Even If i Walk Alone

Instructing and encouraging you to live your life as a disciple of Jesus

Daily Life

Too Many Churches

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I recently learned from an article that the city in which I live has more churches per capita than any other city in America. While some might see this as great news, it left a bitter taste in my mouth. Why do we need so many churches? Doesn’t that mean the vast majority of them are horribly ineffective?

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Perhaps even more troubling is the amount of money these churches are spending on rent, real estate, and building projects. When did those things become more important than feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, and providing shelter for the homeless (Matthew 25:31-46)? The Church has become quite efficient spending Kingdom money on things that bear little resemblance to Christ.
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Goals and Resolutions

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As I write this, it is mid-October. Most would think this a bit early to start thinking about goals for the next year, but I start the process every year around this time. If you’re kind, you may think me an over-achiever, but I’m guessing most will probably see me as somewhat neurotic and obsessive! Regardless, I’ll bet you’re wondering what any of this has to do with following Jesus.

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The truth is I had an epiphany as I began to think about my goals for the next year.  Every time I set goals, they are centered on what I want to accomplish. Yes, I do set spiritual goals, but traditionally those have been just one slice of the goals I set. It suddenly occurred to me the only goals that matter are the ones concerning Christ and not me.
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Celebrity Culture

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We live in an era where pastors have become celebrities. Several make more money on the speaking circuit and from writing books than any church could ever have afforded to pay them. I have nothing against these people earning more money, and certainly nothing against more people hearing the truth of Jesus. The problem I do have is our tendency to idolize these men and women.

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We’ve stolen the celebrity culture of Hollywood and applied it to ministry. I am guilty of feeding this machine. I love reading books and attending seminars, always looking for new insights by which I can draw nearer to God. Still, there’s a fine line between earnest student and borderline groupie.
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The End of Me

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Kyle Idleman recently wrote a book titled, “The End of Me”. While I have only just begun reading it, I continue to roll the title around in my mind. Something about it struck me where I am in this season of my life. What would my life look like if I had truly come to the end of me? What if I had finally let go of all the pretense, the striving, and the quest for my many selfish pursuits?

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What if I once and for all decided I had finally had enough of me and wanted nothing further to do with myself? What might become of my life? I know when I reach the end of me, all that will be left is Jesus.
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Your Plan for Spiritual Growth

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What do you want for your relationship with God? If you are a disciple of Jesus, it means your every desire is to live a life that looks like Him. You want each day to be a little closer to the Father than the day before. You want to leave the world behind and bask in God’s presence. Obedience will be your default response.

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I believe true followers of Christ would agree having a relationship like that with our Creator would lead to a more than satisfying and worthwhile life. The problem is if we don’t plan for that kind of relationship, it will never happen. So what’s your plan?
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