1 post tagged “introduction”
After two unsuccessful new year's resolutions, months of self-coercion, and an embarrassing number of ok-i'm-gonna-do-this-oh-but-then-again-maybe-i-won't moments, I have finally entered the blogosphere. I have long understood my own need for an outlet for my own creativity--if I can even call it that--but alas I've also long been content to read and reflect upon the musings of others while sparing myself the intellectual energy and soul searching required to articulate my own thoughts and reflections in a semi-comprehensible manner. As with any lifestyle change, the jury will remain out for quite some time on whether or not blogging will "stick" for me, but I sincerely hope that it does. More than that, I hope that blogging becomes a means by which I can clarify my own thoughts and receive feedback from others.
What finally pushed me over the edge was a conversation I had with my small group last night. We were reflecting on passion and fear, and how the latter often restricts our pursuit of the former. I realized as I shared my own stories and listened to the stories of others that too often in my life I'm willing to settle for what's easiest and what is more likely to prevent pain. In my case, too often that's recreational internet time spent seeking information that doesn't really matter. The reality is, though, that perusing espn.com requires minimal effort, and rarely inspires me to live differently. As much as I desire inspiration intellectually, too often its practical implications strike fear into my heart. And such fear is a hyperlink to espn.com. Writing is one of the ways that I want to confront that fear. My hope is that this blog will promote deeper theological and cultural reflection that I can then write about in a meaningful manner. Furthermore, I hope writing can be the gateway into a community of mutual encouragement and inspiration.
The title of my blog comes from the title of a sermon I gave at the college/young adult ministry I pastor several months ago. I knew I needed to give a message on giving, but I also knew that I had long grown weary with the way that church talked about money. My own unspoken thesis was essentially that the church is too often good at getting people to tithe, while not being that good at teaching people to be generous. The goal of my sermon was thus not to increase the dollar amount in the offering per se, but rather to help others think differently about their resources, and specifically how they can use their resources for the good of causes that are bigger than themselves. The irony is of course that when our focus is moved away from scarcity and selfishness and towards generosity, we experience a level of fulfillment and joy that would otherwise be unattainable. I believe with everything in me that God has made us to be generous, and as I seek to better think and live generously in my own life, I want to encourage others to join me on that journey. Thanks for reading, hopefully more be coming soon.
