Over the past week we have seen the passing of a few well-known celebrities. A couple of the blogs that I frequent have, consequently, written posts about our time here on earth. “How are we taking full advantage of the opportunities we are given,” “What will be your legacy,” seem to be the gist of the messages. So I guess my question spurs off of those first thoughts:

Now that we have a perspective, a new lens to look at life through, what are you going to do about it?

For me it can’t be only about seeing that we aren’t guaranteed 50+ years of life. We have to take something much bigger and deeper away from this; because if we don’t, in a week or month, after everything calms down and life returns to “normal,” then we haven’t gone anywhere, we have ceased to capitalize on the perspective we’ve gained. So what are you changing to make a bigger impact? Are you changing the way you work, changing the relationships that you are building, changing the way you worship? Are you being set free by Christ’s power and, more importantly, are you taking this freedom to others?

Examine, evaluate your life. Don’t leave it where it is. Don’t be content where you are! Could you ever get close enough to the Creator of the universe? Dig, explore the depths of His beauty and greatness! Continue to press into Him! Press On!

I was at work today, greeting people as they entered the world of Dick’s Sporting Goods. I said to a upper-middle-aged man, ” Hello. How are you doing today?” He responded,” Doing good. Just coming to see what I can’t live without.” His response really got me thinking about how we approach our relationship with Christ and how we are often reluctant to share that with others. I’m probably the worst evangelist out there (for now), and I feel that God has really been showing me that it isn’t about what we look like to others here on earth, as long as we are following His lead.

So I guess here is an applicable, thought-provoking question:

What is it that we “can’t live without?” How do you think that relates to the Kingdom of God? Is it in line with God’s will that you can’t live without it?

I know, I know, tough questions. But they may just make you stop and think about God for a minute or two. Make you pause and remember that we are the creation, not the creator.

I’ve started reading a couple of books that I happened to pick up before heading out to Canada a couple of weeks ago. One of them, Next Generation Leader by Andy Stanley, the other, Emerging Worship by Dan Kimball. Next Generation Leader is a book that I had gotten a few chapters into and discussed on occasion with a former pastor that I served with. It has been a good book to let soak in, how to not only be a good leader, but also a leader worth following. Emerging Worship is definitely a book that resonates deeply within my heart. Being a lead worshipper and continually drawn to the discipleship of the upcoming generations, this has been both a good and challenging read. I use the word challenging because it has been doing just that. It’s main premise essentially rings out, “if we are going to reach the emerging, post-modern generations, we are going to have to change the way we “do” church. In the book Kimball presents a couple of pyramids of thinking; one, has the weekend services as the base, essentially everything that the church based on this ideal system focuses on getting people to the weekend gatherings. The second ideal system places the mission of Christ at the base, basically everything that this church would do would be directed toward fufilling the mission of Christ.

That sounds great, but here’s the challenge: How do we get from here to there? The only answer that I’ve been concretely able to establish is PRAYER. Through prayer God provides answers, ideas, clarity, vision into His will and design for what Christ’s church should look like in any given area.

Please, where you are, stop for a second and pray for the next generation. Also pray for the visionaries and missionaries who will reach out and show them Christ’s love in a real and genuine way.