Forgotten...

Today I find myself reading two books with the word, “Forgotten” in their respective titles. One of them focusing on, “The Forgotten Ways” and the other focusing on the “Forgotten God.” As I read through the both of these books in my somewhat traditional manner of reading more than too many books at one time I cannot help but ponder the fact that we have forgotten so much. Not only have we forgotten the ways of the missional church as Alan Hirsch rights in his book or how we have forgotten about the role of the Holy Spirit in Francis Chan’s book but there is more. There needs to be a rekindling of our since of adventure as we explore and unpack God’s plan for our lives. We know He has plans to prosper us, but what does that look like? Are we living our lives with our hands cupped anticipating a blessing but with our eyes clinched tightly as to not see the adventure and fellow adventurers before us?

A few weeks ago I headed of on an adventure to cross the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia with friends, alumni, bus, and a few alligators. The adventure, I prayed, would be one that would do more than warm the back of my neck with sun, but would fan the flame of passion I have for adventure in Christ. And boy did it ever ignite and fan a flame of passion unlike anything I had experienced prior. Paul set out through much more treacherous waters than I and he never hesitated and always delighted in God’s mission. Our mission is to thrive in this adventure that is called life and not to merely survive from day to day. My prayer for each of us is that we have not forgotten our way and that we have not forgotten our God. May you be blessed beyond all happiness as we adventure together.

Evil Technology? Or not?

As I sit typing this at my outside table at Panera in Louisville, KY typing this blog I am forced to think about how will I tell everyone that I have a thought to share. Ironically I am not thinking about: telling everyone when I get back in town, or making some phone calls to friends or family, but instead I’m thinking boy I hope my battery holds out long enough for me to share this news with all my friends on Facebook and all my friends on Twitter. The news of this new thought will spread quickly over many miles in the flash of an eye and cost me nothing. The technology that is at the disposal of the church is amazing and I was reminded today that the church has always been willing to use the technology available to it. We can all read our own Bibles thanks to the work of Mr. Gutenberg, we know of the marvelous work of Billy Graham because of the wonders of radio and television, and we can watch amazing sermons from guys like Craig Groeschel at lifechurch.tv when the mood strikes us.

I myself am a little guilty of being a little slow on the up take of the use of technology, but once embracing it I have been overwhelmed by the usefulness and impact of this tool. I look forward to utilizing this tool more and more and I know that as I work to be more influential for the Kingdom that God will continue to reveal to me ways in which He has given every tool we need. May God’s Word spread quickly whether on printed page, radio waves, or social media.

In His Grip,

Matt

Thinking outside of the proverbial box

A thought I recently thunk. If the books that we read are books that we especially like because they are what we call, “outside the box thinkers” then who do they read? Is there some kind of library or Amazon that they shop at that the rest of us don’t have access to? Do they read old books and then repackage them as if they are new and fresh. Or thirdly, are they just merely thinking outside the box because God has gifted them to do so. It is a well, or little known fact, depending on who you are that Alexander Campbell, one of the original thinkers in the Restoration Movement, would go away for a time of solitude and thinking and only take his Bible, concordance, and a notepad. In order to allow God to speak boldly and clearly without the infiltration of stale human thought. I believe the Millennial Harbinger is evidence that Campbell could think and hear God in a fresh way.
So riddle me this who does, Groeschel, McManus, Sweet, and the others read?

Text Crazy?!

So what has happened to privacy these days? I’ve realized through various conversations with friends, family, and teens that phone etiquette went away with 90’s. It has become painfully obvious that to text someone even in the middle of the night has somehow become socially acceptable.

Just today I received a shaking of my hip to tell me that I had a phone call, which I had to ignore due to my current surroundings. Only to then be beckoned once more a moment later by that all to familiar shaking of said hip, to notify me of a waiting voice-mail. So all is well, I thought I’ll check the voice-mail when I get a moment away. Then, low and behold another shake, what is it this time I thought, but a text message from the same individual. Not that I mind technology and all but have we become slaves to the very thing that we think we can’t live without?

We need to really consider that anti-technology day.

Perhaps that would be something worth fasting from?