An interesting post on "Out of Ur/Conversations for Ministry Leaders" caught my eye this week.  The blog by David Gibbons, Pastor of New Song Church in Irving, CA offers an insightful look into the world we know as suburbia. "The most dangerous place in America" represents Gibbon's view of the hidden underlying problems of life in the suburbs.

Click here: http://blog.christianitytoday.com/  and look for the article dated, July 24, 2009

At this sight you'll also find other interesting articles and references.  While I consider this sight among my favorites...the content of each article may not represent my views entirely.

Happy Independence Weekend.  Aren’t you thankful to be an American?  Aren’t you thankful to be a Christ follower?  It is time to follow close, very close to Christ.

This week I found an interesting article written by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola.

A Magna Carta

for Restoring the Supremacy of

Jesus Christ

a.k.a.

A Jesus Manifesto

for the 21^st Century Church

Christians have made the gospel about so many things … things other than Christ.

Jesus Christ is the gravitational pull that brings everything together and gives them significance, reality, and meaning. Without him, all things lose their value. Without him, all things are but detached pieces floating around in space.

It is possible to emphasize a spiritual truth, value, virtue, or gift, yet miss Christ . . . who is the embodiment and incarnation of all spiritual truth, values, virtues, and gifts.

Seek a truth, a value, a virtue, or a spiritual gift, and you have obtained something dead.

Seek Christ, embrace Christ, know Christ, and you have touched him who is Life. And in him resides all Truth, Values, Virtues and Gifts in living color. Beauty has its meaning in the beauty of Christ, in whom is found all that makes us lovely and loveable.

What is Christianity? It is Christ. Nothing more. Nothing less. Christianity is not an ideology. Christianity is not a philosophy. Christianity is the “good news” that Beauty, Truth and Goodness are found in a person. Biblical community is founded and found on the connection to that person. Conversion is more than a change in direction; it’s a change in connection. Jesus’ use of the ancient Hebrew word shubh, or its Aramaic equivalent, to call for “repentance” implies not viewing God from a distance, but entering into a relationship where God is command central of the human connection.

In that regard, we feel a massive disconnection in the church today. Thus this manifesto.

We believe that the major disease of the church today is JDD: Jesus Deficit Disorder. The person of Jesus is increasingly politically incorrect, and is being replaced by the language of “justice,” “the kingdom of God,” “values,” and “leadership principles.”

Read more at www.ajesusmanifesto.wordpress.com

Mark Batteson is lead and the lead and founding pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC.  NCC is recognized as one of America’s most innovative churches and Pastor Mark is one of the most widely read bloggers in America.

Here is a blog I believe will stimulate you.  It is printed here by permission from Batterson.  He calls it, “Lion Chaser’s Manifesto”

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.  Set God-sized goals.  Pursue God-ordained passions.  Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention.  Keep asking questions.  Keep making mistakes.  Keep seeking God.  Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution.  Stop repeating the past and start creating the future.  Stop playing it safe and start taking risks.  Expand your horizons.  Accumulate experiences.  Enjoy the journey.  Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can.  Live like today is the first day and last day of your life.  Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God.  Burn sinful bridges.  Blaze new trails.  Criticize by creating.  Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks.  Don’t try to be who you’re not.  Be yourself.  Laugh at yourself.  Quit holding out.  Quit holding back.  Quit running away.

Chase the lion.

There comes a point in your life (frequently sometimes) when you realize who your friends really are, who never were, who won’t be anymore...and who will always be.  So don't worry about the many from your past, there's a reason they didn't make it into your future.  (paraphrase from J. Brantley...one of many of his wise quotes)

Author Leonard Sweet writes about life's significant relationships in his 2008 book "11 Indispensible Relationships You Can't Be Without ".  In Chapter 2 he profoundly speaks about the need of everyone having a true friend. One of the true bright spots in the life King David in scrippture is the fact that he had atleast one life-long friend. You can find the story of Jonathan (King Saul’s son) & David in I Samuel .  Their story defines true biblical friendship.  Proverbs 17:17  (NIV)

"A friend loves at all times,"...Proverbs 18:24  (MSG)
 
"Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family." Proverbs 27:10C  (MSG)  "Better a nearby friend than a distant family"
 
Here are some of my thoughts as to what defines true friendship.
 
A friend:  

• loves you at all times-the good and the bad
• does not forsake you when you falter or fail
• gives without expecting something back
• sees the possibilities in you when no one else does
• grants grace when you don't give grace
• forgives when no one else will
• knows your "stuff" and loves you anyway
• stands up for you when others walk away
• calls you out when you are wrong
• watches your back
• walks with you in all seasons of life-good, bad, ugly

 
In John 3 , John the Baptist described a Jonathan friendship toward Jesus when he said "He must become greater; I must become less"
 
And as Jesus said about his death in John 15  "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.  You are my friends."
 
Do you have a friend?  Legendary baseball giant Ty Cobb said near the end of his life "If I had the chance to live my life over...I'd have more friends!"
 
Are you a friend?  If yes, there is a friend out there for you.
 
The meaning of life is found in the journey and the destination, but will never be successfully possible without a Jonathan.   Not Really.
 
What a friend we have in Jesus!