An Ordinary Life...

Everyday, for the past week, I've been logging onto here with thoughts of posting something. The problem is...what. Lately, not alot has really been happening that's worth mentioning. I guess I am just living an average, ordinary life.

At first that realization was kind of depressing. My life is so boring that I can't even think of anything to write. But then it hit me...things could be worse. I use the term "hit me" pretty loosely, because really it was brought on by studying 1 Peter. He spends five chapters basically encouraging people who are suffering for Christ...and as I read it for the millionth time I realized how lucky I am (in some ways) to not be one of them. (I say in some ways, because as Peter points out there are definite pluses to suffering for Christ). Each day I can wake up and openly thank God for another sunrise. Every sunday i can go to church without fear (At least not yet). I can talk to my friends, family and even strangers about Christ without worrying about breaking any laws or being martyred for my faith. So yeah...maybe I do just live an average ordinary life...but I'm so lucky to be so.

Rainman

Thank God life isn't fair

     Grace.  What an incredible word.  So small...so simple...yet so meaningful.  It’s amazing how such a simple word can carry with it a meaning that few can wrap their minds around.  He died for me.  He died for my sins.  I never deserved it.  I never earned it.  I didn’t have to.  It was a free.  That’s the most incredible part of it.
     So often we think about this world and complain that it isn’t fair; but that’s the miracle of it all.  In a fair world, the bad would be punished and the good rewarded.  But if I was really honest with myself, I’d have to admit that I’m probably in the “bad” category a lot more than I am in the “good”.  And yet, He spares me.  Thank God life isn’t fair.

Building a Community for Other

     It has taken me awhile to do, because I’ve been juggling a few books, but I just finished reading Walt Kallestad’s “Turn Your Church Inside Out”.  I’ve never heard of him or his church but I’m glad I read this book.  He really helps put a lot of things into perspective.
     Most churches are inwardly focused.  We’ve become content to meet every week and pat each other on the back, while completely ignoring our communities around us.  On the off chance that someone does wander into our churches from the outside world, we aren’t even prepared to minister to them.  To be honest, I have to wonder if I would even be comfortable in my home church if it wasn’t my HOME church.
     And so Walt suggests that we need to shift our paradigm to become more outwardly focused.  Some people are hesitant when they hear a statement like that because they think that the church must become shallow and less focused on discipleship, but that’s not at all the case.  In fact when you have a mission like this you will need to become MORE focused on deepening relationships with Christ.
     This book is not a step by step guide on how to become a church for others, but it is full of practical ideas that can help kick start the paradigm shift.  One of my favorite parts of this book is that he talks about dreaming for Christ.  When’s the last time we took some time to dream about what the church could be like?  
     Lately I’ve been doing some of that.  Not necessarily a lot, but I’ve found the more I dream the more a passion inside me grows to become reliant on Christ.  I believe, as the Bible says, that He wants to build His church...I guess we just need to hand it over to Him.

Rainman