Be honest.

Do you ever get the feeling that Jesus would never choose to hang out in the places we’ve built for him? Do you ever feel like Jesus’ message of radical love, mercy and forgiveness has been drowned out by the voices of judgment, condemnation, and stagnant ritualistic religion? Do you ever get the sense that the church was never meant to be about helping itself, but about helping the world? Do you ever get the nagging feeling that Jesus never intended the church to be comfortable and controlled, but instead an untamable movement that challenges the way things have always been done? Have you ever longed to be a part of a community that isn’t afraid to experience God in new and creative ways? (Yeah, us too.)

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Wings

Last Sunday was Fathers Day and to my surprise my wife and my 3 year old daughter brought me breakfast in bed. As we ate, talked and laughed I suddenly got an overwhelming feeling of the rarity of the moment. You ever get that feeling where you just know a moment is rare and special? You see, right now I'm everything to my daughter; she trusts my words, laughs at my jokes, and wants to be just like me. But I know these days will be fading away soon, and before I even realize it she'll have many other things that will preoccupy her life (friends, school, boys, etc.) So realizing the urgency of this special moment, I took the opportunity to take her love and curiosity for butterflies and show her that when we ask Jesus into our life, it's like transforming from a caterpillar into a awe-inspiring butterfly (not an original thought, but what is?). I explained to her, in creative and flowing words, that when we trust Jesus, he gives us wings and enables us to live a life that we never dreamed was possible.
I could tell that my words were sinking in, she was truly moved by what I was saying, I was connecting with my daughter in a way that I never had before (I truly am an amazing dad. No wonder they made me breakfast in bed).
And looking up at me with her adorable brown eyes she says, "Daddy?"
"Yes, sweetie?" I answered.
"You have food stuck in your teeth."

So as I write this post, I'm wondering if the above statement about Jesus and his church truly resonates with anyone. Does anyone actually feel the same way? Am I on the right track? Or do I just have food stuck in my teeth?
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