Test....

It was another amazing weekend in the life of Emmanuel. I had the joy of being booed by our Saturday evening crowd (mob... riotous group.... fanatics : ).... We are going to 'rest' Saturdays in the summer and move to 3 Worship Encounters on the weekend. As expected, some of the Saturday gang was less than thrilled, but incredibly understanding. It really is our passion to move the body of Christ into the community when the community 'gathers.' On Saturdays, the community gathers at birthday parties, ballgames, air shows, parades, cookouts... it is a day of being social. As we have prayed, thought about our "Encounter" times in light of our passion for being "in" the community, we really felt that it is our role to be with people who are seeking Christ when they gather. Equally important for our staff is our ability to be with our kids during momentous moments in their lives. We've missed entire seasons of sport.... pageants.... parades..... and significant moments that we just can't reclaim as a mom or a dad. I/ we hope that our decision makes sense. We really hope that you guys know that we've been asking God for wisdom about this decision for months!

Beyond the Saturday "boo" fest, I was intensely challenged to remember that life really is a test. That my everyday actions, attitudes, interrelationships will do one of two things. I am either gathering people around the cross of Jesus Christ or I am scattering them from Christ. I know that life is a test and that the character of Christ must be lived out through my life. I recognize that intergrity and character happen in everyday, normal, going to work, interacting at a restaurant, being a husband, being a co-worker moments. I continue to realize the vitality of what it means to allow the 'weight/ glory' of who Christ is to fall on this earth through me. I long for me... for us to be 'fierce with the reality' of Christ. I long for there to be someOne who lives with such passion in and through me that my life is inexplicable. As I consider my life is a test (one that lends proof to the character of the living God), the question asked by Rob Bell filets me. If my life lends credence to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, do people check 'yes' to the resurrection based upon who I am in Him?

That's weighty with responsibility. The good news about this tested life is that it is an open book test. God invites us to be a people who deeply love His Word. Who spend inordinate amounts of time devouring His Word. Who allow His Word to dwell in us richly. I really think that our capacity to navigate the 'tests' of life are directly attributable to our passion for and hunger for the Word of God. His character becomes our very own as His Word comes alive in us.

May God's Word continue to resurrect God's character in our lives as we walk through this journey called life. When that happens, we might just learn to love, actually.

Feel free to comment below.

For the Glory,

Mark