Unleashing Your Inner Monk

Here we go with another LIFE Nugget! This Sunday we begin our new series, "Unleashing Your Inner Monk." The idea may sound strange, I am even going to wear a monk robe to church for a while. It may seem strange of perhaps even silly, but there is a method to my madness.

I have spend a great deal of time researching the roots of Monasticism in Christianity. I have come to some conclusions:

First, while monasticism may some association with ascetic practices, it is not all about torturing yourself.
Second, monasticism is not totally about hiding from the world, it can be about engaging it.
Third, monasticism is about saying that the status quo of life is not acceptable.
Fourth, monasticism is about showing our world that there are better and more important things to live for.

Personally I find these ideas very attractive. I love the idea of rejecting status quo and doing things that are counter intuitive, edgy, and sometimes, anti establishment. I like the idea of saying that where I am in my spiritual life is not good enough. I like that idea of pursuing God radically. I like the idea of living a life devoted to the sermon on the mount. Those ideas are very powerful, dangerous, counter culture, concepts that Jesus gave us to show the world how to live life as a revolutionary.

The journey of unleashing my inner monk has been a long and drawn out process. It is something that I am still working on. I do not have all the answers but am thrilled with the chance to explore, to learn, and to grow. So why not come with us on the journey and unleash your inner monk.

Blessings

Life Blood

A little while ago I returned from my first day of barista training at Higher Ground Coffee. Steve and Gail and owners have been very gracious in allowing the the chance to go over and learn to make specialty coffee for our Divine Grind project. All in all the first day went well and my expresso were pretty good.

What struck me, as it did a long time ago, was watching Gail work with the customers. She knew what they wanted when they walked through the door, talked about their families, their kids, and the happenings of the day. I had the chance to remind her that watching her was some of the impetus behind Divine Grind.

Being there today reminded me all over again about the importance of relationship. It is the life blood that keeps things fresh. The Christ centered life is all about relationship with God. Church should be about community and relationship. Churches should relate to the world outside their doors in practical ways. Relationship is the life blood that makes life worth living.

So how are your relationships? Are your relationships with God, people around you vibrant? Have they become stale? If so, why not go out and start fresh. God would love it and those around you will as well.

Blessings

Moving With God

It is time once again for another LIFE Nugget! As many people who know me no doubt are aware, i am fascinated by Monasticism. There is something powerful in its simplicity, in the stripped down applications of Christian spirituality that stir my spirit. as a result much of what I read (outside of the Bible) is dedicated to studying and working to apply monastic disciplines to my life.

I have been reading a book called "The Rule of Benedict" by Joan Chittister. This is an incredible book. Her commentary on the Benedict's rule is awesome. For our LIFE Nugget today I want to quote something that she says in this book. "In failing to respond to God everywhere God is around us, we may lose the power of God that is in us."

I read that last night and it hit me very hard. I think that this little quote leads us to something that must be addressed in our day. Many people want to see God do awesome stuff, but I find myself thinking that we have limited where God can or does work. We have reduced it to Church service. We so focus on the gifts that relate to Sunday that we forget that God is interested in much more than simply giving us a good time at church. Yes our services should be inspiring, I want the presence of God to be so thick when we gather as a community that amazes people. However, my fear is that we stop there. We have fallen into the trap that Chittister mentions in her book. We fail to notice God outside of the walls of the church.

He is there, He wants to work through us, He wants to see people come to know Him, so what are we doing to make that happen? What do you do during your day to be conscious of the presence of God and make his known to others? He is moving out there, go find him and when you do you will find his power as well.

Blessings

Traveling Light

Back for another LIFE Nugget! I been spending some time as of late thinking about living with less. Is it possible that we spend way too much time preoccupied with things that weigh us down. We allow debt to weigh us down, demands on out time to weigh us down, gadgets weigh us down. I find myself beginning a quest for simplicity, if you will, traveling light.

Why is this important you ask? If we are traveling light we can be more mobile. We can react faster to the world around us. We can impact people much easier than if we are weighed down with the things life throws at us. Are their things in your life that keep you from impacting your world and serving God? How can you reorder your life so that you have more time with God, your family, and more time to pray and serve HIm?

Why not spend some time thinking about this? Traveling light is the way to go.