NO NO NO! Not that kind of exposed!

I’m talking about a deeper kind of exposed. The kind that might cause some of us to re-think some stuff.

A new worship series started this past weekend at Our Saviour’s called Exposed. A necessary, but unpopular series.

Actions drive perceptions, and the perceptions that outsiders have of Christians aren’t very good. This worship series is about looking at some of these negative perceptions and asking the question: What are we doing to drive these perceptions? And how can we change them?

If you hang out in downtown Naperville in the middle of the day on a weekday in the summer… you’ll find a bunch of kids who are bored out of their minds just hanging around the river walk, swimming at “the beach”, playing with an iPad at the Apple store, ordering frapps at Starbucks… you get the picture. Some of the little OGs like to skateboard around the parking lot of the Walgreens. The very same Walgreens I stopped off at to pick up a few supplies. I found myself lost in the following train of thought…

Don’t these kids have anything better to do than hold up parking lot traffic and loiter through the aisles of Walgreens? I can’t wait until school starts again when the ‘middle of the day’ will be ruled again by the respectable working class of Naperville.

Then I remembered that I had just made the decision to never become a suit. Meaning I don’t want to become so far out of touch with the world that I look down at it with judgmental eyes. Who am I to judge? I thought of this worship series we just started.

What kind of perceptions do we as Christians place on ourselves? Are we hypocritical? Do we live in a box? Do we always have ulterior motives?

Now it’s time to expose yourself.

When was the last time you judged someone unfairly?

I found this video while scrolling through ChurchCreate.

First off I just want to say that the drawing along with the voice over was a little hard to get used to at first but once I did, I thought it was fantastic!

Motivation is an interesting concept, and one that I’ve been thinking about a lot recently. I am a firm believer that people are capable of anything they put their mind to. The problem usually is in the putting their mind to it part. I call that being in a rut. I know I have been in a rut before in life. Those times where you just do what you have to in order to get by.

I think it’s important for us all to find something we enjoy doing, and then strive to do it with excellence. This video got me thinking about what motivates me.

Professionally, I am motivated to find the most cost effective ways to support my church’s ministries with the best technology available. It doesn’t always work out that way… but that is the overall goal.

Personally, I am motivated to be a good friend to those close to me. I don’t always excel there… but I never stop trying to be the best friend I can be. For me… it’s all about community. I love being around people I love. I love spending time just hanging out… down the street… the same old thing… dang, you see what That 70′s Show has done to me?! Being in community with each other is my biggest thing. Sanctus Real said it best, “Oh Oh… we need each other“.

What motivates you?

[video by: thersa.org]

I’ll be honest… my life isn’t where I imagined it would be by age 25.

I’ve been through some junk. Who hasn’t?

I’ve decided that all that junk isn’t worth dwelling on. That’s why they call it junk.

Instead… I’m working on changing my perspective.

Not getting caught up in the little things.

Letting the things that make me angry slide off my back.

I’m looking for the good in things.

Los has done an excellent job over the years at helping me keep things in perspective.

I’m also reading this book by Pete called Plan B.

A friend of mine is going through a divorce. He has been married to the same woman for over 30 years.

This stinks. That’s some junk right there. Please pray for him and his family.

How have you modeled Jesus to someone who’s going through some junk?

[Image by: wickedlady]