Bruce Henderson: Never stop learning

Several years ago a few of us were working on our church building. I don’t remember all the details, but I was talking about something when one of my co-workers just began chewing me out over what I was saying. Evidently, months of frustration had been building up inside him over things I had said and done. He was angry and he was loud! I was overwhelmed.That night I pondered over what had happened. I wondered what in the world was wrong with that guy and prayed that God would help him to get better.The next morning I began my daily Bible reading with the assigned devotional reading and four chapters in the Bible. In part, the devotional by Dean Sherman read:We are sadly mistaken if we believe that all of our bad attitudes disappeared when we were saved. The Bible is clear about our daily responsibility over our heart’s condition, an opportunity is made available for pride, unbelief and fear to take root.Hmmm, “bad attitudes, pride, unbelief, and fear” taking root? Then I read God’s Word across the page. Here are some of the verses in Proverbs chapters 12-15:“Any who love knowledge want to be told when they are wrong. It is stupid to hate being corrected ... Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice ... arrogant people never admit they are wrong ... If you refuse good advice, you are asking for trouble; follow it and you are safe ... Conceited people do not like to be corrected; they never ask for advice from those who are wiser ... If you pay attention when you are corrected, you are wise ... If you refuse to learn, you are hurting yourself. If you accept correction, you will become wiser.”Wow, God seemed to be telling me that I was the one with the problem, and I needed to learn from the experience! In the years following, similar situations have revealed to me that I can be controlling, arrogant, huffy and judgmental. But, fortunately, God keeps teaching me, and I keep learning — slowly and painfully.The churches of Carson City are made up of lots of us that God is teaching and changing. Our doors are always open for fellow learners.• Bruce Henderson is the pastor of Airport Road, Church of Christ, Carson City.