"I'm not Bono!"

When I was a child, I wanted to help people. I was that 6^th grade kid who wanted to start a disaster relief fundraiser when the tsunami hit Indonesia. One time, when the power was out at our house because of a snow storm (read: an inch or two of snow on the ground), somebody mentioned the homeless in our city and I'm pretty sure I burst out crying right then and there thinking of these people huddled somewhere in the cold. This isn't to pat myself on the back...it's just how I was as a child. And I think it's how lots of children are. Children have big dreams. Big dreams of making a difference and they don’t think of being held back.

Somewhere along the way though, we grow up and our thought process changes. We let things stand in the way of stepping out to help others and attempting to positively impact someone's life. 

I've noticed that there appears to be two groups of people. (1) Those who believe they can help, and, therefore, do. And (2) those who let fears stand in the way of helping, then don’t.

Most people are the latter--thinking that they’re inadequate and therefore can’t do anything to make a difference.  As we age, these fears of certain deficiencies inundate us, and, the train of thought that follows is “I can't make a difference unless I've got enough *blank* (influence, money, or resources, etc.).I'm not Bono*! Nobody will pay attention to anything I attempt to make a difference.” Or, even more seriously, people think that they’re so messed up, that God cannot actually use them to make a difference. They let these fears hold them back, possibly from something that God has called them to.

Basically, the fear of lacking holds us back. There's no way that God can use us to make a difference in somebody's life, so besides the occasional service project, why even attempt?

We let so much stand in the way of following the Lord's leading. We don't step up and into situations to serve because we let our fears of inadequacies get in the way. But listen, we are never too messed up, screwed up, sinful, under resourced, poor, un-influential, or ill equipped for the Lord to use us.

If the Lord is calling me to something, you'd better believe He'll equip me, teach me, lead me. So how dare I look at the Lord and tell Him that there's no way I can or will do what He wants and is calling me to do--there's no way He can use me? Because, "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called."

God is calling masses of believers to step outside of their comfort zones. People of differing backgrounds who have experienced different joys and heartaches and who have their own area of influence. God is calling us here, and now. Are we going to get past any inadequacy we feel we have in order to step into a role of mercy to the hurting in the world? Because once we do that, God is going to use us for His glory. Use us to impact the hurting world.

*Note: I use Bono as an example because he's someone who has not only the money to get things done, but the influence not only to draw attention to certain issues but also to encourage others to act.

(Via Christine Caine's Facebook page)

"Why ya gotta be so mean?"

There's so much mean in the world.

Every day we see snide remarks online--Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. We read mean comments in magazines and newspapers. We hear ugly comments on TV. Mean is everywhere...it doesn't take long at all to find it.

What do snide, flippant comments add to human kind? To this world? It's a serious question.

What do my mean comments add to the world? 

Why do I feel that it's alright to tear somebody down? Sure, my witty, but biting tweet about, lets say, a singer I dislike will probably go unseen by its subject, but does that make it any less wrong?

What if they did see it?

My spur-of-the-moment comment could be the one thing that ruins their day. Or it could be what causes them to feel self-conscious. 

There's a fine line between stating an opinion about likes/dislikes and using my dislike in a witty way at another person's expense. 

The victim of my senseless words is someone's child, sibling, friend. Most importantly, they're somebody that God loves. 

What does my comment say about me? Because most often, what I say about others reflects more of me than them.

So, again...what does my comment add to the world? Because I'd rather physically bite my tongue or cover my mouth to keep a little bit of mean out of the world. The world doesn't need any more of that...there's already far too much of it. 

So why don't we all keep a little bit of ugly out of the world by holding back mean comments. And let's build up others by speaking beautiful words of them. Because, couldn't the world use a bit more beauty?

(Picture found on Pinterest)

Vulnerability and Flaws

A few months ago, and then again this week, I found myself watching Brene Brown's TEDTalk on the Power of Vulnerability. In this talk, she discusses shame, vulnerability, and joy. 

Shame, she says, originates from the feeling of not being "enough"--not feeling worthy. Brown says that the people who did not feel shame, were the people who had " the courage to be imperfect." They were vulnerable with their flaws. They were authentic. "As a result of authenticity, they were willing to let go of who they thought they should be in order to be who they were, which you have to absolutely do for connection."

Our vulnerability increases connection with people. 

I think it's absolutely amazing how our flaws make us who we are in a sense...they make us authentic. (Yes, we live in a fallen world--and ultimately our flaws are the result of the Fall--but our flaws also make us unique and real). We so badly want to hide them away from everybody, but a majority of people would rather just see us be us than be a fake. So, laying them all out there is painful...and yes, it might mean that in some cases we are hurt, but having the courage to say "this is me, I'm imperfect, but I'm loved" is not only powerful in bringing more joy into our lives, but in connecting us to others as well.

Our flaws are just begging for these connections and for human relationship to come and fulfill whatever it is that we lack.

Recently, I fell in love with the absolutely beautiful song "Flaws" by Bastille. They sing of our flaws being necessary to be who we are as people. And the need for connection...for someone to come fill the hole that a flaw has left. Check it out, because I think that the song portrays a certain openness and authenticity that "digging up" and being vulnerable with our flaws can bring.

Strong & Courageous?

Yesterday, one of my favorites--Bianca Olthoff--tweeted "God didn't tell Joshua to be 'safe and comfortable' or 'mediocre and average.' He said to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS. Just like we should be." To which a follower responded "Joshua's job was to wage war to capture a foreign land. How does 'strong and courageous' apply to a dull life of TPS reports?"

But, really, how? I think his question is valid. Let's be honest, the majority of us are not leading soldiers into battle. A majority of us aren't facing danger everyday. So how are we to be strong and courageous in the mundane?

This question, when it's boiled down, plagues us in every day life. How are we to do anything great or radical for God when our life is so average? (*brief connected segue*) We see this same question when we ask how we are to live on mission. In the same way we ask "I'm just an ordinary person living an ordinary life, how do I live as a missionary for God" we think and question how we can be courageous and strong when we're ordinary. But the thing is, God calls the ordinary. He uses the ordinary. He uses the monotony of life. (*Ends all talk of missional living in this post*)

God has called us--everyday, ordinary people--to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS. Every day when we make the decision to stand up for what's right, to push back against the temptation to sin, to take a stand in the spiritual battle that's being waged all around us, to show love to those that are difficult to love, we are being strong and courageous.  

Strength and courage don't only belong to people on the battlefield. Or in high danger jobs. We can be strong and courageous in the monotony of life. Ultimately, strength and courage don't really depend on where we are or what we do occupationally, but rather Who we follow.  So then, be strong and courageous in whatever and wherever.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9b)."

Brennan Manning Quote

Missional Christianity: The "New Legalism?"

I recently ran across an article posing the question: "Has radical Christianity become the newest form of legalism?" I didn't read the article right away, but instead let the question roll around in my mind for a few days and thought on it. Here's what I've decided:

Legalism can be explained in an easy equation, which states that "Jesus + Something=Nothing." When we add anything to Jesus/the Gospel and believe that it--no matter how good "it" is--will make us more meritorious in God's sight, we've entered into a legalistic mindset. So, yes, when focusing on "being uncomfortable for the sake of the gospel" becomes the "endgame" and attempts to take the place of the gospel, then it has become legalistic.

BUT simply focusing on missional living and questioning if I'm too comfortable where I am does not signify legalism.

After skimming the article, I understand the point the writer is attempting to make. He believes that when churches focus on missional, radical living "ordinary people" are shamed by not living extraordinary lives.

The writer makes generalizations, though, assuming that by encouraging believers--specifically millenial believers--to live on mission end up shaming thems. Being shamed, young Christians no longer want to work in ordinary jobs and do ordinary things with their life, and feel bad if they go about life this way. While, unfortunately, there are probably a handful of churches that participate in this type of shaming, I don't believe that this is the majority of missional churches.

These missional churches are not force-feeding the idea to their people that they all need to give up all of their belongings, move to a third-world country, and sleep on a hard floor. The idea of missional living is simple...no matter where we are or what we’re doing, where we’re at is a mission field. We have the opportunity to build intentional relationships with co-workers, classmates, acquaintances, etc. And, to me, the idea of Radical Christianity (as I’ve read about it)*** means that we are offering our full lives to God and saying “Do as You please.”

For some, the radical living and living in step with the Spirit will mean moving to a third-world country. While for others, it might mean loosening the grip on material possession and self-focus to, instead, spend time building relationships with the single mother down the street.

The missional, radical way of living is a way that I hope and pray I live out my daily life...not because I believe it raises me any higher in God’s sight, but because I want to make His name known to all that I encounter.

***I will be the first to admit that I have not completely read all of David Platt's Radical, which this idea is based off of. I am basing this off of other reading I've done on the idea of Radical Christianity through blog posts, articles, and other books.

To My Mother

Growing up, I don't think I could have been any different than my mom. We didn't really "get" each other for a long time. I was quiet and shy about my opinion. Mom was assertive and strong. People never really told me that I looked like my mom or acted like her.

Later on in high school my mom became one of my best friends. And I started to understand her more. And I think she started to understand me more too. Once I started working at the church, I started seeing my mom in action and picked-up different things about her. For the first time, after I started really coming into my work role there, people started to tell me that I was like my mom--in the way I looked and talked and in the way I did certain things. She didn't understand why I thought this was the coolest thing ever. 

But it was. 

My mom is a great leader, she's funny, she's creative, she's smart, she's a good wife, a great mother, an awesome friend. And most importantly, a strong woman of God. That's why I get a big smile on my face when people tell me that I remind them of my mother. One day, I hope to be a good mother, just like her. 

Happy mother's day mommy, I love you.