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The name of this blog has changed since it beginnings. I settled on "Paul, Barnabas, and Timothy."

There is a story behind the latest name. It goes back to a sermon I heard many years ago at Promise Keepers. Dr. Howard Hendricks preached that we need one of each in our lives. He talked about how Paul is the teacher, leader, and spiritual head of the group. Barnabas is the one who needs to be mentored. Timothy is the one who needs to be trained up.

For years, I have thought of myself as Timothy, and only Timothy. There is the rub. I am currently enrolled in divinity school. I have been a children's minister for two years, and a deacon for three. When do I become someone more than Timothy?

As I am taught more and more, I have found that life is more than living the life you have because of your name. In the Bible, Abram became Abraham and Jacob became Israel. Even Peter became Petros.

We no longer are named after our lot in life. I have always thought of myself as a young christian who had a lot in common with the biblical Timothy.

I have a good friend who's name is Stephen Paul. In college, he would sign his name St. Paul. I assumed the role of young Timothy.

What I now take from Dr. Hendricks' sermon is much more than which one of the three are you? It is which one of the three are you working with to become the better christian? Also, which one are you during different periods and different events in your life. To be the best christian, you need to be each type of these men continually, and work with each type of these men. We are to be trained while training, mentored while mentoring, and lead while leading.