Challenge
Picture this: you’re in the desert wandering for water. As you travel mile upon mile upon mile, from time to time will see someone pass you by. You ask them if they know where water is and they say, yes it's just a bit further north and point in the direction you should go. You keep traveling and have no idea if this is the path you should take at all. Finally after a 25 mile hike and when you are at brink of death, going on only faith that the people you saw were telling you the truth, you find the well. Its cool and pure water refresh you, and you are able to get to shelter, fill up your canteens and mark the spot in case you need to get there again.
This past week at Missio Dei we were asked the question, "What would you want on your tombstone after you have passed on?" I can’t imagine anyone saying they would want something negative said about them. But how do we journey on that path? If you’re like me one of the things I want to be said about me, or for people to at least remember about me is that I am a man of wisdom and patience. However I have this tendency to get the facts about something, draw a conclusion and act on something on impulse. It’s tough sometimes to wait, get all the facts and be slow to action. I have to wander through that time and hope that because things are not worked out yet, things will come together the way God wants and not what I want at the time.
My challenge to all of you is this. Think of one area in your life this week in which you struggle and are uncertain as to the effects of your life if you were to give it up. It could be unresolved anger, or lust, or fear of man, or whatever it is. Commit to give it up for the week, and then write about your experience and share it with all of us on the blog site.
-Alan
This past week at Missio Dei we were asked the question, "What would you want on your tombstone after you have passed on?" I can’t imagine anyone saying they would want something negative said about them. But how do we journey on that path? If you’re like me one of the things I want to be said about me, or for people to at least remember about me is that I am a man of wisdom and patience. However I have this tendency to get the facts about something, draw a conclusion and act on something on impulse. It’s tough sometimes to wait, get all the facts and be slow to action. I have to wander through that time and hope that because things are not worked out yet, things will come together the way God wants and not what I want at the time.
My challenge to all of you is this. Think of one area in your life this week in which you struggle and are uncertain as to the effects of your life if you were to give it up. It could be unresolved anger, or lust, or fear of man, or whatever it is. Commit to give it up for the week, and then write about your experience and share it with all of us on the blog site.
-Alan
posted by Missio Dei at 8:13 AM
1 Comments:
I have been acting in theatre productions for eight years. It has been my passion, and for the past few years, it seems like it has become an addiction. It sounds funny, right? Whereas theatre began as a fun hobby for me, it turned into a career ambition, and eventually, I was serving it rather than the true Creator. I depended on it for happiness. I loved the high of being in the spotlight, wearing the makeup, and being admired and flattered for my performance. Unhappy with who I was, I loved playing other characters. As Roxie Hart says in Chicago, "the audience loves me, and I love them for loving me, and we love each other, and that's 'cause none of us got enough love in our childhoods, and that's showbiz, kid." My morals even changed - no matter how a production presented sinful behavior, I thought it was okay because it presented a mirror of real life. A friend of mine really convicted me about this when he shared his similar situation. I am so thankful God put him in my path. Now, I come to the point...I ran across this article after I had taken this step of faith. I decided to step back from theatre for awhile, which is extremely difficult. However, I have a sense of peace and clarity from it. I feel that God wanted me to take this wedge out of my life, and re-examine why I do theatre. Other areas in my life have come together since I resisted this temptation. We'll see where God takes me. When I think about how much Christ gave up for me, this is incomparable! I am crucified with Christ. It's amazing that throughout all those years, I did not see the sin that was right in front of my eyes. I am not saying that theatre or the arts are sinful. Somehow, they can be used in a redemptive way. I'm not sure how yet, which is why I am stepping back and examining them. I'm only saying that my need for acceptance/love through theatre was an obstacle in my life for becoming fully the person God wants me to be. What is your obstacle?
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