what is a normal life?

This is largely a post explaining the blog title and my purpose in doing this. "Trying to live a normal life" is a paraphrase of something said by one of the people who live and work with WeWillGo Ministries in downtown Jackson, MS (http://wewillgo.org/). The idea is that we, as a people, generally want to live a normal life. However, when we look at what society tells us is a "normal life" and then when we look how Jesus calls us how to live, we should begin to feel some discomfort. I think most people who declare that they follow Christ will say that we need to follow the example of how Jesus lived--but that's it...words are spoken, but relatively little action is taken. I'm guilty of it...it's easy to say something that we've heard all our lives, because this is the way it's been taught to us from our society, church and blood families, friends, etc.

The fact is, the life Jesus tells and shows us how to live is actually quite the polar opposite from how society (of course, my perspective is coming from an American perspective) teaches us how to live. I mean, how Jesus tells us what a normal life should look like should be a pretty flawless example, right? Especially if we call Him the Lord of our lives. Just a few differences in how these two types of normal lives look include:

• fully relying on one's self to succeed (America) vs. fully relying on God for all of your needs (Matthew 5:25-34)
  
• saving up to establish financial security and a relaxing retirement (America) vs. giving up everything to serve others who literally have next to nothing in such a way that every person's needs are met (Acts 2:44-46)
  
• retaliate against those who do you wrong...whether personally or nationally (America) vs. loving your enemies (not just your neighbor), even if they go so far as to take your own life (this may make some of you uncomfortable, but Saul was a Zealot, a Jewish extremist who terrorized early Christians, yet Jesus, who renamed him Paul, chose him to be the one who would help bring the good news to the rest of the world...can you think of any people we call extremists today??) Violence only breeds more violence, from what I've seen. (Matthew 5:43-48, Acts 8:1-3, Acts 9)
  

Well, I'm sure I there's a much better way to summarize what the title of this blog means to me...it actually means many, many more things to me, but what I really want you to get from this is that if you are going to call Jesus your Lord...if I am going to call Him my Lord...we have got to re-evaluate what that "normal" life should look like compared to the life our society and upbringing teaches us. I promise you, there are a LOT of differences...I only listed three. I in no way profess that my life is any kind of an example of this life Jesus talks about...I'm only beginning to discover this amazing way of kingdom life that Jesus shares with us, and I am trying to allow Jesus to show me how I can participate in it. I am a screw-up and a failure in many ways, yet I know that despite the innumerable flaws you and I have, the Holy Spirit can overcome those and do the impossible through us.

This blog is an avenue for me and you to share our perspectives on this life Jesus calls us to live--a life that should be considered normal to us. I welcome any stories you have concerning people in whom you've seen Jesus (ask yourself, "where did I see Jesus today?") or moments where you've seen the Spirit working in communities or events. Moments where I see the Spirit working through individuals and groups of people get me excited! I hope it does the same for you, too. :)