Where Has All The Carbon Paper Gone?

Last night I had to fill out some forms in duplicate. I figured it would make sense to go to the nearby drugstore and grab some carbon paper. This would save me half the time of filling out these forms. I went to two nearby stores and neither had carbon paper. Where has all the carbon paper gone? Has it gone the way of the rotary phone? The cloth diaper (good riddance)? The bad gum in baseball cards? One on one discipleship?


By far and away, one on one discipleship is the biggest failure of "the church" today! It has been fumbled by us and the enemy has picked it up and ran the other way for what seems to be a sure touchdown.

We will not succeed in "raising them up in the way they should go" (children or disciples), by just having them in Sunday School and listening to a preacher an hour a week (if that often). Those are good things, but are not the totality of "making disciples". That is what He commissioned us to do, make disciples.

I have seen (a few) people who are wonderful at making disciples. They are great "carbon paper". What makes them so successful? Are they smarter than everyone else? Richer? Cooler? More likable or outgoing? Nope. They are willing to give of their time. That's their best trait.

Many of us are willing to give a little of our "spare time" to a project at church. However, we often would much rather give our money than our "not so spare time". But that's what it will ultimately require, total availability to others.

That's the way Jesus showed us to disciple. He lived with those guys (His disciples) for years. He was available to them, teaching and demonstrating the everyday walk of a Godly man. They weren't "carbon copies" of Him, but they were "carbon copies" of His message.

I have dropped the ball in this area before because of my own selfishness with "my time". But it isn't really "my time", is it? So, I'm praying again: "Lord, if you desire it, show me if their is someone willing to have me share what you have shown me. Maybe we could leave a few of YOUR copies here for the next generation.

Drop me a line,

Greg