Corduroy Pants

Corduroy pants make a lot of noise- especially while walking through silent libraries. It's hard to describe the sound - but when heard - it is obviously two pant legs making a connection while movement is taking somebody to a different place.

Just like the sound made by corduroy pants, relationships need movement, a connection, and noise in the midst of silence.

Three years ago right now, I was beginning to see the end of an era. I had just spent the winter in Canada skiing, searching, and fortunately, finding. As I was getting ready to move back home, I knew that my relationship with Jesus was moving too.

We had made new friends together. As we were standing on top of mountains, we smiled in the sunshine, and skied fun lines. In a way like never before, we had a connection. I spent countless with Jesus, seeking out the next adventure and waiting for the perfect weather system to move through my midst and during silence, I made noise.

I talked to God and tried to listen to Him. It seemed like that "still small voice" was still small and getting smaller. I'm a guy, so I don't like to describe my conversations with the Almighty One as "crying out" - but that's just what I had to do. My incoherent ramblings and worried wondering about my future made a lot of noise.

Inside my head, thoughts were running wild like squirrels in maple trees. Deep in my gut, it seemed like butterflies were having an air show - or maybe I just ate too much bacon for breakfast. When people asked "What's next?" I stumbled over my words like a drunk walking on marbles. But this was all supposed to be happening.

After making my noise, I had to wait for the connection. It didn't happen fast. Three months later, I knew the movement that had to take place. With Jesus helping me with our relationship, he listened to my cries, made noise in response, and we continued to move forward.

Life today continues moving from place to place . In different ways, connections are continue to be made. And I am still making noise in silence - like corduroy pants in a library.

While Jesus and I walk together, I reflect on the words of King Dave :

In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me!
Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!

For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
Psalm 31:1-5 ESV
(emphasis added by me)

Young Adults. What Do You Want From the Church?

A major question I ask as a young adult is, what is my role in the church? How to find true community in my church as a young adult? A while ago I came across this article and great video about what Young Adults think of the Church. I would love it if you would share your thoughts on this topic.

Questions to ask yourself:

• What do I think of the Church?
• What am I looking for from the Church?
• What needs do I hope that the Church will meet?
• Can I be a solution to the needs of young adults in the Church? How?

God's Blessings on your week.

Naomi

Are we comfortable with this?

Sometimes, it's easy to do ministry from where we're comfortable, isn't it? It's easy to stay within the walls of our church. Our homes. Our Christian bubbles.

But that isn't what the Lord has called us to do. I was struck by these words from the book of Ezekiel the other day: "'Those who are sickly you have not strengthened, the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back, nor have you sought for the lost . . .'" (Ezekiel 34:4)

Can that be said of us? Let's not think of our churches as a whole, but of each one of us individually. Am I seeking those who are sick - both physically and spiritually? I am seeking for lost souls, to bring them to Jesus? His love for them is so great - how can I keep it to myself?

Later on in that chapter in Ezekiel, the LORD says, "'I will seek the lost, bring back the scattered, bind up the broken and strengthen the sick . . . '" (34:16). When Jesus walked on this earth, He told His disciples and the Pharisees that questioned His behavior, "'It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.'" (Mark 2:17)

I love Christian fellowship - but do we stay within our walls and within our walls only? Do we believe that we literally are the hands and feet of Jesus? Or do we just think it's a nice metaphor? I pray that we don't. I pray that we would be generous to that homeless man that we see on the street corner. That we would spend our time packing boxes of food for the hungry. I pray that we would talk to those we meet "randomly" around town about the Lord. That we pack boxes for Operation Christmas Child. I pray that we bring Jesus into everyday conversation with every day people. That we give up our desires for things of this earth for the kingdom of Christ. . . May we be doers of the Word, not merely hearers!

"Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." (1 John 3:18)