Perhaps the difference from just "being in the world" and missional living is intentionality. I think many times we practice the being in the world part but for get the clarifier "but not of the world". "World" of course stands for something a little deeper than the big blue planet we live on. It is mindset, a way of living, a philosophy of life and actions that bear out that philosophy.
I am thinking that true missional living is best defined by Jesus' command for us to "let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16).
How do we let our light shine? May I suggest it is as simple as imitating Jesus? I know we are supposed to live like this always but the truth is we don't. How about a three day challenge? Would you be willing to yield to His Spirit and make the attempt to live like Jesus, let you light shine in the world while not being of the world for three straight days? Would you intentionally live like Jesus for the next three days? I suggest we try an hourly "check-in" with the Father to see how we are doing.
You let me know how it goes with you. I'll let you know how it goes with me.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Monday, March 02, 2009
A Page Well Turned
Yesterday morning Robin and the girls and I joined University Heights Baptist Church in Huntsville. This is the church that we called home for several years until we went to Pastor Dacus in 2000. We served at Dacus until the end of January this year and have been seeking the Lord's next move for us.
Coming "home" to UHBC was a wonderful experience. While we love our old church family at Dacus we have greatly missed our friends at UHBC. It has felt very funny living in one town but being oriented toward another. Please understand I am not complaining but it is always tough to intentionally leave friends to go to a new place. Now we have managed to do it twice, leaving UHBC for Dacus and then leaving Dacus for UHBC.
One of the most difficult aspects of this has been the eight and a half years that my best friend (next to Robin) and I have been in a holding pattern. We were both working two jobs and going to different churches. Yesterday they came over after church and we cooked backstrap, ate, played and just generally enjoyed hanging out. I know it may sound silly but it was a tremendously contentful day.
Later this week Robin and I will be going to TURBO, a church planting training session done by Bob Roberts church in Keller. Please pray for us as we continue to look for the path God has for us. Several conversations have taken place in the last week that have us excited about the near future.
To our friends and "family" at Dacus we love you and you will never know quite how much it meant to me to be your Pastor. To our friends at UHBC we are so glad and so blessed to be back with you.
All in all it feels like we have turned a new page to a new chapter and it seems to be a page well turned. I like the sound of that.
Coming "home" to UHBC was a wonderful experience. While we love our old church family at Dacus we have greatly missed our friends at UHBC. It has felt very funny living in one town but being oriented toward another. Please understand I am not complaining but it is always tough to intentionally leave friends to go to a new place. Now we have managed to do it twice, leaving UHBC for Dacus and then leaving Dacus for UHBC.
One of the most difficult aspects of this has been the eight and a half years that my best friend (next to Robin) and I have been in a holding pattern. We were both working two jobs and going to different churches. Yesterday they came over after church and we cooked backstrap, ate, played and just generally enjoyed hanging out. I know it may sound silly but it was a tremendously contentful day.
Later this week Robin and I will be going to TURBO, a church planting training session done by Bob Roberts church in Keller. Please pray for us as we continue to look for the path God has for us. Several conversations have taken place in the last week that have us excited about the near future.
To our friends and "family" at Dacus we love you and you will never know quite how much it meant to me to be your Pastor. To our friends at UHBC we are so glad and so blessed to be back with you.
All in all it feels like we have turned a new page to a new chapter and it seems to be a page well turned. I like the sound of that.
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