For starters, I've been reading Jen Hatmaker, Shane Claiborne, and the Bible. I highly recommend all of them (especially the last one!!). If you don't want to expose your thought process to change--don't read them (but really, do read them--because change is good!).
My life is full of distractions--this is nothing new. This is also not good for this ADD guy! Getting the job completed has never been an issue for me, but staying the course has. I often get sidetracked, and then realize that I'm off task. Distractions. They get me every time (as I'm writing this, I've answered two phone calls and responded to someone at the door).
As I've read the above books, I've come to the conclusion that we, the Church (especially in the U.S.A.), easily get distracted. We tend to get WAAAAAY off course--a lot! We put our focus on building projects, stewardship campaigns, membership numbers, curriculum selection, bad preachers (like the one's that talk prosperity or universalism all the day long), programs, defending our faith against homosexuality or defending it for certain businesses (like that all chicken restaurant, or that craft store), and distraction after distraction after distraction...
Not that some of the above aren't necessary, but none of them is the task. They are all distractions that keep us from the task (this is why I say the devil has an easy job in America--we get distracted too easily).
The task: Jesus says, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." He also says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations."
"Love" and "Go." That's the task. So simple, so pure. Yet, we would rather fill our lives with so many distractions that we don't have time to build loving relationships that could possibly produce salvation-like fruit, and we definitely don't have time to "go" anywhere other than where our overloaded schedule says.
I'm all for slowing down, for unplugging, and all that--but that's not the world we live in. My challenge to you is to simply stay on task, Church. Among the busyness--1) love God and love others (BTW: "others" includes everyone. This does not mean you condone all behavior. It does mean that you love--all people). 2) Be willing to "go" in a different direction if God directs you. This also requires that we listen to HIM.
So, Church (believers, Christians, Christ-followers, whatever we call ourselves now), do that!
Go love, before you get distracted.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Friday, October 31, 2014
The Power Of A Story
My mornings usually (meaning...sometimes they don't) involve reading. My mind is fresh, or freshly jump started with several cups of coffee. Lately, I've been getting a good hour of reading in before the inevitable occurs...."DADDY"!!!???!!! penetrates the solitude of my environment, and reading is over.
Today, I sprinted upstairs to the side of my sweet three year old daughter's bed to assist in the "getting up" process. She typically wants to get right up, and have me carry her downstairs. Today was a bit different. She invited me in for a cuddle (I must take advantage of these offers, as they will disappear over time). Our dialogue:
Are you cold? I ask.
No, I'm scared. She replies.
Scared of what? I ask.
Scared of the dark. She answers.
I understand, sweetheart. There was a time when I was scared of the dark too, but you're ok. I assured her.
Daddy, tell me a story of when you were scared of the dark. She says.
I proceeded to share some stories of my childhood--times when the dark was scary, and how I was afraid that "things" would get me. I assured her that nothing ever "got me," and that the dark ended up not being as scary as I once had thought.
I find it interesting that my assurance that everything was okay was not enough. It was the story that comforted her. It was me being authentic and vulnerable. She didn't want my opinion on the dark. She wanted to know my experience with it. It was a sweet moment! It was real relationship.
We live in an over opinionated culture, one with very little depth and few stories (even though we all have one). When is the last time you shared your story? When is the last time you left your opinion on the shelf, and were vulnerable with your story? Who in your life is "afraid of the dark," and simply needs your story to be comforted? What doors could you open be telling your story?
Telling your story, being vulnerable and authentic, builds trust. Trust is what I want my daughter to have in me--because there are other parts of my story that I pray she will want to hear too.
"My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long--though I know not how to relate them all. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come" Psalm 71:15-18
Today, I sprinted upstairs to the side of my sweet three year old daughter's bed to assist in the "getting up" process. She typically wants to get right up, and have me carry her downstairs. Today was a bit different. She invited me in for a cuddle (I must take advantage of these offers, as they will disappear over time). Our dialogue:
Are you cold? I ask.
No, I'm scared. She replies.
Scared of what? I ask.
Scared of the dark. She answers.
I understand, sweetheart. There was a time when I was scared of the dark too, but you're ok. I assured her.
Daddy, tell me a story of when you were scared of the dark. She says.
I proceeded to share some stories of my childhood--times when the dark was scary, and how I was afraid that "things" would get me. I assured her that nothing ever "got me," and that the dark ended up not being as scary as I once had thought.
I find it interesting that my assurance that everything was okay was not enough. It was the story that comforted her. It was me being authentic and vulnerable. She didn't want my opinion on the dark. She wanted to know my experience with it. It was a sweet moment! It was real relationship.
We live in an over opinionated culture, one with very little depth and few stories (even though we all have one). When is the last time you shared your story? When is the last time you left your opinion on the shelf, and were vulnerable with your story? Who in your life is "afraid of the dark," and simply needs your story to be comforted? What doors could you open be telling your story?
Telling your story, being vulnerable and authentic, builds trust. Trust is what I want my daughter to have in me--because there are other parts of my story that I pray she will want to hear too.
"My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long--though I know not how to relate them all. I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone. Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come" Psalm 71:15-18
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