An Update and New Challenge

Back in July I started a new adventure. One year long, I would do anything I heard in any sermon any time I go to any church. So, I've had some Bible studies, but for the most part found myself not doing a lot. Which, is a disappointment on two levels.

For one, I really thought (and somewhat still think) churches ask a lot of their people. But, much of what I've found has been that church culture more than the exploration of scripture asks a lot of Christians and church-goers. It's announcements, conversations, and all of that which ask people to do a lot. My wife mentioned to me that since we've joined a new church she has literally been called by someone in a different ministry asking her to serve every week. Yet this hasn't been sermons, it's the culture. In this way, the disappointment I've felt has been primarily in that I haven't been able to exploit this for my writing, and insights. I thought it would be funny.

The second side of this disappointment has been more on a spiritual level. In my last post, a couple months back, I asked if I was going about my adventure wrong. Maybe, sermons don't have to exhort and call to action - I wondered. But, if that is the case - I think Jesus really sucked at preaching. The reason I say that isn't because he actually sucked, but so many of the recorded sermons of Jesus are actually spoken commands. Sometimes he gets all spiritual and inspirational in style, but many times he warns people to not act like the self-righteous and hypocritical religious establishment and then offers a different course of actions. I am disappointed that nobody has asked me to feed the hungry, give to the poor, love an outcast or help the forgotten in any kind of specific way (or generic for that matter).

Regardless of this, I have pressed on. If you are one of my three faithful readers you undoubtably noticed I did not write anything for the last couple months. There is one really big reason for that. I found a church to join. While looking, I had no problem posting about churches I was pretty sure I wouldn't land with. However, in finding my current church, I felt like I should keep my insights to myself to begin.

That said, there are now two stories to share, and I will likely be adding more as things come up.

So, the first story is one of the more interesting points of action in a sermon since I've started. "Ask your boss about their recent vacation." There was more context, and the power behind this application is actually lost in the application itself. However, the deal with my plan was to do word for word as I was asked. I will now repeat the conversation between me and my boss, Ryan Smith, that followed that week about the vacation he was about to take.

Me: Hey Ryan, going on vacation in a couple days, huh?

Ryan: Yeah, I think I'm getting sick though.

Me: Oooh, are you going to have to cancel.

Ryan: No, I'd rather have a fever at the beach then at home.

Me: Makes sense to me.

Ryan: (Coughs) Yup.

The second story is the current series we are on. Pastor Isaac, super-stud, started a new sermon series on prayer. Last week he told us to pray. I did. Probably not enough, but I did. This morning, he was a little more specific about setting a time. So, now I am setting a time. Which, by the way, makes me pretty nervous. Because I suck at getting up early.

Now, you may ask, "Ryan, why not pray later?" Well, young asks-exactly-what-I-want-to-answer, the reason is simple I am married. What that means is, when I get home from work my wife is home. She is ready and waiting for my attention. After receiving all of my attention she goes to bed, and complains if I do not join her promptly. Being a good obedient husband, I would rather not set my time at any point to piss off my wife. Even in the name of God. Ergo, the only time I would have is before work. So, my prayer time will begin every day at 7. Sometimes this will be before I get ready for work, on a couple of occasions I will have to get ready first - hurm.

Either way, the mission is on. This week, every day at 7am I will pray on time. Wish me and my alarm clock luck.