But there's a couple of bananas...

Good friends and great food made for a wonderful evening. In the midst of discussing a lot of different things, one of my friends made a comment about how much he felt like I had invested in the local Emergent movement. I got to thinking about that...

I lost my house. Lost my home church. Lost friends and colleagues. Lost a lot of sleep. And someone asked the other day: "Would I go back six months ago and do it the same way?" Yes. Without hesitation: yes. It was all really sad. It really was. A lot of things were done really wrong. Lots and lots of things. I wasn't happy with the way it all played out. Brittany and I just say its sad. But in the end, ignorance is not bliss, and so I wouldn't trade in what all God has taught me for what has happened. I'm not saying the Emergent movement or emerging church is the answer to all of our problems. Its a great start.

I'd rather be somewhere where its okay to be asking the questions that need to be asked and doing the things that need to be done and not be part of a local congregation than to be part of a local congregation and not be allowed to question or doubt or try to change things. My buddy and I were agreeing with each other tonight that we have tremendous hope for change and that we want to do everything we can to pursue change from within the walls of a local church. But if we aren't allowed to pursue change honestly, and if not allowed to do the things that need to be done, then (and only then) would I do otherwise.

I guess I feel like I need to make that clear. While I think there's a lot of things wrong with me and with you and with us and with American Christianity, I think there's hope for change. Hope gets me through. And I pray the church realizes how far off we have gotten. I pray we as a church acknowledge how badly we've messed up and begin to turn from the sins of our past and present. I pray we do this together as the body of Christ. Whatever that may look like.

I can't go back to the way things were. My eyes have been opened, and I'm beginning to see how my faith really becomes action. I'm beginning to see what was really going on with all those people in the first few chapters of the book of Acts in the New Testament. God is stirring something up. I can feel it. I can hear it. Its coming: change. No matter who you are or what you do, I hope you see it. Things are not all as they should be. And its up to us to make it right. No matter what it costs us personally. I hope we're all willing to sacrifice. I don't think I've really even sacrificed anything yet. I've been blessed... lucky... pampered thus far in life.

"God, remind me you meant it when you said to sell everything I own, give it to the poor, then to go follow You."

Holler back...