Called

I believe that a genuine relationship with Christ changes your life. So, when you meet someone that is a fully devoted follower of Christ, his or her life will be "different" than those around them.

Here in Oklahoma, being a "Christian" is easy. Everyone goes to church or at least knows the name of  a church they can claim to go to if asked. They may even go there a few times a year, if they have time. Then there are those that attended every week, but their lives seem extraordinarily normal. Then there are "those people." You may have met one or two. "Those people" are weird. They do things that just don't make sense, but for some reason things work out.

I know a few of "those people." I've noticed that when you talk to them, there's a light in their eyes. Even when they are weary, if you get ask them about what Christ has done in their lives, they will suddenly be refreshed and excited. Their theology isn't just in their head. Their hope isn't just in their hearts. They haven't been waiting until they depart from this world to see Jesus' face. They have seen Him. They've seen Him work in this world. Often they have been a part of something miraculous. And now their life is different and nothing will ever be the same. In the best of all possible ways.

I haven't written a lot lately. Yes, I experienced the "expected" culture shock after coming back from my mission trip. It's been quite an adjustment. After being a part of something so unique and special, bringing light to a dark corner of the earth, it's hard to get back to "normal" life. 

Now there's talk of another trip. I have my doubts, that's what I do. But God has surrounded me with a crowd of His faithful witnesses. My friends "The Meadors" have such a radical and devoted faith it continues to urge me on. It helps to know I'm not the only "crazy" one out there! Then there is "Katie" who is getting a ton of international attention for her incredible faith and how she has fully given herself over to the work of the Lord. Her recent book has been a huge hit, against all odds.

Right now my goal is to draw nearer to God. I know that I want to go on every mission trip I possibly can. But more important than that, I want to be right where God wants me to be.

Conversion

I grew up surrounded by Christians. One thing that always, always, always made me uncomfortable was the lingo. It rolled off their tongues so comfortably yet seemed so meaningless. As both a student and as a teacher I've thought that I could evaluate the level of understanding of a topic based on the ability to explain it in multiple ways. As a teacher, I believe you have to be able to put things into words the student understands. As a student, the ability to take a concept and put it into your own words without altering the meaning indicates true understanding. Yet I didn't see this in Christians. They would stick to their lingo and be both amazed and speechless when asked to explain. So, now that I'm one of "them", one of my goals is to try my best to avoid lingo. To try and use my own words to explain key concepts. So when I was hit with one of these words yesterday, it didn't sit right.

The word is conversion. Someone I was talking to was talking about converting people to Christianity. But I don't agree with that word. Conversion implies equality. We convert inches to feet, feet to yards, yards to meters, and then back to inches. We can convert our money from dollars to yen and back again. If we convert someone to Christianity, to me it implies that they can easily be converted back to whatever they were before. But this underestimates how Christ works in us.

The gospel message that is the foundation of Christianity is one of salvation, transformation, and restoration. I once was lost but now I'm found. I was condemned and He set me free. I was dead (in sin), but He gave me new life. I have been renewed from the inside out. I am saved. When we acknowledge His power, supremacy, mercy, and grace, and we chose to follow Him, we are new. And we can't help but spread the message about the new life we have found.

It's not about a favorable exchange rate, it's about new life.

Fault and Change

Trust 30, Day 32 (prompt by Carlos Miceli)

I must be myself. I cannot break myself any longer for you, or you. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Think of all the things that are not working in your life. That job you don’t like, that relationship that’s not working, those friends that annoy you. Now turn them all on you. Imagine that everything that’s not working in your life, is your fault. How would you approach it? What would you work on to change your life to the state that you want it to be?

I'll turn this question back around...instead of looking at whose fault it is, remember who has the power to break out of the situations that aren't working. Ultimately we're looking for a resolution, not to assign blame. Who cares who is at fault, let's find out who can change things and then fix them.

Starting from there and revisiting both the Emerson quote and the question, let's assume the power is within me. If the power is within me, what would I work on to change my life to the state I want it to be in?

The most important thing is to determine where I want to go. One of my favorite authors and speakers often says that your direction determines your destination (Andy Stanley). Another way of saying this is that I need to begin with the end in mind (Stephen Covey).

Right now I have a general idea of where I want to be. It's a place that is flexible...the most important components are that it be a life that is family focused. It also allows for life to unfold at a non-traditional pace, leaving space for relationships and creativity to breath. There would be plenty of time for the important things...connecting with others, reading, writing, and music. I know this sounds utopian and naive...a couple of my strongest character traits. But once the destination is determined, the direction becomes clearer. Once the direction is clear, action becomes easier.

I'm already taking steps to get there...paying off debt is huge. Without the monthly outflow of cash to debt there is much more flexibility in employment options. As long as I'm a slave to lifestyle, I must keep pushing to earn more, more, more. That's not for me. That lifestyle is full of busy-ness and empty of significance.

With the appropriate goal in mind, it's also important to never compromise my vision. Every day there are innumerable challenges that call for compromise. It is much more likely to be defeated one little piece at a time than it is to be suddenly overcome. So it's a delicate walk...live authentically and uncompromised while fitting into symbiotic relationships with others, sharing with them what is necessary.

So what needs to change? Rededication? A reminder of the goal,an adjustment of perspective. A realization that this is a long, slow road and that patience and persistence can be much more helpful than busy-ness and frenetic energy. Trust that the path I'm on leads to where I want to go.