Rest and Reconciliation

On Sunday I had the opportunity to speak at Restore Community Church. I had a great time doing a little rap (you can find that on my Facebook page) and speaking on the word "Back". This word is taken from our mission at Restore which is "Helping People Find Their Way Back To God". This has been our teaching series for the past 5 weeks, and I was happy to be given the opportunity to share what God has been teaching me about this word "Back".
I'm really passionate about the idea of looking back because it forces us to look at a story that is bigger than our own individual one. It helps us to answer the questions "Why are things in the world so broken?" and "Is this the way things are supposed to be?" We only find the answers to these question when we look back to the Fall, when we were separated from God as a result of disobedience in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). The good news is that God refuses to leave us separated from him. He sends his son, Jesus to remove that separation by paying a price that we could never pay. His own sinless life.  This is how we are brought "back" to God, this is the Gospel.
As a result God sends us out to join him on his mission to bring people back to him. Paul says in 2 Corinthians that we are given the "Ministry of Reconciliation".  This is our mission as God's people but we are easily distracted, we are fearful, and sometimes we just don't think its our job or "calling" so we settle for living a mediocre life instead of being a part of something greater than ourselves.
We often overlook the other side to this same coin of reconciliation.  God has also removed the separation that divides us as people. Our ministry of reconciliation crosses racial, economic, cultural, and yes, even political lines for people of all backgrounds to be brought back to God and one another. So what I'm saying is, get to know someone that doesn't look like you or invite someone of a different economic background over for dinner. Get out of your social bubble! Because as long as you "stick with your own" you will be missing out on what other people who bear the image of God have to offer. Reconciliation should result in a mutual friendship from both parties. This can be messy at times, but is worth the risk.

So, after having an amazing Sunday with my Restore family Stephanie and I flew out to Virginia Beach to spend a few days with some more family. Scott and Brittany (Stephanie's brother and his fiance) live in Philadelphia so Stephanie's parents, Stephanie, and I  flew out to Virginia. We had a great time relaxing and getting refreshed as we ate good food, enjoyed each others company and watched some good movies. Did I say we ate good food?!
It was awesome!