I tend to be pretty hyperactive when it comes to reading and consuming information. (yes friends – a deep revelation and moment of self-realization, I know). I am in the middle of who knows how many books right now for school and fun. I browse 10-15 blogs a day. I am normally working on two or three creative projects that include teaching and writing curriculum. My wife wonders if I am addicted to information – that is, in addition to my obsession with coffee. So, lets just say that I tend to not let things stew as long as they should.
Except for one idea right now. I read a book and its fundamental premise continues to stew within me. It is actually the underlying theme of the series we will begin at Crash on Easter. And I am actually kind of excited that I cannot just put it aside. I lie in bed thinking about it at night. I daydream while writing another paper for school, and my mind goes to this. I think about when I get tired of the same songs on the radio and don’t have my iPod with me.
I am coming to learn that I really should sit with ideas, challenging thoughts, unanswered questions for longer than I do. I tend to be pretty impatient and bounce around like a pinball from project to project, concept to concept. I am beginning to understand this part of who I am, and it means that to some degree, I am going to have to adapt how I engage life in this area.
I think we all have these moments in our lives – when begin to understand ourselves, the way in which God created us uniquely. When we begin to go, “This is who I am, so I should begin to engage this and not work against myself here.” And it is often out of those kind of moments, that we begin to understand what vision and direction for our lives looks like. The Holy Spirit begins to speak very clearly as we embrace our identity as image bearers of God, redeemed by Jesus.
If you get a chance, throw a comment down below about where you are beginning to understand yourself and what implications are emerging out of that. I am gonna keep chewing on my stuff all weekend, getting ready for a big writing session on Monday. Excited for what Easter and the days after mean for you and me.
-Scott
Now you can understand why it took me over two months to read a book with less than 200 pages. When it’s so good that you have to pause at every page and reflect on the questions it raises it takes a long time to finish. I would highly recommend “ReJesus” by Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch to anyone who wants their status quo relationship with Christ challenged to be something more with practical steps to getting there.
Scott – Hyperactive? More like a cappuccino chipmunk. But who am I to talk? My family use to give me chocolate and paint brush…even though I got more paint on the ground the fence got painted in record time. So as we set in the coffee house both lit like carnival lights I enjoy the fast pace conversation.
On to the thread, and like MOST, I always have something going on…from the countless books scattered from room to room and between the breaths including over 50 emails a day makes a person wonder; when do you have time to work? Thanksgiving of 2008 became a milestone. Self actualization surfaced at over 50 years of age, whereas I gave my complete life over to God. Searching for the needle in the haystack I had to find the real me…and guess what, I did not like that person. Sinning in the name of profit forged the perfect business man, or I thought.
My girl friend, which is now my fiancée, took me to see a movie, “Fireproof.” How did this movie draw the line in connect the dots of knowing me better? It taught me that it is acceptable to show positive emotions in front of strangers, however and more importantly show the most venerable side of my heart to someone that I love. As I returned to Phoenix confused because my business side, emotional side, and spiritual side where at odds with each other and that Sunday night Crash had communion. Still confused I left the church without accepting communion admitting to myself it is a weakness to confess even by communion that you aren’t strong enough to be a self made man.
Coming full circle is a Christian a verb or a noun? To understand myself required an adverb and ownership becomes the pronoun. God protects my soul and I protect what is left, in short; a partnership and he is the majority owner. My life has not changed. I still have the challenges of legal issues, taxes, and running multiple companies but what has changed is how I calm the storm of my reaction before it gets out of control. The implications emerging out of my decision to become a Christian…simple, my house is no longer on fire and the rebuilding of my past to a brighter future. In short, I am a Christian under construction and I need mentoring understanding the blue prints. Seven