I always love those reminders from God that help me get perspective on why in the world I’m busy about his business in the first place. Today’s reminder came from Brennan Manning in his book, The Importance of Being Foolish:
Heightened by what someone has called “the agnosticism of inattention”–the lack of personal discipline to overcome media bombardment, sterile conversation, and utilitarian relationships–our self-awareness grows dim, the presence of a loving God fades into the distance and the possibility of trust and intimacy seems less plausible.
…But so many of the things we do in our solitary moments have nothing to do with the Spirit or with the living will of God. Bothered by this dichotomy, we plunge into spiritual activities and get involved in church-related organizations and events in an effort to fill the empty space we know needs filling. Disciplined to renounce managerial control of our lives and unwilling to run the risk of living in union with Yahweh, we seek personal security and reassurance in rituals, devotions, liturgies, and prayer meetings. These structures provide a modicum of peace and promise that the comfortable piety and material possessions that constitute the sense of self will not be disturbed. But something is missing.
In the midst of our strategic thinking, creative planning, and momentous momentum, my prayer is that we replace that empty space Manning refers to not with the self-moved or self-motivated, but with the Spirit-led mind of Christ. Surrendering our big ideas, our best intentions, and our brilliant plans is perhaps what Paul was referring to in Galatians 2:20 when he said, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…”
May Christ live in you today.
Dan
March 22, 2006
Amen.
Let us be fixed and considering (Hebrews 12:2-3)
John
March 22, 2006
Maybe the Spirit will lead you to remove some blasphemous comments that were left under a post of your entitled “A COOL JESUS SUCKS” while your at remove the title too that’s blasphemous
Dan
March 24, 2006
“Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it” (James 4:11)
Have a nice day.
Matt Gould
March 24, 2006
Brad-
What a struggle. But you’re right. It’s ours…not HIS. We choose to make the choices we make (um….duh). Yet we blame said choices on the circumstances surrounding us.
The biggest…and best choice I can make is to simply surrender. My best friend and I have huge vision for the company he’s started and I’ve partnered in. But unless we realize who the CEO should be…forget it.
As always….thought provoking…intriguing site. I’m sure we’ll cross paths one of these days. Looking forward to shaking your hand.
Matt G.
Senior Producer
Edifi Media
Buffalo, NY
Anthony
March 24, 2006
I do not believe that God intended us to substitute “religion” for RELATIONSHIP. It was relationship that was lost in the garden when man sinned – and THAT is what God has been longing for so long to get back. He wants SOMEBODY to walk and talk with in the cool of the day… somebody to just HANG with and who will let Him fully express Himself to and through.
indieworship
March 28, 2006
Core
A few days ago Brad Abare at Church Marketing Sucks had a really touching post entitled Why we do this. His words and his quote pulled from The Importance of Being Foolish strike a satisfying chord with me. He says
Christine Sander
May 1, 2006
You know, in a way I can’t believe its true, that I find, one among a billion (or more?) messages posted in the internet every second, the above comment. It express the reason for the cross exactly as I sense it and better than I could ever state it.
My appreciation goes to the squidoo staff as well. A task well handled.