Light-Like

Like many families, we have to get up pretty early in the mornings in order to have all the kids (and adults) ready in time to get to our specific destinations in a timely manner. As a result, there are many days when the house is still pretty dark as I wake up the boys. However, because I’ve been in the kitchen already, the light is on in there. It never fails, as soon as any of them walk into that room, they wrinkle up their noses, and squint their eyes. My three-year-old has grown rather fond of shouting “It’s too bright, daddy! Turn the light off!” Coming into the light out of the darkness can seem harsh and even painful to sensitive eyes. But, usually within minutes, they have transitioned from their “night vision” to the “light vision,” and are doing just fine.

Now come on, you know this screams for spiritual application! Before we begin a relationship with Jesus Christ, we exist in this area of darkness. The bible tells us we walk in darkness, or if you want to take the less subtle approach, we were dead in our sins. (Check out Ephesians 2 as one example.) Once the light of Christ was revealed to us, at that time when we place our faith in Jesus and call out to Him for our salvation, we leave the darkness and step into the light of God. 

That’s not always an easy transition. Even for those who already know Christ, and are just discovering another area of darkness in their lives that they need to turn over to Jesus, stepping out of the darkness and into the light of Jesus can be kind of rough. Just like the sudden light can make our eyes and even our head hurt, the transition between “away from God” and “Walking with God” can be painful. Many times it’s simply pride. We don’t like to realize we’ve been wrong, and the sting of having to admit that can be difficult. Other times can be worse; what if we’re involved in relationships and friendships that are not honoring to God and we know the only way to get back into the Light is to cut ties with those people? Just because we’re doing what God wants doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy and painless.

Scripture is clear on the point, however. We cannot remain in this darkness and have fellowship with God. “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:4-7

Not only does our relationship with God improve (or begin, as the case may be) but our fellowship with other believers is strengthened when we walk in the Light of God. All the amazing qualities God instilled in us through the Holy Spirit are revealed in His light, and we become blessings to those around us. 

So, while transitioning out of the darkness can be a difficult and potentially painful experience, once it is done, we will experience life through our “light vision,” and can see the world the way Jesus sees it. This will help us to better know our purpose, and our place of service to God as we seek to make a difference to those around us, sharing this Light of Christ with them. “...Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Everyday Journey

So life as I know it has changed drastically in the past few weeks--well, months, really. It started with a morning in which I was very sleepy. I had been working to discipline myself to get up early and start each day in the Word and Quiet Time with God. Some days are more successful than others. On November 30, 2011, I was not having much luck, as I was sleepy and couldn't stay awake while trying to read the Bible.

I put on a jacket and went outside to pray. I figured the cold morning air would do wonders to keep me awake. As I prayed, I felt like God was prompting me to just clear my mind and focus on hearing Him. So I did. I got still and did all I could to quit the storm in my head. I tried not to hear the birds chirping and the crickets...whatever you would call their sounds. My eyes were drawn to a couple of squirrels chasing each other through the trees, and I couldn't help but enjoy watching. I was afraid if I closed my eyes, I would fall asleep, so with these few distractions, I did my best to listen for a Word from God.

Funny how God's promptings can open your heart to multiple lessons. The first that I learned is that all the things I was trying to NOT see was part of what God wanted me to see. I was in the presence of HIS creation, and was blessed to witness some of the things I usually ignore or take for granted, and don't experience. It was in that moment of realization that I heard God speak to my heart as clearly as I ever have. "I want you to start a new church."

What? Did I just have an aneurism? What did I just "hear?" Surely this wasn't right. I was a youth minister who never had any aspirations to become a Pastor, much less a church planter. I was pretty convinced I'd fallen asleep anyway. However, I began to pray for confirmation and telling God that if He was really calling me to this new journey, I would be willing to follow. But I had my hesitations!

First, I put out my "fleece," sort of half-heartedly asking God to have someone mention the same thing to me that did not already know I was praying about it. He did that through a good friend. Then, I got "practical" about needing experience first and put out resumes to try and get a new job as a Pastor, and God closed those doors. The more I prayed and tried to reason out of this, God made it more clear that He wanted obedience, and nothing less would settle.

So now, here we are. I have finished my tenure, and even career as a Youth Pastor, which is kind of surreal. I am technically the Pastor and Church Planter for "Everyday Church," as we have named it. (More on that in a moment.) Finally, and the most "in your face" part of this whole thing is that we are pressing on with a drastic change on the income scale. If ever there was a time when my family's faith in God was put to the test, this is it. We are totally out of our comfort zone, totally dependent on God to provide, and completely sure that somehow, some way, God will provide for all of our needs, and for the needs of Everyday Church.

You see, the vision of Everyday Church is to lead people to become faithful, everyday followers of Christ. That simply means that for believers in Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord,  in every aspect of our lives, we represent Christ. Being a true believer does not mean we give God an hour or two on Sunday, and maybe an hour on Wednesday night, but every hour of every day. You may be a veteranarian. If you are a believer, you wake up each day as a follower of Christ, who cares for His creation by treating animals. If you are a banker who is also a Christian, you wake up each day as a follower of Christ who works hard to be a good example of steward of other people's trust and their earnings. No matter what your job is, if you are a born-again, Holy Spirit-lives-in-your-heart, trusting, committed, believer of Jesus Christ, you are always His, even when life changes.

I believe that if we can reclaim this everyday surrender to Christ in the lives of His followers, and then make more disciples that learn to do the same (pretty sure Jesus said something about that at least once), then we will begin to see a more obvious change in the culture and communities in which we live.

So here I am, committed to this vision, this calling, this dream, this roller-coaster ride of planting a new church, and it is what I lovingly call a "bi-polar experience." I jump back and forth between apparent opposites: I am scared. But, I'm also excited. I have some big ideas, and I'm totally overwhelmed. I am looking for a job, even though I technically have a job. I trust God, but worry about my abilities. But regardless of all these things,  I am committed to this journey every single day, even on days when I fail. On what Journey has God placed you? Are you a faithful follower of His each day? Do you begin the day as a believer in Christ and THEN whatever else? As brothers and sisters in Christ, let us commit to living everyday to the honor and glory of God the father, and shine the light of Jesus to the world around us.

(Ever since God laid this vision on my heart, this particular song keeps coming to mind. Enjoy!)