I know that I said I was going to use this blog as a means to store my “buckets,” but I have noticed lately that it has become more personally expository than I originally intended. My thought is this - SO SHOOT ME!!

It is hard for me to separate my personal thoughts, happenings, circumstances from what I hope might turn into profoundly spiritual thoughts or ideas. With that said, some of you that might eventually read this blog and provide commentary will just have to deal with my personal interjections and stories.

I have decided to put this link out to a few of my close compadres for some feedback. I welcome, perhaps even beg, for other thoughts, opinions, ideas, etc. Anything to spark some discussion, debate, or perhaps a new level of understanding about life and all the confusion that surrounds it. I am constantly amazed that life can be so complicated, but in the next moment, so utterly simple. Life can be intellectual, but the next moment turn into an emotional train wreck (I have some thoughts on this that I might share in the upcoming weeks). One thing is for certain: I don’t want to miss out on what life has to offer.

So my prayer is this: God…open up our minds, our hearts, and our souls. Let all of us breathe in your presence and discover the beauty of this life. Despite the seemingly frail nature of our existence, may we love as you have intended, and live for your love in return.

Tomorrow is a big day in the life of the Goldsmith Family - we are sending our oldest child off to college. While this may seem like no biggie to those of you who have been through this process, I can assure you that our house is on “pins and needles” right now as we try and figure out what life will be like “Post-Kayla.”

I knew this day would come at some point, but now that it is here, I am not sure I am quite ready for it. As I type this, it seems to sink in even further. In my brain I know that this is the next logical step in any young adults life - the chance to experience the joys and wonders of college life. I remember my “days of yore” and the exhiliration of freedom. But in my heart I feel a sense of uneasiness…is she ready? Did I prepare her enough? Did I spend as much time as I should have with her? Questions like these seem very natural. And then I realize that these questions are not really about her, but about me.

It seems that we always try to find ways to ease our minds during times like these. For some, this comes in the form of rationalizing the situation, or physically doing something, maybe even quelching the body with various foods. For others it means turning to a close friend for conversation, reinforcements, or advice. We all try to do something to make ourselves feel better. I guess for me that means typing for this blog.

As I close this entry, I just want to say this: We will miss you Kayla. We will never forget sharing those experiences as you grew up, and most of all, we will always love you. May you turn to God along your path, and may He guide you during your next stage of life. I am glad you have decided to pursue the long and difficult path of “the road not taken.”

I read a great analogy by Erwin McManus just the other day. He was asked to discuss what “postmodernism” means in the context of the message and the delivery of that message. Are both constant, or possibly one or both changing depending on the environment? His response really openend my eyes. I will try to recap it to the best of my memory (which is not very good!!)

Erwin states that postmodernism is like a river. Many churches find one spot in the river and take a bucket to try and capture the essence of the river. They try to capture the rapids of the river (culture) by “scooping” them into the bucket. What they find however is that once they confine the “rapid,” it turns out to simply be water. The bucket confines, stagnates, and eventually kills all life inside of it. Many churches think that in order to capture postmodernism, they can quickly dip into the river and they will discover it. They don’t realize that the church HAS BECOME THE BUCKET!!

The other option (and what an amazing discovery, if you will let it soak in) is to emerse yourself headlong into the water itself, discovering the ever-flowing rapids, twists and turns, ebb and flow. Postmodernism cannot be defined by the culture, but only experienced. The danger is that we want to LIVE LIFE IN THE BUCKET - it is safe, it is comfortable, but ultimately leads to nothing; a shallow pool of stagnant water that once held abundant life.

As it says in Numbers 24:7 - He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters..

Rev. 22:17 (NIV) The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.

How many of us are tempted to live life in a bucket? How much time will we spend analyzing the contents of our bucket only to lose out on the mysteries of the river? If we choose the river it will be dangerous; it will be full of rocks and trees, traps and snares. But it is also full of abundant life. As we have just studied the past four weeks, Jesus said it best:

John 10:10 (KJV) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Danger

What does this really mean? I have heard people talk alot about being a “Dangerous Christian” this week. I have even seen people who have the air of “danger” about them; acting and behaving in an abnormal way. But what then does it mean to be truly dangerous? Because you see, I don’t think I’ve been very dangerous lately. Oh sure, it’s easy to say you live the dangerous life, right?

Maybe being dangerous isn’t about planning some “extraordinary” event, or even acting in a different way. Maybe being dangerous is about letting the Holy Spirit guide you to places you were afraid to go. To engage in a lifestyle the He directs; not one you choose to live safely within. I read last week about how easy it is to call yourself a “Christian,” but to be really dangerous means to be a “Christ Follower.” To be a Christ follower involves three active components: (1) Christ must come first; (2) You must listen to Him, and (3) You must follow, not lead. This is certainly a lot different from being a Christian. You see, many people call themselves “Christians” because that is safe, easy, and requires no actions. We have too many inactive Christians already. I think God is calling us to be dangerous because it’s time for action. It’s time to go forth and be Barbarians, to be the “mushroom eaters,” to live dangerously in the will of God.

How much longer will we dwell in our own questions when God is looking for the response? He has been asking the RIGHT questions all along. He wants us to be dangerous and say yes! Answering the questions from God seem to be a much more difficult task. They require action; they anticipate the danger ahead. God has prepared us to answer - so why do we insist on asking the questions? In reality, the answer is much more important than the question.

What will your answer be? Safety or Danger? Action or Inaction? Christian or Christ Follower? For me, the answer is obvious: it is time to simply say “Yes.”

A group of us are headed to Chicago today for a short Multi-Site conference. Willow Creek has invited pastors of multi-site churches to engage in a one-day forum. I can’t wait to see what they have to talk about. There is the sense that God might reveal some insight as to the future of MH. Is multi-site the answer? What type of multi-site strategy do we use? All this and more coming up on this week’s episode of….Goin’ to the Windy City.