Following the King

I saw it last night with Ted and my buddy, Scott. It was AWESOME! I’m going to see it again soon. Yes, it has violence. Yes it has values. Yes it makes you think. FYI: “Eli” is Hebrew &
means “my God”.

The title of this blog suggests that perhaps I’ve figured out exactly what those words mean. I haven’t. I just spent an evening with a good buddy, Scott, from San Diego. He is leading a church planting movement in Southern California (he would say it hasn’t become a movement yet). He is an entrepeneur who is wanting to see the Kingdom advance and is willing to take some risks for the sake of the King.

Anyway, Scott, Ted (son #1) and I were visiting about what God is doing in among his people. The title of this blog summarizes the dilemma which I see in American Christianity. It occurs to me that our Christian culture in the USA has become so accustomed to the sociological institution of the church that a person could “do church” when they show up at church activities, etc. But they could avoid being the church in their daily lives. It seems to me that we are (being) the church when we are imitating Christ and living for others in our 24/7 experiences.

I think I’ll keep praying about this.

It’s been a quiet evening to end the year (or end the decade as those in the media seek for some “fodder” to pad their paragraphs).  Watched a movie.  Enjoyed being with my bride.  Dealt with a small plumbing mishap.  Pipes don’t seem to care what day of the year it might be.

The end of a year.  I read with interest a WSJ article about the calendar. Bottom line, the change of the year is an arbitrary matter. I am reminded of Psalm 90. In verse 4 the Psalmist writes: “For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. ” God’s perspective of time is so beyond my calendar. I find comfort in v.12 of Psalm 90: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

“Teach me, Lord, to number my days aright.” That will give me enough to ponder as the fireworks explode and the “norther” blows in. I am thankful for another night of sleep, as I’ll need energy to figure out how to fix that leaky pipe come morning.

It was therapeutic to run between the trees on a cold, wet, quiet morning.   I am just now reconnecting with running after a long recovery from an injury.  It felt good to not make an excuse for the rain (and rationalize a reason for not running).  

I just received word of another funeral in the next few days.  Thank you God for the promise of life forever through your Son.