It’s the beginning of summer. Not technically, but practically. In the US, Memorial Day (the last Monday in May) marks the beginning of summer. And I wanted to ask you what you want to accomplish in the three months between now and Labor Day.
Not generally, though I do care about generally, but in your journey of understanding what following Jesus looks like or means or feels like or leads to. What do you want to accomplish?
- What stories about Jesus do you want to spend some time exploring?
- What are you pretty sure that God has been inviting you to do that you’ve been putting off?
- What are you going to learn about the family members around you that will help you learn to love them better?
- What are the five questions about God that you want someone to explore with you?
- How many sunrises or sunsets a week are you planning to stop everything and watch (even if you don’t write a poem about it like David did).
- What’s the next step for whatever you mastered during the past 6 months?
Me?
- I want to look at the conversations that Jesus has, the times where he talks with one person for at least a couple conversational turns (for example, he says, she responds, he responds, she responds is two conversation turns). Three of them come to mind quickly and I want to look at those and for others.
- I want to write about the idea of stopping announcing and starting to invite. I think there is a huge difference in how we connect to the lives of other people.
- I want to spend more time with Nancy sitting on the deck, listening to the birds.
A lot to consider on the first day of summer. But time’s a wasting.
300 words a day 
Dave
Ok Jon, I’ll contribute.
None of this is particularly new for me, but a continuation of where I am at.
1) What does the Bible really say? Not what the church has taught, but what the BIBLE says.
2) Why do 90% of the “rules” Jesus give only show up in the book of Matthew? The particular question I’m looking at is, “have we overemphasized the rules at the expense of something more?”
3) What can I remove from my life? Primarily, how much can I live without? What junk can i toss? But also, what is important that shouldn’t be?
4). More God. More Holy Spirit. More faith. More love. I look at my life and compare it to what the early church seems to have experienced and think, “something is very, very wrong!”
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Jon Swanson
Dave, I recognize these questions from the mirror.
Only one suggestion of an answer. On 2, Matthew is the one that ends with “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded.” Is it a teaching manual, perhaps? But not so much for rules, I don’t think.
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Frank Reed
I am concentrating on only one thing. That is to work on my relationship with Jesus Christ. I have been a terrible son. He and I both know it. Thankfully His mercy, grace and forgiveness gives me a prodigal’s chance of coming back and being loved by Him like He wants to love me.
Strong relationships occur when both parties are willing to put their all into it. Bad relationships are often simply one sided. I need to seek the relationship with Christ that He offers every day.
It’s that simple really. All the rest that flows from a right relationship with Christ has a much better chance of being in His will and not mine. My will is done (as in finished, wrung out and useless). His will needs to be done. In that, there is hope.
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Jon Swanson
you know Frank, I read that phrase “terrible son” and I understand. And yet I wonder whether God would say that. The father of the prodigal never said, “my terrible son is coming back”. What did he say?
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joseph ruiz
Very thought provoking Jon, I needed this. I am just finishing an outstanding book called Powerful Questions – in the context of what you just asked One burning question for me “Is this the best you can do?” I realize this needs to translate to specific answers to your questions. I agree with Frank, I’ve not been a good son need to work on my relationship with Jesus but I also need to learn more about family, Dave you have given me some things to think about particularly getting rid of clutter physical and other.
I’ll continue to think and pray about this challenge Jon, thank you (I’ll be quick about it, so I don’t lose the summer)
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Jon Swanson
i already lost two days in responding, Joe. The summer is flying.
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Cheryl
Frank, I was just thinking the other day about “Strong relationships…” I need to be more intentional about putting in my part of the relationship and being a true reflection of Christ. This is an area I am not good at. There are many questions I would like to pray about to see where God is leading. I have been focusing on what I need to do for my career this summer and not enough of what I need to do to grow in my relationship with Christ. I know I have to be more intentional about writing in my prayer journal. Why is it when it comes time to do that I always find something else to do? But, when I do write in the journal I am always blessed by it. Maybe my summer just needs to focus on “Being Intentional”.
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Jon Swanson
that’s a great intention, Cheryl. 🙂
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Lori
1. Battle cancer
2. Learn to thank God for this trial. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
(Jas 1:17)
3. Hold on tight to His hand.
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