WELL...DUH?

I was walking through the aisles of Meijer this morning and overheard a brief portion of one side of a phone conversation.  This woman was standing in the aisle answering her ringing phone as I walked by.  She was talking rather loudly so it was not hard to hear my material for today's blog.  She said, "Hello."  There was the normal pause you hear when listening to one side of a phone conversation, which was followed with, "I'm at the grocery store."  I obviously couldn't hear the caller but I know what the next question was based on the response.  They asked, "What are you doing there?"  Because the answer was, "Buying groceries."  I chuckled as I walked because of the tone in which she said it.  If she wasn't in her 70s I would have almost expected her to say, "Well...duh?"


What a ridiculous question to ask (at least my assumption of the question).  What else would you be doing at the grocery store?  Of course, you're buying groceries.  Isn't it obvious?  But that got me thinking (not the big one; wait for it) there are many reasons to be at Meijer that have nothing to do with groceries: they have household items, clothing, a pharmacy, etc.  Maybe she wasn't at Meijer for the obvious reason.


And that got me thinking...why do you go to worship on Sunday morning?  Is it for the obvious reason--to worship the Lord?  Most likely.  But for some, maybe not.  For you, it may only be partially the reason.  Some of us go to worship for reasons other than the obvious.  Some go because it's the "right thing to do"; some for the relationships; some to look good; some simply because it's part of their weekly routine and they hate change.


It may seem like I'm being picky about this.  Some may argue with me and say, "at least they are in church."  And yes, that's true.  But for me, there needs to be this desire to worship the Lord.  There needs to be this longing for life-change.  There needs to be a solid reason to gather together in the "Lord's house".


I realize that God can change hearts and do miracles with people.  So even if someone is in church for the "wrong" reasons, God can do something.  I guess this blog is really a call out to make sure that we have our mindsets right.  I want all of you in church and for the right reasons--to worship a Holy God.


Benefits such as fellowship and feeling good and all the others are great advantages, but make sure that the main reason is to worship God for who He is and bring Him glory.  It's not about the music, or the media, or even the pastor.  It's not about your preferences.  In fact, it's not even about you--it's about God.


"My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.  Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!"  -Psalm 34:2-3 (ESV)-

TOPPINGS

I've sold many chicken sandwiches in my time with Chick-fil-A and I've heard many different ways of ordering "the extras".  The Chick-fil-A sandwich comes with two pickles on a buttered bun, but you can add all kinds of "goodies" or "groceries" from lettuce and tomato to bacon and three different cheeses.  People have different preferences of what they like to "top it off" with; different ways to "throw clothes" on their chicken...and they have different ways of saying that they want their chicken "fully loaded".


Along with the phrases above that I've already shared, there are a whole lot more.  But the best one that I heard came from someone down at Camp Atterbury.  They ordered their sandwich and told me to "run it through the garden".  It kind of caught me off guard.  I had never heard it before and wasn't sure that I necessarily heard it correctly.  When I asked him to repeat himself and he did, I smiled.  That is a great way of saying it: "run it through the garden" (sad to say, I pictured a cartoon chicken sandwich running through a garden picking up all the toppings as she ran through).


And that got me thinking...how many of us view our relationship with the Lord like that?  How many of us think that we can "run through" a church and pick up Jesus?  It doesn't work that way. Just like a sandwich needs to be opened up so the toppings can be inserted inside the sandwich, we too need to be opened up and allow Jesus to be placed inside our hearts and lives.


Placing lettuce and tomato on a sandwich is much less time consuming.  It takes time to "load up" with Jesus.  When we're opened up for The Topping, sometimes there is no room because of the other choices we've made for our spiritual sandwich.  We need to rid ourselves of all those other things that are not pleasing to the Lord.


In reality, Jesus is not a "topping" for our spiritual sandwich; He should be the meat.  And His sandwich is so delicious that we don't need to--and shouldn't--add toppings.  Put on Christ.


"For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes."  -Galatians 3:26-27 (NLT)-

BETTER PREPARED

I decided late last night that I would take the two older boys camping.  Braden and Caleb love camping.  They think it's the greatest thing in the world to be in a tent, to be with Dad, to be doing something different like sleeping outside...even if it is only in the backyard.

I haven't taken them "camping" camping yet.  I'm building them up to it.  But right now, they don't care...they think it's great.  I also think it's great.  Yes, I would rather hike in a few miles and then set up camp, but this will have to do for now.

I love hiking and camping, but haven't been able to find the time to do so.  Braden and I were able to take a 2-mile hike a couple of months ago.  It was great to get out.  I just wish we could have set up camp and used some of my gear.

You see, as I indicated in yesterday's blog, I'm not only an office supply junkie, but I am also fond of all kinds of gear from places like Gander Mountain.  I like having the gear and being prepared to use it on a hike or camping expedition.  Even on a day-hike, I have the preparations and gear for a three-night stay, just in case.  You never know what the woods will bring your way.

So, last night while we were camping in the backyard, I decided that I was going to try out a new piece of gear that I had acquired for my hiking pack.  It was something that I had wanted for awhile because of the size and capabilities.  I usually carry a thermal blanket with me in the car or my in "everyday" bag, but those are only so good and only so big.  This new piece of gear was basically a thermal sleeping bag and I wanted to see if it would do the job it said it would.  Would this keep me warm if I got caught for the night in the woods?

Other than the fact that it was loud when you moved and I felt like I was trying to sleep in a Jiffy Pop Popcorn pan.  It kept me REALLY warm; in fact, I felt like I was too warm at times.  It really did the job it said it would.  And having that experience, I will feel more confident in my gear and better prepared when I go on hikes.

And that got me thinking...are you confident in your spiritual gear?  Do you feel ready to evangelize an unbeliever?  Do you know what verses of scripture to use?  How do you deal with this situation you just found yourself in--whatever that might be?

Granted, I'm aware that you cannot predict every situation and how things will transpire.  I'm also very aware that if we trust in the Lord and hand over the situation to Him, He will guide us and give us the words to say.  However, WE will feel better and more prepared if we know what our "gear" is and how to use it.

Do you practice evangelism with Christian friends?  Do you quiz each other on Scriptures that would be beneficial in times of witnessing?  Do you even hold your Christian friends accountable as to whether they are reading the Word on a regular basis?  Is someone holding you accountable?

Some of you may be wondering what I'm talking about; some of you think I'm wasting my time and breath with something so silly; some of you (those that attend Resurrected Life) are shaking with chills because you know what I'm talking about.

The people of Resurrected Life have a love/hate relationship with this line of questioning.  Every now and then, we spend time role-playing.  We "practice" evangelism with each other.  Now, by doing so, are we going to pick the perfect example of what we'll run into?  I doubt it, but we're getting used to the awkwardness of talking to people about the Lord and then we talk about the issues that we run across.  We are preparing ourselves for those types of situations in the real world when we need those skills.  We also hold each other accountable on a weekly basis on what we've read in the Word throughout the week.

What will the Lord bring our way?  We don't know...but we are better prepared for whatever it is.


"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."  -1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)-

RESTED AND READY

I’m back!!  Not that I’ve really gone anywhere…but I’ve been away from my blog for quite some time.  Thank you to those of you who kept encouraging me to write again–that means a lot.

I missed writing these blogs but at the end of each day…I didn’t have it in me to write.  The Lord has been taking me on quite a journey over the last two months (that’s how long it’s been since I’ve written).

I’ve hopefully picked up my “survival job” to help us make it through financially, while starting the new church.  I’ve been working a couple of days a week for Steve's Flowers and Gifts.  Hopefully that will turn into something a little more as time goes on.  But it’s the perfect job.  They aren’t open on Sundays, I love driving (their van and their gas), I get to listen to my own music (I’m praising the Lord all day long), and I get to make people’s day by delivering some of the most beautiful arrangements and floral pieces I’ve ever seen (Steve and his designers do amazing work).  Not to mention, I used to write my best stories and sermons riding the lawn mower; I’m hoping that riding in the van will have the same benefits when I start preaching again.

I worked quite a bit on Resurrected Life and the process of getting started.  I am almost finished with the process of writing and will be soon announcing a meeting time for anyone interested in hearing who Resurrected Life Church will be.  As you can see, Jessica Mack did a phenomenal job with our logo.  Not only is she talented, but she put up with me and my “not-as-talented artistic” opinions.  Thank you Jessica!!

Here’s what I love about the logo:

• The logo simply emphasizes exactly who the church is.
• Right at the center is the cross of Christ, created by the tail of the dove crossing the “I” of LIFE.
• The dove, itself, is a sign of new life.  It was the dove that brought back the olive branch to Noah after the flood.
• The dove is soaring toward the sky in the logo.  After a “death” following my previous ministry, I am ready to come alive again in my new calling and ministry.  And we are all called to be resurrected to a new life after dying to self in order to follow Christ.
• The dove is the color of “new life”–very fresh and spring-like.

I am ready to fulfill the Lord’s calling in my life.  I pray each day for the ministry and people to whom I will be entrusted.  It’s a great calling and I am humbled by it.  I am in no way big enough to do it on my own.  I praise God for walking the journey with me.  I pray for those that the Lord will put in my path to help with the vision and mission of Resurrected Life.  The best part of all of this is that the Lord has it all figured out already…I simply need to follow through with His plan.

And that got me thinking…I am truly blessed.

FILL 'ER UP!

With the price of oil going up and up and up, the gas prices are going up and up and up.  I’m pretty sure it’s not just a local thing, but gas prices here have skyrocketed.  Here in Indy, the price of gas is over $3.40 for unleaded.  I realize that it’s much higher in other cities and states, but $3.40+ is not something that I enjoy seeing.

However, there was one gas station today that didn’t jump the $.25 that everyone else did.  We took Caleb to get a couple of his shots at the Health Department (Praise God for free shots) and drove by this gas station selling unleaded for $3.21.  There were cars nine-deep out in the road, every pump full…and they kept lining up.  And it was the same way five hours later when we drove by after our Parents For Life class that we are taking at church.  They had raised their price to $3.29, but there was still a line.

And that got me thinking…why aren’t there lines like that coming out of churches?  Why aren’t we as interested in being filled with the Holy Spirit?  For those of us who go to church, why don’t we have that desire to go every week and be really excited about it?  For those that don’t go to church, why don’t you go?

Maybe it’s your church…but probably, it’s you.  “It’s boring” and ”I don’t get anything out of it” are not good excuses.  We receive what we allow ourselves to receive.  If you come to church with an attitude of anything but “I’m here to worship You today, Lord; there is nothing more important to me today and I expect your Spirit to move in me and through me” then you have limited yourself.  You are not open to what God has in store for you.  Are you limiting what you receive when you go to church by having the preconceived idea that you’re not going to get anything out of it?  Are you limiting your experience to a ritual because you don’t believe that God moves through the Holy Spirit today?

If you are a believer, you need to be in church—you need to be in fellowship with one another; you need to worship together.  If you’re not a believer, I encourage you to take that step and become one.  There is freedom in Christ like none other and there is a power that you receive when you’re filled with the Holy Spirit.  And that power is better than a full tank of gasoline.  Fill ‘er up!

MAKE IT A DAY

I was at church all day today.  It was a wonderful celebration service: the music was powerful and Pastor Paul gave a great heart-felt message.  It was wonderful.  After worship, we stayed for a pitch-in lunch and enjoyed getting to know some people that we didn’t know so well.  Heidi then brought the boys home for their naps while I stayed and prepared for the Financial Peace University class that I teach in the afternoon.

After the class, I picked up all of my materials and was ready to head out the door.  And that’s when I realized that I wasn’t alone…

Sorry—that made it sound like a horror movie.  But I wasn’t alone, there were a bunch of people still at the church—some were from the class, but a lot of them were not.  There were kids running around while some were playing cards.  Adults were sitting around talking and laughing.  Everyone was having a good time.

And that got me thinking…that’s what church is supposed to be!  The church is a family.  We should want to be around each other and spend the entire day together.  There was such a warm feeling within me to see this family enjoying each other’s company.

For the last few weeks, I have thought about the cities and towns in the Bible and how neat it would have been to live there.  I envision it to be like a glorified college dormitory—in structure and function only.  Obviously, it was a lot bigger than a single building, but to be within the confines of a wall (the dormitory) and to live in separate residences—yet all together.  I think that would be great.  Yet, I realize that over time I would probably get tired of living that close to everyone; everyone probably would because we’re used to living in our isolated society.

But that’s what makes the church family so great.  We don’t have to live together to be together.  Get together each week and stay around all day; have a good time just being together as a church family.  When you get tired, you can simply go home.

That’s what the church is supposed to be—a family, not just an hour-long “thing to do” each week.  Go to church, be with family, make it a day.