1 post tagged “cal”

                What can really change this world? I am really happy that an African-American is about to be President. Regardless of his politics it is a pleasing sight to see this breakthrough occurring. I think some things will change, some things will stay the same, and some things will get worse. Humans have an amazing ability to cope and produce a new normal, just think we are all thrilled that gas cost $2 a gallon, just $2! We have an amazing ability to cope.

                I really don’t know how much my actual daily life will change with a new president or even a new mayor, although I expect the new mayor to effect my life a little more. What I do know will change my life is what is going on in my church community and in my relationship with God. We are doing two very tough things that we haven’t done in a while or ever before. We are praying and we are discipling.

                For those of you unfamiliar with discipling, the closest thing to it is “mentoring” although discipling is a more spiritual concept, focused on pointing the person to God rather than to your take on the world. There are amazing things about what is going on there like how un-institutionalized it all is. People are connecting with others on their own and developing their own methods to mature each other in Christ. Some are meeting for breakfast once a week, some are texting every morning or all day long, some call each other to share scripture with each other, others meet in a simi-small group setting for intense bonding. It’s not a program of our church, but more of a mandate and its working.

                Honestly its getting harder to pastor. People are getting the simple items taken care of in discipleship and they are maturing so God’s is asking them to do more. Because they are maturing the dreams are not their own, they aren’t fanciful or unrealistic but God-ordained. God pushes us and laziness (not relaxation but laziness) has no place in following God. People are acting.

                People are also praying, and I hope they do more of it. We have been talking about prayer for two weeks. The first week called me out. We asked everyone to ask, “How Can I Pray For You?” to anyone and everyone. I have asked friends at church (cake), people who call the church (easy), Wal-Mart greeter, Panera Bread cashier, School janitor, and three teacher assists. I have to blog more about the encounters. It’s an amazing thing to do to ask someone this question, genuinely care, and then pray for them. And people at the church are beginning to do it. People praying is always a good thing.

                Today we took our prayers deeper with the acronym (CAL)² Complement, Confess, Appreciate, Ask, Listen, and Live. It’s from an old prayer method called ACTS but so few people know what Supplication is that we adapted the acronoyms to something we Californians can remember. I have no idea what will happen if people began praying with the depth that CAL calls for. It’s simple but to sit and think about how great God is and how unworthy we are to approach him before we ask anything. I think that will produce such an amazing and deep prayer life.

                Please forgive me if my blogs don’t make since. I’m not editing them or thinking through too much of what I am writing but it’s just another attempt to develop the habit.