My first thoughts about Dan when he first started speaking was, "He's crazy" and not much longer after i said that to myself did he say "I'm just crazy". So i knew i wasn't far off with judging him in that way. I wrote down alot of things that i liked what he said about the church. I can't believe that they have a 3 1/2 hour services at times. If we back home, don't get out of church at exactly noon people might have hissy fits. I am one of those too, especially when im at home, because that's just how it is. Not that it should be that way, it needs to change, but as of now, it's still that way. But when you're in the presence of the King of Kings and you are experiencing God in a new way or maybe not even in a new way, but just experiencing more of God. No one wants to leave, because his presence is addicting, contagious, because that is where our hearts truly are. That's where we were made for, being in God's presence. If people don't like being in the presence of God, then i don't know why they're christians, because i would think that, thats what heaven will be like.
Dan said don't think about the church, but think about expanding the kingdom by changing your community. Why is it now that i can really pick up on the things our church needs to do back home. We don't care about the people outside of the church. And when i say we, i include myself. When i go home, i do not think about the new people that might be coming in, but about all the people i have to see and talk to because im only home one week and i need to say hi to these people. Man, i kind of wish i could punch myself at those moments.
So enough about my church, because no church is perfect...right? Dan's church at the mountain started with just 15 or so people. Now if i heard right, they have over 1,500 members. Now that is amazing, well i know they're bigger churches out there, but for PA i think that's a really big church. I can so relate to Dan in the way that he's a dreamer, i am too. In fact i am a little too much at times. I love that he has this new idea for their sanctuary as a dinner theater, a cafe, a school and day care. Yes! Those are the things i used to say, "a church is sacred and that is not a place for these things to come" well my mind has changed. That attitude hasn't reached many, but this one of reaching out will. The church still is sacred, but it can be used for laughter and joy too. I love that Dan calls his church "a city on a hill" that is such a good name for them, because to me that's what it almost sounds like. And oh this center they have for working out, soccer, and many upon many other activities that are all biblically and scripturally based is amazing. I think that's a great idea! Man i totally could think like this, acutally i do think like that, I sometimes wonder if it is a gift. But Dan just says to make sure you have alot of "nuts and bolts guys" I have one of those in my life, my daddy, yes he is very much so. Very business and well money management, realistic man. But he lets me dream.
One of the last things i jotted down was when dan said when God asks you to do something think about if it will last after you die, because if it dosen't then it probably isn't a God thing, it's a you thing. Such good advice right there, i can be very self centered at times, when things don't revolve around me, i can become a very unhappy girl, so to check myself with that question is a really good tool to start using in my life.
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