I Feel All Growed Up
First, I want to say that I have read chapter 2 in Radical
But, today I am doing something that is making me feel like an Adult. Now, I can remember when I turned 18 and asserted to my parents that I was an adult, I could do what I wanted. I went out, bought a cigar, and got my ear pierced. I never smoked that cigar, and I haven’t had an earring in my ear for years. However, today I am going to meet with someone from North West Mutual. I have a friend who provided them with my name to thank for this, but it is something I should do.
Last year I really buckled down, and decided I needed to change how I was living and handling my money. Today I will meet with a financial advisor from North West Mutual. Wish me luck!
Fear of The Unknown
Another excellent title for this post is “But I like my life how it is”
God has been doing a lot of great things in my life recently. I was given an opportunity to have a long term subbing job for a 5th grade class for two and a half months. I have recently been blessed by being given the opportunity to go from serving God by volunteering on our worship production team to leading and organizing the volunteers for the worship production team. God has blessed my finances as I worked and prayed to get out of debt to be better able to serve Him. And he is starting to open my eyes to the need for more spiritual growth and discipleship from me.
This all sounds great, why would I be writing of a fear of the unknown? It all has to do with a book, well two books, and a stirring in my soul. The books are The book of Acts in the Bible, and Radical
First, from the outset you need to commit to believe whatever Jesus says. As a Christian, it would be a grave mistake to come to Jesus and say, Let me hear what you have to say, and then Ill decide whether or not I like it. If you approach Jesus this way, you will never truly hear what he has to say. You have to say yes to the words of Jesus before you even hear them.
Then second, you need to commit to obey what you have heard. The gospel does not prompt you to mere reflection; the gospel requires a response. In the process of hearing Jesus, you are compelled to take an honest look at your life, your family, and your church and not just ask, What is he saying? but also ask, What shall I do?
If I read the book while subscribing to these two preconditions, what might I have to do, what might I have to give up? I know God has given me so much, so I should not fear what he might ask of me, but I am afraid. I plan to go start reading chapter two in Radical shortly after writing this. While I am afraid, I am also excited for what changes God has in store for me, and where my desire to lean in and grow closer to God and the Holy Spirit shall take me.
Am I Unproductive?
Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive.
~ Titus 3:14, NLT
This verse was perfect for today. This was the verse I found in my e-mail inbox when I first woke up today from K-Love. It has set my mind racing again because of a book I began to read last night.
I was at a thank you party for some church volunteers last night, and after most of the guests had left there were a few of us left chatting in a small circle. One of the members of the group asked us all if we had read Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream
Now, I have only read the first chapter of Radical, but it hit me hard. I plan to be writing reflections on it as I continue to read. It has really got me thinking about if I take what the Bible, and Jesus in particular, says and apply it in my life. Or do I rationalize what I am told away and think through it and decide that what it really means is different so I am ok? I am both excited and afraid to continue reading this book, maybe you will join me in reading it, and we can have some interesting discussions about what we read.
Tedward's Ramblings 