Missional Living

Thankfulness and gratitude are a choice.

My buddy and fellow Oozer, Lance, chose to send me this via email last week. It speaks for itself. 

There's much talk on theooze about the negative aspects of many of our fundamentalist upbringings/early church experiences. But look at all of us; we were introduced to Jesus in those churches. When I really think about that, many other issues kind of fade into the background. Don't get me wrong. I think the American Church has some growing to do, like we all do….the conservative American Christian church has led people into relationships with Jesus. My understanding of Jesus was skewed then as it probably is now, but if perfect theology were necessary, we'd all be in trouble. Some good has come from conservative Christianity, and for that I am grateful.

I'm grateful that those churches taught me about Jesus.

I'm grateful for learning about the Bible in those churches.

I'm grateful for hearing that it is by grace we are saved.

I'm grateful for learning that God is transcendent.

I'm grateful that the groundwork for questioning what I was being taught by searching the scriptures was laid.

I'm grateful for all the old women in my church who prayed for everyone.

I'm grateful for the intense dialogues I used to have with my youth group leader.

I'm grateful for the willingness of my leaders to engage my questions.

I'm grateful for being shown worship.

To his list, I'd add the following:

For my wife, my boys, my brother, my parents, and my CastMaster brotherhood, I am especially grateful. 

For friends who've enriched my life since high school, and for those I've only met last month.

May the Grace of Jesus be our fragrance.