Part of the reason it has been a little silent on this blog lately is because I have been free lancing a little bit. I wanted to share my first piece that has hit the internet in awhile. It is at Small Group Exchange.
I am not an expert, but in a few of the shots the ball does not quite seem to behave normally. I can enjoy the talent either way though. Talent to edit, talent to actually do it, it does not matter. It just means some college students had a little extra time on their hands. Enjoy.
Over the last 6 weeks or so my family and I have been spending every Thursday night with our neighbors in the apartment complex grilling food and enjoying each others company. It has been wonderful, and something to look forward to. It makes Friday just a little more bearable after having a nice Thursday evening amongst the loving friend and neighbors we have gotten to know this year.
One heart felt prayer that I have had in moving back into an apartment setting after owning my own home is that we would begin to experience authentic community. In our previous situation we were in a community where we all believed that the moment the door closed we were in our own world and no one dared to share it with us. We did not cross their threshold, I did not invite them past mine. Something about owning your own home, and the community we resided in all colluded to make the environment caustic to community building. As I mature in my faith and I grow in my walk with God and closer to my calling I realize that I can not be a leader and not be in a community.
During our time together I have found myself a few times in those awkward man conversations that start with the inevitable “what do you do for a living?” Depending on my disposition I tell them I am a pastoral intern, other days a theologian, a philosopher, or an employee of Compassion International. All of which are true of me in some way or another, but none tell the whole me. In order to know the whole me you have to experience me. If I want to know the whole you I need to experience you. The only way to experience eachother is to spend time with eachother. Sharing in community is the way we get to know others, and the way we get to know ourselves. I love it. As much as I like the monastic life, I could only ever live some of the disciplines. The discipline of solitude would be toughest for me.
Where I am going with this post is that we dont always have to be preaching and carrying our bible in our back pocket ready to thump someone at a moments notice. If you are a person of well formed character, firm in your convictions, friendly in your disposition, then your prescence should be your testimony. Your life will radiate your belief. So enjoy the fellowship of believers, and non believers. Do not worry about how you are going to reach them. Just enjoy them.
I have found that many people memorize the “Roman road” and have cool graphics and reasons for all the questions believers have. But when the questions get harder they do not know what to say. In other words, they use the Bible because of their insecurity, not their security. Of all Christians I pity them most. We must be firm in our beliefs and relationships, and only out of that security will our witness be seen.
