Just Thinking Again?

Years ago, when blogging was new and cool, I started writing and people came together in a place to dream about what could be. And ended up hurting one another. And demonstrating in practice that it's much easier to think than it is to act.

And now, over a year since my last post, I'm thinking again.

I'm thinking about what it means to be a christian in a post-christian world.

I'm thinking about how the incarnate Son of God would react if He was placed by Father in the middle of this corporate driven model of an organization we call the church.

Bigger is not better.

The organization is not more important than the individual.

Church growth is not more important than discipleship.

Gifting is not more important than character.

Talk is cheap.

I'm going to find a way to live what I believe. It's no longer safe to dream about making a difference in France, if I can't make a difference in someone's life from my little apartment in Knightstown.

It's time. That's all I'm saying. It's time.

If no one else sees it, that's fine. I've lived alone in my head for a long, long time.

But it's no longer acceptable to find solace in dreams and thoughts. It's time to live.

That's what I think. How about you?

Character=Either/Or; Both/And

A couple of posts ago, I wrote about the need for character to catch up with our gifts and callings. It is truly necessary for us as individuals to live in obedience to everything that the Lord has taught us. This should definitely include personal holiness.

But in my reading, I have been challenged to think about this subject from another viewpoint. We have to introduce the Kingdom through signs and wonders and power, even as we continue to pursue the abiding in the vine that produces lasting fruit.

Bill Johnson, in When Heaven Invades Earth, writes "Is it possible the reason there are so few miracles in North America is because too many before us thought they had to become better Christians before God could use them? That single lie has kept us in perpetual immaturity because it protects us from the power-encounter that transforms us. The result is we have converts trained and over trained until they have no life, vision, or ingenuity left."

Let's not wait until we are "good enough" to be released with power to introduce the Kingdom into the earth. But let's determine as individuals that we are going to recognize that the old man of sin is dead in us, and we refuse to live a life of sin that reflects poorly on our Savior.

That's what I'm thinking today. What do you think?

The Mystery of the Temple

Every time that the children of Israel would prepare a place for God to dwell in the middle of them, He would always show up at the dedication. His glory would fall and those who thought it was their job to minister to the LORD and to His people would find themselves unable to work. They could only fall down and worship the Beauty of His Holiness.

The mystery of the Temple is this: God has always wanted to be close to us. He has always wanted to be right in the center of what we are doing. He never wanted a tent. He never wanted a temple made of stone and gold. He always wanted a body to live in.

Jesus revealed it when he told the Pharisees to destroy the temple and he would rebuild it in three days. Paul pulled back the veil a little bit wider when he asked us, "Don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit."

Whenever we consecrate ourselves; whenever we dedicate our body to the Lord; whenever we offer our bodies as living sacrifices, He will show up. Everytime. He will consume the sacrifice. He will send fire from on high to purify our hearts. And we will no longer be able to work. We will no longer depend on our own efforts to please Him.

That's what I think. How about you?

Oops!

So much for good intentions.

There is a concept that keeps rattling around in my head. Character must catch up with our gifts and callings. I just can't get away from it.

The Bible teaches that all of us have been given spiritual gifts from God. I believe that having been given the abilities to perform certain tasks, the Lord assigns us to particular situations (places) where we can best serve Him.

But then, we need to live right. Our character must be solid. We must be people of integrity. People who do the right thing when no one is looking. People who obey the Lord and the teachings of Scripture.

I believe that this is why we struggle in our ministries. Strong gifting. Strong calling. Weak character.

What do you think?

What's So Great About Television?

For the last ten days, I have made a conscious effort to avoid television. Now, for the sake of full disclosure, it does help that my Colts were unceremoniously dumped from the playoffs.

But, in those ten days, I have been able to read 3 books and I'm nearly done with another one. I've been able to start several projects that I've been thinking about doing.

What I've found is that I've been wasting a lot of time staring at my beautiful Sony Bravia television instead of doing things for the Kingdom. We wonder why we're so ineffective and we don't see the things we dream about. One of the reasons is that we spend so much time wasting time on things that don't matter at all. In the end, Rock Band, Sportscenter, and Netflix will have all passed away and only the Kingdom of God will remain.

At least, that's what I think.

What do you think?

Are You A Fan?

Karla and I are reading a book entitled "Tribes" by Seth Godin. It's a very interesting book and I'm really enjoying it. Basically, the book is about the need for leadership in a world that has dramatically changed through media and technology.

In one section of the book, the author writes, "In an article posted on his Technium Web site, Kevin Kelley brilliantly described the world of '1,000 True Fans.' A true fan, he argues, is a member of the tribe who cares deeply about you and your work. That person will cross the street to buy from you or bring a friend to hear you or invest a little extra to support you."

I'm a fan of many things: the Chicago Cubs, the Indianapolis Colts, the Indiana Hoosiers, Bruce Hornsby, Heroes, the Matrix Trilogy, and Blu-ray movies. I am really, really interested in all of these things.

But there is something in me that makes me hesitate in becoming a fan of things that really matter. Why does it feel funny to be a fan of Christ Fellowship Church? Why does it seem weird to be a fan of my wife and children? Why does it seem strange to be a fan of another human being that I count as a friend and comrade in the faith?

I know that we should worship God and Him alone. I get that. Not a problem. But I'm not talking about worshipping another person. I'm talking about being a fan. I'm talking about crossing the street to see you, or changing my schedule to listen to you, or giving a little more to support you. By those definitions, it sounds like the church of the first few chapters of the book of Acts were fans...of one another.

What do you think?

Radical Or Just Tired?

We had a wonderful time at church last night. Instead of having 50 people spread out through a sanctuary that can seat 225, we packed the same 50 people in a cafe that can comfortably seat 20. What a different feel!

The soul of Christ Fellowship Church is much more at home in the radical air of secret home meetings than in the comfort of a modern church building with steeples and paved parking lots.

We started in the atmosphere of people who had been thrown out of comfortable denominational settings because of our love for God and the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. We met outdoors, in homes, in abandoned buildings deep in the countryside. We were radicals. We were in love with God. We were comrades in the fight for a Christianity that truly meant something.

Last night reminded me of who I am at my best.

A radical.

Where has that guy been? Am I who I think I am, or am I just tired? Who are you?

Tell me, what do you think?