This morning, well, EVERY Sunday morning actually – I sit and receive thought provoking teachings… the kind that make you freeze in your seat even to the service’s end, wishing there were more time to just sit and process.

For years I’ve longed for that… teaching that not only challenges you to the point that you want to go digging in your bible as soon as you get home… but also grows you -not just in head knowledge – but most importantly in your very spirit, initiating action, fanning the flame…

I wish I could share the sermons with you guys every week… and I wish I had already been taking the time all these months and weeks to take physical note of what I’ve learned, what about the sermons stuck out for me, and how each experience calls me personally to action. Of all my writings, those would be the ones most beneficial for me to go back and read… to continue to glean from…

I used to take notes. I remember one of Haylie’s requirements as an intern was to always always always take notes every time they were in a service or any kind of teaching setting. I remember when Craig’s group performed at Saturdate – after their performance, they actually pulled out their notebooks and began gleaning, documenting, learning. They didn’t come just to get their hip hop on… they saw even the event they were performing at as an opportunity to learn. Cool.

A Teachable Spirit is cool.

This morning we gleaned from Luke 12, and a bit from Deuteronomy…
There was soooooo much to take in, so many things to process… I really wish I had taken notes.

But here are some highlights (summarized) that hit me…

Deut 24:19
When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, DO NOT GO BACK AND GET IT. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless, and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

Sooo, the widow, the alien, and the fatherless are ENTITLED to what you and I have! Gasp!
Not fair right?
Neither is it fair that our children choke on their obesity while THOUSANDS of children will die today and every day of starvation…

GOD DOESN’T BLESS YOU WITH SUCCESS AND RICHES SO THAT YOU CAN UPGRADE TO A BMW, GET A BIGGER HOME, AND BUY MORE STUFF – BUT RATHER SO THAT YOU CAN ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE WORLDS MISERY…

WORK TO GET IN ORDER TO GIVE.

***Is your lifestyle up for negotiation?***

Mandy’s summary via status:
God does not bless us for the sole purpose of increasing our wealth and making our lives more comfortable…but so that we may turn around and bless others in return. Where do we draw the line in our lives to what are actual needs…and what are luxuries?

EMPTY YOUR BARNS.

There was so much more.

Then we had a communion to celebrate Christ’s sacrifice for us,
and the idea of living simply that others might live more fully.
Man I love communion…. not much can stir the grateful heart like that moment -remembrance, meditation, the visual, as well as the actual partaking of the elements, a dim room full of fellow believers and soft worship tunes directing all the senses in line with the spirit. Gets me every time. The four of us- Mandy, Jacey, Alyssa and myself, knelt together and prayed.

And it was over, or so I thought… just when I thought the challenge had been given and I could move forward to process – a call to action was made.

I love that. When the word of God is not just shared, not simply heard, but ACTIVATED.

And it may have been off the cuff, because Ben said something like…
“hey maybe this is a terrible idea, but what would it look like from today to next Sunday for us to go and do this, to put all of our excess, the things we have 2 or three of, keep the one, and fill black trash bags to bring next week…”

MAN!!!! WOW!
What would it look like?
Hmmm… We shall see… 🙂