Choices

Of recent times I have commenced reading another book (surprise, surprise), Simple Life - (Time, Relationships, Money, God) by Thom S, Rainer & Art Rainer. I sought out this book after reading Simple Church which had a profound impact on me. Some reading this Blog may recall earlier contributions referring back to this, the content was profound, though nothing new, and as the title suggested, it was getting back to being 'Simple' (focused, intentional, minimalistic in the approach).

I have been thinking over the past couple of days of something stated within this new  book, again, nothing I haven't heard before, but it is hitting me between the eyes. It starts with my understanding of what I want most from my life? What might I desire to accomplish? What do I count to be most important? What might my mission (life) statement include? And how important is this to me? What am I willing to do to see this through?

The co-writers highlight the struggles and excuses that go with attempting to accomplish what we might really want. You may identify with some of these, 'I am just too busy. We really need the additional income. Maybe sometime later when we have established ourselves.' And the excuses go on. However, if we really examine it honestly, we will find we will always be busy, we will seldom have the financial security we want, and later may be too late and the opportunity lost forever.

Here was the crux of it - I have a choice. I can lean toward any of the excuses and hardly anyone will challenge them (where maybe we ought to be holding one another more accountable - but that is for another blog) or I can exercise my choice to go for what is most important to me. 

I am challenged to make some decisions and exercise some choices about what is really important to me in my life, to bring some discipline to my living and daily practices, to let go of excuses and to be more intentional. Maybe you are stirred to do the same.

Lord, I believe you desire purpose, fulfillment and accomplishment for my life, help me to be faithful in living this life the way you intend for me to live it, in all it's fulness.

Connecting...

Well this is a theme I have been convinced about for a long time now. Despite what mission imperatives we might have, such as we do here at Geelong - "changing lives, strengthening families & impacting society", I believe these must have a 'connection' base.

CONNECTING with God
CONNECTING with each other
CONNECTING with our community

Fundamentally, the first is what we were created for, relationship with God. However, it extends to being in a place whereby we follow the plan He has for us, at the same time tapping into a source of strength and power to accomplish what He sets us to do. It is the source of our BEing.

The second is a reminder of the importance and ultimately the need of doing this together, we are to be the 'body' of Christ. We are not a dislocated conglomerate of body parts, we were purposed to be joined together, complimenting each other, working together effectively for the Creator.

Finally, we are to have an external focus (our community) - to be looking and working outside the church - 'others'. Recall the command, 'GO' and make disciples...

The image and analogy that best works for me is the Lego block. None of the above will just happen, like a Lego block with multiple connectors, they have to be pressed together to form a connection. There is something intentional about the act of connecting. We need to be purposeful in our acts. Think about it a moment - the Lego blocks are not dissimilar to us in that they come in all sorts of colours, shapes and sizes, yet the purpose is for them to connect with another part. We too are made for this purpose, so lets ensure we are doing all in our power to ensure this happens with the strongest effect possible.

More on this is to come ...

 

The purpose ...

When we begin to examine more closely, we begin to see that everyone has a purpose about their existence. Many may not realise this, because it is not necessarily intentional, determined with some thinking or planned on their behalf. However, if you were to look closer you will see they have made some decision to go a particular direction, they have chosen one way over another. They have chosen their course. Some of these purposes are beneficial to the person concerned, some more so to others who will receive from them. Some are such that they may disturb or even concern us.

Jesus reveals to us His purpose:

John 10:10 (New Living Translation)
¹⁰ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.
My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

John 10:10 (The Message)
¹⁰ A thief is only there to steal and kill and destroy.
I came so they can have real and eternal life,
more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

I am intrigued that the interpretation of those outside the Church (and living contrary to what we believe),  to be far from this claim of Jesus. They would rather explain Jesus as being a party pooper, dull and boring, bogging us down with all the rules and regulations to suck the life out of us, taking away all the possibility of fun. Interestingly, the aspects of life that these people would see Jesus being against are the very elements that we (as Christians) might  find destructive to the fabric of our society, degrading of other human beings and self destructive in nature of the persons concerned. If people were more honest in these arguments it might expose that Jesus for them, reveals a guilt or conviction that what they are doing is less than good, or pure or leading to a holy life.

Jesus revelation again reinforces for us that He desires good for those who will be His followers - actually this is His desire for all persons. Life - in all its richness and satisfaction. 

May we live in accordance with that purpose, accepting the gift of real life in Jesus, and making it our purpose to share this same purpose with others around us.

What favour ...

One part of today's reading is James chapter 2. The latter half of this chapter could easily follow up on what we discovered and discussed yesterday in relation to faith and works. The fact that they should go hand in hand - together. Not one over the other.

The first part of this chapter considers an issue that existed amongst these Jewish believers to whom James wrote this letter, for they were showing preference to the rich and were looking down or neglecting the poor. It could be easy to condem them and point the finger at them, but I wonder, if the spotlight were on us, whether we would be found to be any different than they. I am challenged by this personally, for even this morning I was given an opportunity to walk across the room (or down the isle a few chairs and across the isle), to be inclusive of a person who was sitting by himself (I did by the way, though I recall the fact that it was a conscious call from me to do this, it wasn;t an immediate or natural action). He looked a bit deshevilled, unfortunatly, like he didn't belong (and let me clarify that is not about him as much as what it says about who attends the Corps I belong to). And I am not sure that we even necessarily intentionally neglect the poor or those who seem different. It seems to come from what we are comfortable with, we are concerned too much about ourselves over others.

I encourage you to read the chapter from James and to examine your interactions with others. As I consider theses questions, will you be willing to check them out for yourself too?

• Am I willing to put myself out there, to step out of my comfort zone to ensure others feel a part of the Body of Christ?
• Am I prepared to walk across the room and talk to a stanger (taking the first step, the initiative), regardless of how they are dressed, or how they look?
• Will I be a servant to the lost, the least, and the last?
• Will I trust the Holy Spirit to give me the words to say that I might communicate with others from all walks of life effectively and meaningfully?
• Will I show genuine love and care for the people God places across my path?

Friends, let's make a difference in the communities that we are a part of. Let's be prepared to be indiscriminate in all our interactions.