See what happens when mom is gone for a day or two. The mooch talks me into all kinds of trouble.
Amy’s absence is consequently also how you get random blog posts from me at two thirty in the morning.
My life lacks a passion for the world. I can be very ME centered. I stumbled upon the video below when browsing Francis Chan’s website, In Love With God. Their church has been unable to grow for 5 years due to a lack of space. Obvious answer? Build a new bigger better building. They have access to plenty of funds. Yet they are bucking the trend. Instead of spending millions on a new Sanctuary they are building a much cheaper outdoor amphitheater. That will double as a community park throughout the week. I think they have locked onto something. In doing so it frees them up to give more to the world, oh to be like that.
So it seems like I don’t know how to embed videos very well, here is a link for you to download the video and view it with Quicktime.
Video from Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, CA.
Click through to their building explanation page to learn more about what they are doing for the world. Making videos like this is part of what I want to do when I grow up :).
I have been greatly challenged tonight by a post from a good friend, Pastor David. He quotes Erwin McManus from Barbarian Way at a slightly greater length than I am going to in his post. One line in particular hit me hard;
God would never choose for us safety at the cost of significance.
That is a revolutionary statement. I cherish the safety of my surroundings. How often have I chosen my own comfort and desires over the alternative of significance? What a foolish and cheap trade that is to make.
It reminds me of a trip that I took with 9 youth backpacking this summer. Our goal was to climb a 14er and on our first day I chickened out. Not because I didn’t think I was able but because it wasn’t as safe as I like to be. The next day I worked through the fears; it was at considerable risk, but with great rewards.
Lord please teach me how to always choose the significant things in Your eyes over my own desires.