Thinking outside the boat...

I heard a sermon a few weeks ago titled "Thinking outside the boat" in reference to the story about Jesus calling Peter out onto the water. It was the college minister at my parent's church, and he was introducing their plan with their new campus center, and how they want to minister and have a place for college students, but also have a place to help the homeless and disenfranchised get back on their feet. Love it.

He was really challenging us to think outside the boat, to think outside of the walls of our church and go to the people. I have been trying to think outside of the boat, or another way to think about it: "Thinking outside of the pew". We, as the church have been called to be the hands and feet of God to the world. Many people are great at this, but I think we have often missed what it means to be His body and we boil it down to a few hours a week. Following Jesus has never just been about an organized religion. I think that is why I get so frustrated when I see Christians devour each other over "worship wars" or issues that continue to conquer and divide-moving further and further away from Jesus' prayer and plea for unity among His people. It replaces a relationship with Jesus into a commercialized religion. How does the Bible define pure and undefiled religion?

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." ~James 1:27


I look around at all that is going on the world: the cyclone and thousands dying in Mynamar because they are not allowed to get the aid they need; the earthquake in China; the genocide in Darfur; the AIDs epidemic in Africa; children orphaned by war, poverty, abuse, etc, and the homeless and those needing hope right in our own backyard. It hurts my heart and I really want to do something. They need hope, love, they need Jesus and all that He can and freely does offer. We have been given the task and charge to share that with the world.

I am reminded of the lyrics by Casting Crowns in the song "If We Are The Body":

But if we are the body
Why aren't His arms reaching?
Why aren't His hands healing?
Why aren't His words teaching?
And if we are the body
Why aren't His feet going?
Why is His love not showing them there is a way?
There is a way...Jesus is the way.

I am thinking about taking another pretty big leap of faith into something I have wanted to do for a long time. I know that it would be sacrificing some things, and jumping out of the boat and the pew, out of my comfort zone-but right in the middle of what I am passionate about and what I feel God has called me to. I want all of the fears to disappear so I can figure out if it is the right timing and if the pieces will fall in place.

I again covet your prayers and pray that God will show me if this is they way or not-or if I just need to make the decision and know He will use me wherever I go.

I pray that we can all be His hands and feet to the world-even the smallest ways can touch people's lives and reach them where they are.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion,
"Your God reigns!" ~Isaiah 52:7