My Letter From the Island of Mediocrity

Dear God,

I know you told me not to go, but I have spent some time in this interesting land of Mediocrity. 

 

First, when I got here I noticed how crowded it was.  This is a very popular spot.  And everyone knows that popularity is a good indicator of value.  When something is not good for you it's not popular – right?

 

It was interesting to learn how few rules there are here.  For example, I can pray as much as I want.  It's not against the rules to talk to You, they just don't get involved in the whole faith and passion thing.  It is also recommended that I only talk to you about something twice.  After two times it is best to assume it's not going to happen and to quit praying about it.

 

Reading the Bible is not very popular here.  They find it better to talk about what makes sense, seems logical, or is most accepted.  We all are able to come to our own conclusions about You.  This is much less work and far more palatable to my spirit.  I can adjust my view of You based on how I feel this way rather than getting stuck on adjusting my behavior or attitudes on anything as old fashioned as an absolute truth.

 

I was able to find a church to attend.  I went to the one where I like the most people and has the best tasting coffee.  I'm there almost every week (excluding long weekends, the weeks the weather is really bad or really good, the ones when I am too tired, or ones when the date is an odd number).

 

We don't like to talk about what we believe here, faith is a personal matter.  I know that doesn't line up with the whole "great commission thing."  But that way we don't have to worry about possibly offending anyone or working through what we believe.

 

Toleration is better than forgiveness here, relationships stay comfortably shallow, and I can complain about everything as long as I promise not to get involved.

 

I have lost someone who could have been a close friend, but he kept talking about listening to and following the Holy Spirit, a topic that is frowned on here.  He was transferred somewhere else and his membership was revoked. 

 

Well, that's all for now, there's a big hammock sale I have to get to, my old one wore out.

 

Love Being Bored,

 

Al M. Ostalive 

Silly Turned Serious

I love to laugh.  I like being silly.  I enjoy clean comedy and have been known to get a kick out of some pretty goofy things.  But, I start this day thinking about some issues that aren't funny.

 

1. The depth of pain that is in the news isn't funny.  I've watched with you the stammering coverage of Fort Hood as news commentators expound on what they have few details of.  Some families started this day with the pain of random death being forced into their world. 

 

2. A sleeping church isn't funny.  We have been given the truth and been effective at ignoring the eternal result of that truth until it is often little more than a creed we believe in, not a life that we live.

 

3. A selfish "Christian" isn't funny.  Sometimes I am quick to judge things solely based on my opinion or how it affects me.  I forget to think of the Kingdom of God first.

 

4. An unread Bible isn't funny.  God's letter to us is also part of His revelation of Himself to us.  When God gives me a tool to know Him and I've got more excuses than Craftsmen has tools – it's not right.

 

5.  When I'm too busy being "me" to be part of healing someone else it's not funny.  Healed souls are to be about being used by the Healer of their souls to help heal other's souls.  If I'm too busy to invite someone to coffee or share a prayer burden with them God is grieved.

 

6.  Trying to be something I'm not isn't funny.  Too many times Halloween masks are an expression of what I've attempted to do every other day of the year – pretend.  We're afraid to be honest with each other sometimes and as a result we get used to the plastic shell that covers our soul.

 

7. Refusing God isn't funny.  I find myself asking what God has wanted to do in me, in the church I attend, and in the community we are called to reach.  I wonder how many times I have been guilty of not listening to God, not going when His heart was to send me, and not lifting my voice when His heart was to speak through me.

 

So, today I think serious thoughts.  We could all identify things that we think are funny.  I just found myself thinking a different direction today.  Maybe it's a good day for a little sober judgment.

 

Prayerfully,

 

Pastor Dave