I am reading this book again for the second time. I’m not going to go into a bunch of details or review the book or try and convince you. Trust me…get the book (click here or on the image above)…and read it. You won’t be disappointed.
Read This Book…
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009For People Who Don’t Like to Go Church
Thursday, July 17th, 2008This 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.
Authentic Spirituality
Thursday, July 10th, 2008I 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’m a Mess
Wednesday, July 9th, 2008I 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). 
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