Monday, December 1, 2008

Ordinary People with Extraordinary Tasks

I just realized tonight why I appreciate my pastor so much, for these 6 years I've never been able to put my finger on it- but after watching "Accepted" I realize why.
Rick Warren has the amazing ability to trust ordinary people with extraordinary tasks, not only that he is so confident in them that it beams them to levels they never would have gone. To have someone who has accomplished so much, still trust the ordinary man or woman with HUGE tasks like the PEACE plan, and the fact every ministry is volunteer led at his church is completely an amazing fact- its a level of trust that most of us don't even get from our parents.
You see to me, Jesus' call to bring the Good News to the poor, destitute, and the sinner being given to a small group of laymen, mostly workers like fishermen, is the universal message God gives to mankind- you can do it, by My power, anything is possible. Warren does nothing, but echo that original call from God Almighty.
When will we learn, there are consequences to every action? We want slim bodies, but we want McDonalds, we wish to have the endurance of pumas yet we drive cars to our workplaces instead of running. We have been told for so long what we must be doing- its time we cut back the throttle on that useless chase, and figure out what we're supposed to be doing with our lives. Just as Rick says every time someone approaches him with a ministry idea, "Great idea, you lead it." Most would get frustrated because we look at the cash cow and buildings accumulated and ask why we can't have a piece- when we must realize that what's being taught there is that God WILL provide, you need to step out in faith and accomplish what is on your heart.

What we've been told about getting an "A" in life is as follows: go to college, get a job in the corporate world where you can accumulate money, buy a house, get a wife, start a family, retire. I say if we really think hard, that is what our brains would say is true. But our hearts scream for more, more adventure, more risk, more passion where instead of becoming an indentured servant for the purpose of the American dream, we take a no bull, honest look at who we are, and we go from there.

I'm riding my bike to work tomorrow.

1 comment:

Scooter said...

Did you actually ride your bike?

Recently I have been pondering this very thought: "The lives we live are only constrained by us." Whatever we make of our lives is completely up to us. In the world we live in, I would say the world that God has provided us with, we have nearly unlimited potential. Each and everyday we have the potential to do something great. Each and everyday we can change some one's life. Yet most of the time we settle for just making it through to the end of the day, job well done.

Tomorrow when you wake up, you can do whatever you want. Yes, the social norm, and most likely responsible thing to do would be to get ready for work/school/whatever you have planned; however, you are the one who decides to turn left to head to work, when you could go right. You are the one who decides that you need your Starbucks to get you "going." You are the one who decides what you are going to eat for lunch and you are the one who knows what your plans are for dinner. Being one of them, people shift these choices from being their own to being things they "have" to do. Wrong.

Tomorrow, go out an do something different. Go out and talk to that stranger that you always see, but never say "Hi" to. Instead of sitting in your office eating a lame microwaved lunch, go out and interact with the world; at least make it to the lunch room. In each and every one of these actions holds a potential to spead the good news. If you live in a constant loop, you will never break the loop, and you will never have the chance to experiance the glory of the creation.

Nothing is holding you back. From one of the greatest movies of all time, Little Manhattan: "Love is about grand gestures." Go do something. Make it heartfelt. Make it real. And do it confidently, God has your back.