The Risk of Relevancy

At what lengths are we willing to go to sacrifice the Gospel for the sake of being relevant and "liked" in our culture? How long will we continue to copy the world and attach the word "Christian" to it? I don't remember who said it, maybe Derek Webb, but it goes something like; "The label, Christian, attached to anything but a person is just a marketing term." And I'd have to agree with that. How are we really advancing the Kingdom of God by copying the ways of the world? And who are we really fooling?

I really like what my friend Tim Thornton says:

"It's one thing to have a culturally relevant expression and another to hide the truth that is worth seeking in the name of seekers."

Is it because we don't want to be thought a fool that we water down the gospel? Are we that prideful and arrogant? I can only speak from my own experience, but yes, I have been that prideful and arrogant in my walk before. Then I learned to repent. But If you try to appeal to everyone, you will end up standing for nothing. Not that being a Christian means you completely remove yourself from culture, on the contrary, we should be an even greater impact on our culture. However, it's not anything we do in our strength, only by the grace of God.

So maybe it's not a question of being relevant or not, but are we doing only what we hear the Father saying?

Be Still

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Sometimes, not often enough I feel, I get this stirring in my soul to write. Maybe it's only after I've walked through trials of my own and come out the other side that I only feel I have something smart to say. I don't know. But, what I do know is that in the midst of so much information on the internet today it's easy to give up before you even start. And if the past two years have taught me anything, it's this: life can only be lived one day at a time. So breath in deep the breathe that God has blessed us all with and don't worry about tomorrow, for today has enough troubles of its own. On another note. Today I received an envelope in the mail from my local Postmaster. Enclosed in said envelope was half, okay not even half, of a torn up check from one of my clients that somehow got lost within the great mystery that is the United States Postal Service. The check itself was already two weeks, but that's not the part the baffles me. On the back of this envelope, in a very informal tone, is printed 5 short paragraphs apologizing for the damage to my mail and how they know how important my mail is and blah, blah, blah.

But here's what I really wish to share with you. My gut instinct was to drive straight to the Post Office and give them a very big piece of my mind. I mean, who are THEY to mess with ME? Right? Does this sounds familiar to anyone else? And then it happened, The Lord very softly spoke to the storm upon the horizon of my soul and said, "Be Still." Who am I to judge another human being for something that was out of their control? Who am I to think that I deserve to have my mail delivered on a gold platter? Exactly, I am one that is called to extend forgiveness freely just as I am freely forgiven. I am one that is called to judge not, lest I be judged.

So this holiday season when you feel like you've been dealt an unjust hand, I urge you to step back and ask yourself: Who am I? And I pray that the love of The Father washes over you and speaks to your heart with the same gentle affection, Be Still.

Just enough

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Why do we ask for just enough from the God who desires to give us all of who He is? Didn't Jesus teach us a better way to pray? Read Matthew chapter 6 and you'll see an example of prayer that doesn't ask for just enough, but instead asks for the very will of God to be done. A prayer that invites the Kingdom of God to come, here on earth as it is in Heaven. That doesn't sound like just enough, that sounds like everything we will ever need and more.

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of just enough. I desire all that God has for me.

The Fog

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Have you ever driven through thick fog before? I'm talking the really big fat heavy fog. The kind that makes you worry maybe you're the last person alive. This is where I feel I've been mentally the past few months. Just kind of wandering around without knowing where I am. But it wasn't until today that my eyes were opened to just how beautiful this foggy season of life really is.

Now, take that same big, fat fog and get out of your car. Suddenly you start to realize that everything is almost dreamlike. The ordinary has become beautiful. There is a certain mystery in the air that causes you to feel overwhelmed. It's all so breathtaking. Your heart is excited.

This is a much better place to be in the midst of the unknown. A place of holy expectation and gratitude. Just because we can't see doesn't mean He doesn't know. God does not hide the world in fog to confuse or scare us, but he covers the ground in fog for us to be in awe and be witness to His all-encompassing beauty.

So if you, like me, don't feel like you know what's right in front of you, take heart. There is comfort in knowing that God has not forsaken us, and more than that He is calling us to himself through the thickness of the fog.

The Journey

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If there's anything I've learned it's this; The greatest part of life is found along the journey. The sweat, the blood and the tears are where we find our truest strength. The mountain top experiences are short lived. Yes, reaching the top of the summit is truly rewarding (as it should be) but you can't expect to stay there for long. Soon you will find more mountains to climb, and thus, the journey begins all over again. But you pack up your experiences, and failures, and head out on the next phase of the journey. You grow. You get stronger. You learn to pace yourself. Be careful though to think you must journey alone. Nothing great is ever achieved alone.

Heart Space

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Why does it so often feel that our life in Christ is stumbling over rocks more than walking on water? Have you ever wondered why we still experience doubt as born again believers? And why would God, the great I AM, allow us to suffer through all these emotions? I'm convinced we're a people who live entirely too much out of our head space rather than our heart space. Knowledge isn't a bad thing, but it isn't the only thing worth seeking. Do you think it took all of Peter's gut wrenching courage or book smarts to step out of that boat and walk on the water? Yeah, me too. But trusting your heart isn't any easy task. Especially when we have verses like this thrown at us from the pulpit:

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" Jeremiah 17:9

I don't question this verse, I believe it holds truth in its proper context. But I also believe that after we accept Christ he begins to change our hearts through the power of His Holy Spirit. Not to say that in an instant all our past heartaches and troubles are over. But I can say from my own life experiences I have begun the journey to take back ground in my own heart. From sex to work to love God has moved mountains in my heart. The following verse has been a consistent prayer of mine for many years now:

"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

When it comes to living more from our hearts I don't think there's anything to do but find/create space to be still. Embrace the moments of quiet space you have every day, and work to create some new quiet spaces in your life. Fight through the urge to "do" something when all you need is only to rest and trust. Don't be scared of doubt and fear, as those are totally natural to us humans. Arm yourself with Hope and fill your cup with living water. This, I believe, is how we become more in tune with our hearts. And over time our hearts will learn the drown out the distractions around us and focus solely on the One who created it.