[TEAMspinella] It's not what I do...even quietly

If you read many international ministry updates, you may be struck by the pace of the doing reflected in them. In a sense, this is a bit like Christmas letters on steroids--if you think you've been busy, well, get this.... I know, because I've written more than my far share--many of which you can see at http://teamspinella.blogspot.com/ or in the google group. In fact, I write a lot less updates when...well, I really can't compete with the other letters!

Sure, I have filled my time, but I don't have exciting ministry stories to share. (And right now I'm tempted to pull some out, but I'm trying mightily to resist and stay on topic here.) From where I sit, it makes me wonder how much progress I've really made in believing that it's not what I do that makes me worthy. Our local community is reading through an old book in a new format (resources!). As I read through Luke, that story about the seminary grad and the IRS lawyer got me (paraphrasing on the identities a bit here!) Do I actually compare myself to others to figure out if I measure up?! (Shhh--yes, I do, in more ways than I acknowledge.) So, finessing the story a bit, sometimes I might not trumpet my success in these ministry updates or when we get together, but underneath I'm often still keeping score! Speaking of which, the local team did get solidly trounced in the Super Bowl and I watched the whole lopsided game :-). Think of it as an example of a time when keeping score didn't work out very well, and an illustration of how much we are being taught that the score matters! This was, after all, the most watched television ever in the US.

So anyway, Laura's down in College Station, TX, where Sarah just turned 26 and the next day had ACL surgery on her knee. This is where they replace the tendon connecting the thigh to the calf because it is either torn or too loose to keep the knee together. The good thing is that they can do this surgery at all. Apparently Spinellas are hard on the tendons, as Joey had those two achilles tendon surgeries (calf to foot) and now Sarah has had this one. In both cases, it sobers me to think that until recent times or in less prosperous places this might have just meant being crippled, but now it can be fixed.

I've stayed back here in Colorado, where we are journeying with Laura's parents through a knee replacement (for her dad, Bob) that came with some memory complications, most likely due to the anesthesia. The knee is doing well, and we're all learning to be patient with the complications, which have improved some, but we don't know how much improvement will come.

As you can imagine, we're feeling the proverbial "sandwich," and wondering how long this will all last, or what it will yet include. I can tell you that these experiences leave us more aware of our own limitations and weaknesses and less confident that "we can conquer the world." And, you know, that's probably the good part!

Love in him who keeps us, Steve and Laura

Steve and Laura Spinella

street: 1930 Springcrest Rd, CO Springs 80920

mail: 9685 Otero Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80920

Steve cell 719.355.4809, Laura cell 832.755.4261
TEAM, PO Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60187, 800 343-3144
<spinella@alumni.rice.edu> <lauraspinella@alumni.rice.edu>

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