What if we were to follow Jesus like we do Rob Bell? I mean it. No this isn’t a rant against Rob or his book. I don’t know the man and I haven’t read a single page from his latest release.
What I do see though, is a culture that is so keen on following people. We are obsessed with music icons, movie stars and “reality tv” contestants and we just keep getting more information about them from traditional and social media. We can quote lines from our favorite movies and sing lyrics from songs we haven’t heard for 20 years.
What if we followed Jesus with that same passion?
What if, instead of saying “I can’t memorize scripture” we gave it the same attention we do the latest radio hit. Or, if we quoted scripture instead of lines from Dumb and Dumber. How would the world be radically changed if the “stuff” we talked about was not Charlie Sheen’s latest episode, but instead we shared our faith or just listened to the hurts of others.
If we truly love Jesus and desire to follow him then why aren’t we doing these things? Why is Rob Bell (and many others) on the top 100 people in Time Magazine? Shouldn’t Christ be listed instead?
If we, as Christians, were truly living out our faith and our calling, then he would be.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Submit
God is trying to teach me something right now, but I don’t know what it is. How can I be so sure? Well, let me explain my week.
It started with confirmation that a friendship I held in high regard was in fact only one-sided. Next came the excitement of a potential set-up that sounded rather promising. Mid-week included a spotting of an ex-boyfriend followed up by him emailing me and flirting with me. Now, this is the one who just a year ago broke up with me and left me devastated and in confusion for months. Friday brought a sighting of the ex-husband at the vet, which this time included no words since I busied myself with a quick phone call. Topped off by the set-up prospect turning dead in the water.
So, this week has got to mean he was trying to teach me something, right?!? Cause the alternatives are that life is just chance and happenstance, which I don’t agree with. Or, that he takes some type of pleasure in my pain, again not what I believe. The reality is that he has plans for good for me…so what does this all mean?
Oh, did I mention that five years ago today I received a phone call that would change my life as I knew it and tumble me into a whole new world of divorced, suddenly single and alone.
Are these reminders of the awful relationships I’ve had with men? I can’t imagine- I realize they were not good relationships and if any of them were to ask for second chances, I would decline. How about a 'look how far you’ve come' moment…possible, but I’m not sure how focusing on the negative is supposed to make me realize this. In many ways I am happy and content with my life, just a piece that I would like to be there is missing…the level of pain this causes at any given moment fluctuates.
I talked with a counselor friend who seems as baffled as I am…the one thing we can agree on, is that God is doing something here, but what is it. She recommended I pray for guidance and that I’m open to learning what he has for me.
So, I went to Bible study with raw emotions, not wanting to be there, but knowing (for this year) God has called me to lead. After all, we’re talking about submission and husbands and wives, so I can sort of zone out on this one. Right?!? But, not really because we took it deeper.
“The question is never are you submitted. The only question is who and what are you submitted to.” [GULP]. What am I submitted to?!? Is THIS what you want me to get God? That I need to be fully submitted to you? Cause I have turned over the control of the dating thing to you, but fully submitted, now that’s a hard one, one we all need to work on.
“The reason submission is such a powerful principle is because it operates on pure faith. It says, I believe that God sees all. Hears all and knows all and He will intervene on my behalf.”
So, even if the situation seems hopeless and like there is no resuscitation, God will intervene on my behalf- he knows all, sees all and hears all. He knows the desires of my heart. He has plans to bless me.
Maybe I need to submit more of myself to him; my desires, my dating (or lack thereof), my future, my life, everything.
It started with confirmation that a friendship I held in high regard was in fact only one-sided. Next came the excitement of a potential set-up that sounded rather promising. Mid-week included a spotting of an ex-boyfriend followed up by him emailing me and flirting with me. Now, this is the one who just a year ago broke up with me and left me devastated and in confusion for months. Friday brought a sighting of the ex-husband at the vet, which this time included no words since I busied myself with a quick phone call. Topped off by the set-up prospect turning dead in the water.
So, this week has got to mean he was trying to teach me something, right?!? Cause the alternatives are that life is just chance and happenstance, which I don’t agree with. Or, that he takes some type of pleasure in my pain, again not what I believe. The reality is that he has plans for good for me…so what does this all mean?
Oh, did I mention that five years ago today I received a phone call that would change my life as I knew it and tumble me into a whole new world of divorced, suddenly single and alone.
Are these reminders of the awful relationships I’ve had with men? I can’t imagine- I realize they were not good relationships and if any of them were to ask for second chances, I would decline. How about a 'look how far you’ve come' moment…possible, but I’m not sure how focusing on the negative is supposed to make me realize this. In many ways I am happy and content with my life, just a piece that I would like to be there is missing…the level of pain this causes at any given moment fluctuates.
I talked with a counselor friend who seems as baffled as I am…the one thing we can agree on, is that God is doing something here, but what is it. She recommended I pray for guidance and that I’m open to learning what he has for me.
So, I went to Bible study with raw emotions, not wanting to be there, but knowing (for this year) God has called me to lead. After all, we’re talking about submission and husbands and wives, so I can sort of zone out on this one. Right?!? But, not really because we took it deeper.
“The question is never are you submitted. The only question is who and what are you submitted to.” [GULP]. What am I submitted to?!? Is THIS what you want me to get God? That I need to be fully submitted to you? Cause I have turned over the control of the dating thing to you, but fully submitted, now that’s a hard one, one we all need to work on.
“The reason submission is such a powerful principle is because it operates on pure faith. It says, I believe that God sees all. Hears all and knows all and He will intervene on my behalf.”
So, even if the situation seems hopeless and like there is no resuscitation, God will intervene on my behalf- he knows all, sees all and hears all. He knows the desires of my heart. He has plans to bless me.
Maybe I need to submit more of myself to him; my desires, my dating (or lack thereof), my future, my life, everything.
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Forgiveness or Doormat?
What is it about the female sex that feels the need to take the hungry ,poor and huddle masses and give them a free pass. I’m not talking about legitimate people in need. No, I’m referring the propensity to practically have the word “Welcome” stamped across our foreheads as we let another boyfriend/lover/friend/ex/’whatever his title’ man walk all over us.
It’s not as if we all lay awake as little girls dreaming of the day someone we care about will show that they have us as an option while we place them as a priority. I didn’t wander into the friendship expecting that it would be one-sided. My heart didn’t purposefully fall for someone who months later would talk about the missing “spark.” But somehow it all has transpired.
I don’t harbor ill-ill towards any of them, so I wouldn’t balk at the idea of returning emails ten months after a break-up. But truly isn’t that more of the doormat mentality than a heart of forgiveness.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean I let you back in my life to hurt me. It means that I have given up my need (or right) to be mad at someone. I can forgive the affair, but it doesn’t mean the relationship is continued.
So, am I forgiving or getting walked on?
I consider myself a strong confident person in many respects. I’ve gone through many fires with my Savior and have come out the other end refined in some ways, but still with rough edges. I have my faults and my flaws. I wouldn’t say I let people walk over me, but I do have my kryptonite.
I don’t know why I give more leeway to the opposite sex. If my girlfriends pulled some of the stunts we would have words. So, why don’t I hold the other gender to the same standards? Why do I allow for more uncaring acts? Is it because my heart is involved and that makes it sticky; after all, don’t we all want somebody to love? A lack of self-esteem; you may not be perfect, but I’m not either.
Whatever the reason, I’m realizing that I deserve better and I don’t need to put up with it. God has a much richer plan for me that doesn’t involve one-sided connections and constant questioning in any type of relationship; no matter the gender or title.
It’s not as if we all lay awake as little girls dreaming of the day someone we care about will show that they have us as an option while we place them as a priority. I didn’t wander into the friendship expecting that it would be one-sided. My heart didn’t purposefully fall for someone who months later would talk about the missing “spark.” But somehow it all has transpired.
I don’t harbor ill-ill towards any of them, so I wouldn’t balk at the idea of returning emails ten months after a break-up. But truly isn’t that more of the doormat mentality than a heart of forgiveness.
Forgiveness doesn’t mean I let you back in my life to hurt me. It means that I have given up my need (or right) to be mad at someone. I can forgive the affair, but it doesn’t mean the relationship is continued.
So, am I forgiving or getting walked on?
I consider myself a strong confident person in many respects. I’ve gone through many fires with my Savior and have come out the other end refined in some ways, but still with rough edges. I have my faults and my flaws. I wouldn’t say I let people walk over me, but I do have my kryptonite.
I don’t know why I give more leeway to the opposite sex. If my girlfriends pulled some of the stunts we would have words. So, why don’t I hold the other gender to the same standards? Why do I allow for more uncaring acts? Is it because my heart is involved and that makes it sticky; after all, don’t we all want somebody to love? A lack of self-esteem; you may not be perfect, but I’m not either.
Whatever the reason, I’m realizing that I deserve better and I don’t need to put up with it. God has a much richer plan for me that doesn’t involve one-sided connections and constant questioning in any type of relationship; no matter the gender or title.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)