I’m in Asia mid-Jan to mid-March on an adventure. I’ve got nothing pre-planned, but have my sights set on seeing God at work, growing, and doing whatever he leads me to, wherever that may be. Already he has been doing amazing things.
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Just arrived in Atlanta, but blessings along the way already. Carpooling to Airport with Derek Yau who came in to Seattle last night. Hung out in the back of the plane with a couple air attendant ladies, learning interesting things about their career, their travel, airline organization, and how one has a son who sold everything he had and is now traveling the world. Chatted with my in-flight seat neighbors, one who is from Switzerland, both from Microsoft. Connected with my taxi driver, Babajide, a brother in Christ, who missionally returns to Nigeria every year to bless the people. Beautiful day in Atlanta too. No sign of thunderstorms. Yet…
Evangelical Christianity is now tragically below the New Testament standard. Worldliness is an accepted fact of our way of life. Our religious mood is social instead of spiritual. – A.W. Tozer
Is that not true in CCF and many of our fellowships? How often have we, on committee and as leaders, strained to devise worldly management strategies to attract and retain people and interest? Surely not all that CCF does is miguided in this way, but neither is it an uncommon thing.
We’ve made decisions about the shape of small groups, how to lay out Friday nights, what outreach activities to have, how to pep up announcements, how to have good worship night transitions and flow… even how to arrange the tables and chairs — to keep the interest of the people. Often this is the question. It ties into our goal of making Christ known, but we must be distinct on this point. That the goal is Christ and not people’s interest. That is, it is spiritual, not social.
To focus so heavily on attracting interest is Marketing. Of course, we need to be sensitive and connect to people where they are, but let us be clear on the goal: it is spiritual.
There are many good things in this world, but what are the best things? There are many things to fret over in this world, but what are the things actually worth our attention?
From time to time I am again reminded of our many vanities. Even Christians. Even myself. Of what ultimate worth is there in such things? Sure there is a beauty in the art of things. In design. In fashion. In technology. The gadgets and the consumerism, I mean. But what does it ultimately mean to a life? These things will pass.
Yet we fret over how we look each day. How our hair should be made and how we should dress. Or we obsess over cool gadgets and buys. How to pimp out our gear. How to furnish and decorate our room or new house. Whether or not to get this or that upgrade buying this or that car.
We litter our lives with so many things that don’t really matter. They are not bad — but they don’t really matter. Especially in light of the things that do.
What of our relationship with God? Our families, society, world? What of our character, spirit, and growth? What are we doing with our time, our money, our effort, while the poor lie naked, unsheltered, hungry; while the oppressed are beaten, tortured, mutilated, massacred; while the minorities and the marginalized are persecuted; while the women are abused, the children enslaved, the young men fixed to war and the young women raped in prostitution? While our classmates, coworkers, friends are hurt, alone, depressed, suicidal? While our families fight, go silent, break apart? Do we even know our family? What of our own spiritual growth and the kingdom-work of God?
“The things that we love tell us what we are.”
- St. Thomas Aquinas, quoted in Catholic Digest June, 1992
“Those who know not when they have enough, are poor.”
- Japanese proverb, Catholic Reader, 11/95
“Fame is revenge against those who never believed in you.”
- Ruby Max (Comedian) – Source: London Daily Mail, 1991
“God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it in the nest.”
- J.G. Holland – Source: in The Great American Bathroom Book, 1992, page 3-A1
“Blessed is he who expecteth nothing, for he shall enjoy everything.”
- St. Francis of Assisi, GKC, pg. 84-85
“The drive for success is really the distorted pursuit of significance.”
- Fred Smith, Conversation at CT Board meeting
“The contented man is never poor while the discontented is never rich.”
- anonymous
You can love someone deeply and yet be a poor lover.
That’s because one is about feeling and the other about action. Both is a kind of love, but having the first without the second seems rather inadequate — and it is. Just as faith should not be without deeds, love should not be without loving.
If you’ve been reading the news lately you’ll certainly have caught the coverage on race that’s swallowed up american news. White cop arrests black Harvard professor in his own home. You can read about it for yourself here if you haven’t yet. Obama adds his voice to the commentary mix, saying the cop “acted stupidly” in a case of racial profiling. Later, apologizing for his rash comments made without full facts, Obama invites the officer and professor for a beer to settle it. Obama says he hopes that this will turn out to be what is called a “teachable moment”.
Everyone’s talking about the issue of racial prejudice, but I’m equally interested in the term “teachable moment” that Obama used.
Stayed behind today after CCF in MC 2034. Made a couple new friends. Was working away on my laptop as they came in. Chatted with one, then both, back to the one, then silence, and then the other returns.
Jorge: what are your thirsting for?
Bily: hmm?
soy milk!
Jorge: mmm, let me reiterate the questions? what do you desire?
Bily: =p are u asking me seriously or is this leading to a joke =p
Jorge: HAHAHAHA. just wondering how would you respond?