Over the last year and a half my blogs have consisted of my adventure in following God's calling to Charleston and developing a mission and community in this city. I've developed relationships with young and old, secured multiple places to live, and found a job to financially sustain me during this time. The last few months have been trying as many friends have moved away, many moving to Denver to start a church plant in one of the most unchurched cities in the US. I was able to go back to Wisconsin for a short stay about a month ago when friends who have relocated to multiple cities around the states were also home. I was reminded of the many great friendships I once had, and I've realized how difficult it's been for me to be separated from that for so long. So, I've spent a lot of time the last few weekends reflecting on that and why I haven't been able to find these kinds of friendships in Charleston. What did my friends possess that I haven't been able to find?
I often share my beliefs with those around me, through this blog, through facebook, and through conversation. The reason I do that is because I believe with everything that I am that my Father in Heaven sent His Son as a Savior for a people who could not manage to live a life without committing sins worthy of death. I believe that believing in Jesus and accepting Him as a Savior is the only way into the glory of Heaven, and because I have such a great love for people I continually want to share that with everyone I encounter. There are two things that leads me to do: attempt to show the people around me that a life committed to Jesus is the best way to live, and correcting and building up the other Christians around me to effectively do the same.
When I say things to correct and build up the Christians around me, that's exactly who it is meant for. There is no reason for someone who does not believe what the Bible says to follow anything in it, and I don't expect them to. But, for someone who claims to be a Christian, I expect the respect and love of God to lead them to be obedient to the things asked and expected of them through the Bible. If you consider yourself a Christian, please read this and other things that I post and take whatever you can from them to help apply your beliefs into your life. If you do not consider yourself a Christian, then please read these things as a way to better understand me and the people that I surround myself with.
GROWTH
Growth is so important in all areas of life. Initially I was going to refer to this section with the title of Spiritual Growth, but there's so many other places where one can work to grow. I've realized that there is a lack of desire in a lot of people to put the time into growth. I'm not sure what it is that keeps them from wanting to see an increase in areas of their life, but they seem to have grown content with their current situations. I was once told the analogy, referring to the Christian "walk", that it's like going up the down escalator - if you ever stop growing and moving forward, you go right back to where you started. I think that applies to many more aspects of life than faith. As a Christian, we are at war every day. I just got done watching the movie 300. The men in this movie serve the city of Sparta exactly how we should serve our God. They are always training and learning. They love their king and the people around them enough to live and die for them. Although they all have careers within their city, they do not consider themselves workers in the land, but warriors for their king. I don't want to fight alongside a bunch of warriors who don't practice. I don't want to be protected by a warrior who doesn't care to continually perfect their skill. I need everyone I fight alongside to be continually growing and learning how to look out for me and protect me in battle. The battle can happen at any time and in any circumstance, and I need the people surrounding me in my life to be ready to protect and defend in those times.
ADVENTURE
The American society and culture has taught Generation Y to fear everything. We have "learned" from so many of our experiences that we've concluded the only safe thing to do is avoid everything. Don't drink that. Don't eat that. Don't go there. Avoid these activities. People have learned to chase after comforts rather than finding ways to be comfortable in their current situations. I go on a lot of adventures. I love seeing new things and spending time away from the busyness of life to admire God's creation and the things around me. There is a desire deep down in my heart to experience and learn about new things. So many people had that adventurous spirit stolen from them in their youth by the message of "don't". I hope that those people around me can really learn to put their lives in the hands of God and trust Him to take them through the terrors of the don'ts of life in order to experience the adventure that is involved in following an all-powerful God through the unknowns of blind faith.
RESPECT
I guess I've been watching a few man movies recently, as I also just watched Braveheart. This movie touches on so many different aspects of respect that I see a lack of in the culture surrounding me at this time in my life. William Wallace is respected by all of his followers, whether they've met him or not. They respect him because of his passion, his leadership, and his actions. He had such passion for his wife that after she was killed he spent the rest of his life fighting in remembrance of that action. He led in the manner of servant leadership by being the first person onto the battle field. He acted in ways that showed he was going to continue in the direction he had planned and he was going to give it 110%. It's not how to gain respect that I think needs to be addressed, but how to show it. The men that followed William Wallace believed in him and showed him that by adopting his style of battle. That showed that they trusted him. They listened to his ideas and either agreed or disagreed in a conversational way. They learned about his leadership style and his passions and made sure to shape their roles to compliment his rather than come up against his. They actively pursued a relationship of respect rather than casually trying to be a part of something without putting any work into it. By giving respect to the men and women around us in life, we are able to form much deeper and more meaningful relationships. It all comes back to the Biblical teaching, love others as you want to be loved. Treat them in ways you would want to be treated. Respect them in the ways you hope to be respected.
LEADERSHIP
Everyone is a leader. You may have a position over people at work. Maybe you're a pastor or have some other leadership role at a church. It could be that you have children or a wife that you are leading. Maybe some of your peers look up to you, or maybe there are just a few moments here and there in your life where someone sees what you're doing and appreciates it enough that you lead them to change their life a little in order to be more like what they saw from you. Since we're all leaders in some way, we all need to be careful to make our lives reflect what we believe in. I want to make sure that when people look at any aspect of my life, they see that I'm living for Jesus, whether they believe in Him or not. I want them to see my desire for personal growth, adventure, and my desire to show love and respect to the people around me. As I step into deeper leadership roles in different areas of my life, I continue to reflect on the traits of other leaders and my own leadership style. Although there are many different leadership styles, the leadership style most often loved in movies is the same that was shown during Jesus time on earth: a servant leader. Show that what you expect from others is what you're already living out in your own life.
MORE NEWS
I'll be writing again soon to share a couple ministry opportunities I've recently been given, along with what's going on with my diabetes, as well with some opportunities I may have for you to help.
Love you all!
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