Midweek Josh Talk

Belong is a bit of a goofy word. Say it a few times and tell me it doesn't feel like you're just playing with sounds while you're trying to think of a better word. Ok, maybe that's just me. The desire to belong, on the other hand, is something we wrestle with throughout our lives. We try not to give in to it so that we don't become social chameleons. Many of us carry scars from groups we have been a part of. There are others who take it for granted, as they always seem to fit in wherever they go. Whatever the case, we were designed to belong in community. Each of us created out of love, for love, to be loved. What we may not realize is that our ability to grow is intimately connected with our security as a valuable member of a loving community. This originates from our Creator as we are made in the image of God, our image. It was this point which caught my attention last Sunday. In taking a close look at Romans 12:1-5 we received God's truth and it chall...

What have I been called to do? Each of us wrestle with this question as we follow Christ through every season of our lives. Sure, I know I am to love because Jesus first loved me, and I know He set the example of ministry as a servant. Yet there remains the questions of "How do I love when I'm surrounded by hate?" "Where can I go to meaningfully serve others?" "How do I know if I'm doing it right?" First of all, God is neither a taskmaster nor a scorekeeper. God knows the plans He has for me. As I go through my everyday life, I know I have been called for such a time as this. I have been sent to minister right where I am. This perspective shifts all my questions to thoughts of "How can I best love this person in front of me?" "Where do You want me to look?" "Am I listening to the Spirit right now?" What have we been called to do? To proclaim our community as a church means we believe we have been called out a...

"What has helped me?" Our commitment as a church is to advance the Gospel as a Kingdom family. As we drill down on advancing through small steps and simple invitations, Lumumba was preaching out of Revelation and asked the question, "What has helped me in sharing the word of my testimony?" I was particularly caught by his first point of prayer. Jesus taught us to pray. Prayer is unique to humankind and a primary indicator of the faithfulness of God's people. God hears every prayer. It is transformational, impactful, good for the soul, empowered by the Spirit, and necessary for our intimate relationship with the Creator of the universe. Yet we often treat it as a daily chore. When prayer becomes an after thought for me I begin to forget who I am in Christ, that I have been called and sent by God, and what I have been sent to do. When my prayer life is weak it becomes a laundry list of what I hope God will do for me instead of remembering who He is and lis...