Andrew Wilson

Growing

Erique Gumbs walked into the back of the auditorium while I was preaching this past Sunday. I hadn't seen him in a few weeks; he's been busy settling into his new life at Towson University in Maryland. He's also been working out and preparing for his freshman season of playing for the figtin' Towson Tigers basketball team.

Erique is circa 6'10", and when he walked into the auditorium, I immediately noticed that he had grown a bit from the last time I saw him. You see, for Erique, growing is a big deal. He's tall, but he wants to get taller. 7ft + skilz (yes, that's with a "z") = a good chance of making it the bigs.

When I told him I thought he had grown, he proceeded to wrap me in a celebratory hug with his tentacle-like arms. He hasn't measured himself in awhile (I'm assuming because he's employing the "a watched pot never boils" logic), but heard that day from 4 different people the same thing: "Erique, you're getting taller."

As I thought about Erique and his future, I realized that there are other people getting taller at The Journey too. I thought about the people who have been baptized this past year and are living lives that are honoring Jesus. I thought about the people who have begun gathering with us regularly each Sunday since Friend Day. I thought about the people who are connecting weekly in Life Groups and monthly during First Friday and about the people who are giving generously with their finances, time and talent. People at The Journey are growing spiritually. If you're a sojourner with me, and you're gathering, connecting and serving, then you're growing! (Insert virtual celebratory hug here).

The fightin' Towson Tigers are a better bball team because of Erique Gumbs; they'll be even better as he grows. The Journey is great because you're apart of it; we'll be even better as we grow together.

"We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing."
2 Thessalonians 1:3

Lean in & Listen

When I'm listening to a public speaker (that I actually want to listen to), I make it a point to lean in when I listen. Here are a couple of reasons I do this:
#1-I know that I'm prone to distractions. I'm not ADHD, but I know that unless I lock-in entirely with my mind and body (via my posture), chances are good that my attention will wane and I'll miss some important stuff.
#2-As a public speaker, I know that a cool, audience-speaker dynamic is created when active listening is employed.

Lately though, I've been wondering if I'm leaning in when God is speaking. What kind of posture have I been assuming when He speaks to me (via the Bible, prayer or other people)? Am I leaning in, trying to absorb his every word and instruction into my spirit, or am I leaning away from him.
To be honest, I've found myself spiritually slouching in my seat. I have a front row seat (and so do you), but mentally I've been meandering in the foyer.

So, here's what I'm going to do about it. I'm going to get out of spiritual la-la land (aka the foyer) and sit up straight, square my shoulders, make eye contact and lean in when He speaks. I might not understand everything he's saying (a front row seat doesn't mean that I'm at the head of the class) but at least I'm listening. I might not know if I have enough courage to do what He's asking me to do, but at least I won't be ignorant.
The teacher is teaching; lean in and listen.

No one ever spoke the way this man (Jesus) does...(John 7:46)
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Revelation 2:7)

Friends with Benefits

This coming weekend is Friend Day at The Journey and I'm going to invite every friend I have. What kind of friend would I be if I didn't?

In thinking about friendship, here are some other ways that I can benefit my friends:

-Celebrate with them. When one of my friends has something great happen in his/her life, I want to be one of the first ones to congratulate and party with them.
-Grieve with them. When one of my friends suffers loss, I want to be there. Words are optional--my presence is not.
-Challenge them. When I see a friend living a listless, uninspiring life, I need to smack them around (in love, of course) and help them reach their potential.

There are a ton of others ways that friendships add value to our lives; these are just a few of those ways. Thanks friends (you know who you are) for the times you've celebrated & grieved with me as well as the times you've challenged me to reach my potential. I'm better for knowing you. I hope you can say the same about me.

Friends come and friends go, but a true friend sticks by you like family. (Proverbs 18:24 The Message paraphrase)

Noise

*This is a repost of a blog by Amy Sturgeon (www.theamyjoy.com) about First Friday last night.

Today was loud. People demanded (as they are apt to do) my time, my attention, my patience, my knowledge, my skills and my love. The world was noisy today. Construction equipment moved the earth around me, stores opened, radioes blasted, people yelled, they swore, they cried, and my own mind kept up a running narrative. Emotions were high. People rubbed aching temples, shifted on tired feet, cracked sore necks. And then I arrived here. Sat down in the low lit room. People bowed heads to focus on You. Some sat plainly, some knelt on work-weary knees. Some sang aloud, some whispered requests, some read Your ancient promises. The loudness went away. Peace grew as we waited in your presence. Your beauty caused the demands and insults to fade away. You changed the world in a matter of moments. You changed my world with a simple word.

Human being

This weekend I held my 4.5 month old, looked him in his eyes and asked him, "who do you want to be when you grow up?" He didn't respond. This was to be expected.
I didn't ask him "what do you want to do when you grow up?". I'm afraid that if I only ask him "what do you want to do?" and not "who do you want to be?" that, in time, he'll focus more on the quality of his performance than the quality of his character. That's an insidious reversal and one that too many people embrace.
So, who do you want to be when you grow up? Eli can't respond yet...but you can. Have you been focusing on your performance more than your character? When's the last time you carved out a chunk of time (in the car, before bed, when you wake up) to prayerfully consider who you're becoming and not just what you're doing?
Are you a human being or a human doing?

"The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (I Sam 16:7)