Two weeks after Easter, Now What? the power of God changing everything should still shape us. I've been thinking a lot about what I want to do, and I invite you to reflect on this with me.
I'm convinced that what we should be doing is helping each other on the spiritual journey to find out how we can become the people God shaped in our Mother's wombs. Psalm 139 tells us that's when it began. But like most children we can choose not to follow what was the basic plan. How can I discover and keep to my journey and help you keep to your journey.
I'm convinced that spiritual formation, the shaping of our journey in a spiritual realm, requires that we learn from God what our journey is. That will happen as we are exposed more and more to the work of God that we will learn from the Word, Jesus and the experiences of those who knew Jesus very well. We can find their story in the New Testament. So I'm going to read more of what Jesus did and said and what happened to the people that he touched and talked to to see what I can do to be a good student of Jesus and a follower of his example.
Over the next few weeks, I'll be blogging about what I'm discovering. I've been challenged by Leonard Sweet to focus clearly on Jesus who invited us to serve this present age. I'm going to try to serve it, give to it, direct it as best I can. You can help me and help you if you respond with questions and thoughts you might have about making a better spiritual life out of all of this. How do we pray, how do we practice the Jesus way. How do we overcome obstacles and let God's love shape us more clearly to be the people who bless and make a real difference in our own world and into the lives of others. I think that's a real challenge and I hope you pray for me as I pray for you.
Easter is all about overcoming the worst, death into new life. All of us can move from death and the old way, into the Abundant life Jesus invited us to experience, but we are going to have to get a little more frisky, a little more adventuresome if we are going on our own journey of faith. I'll report back in on my story, I hope I hear from you.
Let the games and the resurrection of life begin. Please come with me.
I'm convinced that the purpose of our church is to help make disciples who get it. Maybe we can help you get it too.
Blessings
Pastor Jeff
PS, if you go to www.facebook.com/LGUMC15225 you will see video of our work at Liberty Grove, our special events and sermons.
