I need some help, so I am coming to you for some assistance. As a regular part of my devotional and spiritual life I like to read. You can see some of my favorite books here. I just finished up two very good books that have helped me grow spiritually…they challenged me and gave me new insights and practices to put into place in my journey with God: Walking with God and Messy Spirituality. I highly recommend them both (and in that order).

My problem? I don’t know what to read next. There are two books I am considering, but they aren’t so much focused on spiritual growth or development (but maybe that’s a good thing?):

1. Simple Church
2. unChristian

But I am not convinced that either of these is what I should pick up next. So I open the discussion up to you. What do you recommend that I read next? Leave your thoughts and recommendations in a comment and let’s work toward a final decision.  Now, I have read a lot so don’t be discouraged if I’ve already read your selection…just keep ‘em coming. And thanks in advance for the help!

I got this message from God about a month ago (on July 3rd to be precise): “Slow down and be with me.” I even wrote it down and journaled about it. The message could not have been any clearer and you might assume that I received the message loud and clear. Me too. That is, until this morning when God gave me two reminders.

Reminder #1:

 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are
weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you.
Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:28-30, NLT

Reminder #2:

Most of us are going as fast as we can, living life at a dizzying speed, and God is nowhere to be found. We’re not rejecting God; we just don’t have time for him. We’ve lost him in the blurred landscape as we rush to church. We don’t struggle with the Bible, but with the clock.

Spiritual growth is not running faster, as in  more meetings, more Bible studies, and more prayer meetings. Spiritual growth happens when we slow our activity down.If we want to meet Jesus we can’t do it on the run….Christianity is not about inviting Jesus to speed up through life with us; it’s about noticing Jesus sitting at the rest stop.

Rest is the ultimate humiliation because in order to rest, we must admit that we are not necessary, that the world can get along without us, that God’s work does not depend on us.

Messy Spirituality, Michael Yaconelli, pages 124, 125, 127

So there you have it. I think I get the message. Slow down, rest with God, focus on Him instead of the “stuff” I think ‘m doing for Him. There is too much in the above passages for me to unpack…it’s still too fresh and raw in my own spirit. So why do I share? Two reasons. First, it’s a form of confession and accountability on my part. Second, you might need some of this message too.

I’m still not exactly sure how and where God wants me to slow down (i.e.: what He wants me to give up or how need to slow down in my spirit), but I’m working on it, praying about it, and getting the message. Pray for me as I continue to unpack this and walk in it with Christ. And drop me a comment if you have anything to share on this topic…either your own struggles or ways you have conquered this one.

This is a great question to spark discussion, because it strikes a cord in our spirit…our desire to do something we love and are passionate about.

So, if you could do anything in the world (money and life circumstances not being an issue) what would you do? What is your true passion? What is your dream job (or dream calling)? If you could do or be anything you wanted to be, what would it be?

It’s fun to think about, but take a second to really consider this one. I asked this question to a co-worker this week and got an unexpected answer: Starbucks Barista. And she meant it, that’s what she would do if she could do anything and I admire her determination and spirit.

I for one am struggling with the answer…mainly because I have too many options and have a hard time narrowing the list down. I would certainly do something in the arena of teaching, but I’m not sure if that would mean as a Teaching Pastor, as a Sunday School teacher, Discipleship Pastor, or in some Para-church organization. I also DREAM of becoming a writer so I would add that to the list as well (but that can be done along with something else too). This is something I will continue to ponder and chew on…I even made it a matter of serious prayer this morning as I look toward the future God is preparing us for in ministry. His answer? Keep praying and pondering, but no answer for now…the process is part of the journey.

So how about you…what do you want to be when you grow up? What’s your dream job…your life calling and passion? Leave a comment with your answer(s) and maybe you’ll spark someone else’s passion…or at least have some fun sharing.

On a mostly unrelated note, here’s a great quote I read this morning in Messy Spirituality (my new favorite book). Enjoy…

I’m all for getting the mechanics right, but spiritual growth is more than a procedure; it’s a wild search for God in the tangled jungle of our souls, a search which involves a volitile mix of messy reality, wild freedom, frustrating stuckness, increasing slowness, and a healthy dose of gratitude. (pgs 114-115)

This is how Michael Yaconelli described his church in Messy Spirituality: ”‘our church is a church ‘for people who don’t like to go church’” (p. 63). There is something about that description that I like. It’s a church I would at least try out once. I think it’s the church Jesus started too.

Church and being a Christ follower isn’t about religion (in the usual use of the term). It’s about getting to know Christ better and becoming a better disciple by becoming more like Him. And we become more like Him by spending time with Him…by “abiding in Him”. For several days now God has had me in one passage of Scripture (which is a little different for me as I tend to like to move on once I’ve read something).

What have I learned? Not enough, I’m sure. But for me, the point has been that I need to slow down and spend time with God…and even enjoy the journey. I need to “abide in Him” and let Him abide in me…I need to spend time with Him and let Him rub off on me. Here’s the passage for you to munch on too…

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. This is my command: Love each other.

There is obviously a lot here to mull over (I am still finding new stuff). But God’s primary message for out of this passage is to “Remain in me…Remain in my love”. I’m trying…but it’s always been hard for me to stay still.

P.S.: I actually don’t mind going to church anymore…but that hasn’t always been the case.

I must tell you right up front that I will likely not communicate very well on this topic, because every time I try it seems to fall a little short of my intentions (my best of intentions). I’m not sure why…other than the fact that I’m just a big goof.

As I said in my last post, I am currently reading out of Messy Spirituality and what I read this morning has struck a cord deep within my spirit. Yaconelli starts off by stating what we all “secretly” already know:

Many of those who attend our church have always wanted to go to church, wanted to know God better, longed for a better relationship with Jesus, but more often than not, they feel as if they would end at a church where they were made to feel as if the “mess” of their lives disqualified them from the possibility of on authentic spiritual life (pg 35).

I confess that this is exactly how I feel on any given day. My life is a mess and I struggle everyday for authentic spirituality…a real, genuine relationship with God. Sometimes I feel like I have, like I’m on the right trail, but other times I don’t. I want to help others find this authenticity in their relationship as well. Although I often feel like such a “goober” even trying to talk about spiritual things (”what will people think”, “what right do I have anyway”, “what a loser!”…all run through my head at one time).

Yaconelli says what I feel and what I think (and he does it much better…this is the book I wish I could write!). That’s even the point of this blog…to share my own personal spiritual journey…my learning process of walking and living with God—warts and all (and I’ve got plenty of them). So if you are looking for an example of an imperfect guy who is still trying to follow Christ…look no further!

I don’t want to be a “fake Christian” who acts like he always has it all together…because I don’t. God has a lot of work to do in my life. And I think that is exactly where God wants us..smack dab in the middle of our own failures and inadequacies and messiness. That’s who He wants to have relationship with…that’s who He wants to shape and transform and heal.

I commit, here and now, to do my best to be real and authentic and genuine (of course, I will often fail because I’m a mess ). I commit to walking with God with all of my heart and mind and soul. I commit to being imperfect and allowing Him to fill in the gaps. I commit to turning to Him in my all too frequent moments of need. And finally, I commit to taking others along the journey with me (family, friends, and anyone else who dare give it a shot).

A closing thought from my reading this morning for us both to chew on:

Spirituality looks like whatever you and I look like when we’re thinking about Jesus, when we are trying to find Jesus, when we are trying to figure out what real Christianity looks like in the real world (pg 37).

I know what you’re probably thinking: “Not exactly earth shattering news here!”. But it’s not exactly what you think (but yes, I am a mess).

I started reading a mew book this week called Messy Spirituality by Michael Yaconelli. Here’s a quick excerpt from the back of the book that explains the basic premise:

Messy Spirituality was written for the silent majority of us who have been convinced that we just don’t do Christianity right. Michael Yaconelli dares to suggest that imperfection, unfinishedness, and messiness are, in fact, the earmarks of true Christianity; that real Christianity is messy erratic, lopsided…and gloriously liberating.

Something in this concept rings true in my spirit…which is why I picked up the book to read as part of my devotionals. I certainly agree with the theology and concept. And so far it has not disappointed, and has caused me more than once to pause and ask God to help me process what I’m reading. Above all, I want to be an authentic Christ follower and this book is challenging me to do just that (in some new and unexpected ways).

If you’ve read the book, please share some your thoughts and favorite parts. If you haven’t, I encourage you to pick it up (it’s short but full of good stuff!). I’m only one chapter in so far and would love to be part of a Notorious Sinners group (you’ll have to read it to find out what that’s all about…a little teaser for you).