The Radical Life?

What if the radical Christian life we are called to isn't actually that radical at all?  What if all God is wanting is our time?  Simply to spend time reading the Bible and praying.  I think this fear that God is going to call us to sell our homes, give everything to the poor and move to Africa is a smokescreen.  We feel like if that is what God wants, we just can't do it.  We are not that radical and we just kind of walk away from the whole thing.  It feels too extreme.  But Jesus is calling us to FOLLOW him.  It's not about the change or cleaning ourselves up.  Look at Matthew, he simply says follow.  Now Matthew eventually gets radical but that's not how he starts, he starts by following.  We can do and I believe we are called to do the same thing by reading the Bible and spending time in prayer.

I truly believe that is the beginning of change.  Twenty minutes could change our lives, our community and the world.  What if everyone who loves Jesus obeyed and followed?  Maybe as we move closer to Jesus he will ask us to sell everything, give it all to the poor and move to Africa and in that moment, it may not seem so radical.

My Prayer

I wrote this on January 1st of this year.

Lord, teach me to love

You first, family and all others next

Teach me to be patient and wise with my words

Not to be so quick with the negative

Both in responses and attitude

Teach me to quickly recognize the important

And not get caught up in that which is passing 

and of no concern

Help me to be in each moment and

See with Your eyes

To see others and situations as You see them

Give me self-control not that I may be seen as moral

But that I may be used, available and in position

Let me see each day as a victory for Light

That the darkness I hold on to will not prevail

And so to simply turn it over to the One who will take it at the end

Let my life point to You as I lean hard into You

Lord, teach me to love

Over Kool-Aid

A couple of years ago I stopped drinking soda (aka pop or Coke).  I did this to try and lose weight and to save money.  It worked.  In the process I have learned that if you want to stop doing something it's not enough to just turn your back on it, you have to actually turn to something else.  So I turned from soda to...KOOL-AID!  Maybe not the most healthy alternative but it is an improvement.  In the process of switching beverages I reconnected with nine-year-old me and we have been having a great couple of years together.

There is something magical about Kool-Aid.  It's hard to act like a pompous, know-it-all,  grown-up with grape Kool-Aid in your hand.  Especially if you go all in and rock the Joker-like smile caused by your cup of sugary goodness.  There's nothing like licking your lips an hour after your meal and tasting a touch of grape.  So come, pour your glass and let's talk about life Over Kool-Aid.