Underground ReLOVEution

"It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ for that is far better." (Phillipians 1: 20-23)

What else does a Christian need? "To live is Christ" = "Christ is honored in my body." It's that simple. In everything that I do, Christ should be represented, treasured, and ultimately glorified.  I have been in such steadfast prayer recently because I took a step back and looked at my life. It is so much less radical than Paul's. His highest aspiration was to die.  He called it "far better." Let that sink in for a moment. Where did this type of Christianity go? It has never occurred to me that Christians are supposed to be very weird people. It's true because this type of life would look incredibly strange in today's self-pleasing culture. My life would look so much different if Christ was glorified in everything that I did. The way I use my money, the time I spend in front of the T.V.  My desires to be married and have a good job. But most importantly, if I had a desire to die for Christ.

I don't know if this is going to encourage anybody or help your faith, but I pray that the Holy spirit would make Christianity in America more radical than something that we do on the weekends, or when we have free-time, or most importantly when we're bored. I see this too much in my life and my family's. This is our life at stake, nothing else really matters, including Jobs, possessions, and especially T.V. I write this in complete longing to be like Paul. Do I really love Christ more than life itself. and is there ANYTHING that I desire more than Him? 

"Whom have I in Heaven but You? And there in nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forevermore." (Psalm 73: 25-26).

This is a song by Rend the Heavens that I sang during one of my quiet times. I wanted to share it with you. This band writes lyrics that are unheard of in contemporary Christian music. The reason I love this song is because the second verse. "Reveal to me today, the death You died, and the price that You paid. So maybe I someday, could be given the gift of death for Your name." The vocals and sound are a little shaky due to time constraints. I have to go pack for winter camp!  But I love you guys.

Peace,

Timmy