Striving for the Extraordinary…

“Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.”
​(Romans 15:7, NRSV)

​I like going to relatively new restaurants.  The employees and management seem pumped up.  Everyone tries harder to make your experience positively memorable.  The food is typically above average and always good.  It seems like they make extraordinary service and food normal or customary.  I leave wanting to go back.   

Invariably, though, over time something happens.  Routine service becomes average.  Management loses the spark that was there when the restaurant first opened.  The food somehow degrades to mundane, or worse, unreliable.  What is now customary is no longer extraordinary; customary becomes mundane, or worse, mediocre.  I no longer want to go back.   What is needed is a radical step to reclaim that excitement, that original enthusiasm, that initial energy.  Radical means a significant departure from the usual or customary, and a radical move is needed particularly when usual or customary is no longer motivated by striving for the extraordinary.

​I believe that Christ calls the Church to be radical; to reclaim its extraordinary nature, its enthusiasm, its energy.  I believe Jesus calls us to be radical with our faith and our relationship with Christ.  Just like great restaurants learn how to keep being radical and keeping customary extraordinary, we can do the same with our faith, our relationship with Jesus, and the nature of our church community.   

So, be radical!  God is.  You will be in good company.  

May God’s love, grace, and blessing be upon you … Pastor Bob