Engaging Culture

What does it mean to engage culture? How are we to live life within the context of our everyday existence? I am asking myself, "Am I helping shape the culture that I live in?" How is our community different because of my presence? How are you are making a contribution to the world we live in? Is our community a better place because you live here? Are people glad that our church is a part of this community? I read the other day that certain words come to mind when a person thinks of or hears of any organization. What do others think of when they hear your name, my name, our church's name, etc. My prayer is that we can live for Christ and make a positive contribution to the world we live in as we engage the world around us rather than remaining sheltered huddled in our little "holy mass".
"Christianity begins to shift its sheltered reputation when Christ followers are engaged, informed, and on the leading edge, offering a sophisticated response to the issues people face." UnChristian - David Kinnaman

What's Going On Here?

So I read a quote just today by Oswald Chambers that made me really stop and think. Here is what is says, "Do not harken back to who you once were, when God wants you to be somtehing you have never been before." Where is God leading me/you? What is God shaping my life into? I love the mystery of it all. I pray that I never get satisfied with mediocre life that I would form. The Scriptures tell us that we are like clay pots, very common every day elements, so that the Lord gets the glory. May our lives be clay in His hands... to make of our lives what He desires.

Obedience

I read a quote the other day by C.S. Lewis, "Obedience is the road to freedom..." Often we think of walking in obedience as something that is actually keeping us from the freedom that we long for and were actually made to experience.
In Psalm 119 we actually find that the Psalmist says in verse 32 that to follow the commands of the Lord sets us free.

"I run in the path of your commands,

for you have set my heart free."

Psalm 119:32

To walk in the truth is to find the freedom that we so desperately desire. God longs to lead us to freedom. He does not want us to be held back but set free to be all that He created us to be.

I know that often I rebel against the Lord. In action or thought or even in speech. I need to be aware of how the Lord is leading me daily into the life that He longs for me to have. Each of us must realize that each day the Lord's desire is to lead us in a way that is most fulfilling. I don't want to miss out... Do you?

Current Reading

Typically I write out my thoughts about a book only after I finish the work. But I am reading three books right now that are excellent, so I thought I would provide commentary as I make progress.

Christ Plays In Ten Thousand Places, by Eugene Peterson

Early in the book, Peterson mentions that God is at work around us. God is always at work. In fact the miraculous happens all the time in our daily lives. "The miraculousness of the miracle is obscured by the familiarity of the setting, the ordinariness of the people involved." Lord give me an awareness of your work around me. Peterson says that it is not by fireworks or special effects that God displays his great work, but by His subtle movements around us.

Hidden In Plain Sight, by Mark Buchanan

"Faith has fruit to bear. Faith alone can get us to heaven, but its purpose between now and then is to birth something in us that makes a difference on earth." What am i doing that makes a difference daily on earth? I want to give myself those things that touch eternity. Life is too short to be caught up in those items that don't really matter.

"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty." Zechariah 4:6 Of the the person guided by the Spirit Buchanan says, "He pays attention to the Spirit's quiet movements like some men do to the stock market fluctuations and others to sports scores.

Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference, by Philip Yancey

This has been a great read on prayer. Yancey will challenge and inspire. He has given me an opportunity to think deeper about my prayer life.
"In three years of active ministry, Jesus changed the moral landscape of the planet. For nearly two thousand years since, he has been using another tactic: prayer." There is more to our prayers than meet the eye. We live in world that puts so much emphasis on the flash and dance, but Jesus taught us that the quiet, personal, and private moments with God are more desirable.

Temptation

What are you most tempted by? We all deal with temptation. Daily we have choices to make. Temptation takes us all to places that we don't want to go, but lures us with the thought of what might be.
I have been preaching a sermon series over the past few weeks that speaks to this. This series has been challenging me to consider my own temptations and how I process them in my own life. How do I as a "mouthpiece" for God, deal with the struggles in my life with all that I have going on. I struggle just like any man. I must take the varnish off and see that yes I too am fractured in side.
I like the fact the Scriptures tell us that since Jesus suffered when he was tempted that He is able to help us in our time of temptation. Man, do I need it.

The Gospel According to Starbucks

I just finished reading a Leonard Sweet book. I feel as though it could have been said with half of the words, but still a pretty fair read. He frames the book around the philosophy that Starbucks uses in their stores... He says that Starbucks stores are EPIC in nature.

"Live Life On an EPIC Scale"

E - Experiential

P - Participatory

I - Image-Rich

C - Connective

Sweet says that Starbucks knows what it takes to sell a good cup of coffee. They are not just selling coffee they are providing an experience. An experience that the customer can participate in. An experience that is visually stimulating that invites people to connect with others. The experience is not in a Starbucks' store per say, they are in a Starbucks' "living room".

As Sweet goes on, he says that the evangelical community should follow the same pattern. He says that life with God, is "the best part of waking up." Sweet says this is what walking with Jesus is all about... EPIC Lifestyle

Experience - A Christ follower experiences life with Christ.

Participatory - A Christ follower participates with the work of God.

Image-Rich - A Christ follower values the rich images of the Cross.

Connective - A Christ follower connects both with God and others.

Certainly we can gain wisdom and insight from these assertions. This has allowed me to see life through this lens... Ponder these concepts as you go through your day... See just how EPIC your life really is.

good days...

it has been a great day... drive conference has been good, i am very thankful to be here... we had a painter lead worship tonight... it was amazing...
i love to see how God uses different mediums to communicate His love and grace...

check it out... http://www.jesuspainter.com/

i think you'll like it...