Reflecting on this past weekend at Lawndale Baptist many things come to my mind. Finishing last in the amazing race, staying up late and waking up feeling like an old man in the morning, watching guys get it when Theology is discussed, and also taking to heart so much of what I myself am teaching to those who are shortly going to follow behind. One of the basics that never quite left my mind was that the importance of Repentance. As we shared our hearts and sins that so often intangle, I couldn't help but to reflect on what we are to do as we poor out or sorrow over our sins and cry out in dependence on God. That being repent. We as believers are to be a body of those who shove away the pride that comes with justifying our sins, and see our true depravity.
Martin Luther's first point of the 95 Theses was that the christians live is one of on going repentance. The more I translate this to the every moment mentality it is supposed to be in my life the more I am depending on the work and sufficentcy of the Cross, as well as seeing the filthiness of my own Righteousness.
How effective would the Body of the Church be if we would daily apply the lifestyle of the repentant one? How much humility would we possess when he come to the reality of our wrong doings against one another and most importantly against our Creator? How servant like would we be in knowing the depth of our wickedness and what Christ has done for us?
As we reflect on what Christ has done...
Let us be a people of Repentance.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Glocal?!?
Glocal?!?
No such word exists in the English Language.
So where am I getting this from?
I have been dealing here within the past few years, especially in my college career, with the concept of the missionary. Now for most of us who grew up in a baptist setting, the word is relatively familiar. We are acquainted with the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for missions, with other elements, and jargon. Though I am just scratching the surface of this dialogue for me, you are probably already asking, Adam what is your point? I, in my observation, have really noticed an interesting mindset. For those of us familiar with the great Missions work of the SBC, we have a bad habit in my opinion. Far to often when we think on the concept of missions or a missionary we always associate it with way over there, a foreign people, another nation. Now here me out, I am all about the nations; I have a huge passion for the nations; and desire to go to the nations. I desire that we need more foreign missionaries and that feel far few people go. Once again, Adam what is your point? I call that the GLOBAL, branch of missions. We are far to often see missions as a trip to another country, being sold out there, and never reaching out, getting to know the lost person next to us HERE. When we think of being good missionaries we get stuck on the week out of the year agenda, and have no concept of Being Faithful In The Moment. We lose sight of the LOCAL missionary that we are called to be, understanding the culture that surrounds us in its depravity, hungry for the Truth. If I was to give any credit for this idea it would have to go to Mark Driscoll. So I couldn't help sum it up without quoting him. "The Mission is to be close to Jesus. This transforms our heart to love what he loves, hate what he hates, and to pursue relationships wiht the lost people in hope of connecting with them and, subsequently, connecting then with him." (Radical Reformission)
So my aim?
To get those of us to be faithful in the moment.
To fully grasp the Gospel as a daily aspect, preaching to ourselves daily, allowing it to change us, to be the missionaries we are called to be.
To be:
GLOCAL.
No such word exists in the English Language.
So where am I getting this from?
I have been dealing here within the past few years, especially in my college career, with the concept of the missionary. Now for most of us who grew up in a baptist setting, the word is relatively familiar. We are acquainted with the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for missions, with other elements, and jargon. Though I am just scratching the surface of this dialogue for me, you are probably already asking, Adam what is your point? I, in my observation, have really noticed an interesting mindset. For those of us familiar with the great Missions work of the SBC, we have a bad habit in my opinion. Far to often when we think on the concept of missions or a missionary we always associate it with way over there, a foreign people, another nation. Now here me out, I am all about the nations; I have a huge passion for the nations; and desire to go to the nations. I desire that we need more foreign missionaries and that feel far few people go. Once again, Adam what is your point? I call that the GLOBAL, branch of missions. We are far to often see missions as a trip to another country, being sold out there, and never reaching out, getting to know the lost person next to us HERE. When we think of being good missionaries we get stuck on the week out of the year agenda, and have no concept of Being Faithful In The Moment. We lose sight of the LOCAL missionary that we are called to be, understanding the culture that surrounds us in its depravity, hungry for the Truth. If I was to give any credit for this idea it would have to go to Mark Driscoll. So I couldn't help sum it up without quoting him. "The Mission is to be close to Jesus. This transforms our heart to love what he loves, hate what he hates, and to pursue relationships wiht the lost people in hope of connecting with them and, subsequently, connecting then with him." (Radical Reformission)
So my aim?
To get those of us to be faithful in the moment.
To fully grasp the Gospel as a daily aspect, preaching to ourselves daily, allowing it to change us, to be the missionaries we are called to be.
To be:
GLOCAL.
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