Simple

I started reading Simple Church today. I think this will be a thought provoking book.

Already I’m thinking about how to make my life more simple. I feel like the book is coming at a good time for me.

How are you living simply? Do you want to live simply?

Peace,
-A

Character

Today, some of my friends displayed a large amount of faith, bravery, and character. It made me self-reflect in some major ways.

Inspired.

Who has inspired you lately?

peace,
-A

Heart Check

Over the past week or two I’m continually thinking about community (like I always do) and how important we each are to community.  Let me give you some framework:

We have been discussing in our Creative Team about “our role” in God’s story.  We are going to be starting a God’s story themed series for Saturate in a few weeks.  So we have had a lot of conversations about what our young adult community wants to hear versus what they need to hear.  One thing that my friend Matt would bring up is the desire to want to be a part of something big, and having a significant role, and feeling irreplaceable.  I feel like this is something most people desire, it’s part of the nature of God that is in us.

I started thinking, instead of me wanting to be apart of something big for myself, what would it be like if I wanted to be apart of something big for others, and the fact that God allows me to be apart of that, changes my heart?

I also have been thinking about Amanda and I, and our role as a married couple in a primarily singles young adult ministry.  It’s not just for singles, but for couples too, but the majority are singles, as well as our friends.  How does our part (Amanda and I) fit into God’s story, more specifically the young adult community at LCBC?

My next thought was then, “what if we are irreplaceable”, like Parksy said, what if we are so important that if we are missing something won’t be the same, God’s plan continues, but something looks a little different then intended, (this would be because of sin).  But, what if we are irreplaceable because of the community we are supposed to take part in and not just because we are individually special, but because with our gifting combined, we are something unstoppable and undeniably breathtaking.

I’m talking about Amanda and I together, I’m talking about us being apart of Liquid Young Adult Ministries at LCBC, I’m talking about the Church family at LCBC, I’m talking about the whole worldwide body of believers(aka the Catholic Church (not the Catholic  branch of Christianity)).

What if my significant role in God’s story, is to be willing to pick the guy up that needs a ride across E-town, because he doesn’t have a car, and I do.  My role is significant because of the way I am moving God’s kingdom forward by embracing my responsibilities of being apart of a community.

All this to say, that is humbling.  That is the natural heart check built into the Christ Community.  Some people have gifts that are looked up to more than other gifts.  Like they are idolized, “I want to lead worship”, “I want to speak to thousands”, “I want to change peoples lives”.  All of these in themselves not bad, the fine balance is when it is done for yourself or for others.  If you realize that the reason you do it(use your gift), is for others, it is humbling.

My friend Jason wrote about this the other day, I appreciate his honesty in his post.

May we live for each other, so we may live irreplaceable lives.

peace,

-A