Paradigm doesn't even begin to explain

A mission to live for is what I have.

The other day I was told by a friend in passing, "Vince, don't be a martyr."  Now before you read this wrong my life was not threatened in anyway so it was more of a figure of speech than a present reality.  That being said though it stuck with me.  Martyrs do not usually look to become a martyr rather that is where the final stages of their mission take them.  We remember these people not because they died, but because they lived.

Have you ever told someone else or just yourself that you would die for a person/mission.  You would expend your entirety to advance or protect this cause, because you deemed it more worthy than your own life?  It's serious stuff, and yet we have that line, "It's to die for!"  Maybe this is a way to protect ourselves from the reality of death?  I digress though.

What you would die for reveals deep convictions, but what you would live for does even more.  Living here is difficult.  There are stresses, relationships, economies, politics, societies, jerks, hunger, and war.  If you took a step back and looked at the world today you would se a bag full of ambiguity.  We do not like ambiguity and therefore pick sides and make judgements.  After these judgements and sides are drawn up we find conflict with those not like us a requirement.  Us versus Them.  Just look at congress or the presidential races and you will see a good illustration as to where this goes eventually.

Over the past two years or so I have become very disenfranchised with the two party paradigm.  I can only hang my hat up in one place anymore and that is the Church.  Before you say "Vince you have chosen a side!" let me speak ok?  Ok.

The Church is wherever two or more believers are gathered in the name of Christ.  It is not just a building.  The Church is a group of people who have made Christ their all.  Christ is the center of Church.  The faith of the Church is in Christ and the work done is done for and through Christ.  The Church is an attempt to make as much space for God to reign fully in this world presently.  Does the Church fail at doing this sometimes?  Yes when it is caught up in trying to be something it is not.  Church is not a row of pews waiting to be filled nor shiny plates to receive penance.  Church is the gathering of believers in love who through the Spirit glorify God in song, relationship, justice, love, and all the fruit of the spirit.  Church is bigger than we make it, mainly because we do not make it.  We are led to it.

Do not sell out to culture, ideology, or bigotry.  Die to Christ alone and in Him there is life Brothers and Sisters.

This is more.

Blessings