedding of Jesus' blood we have forgiveness. But I did not understand the importance of the body. Yet, now I do not think we are called to remember His physical body, but the body that is the church. When I eat of the bread I acknowledge my part in the body of Christ and my place in the kingdom of God, just as in taking the cup I acknowledge that Christ has forgiven my sins.

Was Paul able to preach so well in so many various circumstances because of a miraculous power of God or because his faith prepared him for every situation? In some cases, he may have prepared what he was going to say along the way. But in others, such as with the jailer, the words he spoke were not prepared, yet he still spoke the word of the Lord and all were saved.

1 Peter 3:15 says that we should all be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks us to give an account for the hope in us. This means that in any situation we should be prepared to speak on the topic of Christ. The example of worship in 1 Corinthians 14 shows that it was not about having prepared sermons but about speaking as God inspired them. I think often times we are so concerned that we say the right thing that we rely too much on our own ability and not enough on Him.

Last night I dreamed that there was a buffet banquet. I'm guessing at Creation, since Denise, Jenny and Gretchen were there. The cost was $8, and I at first did not want to pay, since there was not much for me to eat. But then they brought out several huge lobsters, so I decided it would be worth it to get that, plus the few other sides I could have. So I went and paid and got a plate. But by the time I did that and put one or two sides on, I discovered all of the lobster was gone. I was disappointed, but I had already started filling my plate so I couldn't change my mind, and had to settle for only the quarter of a plate worth of food.

My interpretation of what I should get out of the dream is that the way others worship may seem enticing, but it is not enough to fill me up. It may look good from afar, but in the end it is incomplete and leaves me still hungering.

My afterthought to this revelation is that anything man presents is incomplete. I can not count on any church organization to have all the answers. This is why we need each other. To show the areas where we're lacking and to help them make those parts of their life full. The food I saw was not fake. It was the real thing, there just wasn't enough. Instead of criticizing those who do not have absolute truth, we should help them gain more truth. True, many may become insulted and turn you away. But as long as what we bring is not junk, then we've done all we can. And by sharing, we may learn something from them as well.