Thanks for tunning in to my second blog... im surprised i have made it this far.. you have no idea how many things I start and then just fade away into the bliss.... i know i know... i need to be more diligent and persevere.. but i do have so many things that I want to do... that some are just left out to dry. i really hope that this is not one of them, since I am really enjoying this dizzy cold july full of running sentences.
Weeell, im back..... i just got back from a beach named Sayulita in the Pacific coast... what can I say but just BEAUTIFUL..... it really is a surfers paradise, with a great quaint little town full of coffee shops, Italian restaurants and the beautiful people ready to talk to you. One of the now locals from Dallas says it reminds him of 50 years ago, when nobody had to lock their doors.
I really enjoyed the beach, the waves, the people.... but mostly ... the silence. Raul and I went exploring (ala Man vs Wild...... which is by the way... one of the best shows in TV right now) through the mountains and jungle (some great hikes!) and found some virgin beaches..... these beaches were something else.... untouched... hidden..... small.... peaceful... away from EVERYTHiNG!!! it was just such joy to be there and take all that in. It was an arduous hike to get there.. but all worth it.. .. just be be there.... and absorb Gods creation.
It reminded me of Sunday. Yea Sunday.... im at a real privileged place in my life now,.,, where I get to go to church on Sunday and not be the pastor... in fact.. when i go to church on Sunday... im just the guy who sits in the back with his wife.. with the pony tail... with nothing to say to anybody but a warm smile and a grateful hello... and just "take it all in"
The Church I am attending now is great.... its has about 50 people... a passionate pastor.... and i love that its small... and its my own little "virgin beach". I am nobody there.... im not there to see anybody but Jesus... and I love to worship there.... i jump... shout... kneel.. even cry at times... and could care less...who is next to me....its private.. its small.... and its special.
Now don't get me wrong... i love the big church experience.... gathering places of worship should involve more people.... but i was just sharing my own private beach of worship..... i think that is soooo critical to our following of our King. THINK ABOUT IT.... I think about it like my surfing this hidden beach. As a surfer.. i love to surf.... and if I did enough of it one day.... i would get really good at it.. and then i would be teaching other people to do it.. and then i would be judging contests, and doing interviews... writing articles.... putting tournaments together.. etc etc.... and that is all good and all.... but what could possible compare.... to me surfing that virgin beach alone...... away from the pressure.. away from the people.... away from the trophies... away from the STANDARDS!!!! just me and God on that beach.... just me and God... in that small service..... i love it.... would not change it for the world. Not for all the Christian pressure, Christian people, Christian trophies..... and especially not for all the Christian standards out there!
Let me ask you... do you have that special virgin beach? do you have that secret surf spot.? It does not have to be a small congregation.... it could be your closet.... a walk at midnight.... jeeeez.. anything. maybe you don't. ... maybe you don't because you like CONTROL. You see, i love the secret spot... cause its unsafe...im not in control... anything goes..... im not the one with the agenda..... and sometimes we do not want to give that up.
Which brings me to understand why superman had his fortress of solitude. He liked / NEEDED to go there... not cause of the cool crystals.... not because he was superman... but because this was the ONLY place that he was NOT in CONTROL. There... he was not superman.. he was just a boy.... a very lonely lost boy (with a huge responsibility) talking to his parents (that were in control). and he loved it...... and so do i.
find yourself your secret spot.... your small congregation... your virgin beach......if you plan to keep following Jesus... you are going to have to put the trophy down... and make that hike.
Lots of love... share your brains with me..... what are your secret spot....OR... what is keeping your from yours???
wow,..that's a good one. Full of run-on sentences, too, but good anyways :) Mmm,.. and as to the secret spot, well, I'm not sure I have one other than my room [There arent lots and lots of virgin beaches here, sad to say].
ReplyDeleteI'm gld you are having a good time. The place you went to sounds amazing.
Man Josh I’m so jealous. When you speak of no standards, I covet. I know...I know, sorry. But man...you get to wear jeans on Sunday and you know what I mean by that. And that’s what it’s all about, you got to a place where now you’re on your own and can wear jeans on Sunday, no standards, no control, and you deserve it man, you’ve worked hard for it. But I am jealous, and wish I could share in that with you, is that wrong? I want to wear jeans on Sunday, so bad. Without people making faces at me, or judging me. Without people trying to draw graphs that explain why one shouldn’t wear jeans on Sunday. I just want to be, and sometimes I feel like I may never get to wear Jeans on Sunday and it can get pretty hopeless. When you were in those places, how did you know that one day would be different, that one day you would be able to go Sunday morning and walk out of the house with jeans and not care? How did you get through it without losing it? Anyways, my wife and I are really happy for you guys, getting away from standards and having an opportunity to start a church without those and letting people know from the get go that “HEY, it’s OK. Wear jeans, I won’t judge you, and neither will anyone here”. Awesome!
ReplyDeletei have to say man... the person we please must always be Jesus... i dunno... stay true to our King.. its HIS Kingdom we long for... we abide under.. we serve... and Hes so good. Do HIS will... there is liberty there.
ReplyDeleteI only have jeans n_n;
ReplyDelete...Id have to say that the open road is my virgin beach. Personally I can stand not being mobile. plus right now istn the best time to be riding on the gas either. BUT I need it...I need to go somewhere..ANYWHERE~!
When Alyx's dad lend the the 4runner I was so relieved cz I felt like bird got her wings back, a writer his pen.....a rapper his rhyme?
[thats 1 isnt it?...dag]
but yeha..know what thats like~
I still remember when going to Mcallen or just watching a few westerns or even columbo, that was my way out or escaping. It's different now and the variables keep changing. With pressures everywhere around me, I have not found my virgin beach out there. I will try to embark on finding a virgin beach this week.
ReplyDeleteWoW ... I don't really have my virgin beach hehe.... but I am looking for one.... I know Josh (My husband) will like to read this new post since he is like that too... his own personal and private spot is his library... he loves it there... closes the door... at night and nothing else exists... he enjoys it so much! he usually goes there when I am sleeping and I know that quality time he spends by himself with God helps him everyday.... Pas... I hope you read he made a comment in your last post... Thanks for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteJesus had a mountain.... i had a beach, and now a service.... seek him there.
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