My wife and I recently decided to stop in and check out this "Health Club" as it is called. It's quite close to our church and home and so we thought it might be a convenient place for us to "work out". We stepped inside and looked around and then we were taken on tour. We first went to the left which led us into a room where there was a lounge and you could watch television get a facial or a massage. Then we were shown the Sauna and the Steam rooms. Then we were led around the corner to outdoor lounging area and then our final destination was a fully stocked bar (not a juice bar - but a fully stocked alcoholic bar). At that point our tour guide informed us that our tour was over. We asked "and where are the weights and the aerobic machines, you know the treadmills, bikes and fitness equipment?” The lady said "Oh, they are coming" well I lived here long enough to know that this was probably not the case by the way she answered us. She told us they were going to be put in upstairs, but I have since noticed a sign advertising for a hair saloon in that place.
If we are not careful our Christian walk can be like this. Our Christian experience can be reduced to: church attendance, cell group, tithe and a daily devotional. It becomes a Christian club with very little discipline involved. We are saved, yes - but are we "working out" our salvation with fear and trembling as the word tells us in Philippians 2:12 .
I recently bumped into a website called "do hard things" it is a website put up by two of Josh Harris (the writer of "Why I kissed dating goodbye") brothers. The website is for young people and it challenges them to do something with their lives and not settle for being an iPod professional. They are convinced that many young people (and their parents) have bought into a lie – which says - life is about them and their comfort. They have written a book by the same title that I have not read but I am intrigued by the subject. Some people would say that we are doing “a hard thing” by living in Uganda. But I know the reality of what my life is challenged by and what has simply become “everyday life”. A few days ago, in our family devotion time I challenged our 5 year old son to take a cold shower. Why? He asked. I told him because someday you may go to the village where they don’t have hot water and because you’re not used to cold water you will complain and end up seeming “rude”. He understood the logic and agreed it would be helpful to take the cold shower once in a while. Maybe your thinking that I am tough…he is only five. Let me assure you ….it’s only water and it’s really not that cold.
Do you need to take a cold shower? I know I do, otherwise I too - will complain and seem rude when I challenged with small and minor things.
If we are not careful our Christian walk can be like this. Our Christian experience can be reduced to: church attendance, cell group, tithe and a daily devotional. It becomes a Christian club with very little discipline involved. We are saved, yes - but are we "working out" our salvation with fear and trembling as the word tells us in Philippians 2:12 .
I recently bumped into a website called "do hard things" it is a website put up by two of Josh Harris (the writer of "Why I kissed dating goodbye") brothers. The website is for young people and it challenges them to do something with their lives and not settle for being an iPod professional. They are convinced that many young people (and their parents) have bought into a lie – which says - life is about them and their comfort. They have written a book by the same title that I have not read but I am intrigued by the subject. Some people would say that we are doing “a hard thing” by living in Uganda. But I know the reality of what my life is challenged by and what has simply become “everyday life”. A few days ago, in our family devotion time I challenged our 5 year old son to take a cold shower. Why? He asked. I told him because someday you may go to the village where they don’t have hot water and because you’re not used to cold water you will complain and end up seeming “rude”. He understood the logic and agreed it would be helpful to take the cold shower once in a while. Maybe your thinking that I am tough…he is only five. Let me assure you ….it’s only water and it’s really not that cold.
Do you need to take a cold shower? I know I do, otherwise I too - will complain and seem rude when I challenged with small and minor things.
