Outdated Lighthouses

This week I am away for a few days of solitude and reflection. This is the third Spring I have visited St. Columba Retreat House. Its located on the Point Reyes Peninsula. I typically take a hike each day somewhere I can hear the waves crashing and see wildlife unseen in Lincoln (elephant seals). There is a historic lighthouse at the very end of the point. Many folks travel the winding roads pass a number of historic farms to come to visit and whale watch for a few moments. There are 300+ steps down to the lighthouse from the visitors center. It usually quite windy and sometimes foggy. The interesting thing about this particular lighthouse is that it no longer is lit. It does still have a loud fog horn that goes every 30 seconds, yet the light no longer is shining. It not due to budget cuts either. A number of years ago it was made automatic but now is dark. The information center states that since so much of our navigational equipment has advanced to include satellites and GPS maps, the light is no longer necessary. Modern day shipping no longer needs lighthouses.

It seems to me that might be said about what many think about the Church today. We have a ton of unique and helpful Bible translations and tools to help us navigate the scriptures. We can listen to a favorite teacher or message via podcast. We have access to so many worship songs through sites like iTunes that we can construct our own personal worship set. We have big and comfortable homes to connect with our friends and host a family BBQ. We even have PayPal to help us give to those charities and compassion projects that personally move us. We can do everything that we do on a Sunday through our homes and the advanced technology of the internet. So who needs Sunday (or Saturday) church? It seems that modern Christians no longer need churches.

Before I respond to this critique, allow yourself to take a few moments and reflect on the question. Why do we need Church? Especially our weekend gatherings?

What do you think?

JUNK: Financial Wreckage

"Check yourself before you wreck yourself." It may sound corny but it is still true. Our willingness and courage to take an inventory on how we are shaped by and how we handle money is an essential part of living free. It does take some serious courage to look at our checkbook, our credit card statement, and our budget. Most likely there is some "junk" that we can get rid of in our financial life. Statistics still show that even in these challenging times, many Americans still do not have an overall budget written down to guide their spending, saving and giving.

We shared a checklist of sorts to see if we are on the road to financial wreckage. When we talk about designing a plan for managing your finances, we offer a course taught called Financial Peace University. This course is taught via DVD by author and radio personality Dave Ramsey and he does a great job of both inspiring and equipping folks. Group discussion follows facilitated by a couple in One Life who have been trained by Dave Ramsey's organization.

Lastly, if we are to be "rich toward God," it naturally follows to examine our pattern of generosity. Dawn and myself have adopted a "three-tired" giving plan. Our first 10% (or more) goes to the local church we serve. We give to the General Budget and beyonfd that to specific needs that arise through the year (compassion/youth/missions). The second tier of giving goes to missionaries, compassion ministries and other Kingdom oriented organizations. Thirdly, we work to live a life that is financially focused enough to give to real individual needs and unexpected tragic situations we hear about along the way. We give in these opportunities anonymously. I call it "sneaky good."

JUNK: Material Stuff

In his book, "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?" Peter Walsh says there are a number of ways that both our living space and our physical shape are connected. In working as a certified organizational consultant and co-host of TLC's Clean Sweep, he has seen it a hundred times. Our physical health affects our mental well-being, our relationships, our career, our emotional health, and our living space. Cluttered homes often equals overweight bodies. In this way, we see that God has really wired us up as holistic people. Science has already shown us that our emotional health can sap our physical strength. We also know the hurts we carry from our past can sabotage our relationships today.

So, even the simplest action in our living space (material stuff) can actually have a positive affect our an number areas of our life. This past week I simply took out all the hangers that have accumulated in my closet (my side not Dawn's). The picture revels the sheen number of hangers that I have taking up space in my closet. Just removing these gave me a sense of less weight and gives me my next step: remove that clothing that I no longer wear and that can be donated or sold for a God-cause.

We are encouraging everyone in One Life to schedule a garage sale sometime in the next two months and donate the proceeds to our Cambodia Summer Mission Team. A number of One Life youth and young adults will be traveling to Cambodia to work along side AIM, an amazing ministry that fights the human trafficking and sex-slavery of young girls.

Will you get rid of some of your material stuff for your sake and the sake of others?

It might help the "junk in your trunk too"!

JUNK: Tossing the dead weight that keeps us from true life

This series through the season of Lent has the potential to bring anew level of freedom and grace to our lives. We will look at different places in our lives where "junk" has accumulated. These are areas we find ourselves living less because we have more. Ironically if we get rid of the "junk" we will discover a life that is more; more fulfilling, more satisfying, more courageous, more loving, more free, more alive. Easter reminds us that Christ did not stay dead or defeated but rose from the grave to conquer both death and sin. This is resurrected life. This is what we were made for and what Jesus came to bring us.

So, each week there will be a post to remind us, challenge us and help us apply to our lives what we have learned. It's kind of like the "extra features" on a DVD. Consider these Sunday "extras".

Resources for Freedom Sunday

Below are some links to find out more information, investigate companies and products, and take next steps in being an advocate of freedom for those caught in human slavery:

www.notforsalecampaign.org -- Organized Freedom Sunday... lots of info and take action stuff

www.IJM.org -- Info on global justice issues

www.slavefree.com -- Look for brands that are certified slave free

www.chainstorereaction.com -- Allows you to email companies to ask them to institute fair trade practices

www.globalexchangestore.org -- Online store of fair trade

Check out the message and interview with Don Hair here: www.onelifechurch.org/Audio.php