Super Summer Part 1

Blake and I returned from Super Summer yesterday. The speaker this year was Lance Shumake and he was fabulous. We heard him speak Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights at Rainbow.

Tuesday's message was from the book of Jonah. Here's what I learned.

We represent God; we are his ambassadors. If we aren't representing God, we're being disobedient. Jonah had run away from God when God told him to go to Nineveh and tell people about Him because he didn't want Nineveh to be saved because he hated them; they were enemies. He was mad because in the end, after being in the fish for 3 days and finally going and preaching to them, they repented and were saved.

Jonah had an idol--something that stood in his way of wanting God's will in his life. Jonah loved Israel so much that it became an idol. Jonah treasured Israel more than he treasured God. That's why he wanted Nineveh to be wiped out. Jonah trusted Israel--its strength and power--more than God. Even though the people repented, Jonah was mad. Jonah didn't want to be a part of helping them. He wanted them to remain evil so that God would destroy them. If the city of Nineveh stayed on earth, they could come attack Israel.

The heart of this message was about idols. Lance's purpose was for us to look into our hearts and think about the idols we have. Jonah 2:8 says "Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God's love for them." He posed these questions: What in my life, if I lost it, would make my life meaningless? What consumes me? How do I spend my time and money? What is my functional savior?

New-ness

About a month ago, I bought a new bible. It's a small one, with no extra notes or devotionals built in. I bought it to take with me when I go places like Super Summer or Refuge (Disciple Now), when I don't necessarily need my huge, heavy bible. I will still use that one for my readings at home, but when I travel, I will have the new, cute little one, which is easier to carry around.

After we left the store, I was so excited about this new bible. The outside cover is pretty cute and I was just really pumped to get to go home and read it. I was also excited for Sunday when I could take it to church. I stopped to think about why I was so excited about it and I realized it's because it's new.

Of course. That's why I'm excited. It's new.

Anytime I get something new I am really pumped to get to use it. It has happened to me thousands of times already and will continue to happen. After a while though, maybe a few months, the new-ness wears off and it is pushed further and further to the back of my mind. This has happened a lot with things material and things spiritual. For example, I got a new journal a few years ago and I was all hyped up about using it as my prayer journal. I like to write down my prayers and date them, just to keep track of how things play out according to God's timeline. It's probably been a year since I've opened that journal. I've prayed tons of prayers over the past year, but I haven't taken the time to sit and reflect like I would when writing.

This fact is nothing novel, but it makes me sad. I am sad that it takes buying something new to get me excited about my spiritual life. How horrible is that?? I am disappointed by my lack of rejoicing, by my lack of attention paid to the One who gives me hope, by my lack of worship.

I know I am not alone in this struggle, but I still do not like to admit it. I don't like being reminded of my innate humanity. Nevertheless, I am reminded to rejoice.....

"Let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." Psalm 5:11

"I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul." Psalm 31:7