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May 2008 30

What Exactly is a Christian?1

Posted In Church

The idea behind this post is to present a question that you’ve always wondered about or wanted to ask but didn’t think it was safe or questionable. The goal is to get readers to THINK in an effort to challenge and provoke them to go on a personal pursuit of understanding.

So here’s the question:

What exactly is a Christian?

Where does this word come from? Where exactly do we derive it’s present-day meaning? And most importantly, does it carry the same meaning today as it did centuries ago? These questions spark interest in me. I’m finding that so much of the Christian faith is taken out of its proper – or should I say original / Biblical – context. I do believe that our finite minds cannot conceive all of what God knows, but I also believe that He has made an immense effort to reveal enough of His Truth at a level that we can understand. And that portion of insight can be found in a collection of writings we refer to as the Holy Bible. As I continue to challenge the idea of what exactly is a Christian and begin to rap my mind around what Jesus defines as a Christian or follower, I am discovering a huge disconnect of what many of us define as a Christian today.

So, what exactly is a Christian?

You tell me…

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May 2008 22

God Is Rockin’ My World0

Posted In Church

Dude, I must say… God is indeed, rocking my world. And it is not fun and it is not all that exciting. I have been literally blown by Andy Stanley’s teaching these past few Sundays as he laid down some hard hitting truths about “Faith, Hope & Luck”. Now mind you, Andy rarely teaches @ the Buckhead Church campus, so it was great being able to see him live, raw, and in action – touching on some misunderstood ideas of Christianity. This really opened my eyes to what and why I’ve been feeling the way I have lately.

One thing that stands out to me that I am learning through life is that God is not some “Buy One Get One Free” deal that I can get at the store. He is not a formula or slot machine that I pull down enough times in hoping that I’ll win it big… maybe that’s why North Point used the slot machine theme for this series – I never thought about that (lol). But anyway, as I was saying… a few years ago, I realized that I had been suckered into believing that if I prayed some big prayer or read the Bible enough or did the “right” thing, then God would like me enough to approve what I wanted or give me what I asked for. Over the past 2 years, I’ve grown to see the complete opposite. For so long, I’ve questioned why a lot of preachers say one thing, but have no fruit to show that any of it works. It’s a lot of emotionalism and motivational speaking that is confusing people to believe that God moves to our tempo or something. It’s just stupid.

God is definitely rocking my world because I’m learning to desire Him even when He doesn’t come through or answer or even speak at all (which I’ve never known God to speak verbally to me anyway). He’s rocking my world because He’s challenging my lack of faith and belief in Him. He and I have a love-hate relationship: I love God but I hate this process-thing. It just doesn’t always go my way. I’m learning patience. I’m learning how to lean on His promise even when all I seem to have IS a promise that He’ll never leave me out here alone. I’m learning what real faith looks like and feels like, and it isn’t some alter-call experience or some emotional experience at a church service. It’s having confidence that God is who He says He is and that He will do what He promised He will do. It’s trusting Him and knowing that He will give me grace (strength/power) and mercy (empathy) in my time of need. And even when I can’t seem to get it right or figure Him out, He promised me that He will never leave. And for some reason, that seems to be enough.

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May 2008 12

Are You Taking Up Space or Occupying Space?2

Posted In DNA

What are YOU doing?

Really… what are you doing with your life?

When was the last time you took inventory?

Are you “Taking Up” Space or are you “Occupying” Space?

This topic stained my mind for about a week and I couldn’t resist blogging about it. What I am discovering is that I matter… no really, I matter. Or should I say that I AM matter.

Matter [n.]: something that occupies space.

In other words, you and I are made up of matter which is designed to occupy space. I know this may sound funny, but hear me out. Think about it from a literal sense: The definite shape of your body occupies space. Wherever you are at a certain moment of time, the space you are occupying can only be occupied by you. Meaning that if you are sitting in a seat in a restaurant or standing in line at a theme park, that particular space you are in can only be occupied by you at that moment. On a more thought-provoking level, think about your life as carved-out space that only you are designed to occupy. What I mean by OCCUPY is this: Living a life on purpose, in purpose, and for a purpose. In other words, only you can occupy your space or live your life.

This may seem rather silly to write a post about, but there are many people who have settled to living a life that TAKES UP space rather than a life that OCCUPIES space. I see so many people who – if you were to sit them down and survey them on what the heck are they doing with their life – you’d find that at the root, they’ve settled. They lack vision, drive, a true since of purpose and the passion to pursue anything. They’ve settled for a life that has been forced upon them by society rather than the carved out life that has been designed and given to them by God. One of my most favorite verses in scripture from the words of Jesus is this:

“I come that they may have life and have it to the full” [John 10:10 TNIV].

I wonder, what would the world look like if we really occupied or maximized the space that we are in to the full – the space God carved out for us to occupy? Are you starting to see where I am going with this?

My prayer for my life is that my carved out space would be occupied and filled with being one whose lifestyle embodies passion and creativity. I pray that when I am in environments where people lack creativity, lack vision, and lack passion, I bring ideas, wisdom, and inspiration. I pray that we don’t settle for a life that just TAKES UP space, but that we OCCUPY it.

God has carved out space for YOU to occupy.

My question to you is are you occupying YOURS?

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May 2008 02

Become Definitive4

Posted In DNA

SHIRT OF THE DAY: “BE who you be.”

THOUGHT OF THE DAY: Be definitive.

Definitive [n.]: something that is fully differentiated or developed; complete; a final example or version of its type.

We as bloggers, thinkers, teachers, students, mothers, fathers, doctors, designers, pastors, leaders and artists define ourselves by our occupation. In most cases, if you ask a person who they, the first thing they tell you is their occupation (ie. “I’m a doctor.” or “I’m a designer.”). But is that truly you? Is that really who YOU are?

The idea of becoming definitive is not about being better than someone else or making yourself look unique or different. Becoming definitive is a discovery. It’s a coming-to-grips with who you really are and what you’re really made of. Many of us limit ourselves to terms and vocabulary that have already been carved out. Terms like ‘doctor’, ‘lawyer’, ‘engineer’, etc. Yet when we dive into our true colors, we find that these terms often times limit us.

Becoming definitive means simply this: Becoming Maximum YOU.

It’s about understanding that who you are is unique all-in-itself. It’s about understanding that the space God has carved out for you to occupy is designed and fit just for you. It’s about understanding that when we begin to occupy the space that is truly us, we are liberated to move beyond the simple titles of doctor, student, teacher and artist. We are forced to remove the limitations and are inspired to dream.

So my question to you is “Who are you… REALLY?” If you are an artist, then what makes you unique? What makes you YOU? What makes you definitive? What most of us will find is that the terms that we have defined ourselves by for so long now lack the ability to define who we really are. Some may even find that the words that they are looking for to describe who they are and what they do doesn’t exist. And you know what that means? That means that you have just created space to become definitive; space to carve out your uniqueness in the pavement of life; space to BE who you be.

So go and be it. What are you waiting for?