Saturday, August 11, 2012
Radical Thoughts
10:10 PM
I'm part of a small group that I've really come to treasure. We started
as four and are now down to three. We are open to inviting more, and
have extended an invitation, but are awaiting God's direction in that.
And although we are small, I believe it's been just what I, and
hopefully they, have needed this past year.
Our group began as four who knew each other from church, some as mere names and some as more, but I believe we are becoming stronger and developing deeper relationships as time goes on.
When we started, we were focusing our group and discussion on a book. It was a good book, but after the first chapter it felt as though much of the text was repeating and there wasn't a lot to dive into. Read: we ended up chit chatting most of the time! Now don't get me wrong, a lot of our 'chit chat' is sharing life. Talking about where we are in our journeys and what we may pray about or help with. I've never felt that anyone overwhelmed conversations or 'stole the show', it's always seemed pretty even. But, we also started feeling pulled to some kind of focus, something to guide portions of our night and discussions.
This week we began a new book. One that I've heard about for quite some time now but haven't read. One I downloaded to my kindle to read when I flew to Hong Kong, which obviously isn't happening. We began a journey into the book Radical by David Platt.
Only one chapter in and I can already say Ah. May. Zing.
This book will be one to challenge, enlighten, deepen, and push my sometimes stagnant relationship with Christ. I'd love to share bits and pieces as I go. To journal some of my thoughts. To keep a record of portions I've been touched by.
David begins by sharing how he was growing as a pastor, not just personally, but he was among those with some of the largest churches and touted as "the youngest megachurch pastor in history."
But he began feeling uneasy that this was indeed following God. After all, Jesus was, basically "the youngest minichurch pastor in history." With twelve men under him.
"Jesus apparently wasn't interested in marketing himself to the masses. His invitations to potential followers were clearly more costly than the crowds were ready to accept, and he seemed to be okay with that. He focused instead on the few who believed him when he said radical things. And through their radical obedience to him, he turned the course of history in a new direction."
"I could not help but think that somewhere along the way we had missed what is radical about our faith and replaced it with what is comfortable. We were settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves."
"Jesus was calling them (the disciples) to abandon their comforts."
"Ultimately Jesus was calling them to abandon themselves."
"There's nothing special about us (people David will be portraying throughout the book). But we're proof that ordinary people who are naturally drawn to the comforts of the American dream can be converted to a radical faith in a radical Savior. Why not join us?"
Our group began as four who knew each other from church, some as mere names and some as more, but I believe we are becoming stronger and developing deeper relationships as time goes on.
When we started, we were focusing our group and discussion on a book. It was a good book, but after the first chapter it felt as though much of the text was repeating and there wasn't a lot to dive into. Read: we ended up chit chatting most of the time! Now don't get me wrong, a lot of our 'chit chat' is sharing life. Talking about where we are in our journeys and what we may pray about or help with. I've never felt that anyone overwhelmed conversations or 'stole the show', it's always seemed pretty even. But, we also started feeling pulled to some kind of focus, something to guide portions of our night and discussions.
This week we began a new book. One that I've heard about for quite some time now but haven't read. One I downloaded to my kindle to read when I flew to Hong Kong, which obviously isn't happening. We began a journey into the book Radical by David Platt.
Only one chapter in and I can already say Ah. May. Zing.
This book will be one to challenge, enlighten, deepen, and push my sometimes stagnant relationship with Christ. I'd love to share bits and pieces as I go. To journal some of my thoughts. To keep a record of portions I've been touched by.
David begins by sharing how he was growing as a pastor, not just personally, but he was among those with some of the largest churches and touted as "the youngest megachurch pastor in history."
But he began feeling uneasy that this was indeed following God. After all, Jesus was, basically "the youngest minichurch pastor in history." With twelve men under him.
"Jesus apparently wasn't interested in marketing himself to the masses. His invitations to potential followers were clearly more costly than the crowds were ready to accept, and he seemed to be okay with that. He focused instead on the few who believed him when he said radical things. And through their radical obedience to him, he turned the course of history in a new direction."
"I could not help but think that somewhere along the way we had missed what is radical about our faith and replaced it with what is comfortable. We were settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves."
"Jesus was calling them (the disciples) to abandon their comforts."
"Ultimately Jesus was calling them to abandon themselves."
"There's nothing special about us (people David will be portraying throughout the book). But we're proof that ordinary people who are naturally drawn to the comforts of the American dream can be converted to a radical faith in a radical Savior. Why not join us?"
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About Me
I am a single mom to four amazing kids; each of whom just happen to have been adopted. The first three were adopted through foster care, and we just completed an international adoption from Haiti. Our family has grown through adoption and I am all the more blessed to know each of my children. I worship a mighty God, teach Special Ed, love bargains, and am inspired by Pinterest... come along with us for the ride!
Olivia - 14
Braeden - 11
Liam - 9
Macy - 5
Check out my Teachers Pay Teachers store!
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What you should know about HIV
-HIV can NOT be spread through casual/household contact. HIV is not spread through hugging, kissing, shaking hands, sharing toys, sneezing, coughing, sharing food, sharing drinks, bathing, swimming or any other casual way. It has been proven that HIV and AIDS can only be spread through sexual contact, birth, breastfeeding and blood to blood contact (such as sharing needles).
- HIV is now considered a chronic but manageable disease. With treatment, people who are HIV+ can live indefinitely without developing AIDS and can live long and full lives.
- People who are HIV+ deserve to be treated with love, respect, support and acceptance as all people do.
Additional information on transmission of HIV can be found on the Center for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources
Other Awesome Blogs
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5 years ago
Orphan Crisis
• 147 million orphans in the world
• 50 million orphans in Africa
• Every 14 seconds a child is orphaned by AIDS
• 16,000,000 have been orphaned by AIDS
• Every week, AIDS claims as many lives as American fatalities in the Vietnam War
• 854 million people do not have enough to eat
• Malnutrition is associated with the deaths of 5 million children under the age of five
• Every 2 seconds an orphan dies from malnutrition
• 50 million orphans in Africa
• Every 14 seconds a child is orphaned by AIDS
• 16,000,000 have been orphaned by AIDS
• Every week, AIDS claims as many lives as American fatalities in the Vietnam War
• 854 million people do not have enough to eat
• Malnutrition is associated with the deaths of 5 million children under the age of five
• Every 2 seconds an orphan dies from malnutrition
Hence the title of my blog
Little Did I Know
Little did I know that the road would be so rocky
Little did I know that the trip would take so long
Little did I know that my heart could hurt so much
Little did I know that God is never wrong
Little did I know that love could be so powerful
Little did I know that a dream so far could go
Little did I know that God would place the right ones
Little did I know that my heart, so large, could grow
Little did I know that a dream has it’s own timing
Little did I know that this day would finally come
Little did I know that four souls would be sent to guide me
Little did I know that they would choose to call me mom
But God knew all along and He had a plan to follow
God knew all along that my dream would soon come true
God knew all along that we five should be together
God knew all along that I’d share it all with you
Little did I know that the road would be so rocky
Little did I know that the trip would take so long
Little did I know that my heart could hurt so much
Little did I know that God is never wrong
Little did I know that love could be so powerful
Little did I know that a dream so far could go
Little did I know that God would place the right ones
Little did I know that my heart, so large, could grow
Little did I know that a dream has it’s own timing
Little did I know that this day would finally come
Little did I know that four souls would be sent to guide me
Little did I know that they would choose to call me mom
But God knew all along and He had a plan to follow
God knew all along that my dream would soon come true
God knew all along that we five should be together
God knew all along that I’d share it all with you
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