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A Morning View From the Patio

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect." - Romans 12:1-2


I ponder today in my heart, what is this Christ follower stuff all about? It seems so simple to follow all the cliche's like "let go, let God," "fully rely on God," "WWJD" and you put your favorite one in there.

I look around at the global world, I see the state of affairs in my little world, I watch the "news," I follow postings on social media, I hear the cries of the marginalized around me, and I listen to the complaints of everyone else. I read the ongoing battles over who is right and who is wrong and I wonder why?


Now I realize I only have control over me, but the scripture I was led to today puts my thoughts in perspective for me. I have said yes to a God relationship, you may label this action in terms you are comfortable with! I have gone to church, been in fellowship, and assumed leadership positions as a good member. I sang in a Southern Gospel Quartet to glorify God. I followed my "call" to become pastor. I have been blessed to serve for seventeen plus years as a pastor. I retired from teaching and graduated from my marathon seminary experience, where I was infused with a well balanced theological educational perspective. I am striving to properly follow the path to ordained ministry in the UMC. I am doing the right steps and things here in the earthly call to ministry.


All of this said to point out that, yes my path of life experience and fulfillment of my journey in my call are necessary, important and crucial to carrying out my responsibilities as Christian. But am I a living sacrifice? Do I strive to be holy and acceptable to God? Here is the one that hurts, am I conformed to this world? Does my theology follow the world or does the world follow my theology? Better put, am I different in the world because of the difference of the Creator in me? Am I truly transformed, changed by the power of the Holy Spirit of God leading me as Christian? Or are my opinions just what it says, MY OPINIONS?


I know this is long, and some will lose interest, but my heart aches today. I am tired of the Body of Christ destroying itself. I tire of attacks of opinions and belief. There always seems to need to be a winner and a loser in life, and although I love competition and games, Christianity is not a game. It is life.

I weep today because I just might not be the transformed person God calls me to be. I have lots of "stuff" to work on, how about you?


Peace?

PB 

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