I'm back!

Sorry for the long pause between post over the last couple of months. I am in one of those periods in your life when you know you have too many commitments, but you are not sure how to focus on the most important things. What are the most important things? What I have discovered is that you can convince yourself that just about anything is important and is part of your mission. As an example as a volunteer fire fighter I am convinced that being a trained responder is important. I think that is really true. However, being part of the political climate of the Fire Department is very time consuming and draining. I convince myself that the two duties, the action side and the political side are one in the same. But, are they really? The world doesn't need more talk about rescue, they need to count on rescue when it is needed. In my case the Fire department in my town existed for 150 years before I came and will probably be here long after I am gone. Can I make a difference? By responding to calls and knowing what to do when somebody needs help - Most definitely. By getting into the middle of political situations - maybe, today, but what about in 10, 20 or 50 years again maybe.

I think the same can happen in the church. I convince myself that being on the church council is key to my faith development, but is it? I am starting to think that it is not. At least it is not a key success factor. It may be a help with the added Bible Study and Discussions on church growth. But, being on council on it's own will not get me any closer to being a Disciple of Christ. In fact, if it can become an obstical to that goal if it takes time away from doing things that get me closer to the goal.

So this is why I have not written in awhile. I have been struggling with what is important and what is not. I have to say that I have not answered the question but I am getting a little closer. I think you will see in some of the upcoming posts that I am at least getting closer to finding a direction. Then I will have to prune my schedule and many of my commitments.

Thanks for hanging in there with me.

How this all got Started

This is a post I wrote the first Time I tried to start this blog. I have come a long way since I wrote this, but I think it still has some relevance.


I have never thought of myself as a very religious person. I was raised Missouri Synod Lutheran, but left the church after confirmation. I have always believed in God, but have always thought of organized religion as a way for people to impose their beliefs, on others. Growing up in the south, I saw a lot of people who called themselves Christians and yet judged others for not having the same beliefs, or condemned others for not following the church imposed rules or who went to church every Sunday but lived every other day of the week without a thought or mention of God. I have seen the bible interpreted in many different ways, most of which for a persons own interest. All of this convinced me that I was better off on my own then in an organized religion. As I grew older, got married and had a child, I realized that it was not enough and that I needed something more in my life. Luckily, I found a church that is headed on the same journey that I am on. That journey is to find out what Jesus wants us to be in this world and to do it. It means not going to church, but being the church. For me, this has stirred up a lot of questions about what it really means to live a Christian life and to follow Jesus.

I am not talking about switching to an all Christian Music station or adding Wednesday to my worship schedule and carrying around a bible everywhere I go. I am talking about trying to do what the bible tells us to do. I am talking about what it means to follow Jesus everyday, not just Sunday. What does that look like in the 21st century and is it realistic?

I am doing this blog for two reasons; 1) It is a way to hold myself accountable. It is a lot harder to give up on something if there are people watching. 2) I know that there are others out there that are struggling with the same things I am. I hope that we can help each other on this journey. I guess there is really a third reason, and that is that I have this need or this feeling that I need to do something. Some would say it is a calling. I am not sure, but I need to do something, and this is something I know how to do.

Finally, I know that a lot of what I plan to say here will be controversial. I don’t mean it to be, but in the process of trying to figure things out, sometimes you have to head in a direction that not many agree with. Since this is a journey with out a map, I am sure I will touch on all areas of faith, life, and religion. I hope you get something out of it too, but if not, just keep an open mind.