“It’s
a shame that so many churches are married to a
designed-by-Christians-for-Christians-only culture. A culture in which they talk about the Great Commission and
sing songs about the Great Commission, but (unknowingly) refuse to reorganize
their churches around the Great Commission. These are often the same churches where members talk about
grace, sing about how ‘amazing’ it is, but create graceless cultures where only
those who play by the rules feel welcomed.” ~Andy Stanley
To those that are following my journey while in Colorado,
thanks goes out to you—I hope you have enjoyed this (and all my media
explosions) as much as I have :D
Just to update you diligent followers of mine (yea right) on
things over the last weeks.
Right now, I am
at Starbucks, spending my money on a overrated product that could easily be made at my house. But why would I want to make it at my
house?
I turned 22, believe it or not. These last 365 days have been quite a transforming adventure
in my spiritual live, as a musician, and a believer, and definitely as a
leader. I hope to see these
qualities grow as the years go-on.
As of today the countdown is: 22 days until I am finished here at Academy Christian Church
in Colorado Springs. I am more
than ready to come home and be back at school. But, I know my work is not done, nor is my ‘time’ done. I say these things because I have
been here long enough to feel as if I am hired by the church to work in the
position that I am in. I’ve
been here long enough that I feel more of a slave to time and continuous
ritual. Of course that sounds
terrible, because I worded it wrong—but I am too lazy to think of something
else :D
The reality is so much that I feel like I work here ful-time
and days go back before I realize that I have to return to school. Days go back and I forget to realize
that I am just an intern and that I will leave shortly, for good. When students go off to school and they
return for the summer or various breaks, it wont be like that!! I do not live here, nor if there would
be any chance of this it wont be for a while.
Which brings me to this point. Why am I here, God?
Lets map this out.
I came to ACC beginning of July [with the confidence of a
guppy], and because of certain situations that were laid upon me I rose to the
challenge and punched it in the face.
I loved the path that was set forth from me; I did not freak out, I
loved it.
But I feel as if this experience as a ‘director of worship
ministries’ was the only thing that I have learned: experience that looks good
on a resume.
It isn’t as much as I have played it up to be, but it is a
big deal to me—that I have overcame certain roadblocks I my path. All this brings me to this question
again, why am I here God?
I am reading Andy Stanley’s book Deep & Wide which is an incredible book. There is a quote that says this:
“It’s a story every Christian and
church attendee should know. And
as church leaders, it’s a story in which
we have the privilege of
participating. Actually, it’s a story we are responsible for shaping.
Like it or not we are the stewards of the church for our
generation. More daunting than
that is the fact that we determine what
comes to mind for the net generation when they hear the term church.”
Is this what I need to learn? Is this something that I struggle with (yes). How much easier is it to forget about
that quote—that way of life as a leader and developer of ministry? In my last few weeks here in CS, what
am I here to truly accomplish??
I still have no freking clue. But, I think that if being intentional, praying for God to initiate
relationships and following thru on that
same intentional level, how deep & wide do you think the body of Christ
can expand to become.
There is an obvious truth to those that are leaders of their
congregation that God gives them.
That we determine what comes to
mind for the next generation when they hear the term church makes me back
away from this so-called job: ministry.
Knowing how important leading the body of Christ is—should be the first
lesson learned.
Enjoy some encouragement:
1Thessalonians 5:17-19
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all
circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
