Beauty

Radical

After starting to read David Platt's "Radical," I got the urge to write. I'm reading the book with a group of friends. We're all going at different paces, so it's not necessarily a book club. But we're sort of walking each other through it, and at this point, we're seeing where it takes us.

And it is intense. The book sparks questions that can keep a person up at night. Hence why I am writing this at midnight. But the questions are worth consideration. The questions could mean life or death.

After all, what is the cost of discipleship? Do I truly, honestly, messily follow God's will? Or am I following the American-version of Christianity? Am I going to obey Jesus Christ? Or passively overlook or misconstrue what he commands of me? Do I really have to give up everything in my life? My friends? Family? Myself? And if that's true, am I going to do those things? Will I be called to action? Or will I continue to be sucked into the world of consumerism, capitalism and the pursuit of the "American Dream"? Will I see what the cost of discipleship means?

I don't have the answers and I haven't made decisions to some of those questions yet. I am still processing. Chewing. Pouring over them.

But as I do that I consider the passages Platt quotes. One is of scripture in Matthew: "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."

Can you imagine being so moved as to sell all you had, because there is a treasure being offered to you better than all your possessions?

Or consider Mark 10:21, which also was quoted, "Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, 'You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me."

Same question. Can you imagine selling all that you have to give to the poor?

The amazing news from those passages is that Jesus Christ is promising us eternal life. Treasure in heaven. A world greater, more awe-inspiring and beautiful than perhaps the most gorgeous sunset of cherry red and fiery orange. A world we cannot even imagine or fathom. Worth all of our possessions. All of our life. There's nothing gray about that.

That's potent stuff. Stuff of the Bible that was once easy to ignore -- yes, that's what I was doing -- and easy to be lackadaisical about or pawn off as someone else's responsibility. That's clearly not OK, but also brings me to a crossroads. A decision. A decision I am still working through. Pondering. And finally, facing.

At this point, I am still thinking and working through what this will mean for my life. What it will look like. And how I can take to heart the cost of discipleship.

Signing off. Night.

Thoughts for the Day 7-6-10

• When I read past writings, I sometimes impress myself. And I'm always surprised that I wrote something that good. Is that vain?
• This should be remembered always: "That is a good looking shirt, Boo. It makes me want a popsicle. A lime popsicle." - Dad "That's quite a compliment if he's relating it back to food." - Mom
• "Why didn't you wake me up?" - Me "I tried to wake you up at 5:20 and then at 5:30. I told you I wasn't going to come back in again, if you were that tired you just needed to sleep. Your eyes were open, looking at me. You made a noise." - Dad "Oh."
• Sea to Shining Sea guys are cool. They made me tear up a bit.
• TACO BELL is still awesome...It's a part of my not-eating-fast-food diet...That makes sense right?
• I secretly want to be a YouTuber. hahaha.
• I secretly want to be Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
• I started by fictional book writer. Best time to write is when you have had no sleep the day before. Awesome.
• If you read the thought above...it makes no sense. Some writer I am. It should read: I started writing a book (fiction) not "I started by fictional book writer"...What does that even mean? LOL.
• My Dad sounds like Patrick from Spongebob. He was also wearing a very bright orange shirt today.
• My mom's hair smells good today.
• Why do I keep smelling skunks?
• I need to clean my car.
• Fireworks make pretty glitter.
• The lady at Steak N Shake on the 4th was scary. She locked us in the restaurant, and told the people outside to leave.
• Peach milkshakes are awesome. French fries also are a part of my not-eating-fast-food/fried-foods diet.
• Lime popsicles, Patriot Popsicles and Fruit Bar popsicles are freaking awesome. I will always keep these in my freezer.
• I shouldn't have this blizzard. I shouldn't have this blizzard. Mmmm...I love this blizzard.
• I hope I don't drive off the road.
• Question of the day: How many times did I use the word "awesome" in this post?