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In “Dissident Discipleship”, the chapter on authentic witness has helped me understand how I got on the path which formed the character of my relationship with Jesus for most of my adult life. The author points out that the most common question or concern expressed when Christian’s share their faith is “What can Jesus do for you?” He quotes Jim Wallis regarding modern conversion:

Modern conversion brings Jesus into our lives rather than bringing us into his. We are told Jesus is here to help us do better what we are already doing. Jesus doesn’t change our lives, he improves them. Conversion is just for ourselves, not for the world. We ask how Jesus can fulfill our lives, not how we can serve his Kingdom.

As I contemplated the idea of modern conversion, I came to the conclusion that it describes the nature and character of my own conversion. My relationship with God was all about Jesus helping me to do better, be happier, better adjusted, more satisfied, and more prosperous and successful. The recent changes that have and are occurring in my life are centered in coming into the life of Jesus. I am experiencing conversion. It is not about self-improvement,  it is about being created new. That changes everything. Asking how I can serve his Kingdom is dramatically different than continually asking what can Jesus do for me?

In the midst of this conversion, I have come to realize that my witness continues to be mostly shaped by “What can Jesus do for you?”. It is my default mode. It is a cruel irony that all the while I am struggling to find my way into the life of Jesus, I am selling others on what Jesus can do for them.

It is Saturday morning and a beautiful morning it is. I’m sitting on our front porch which has become my favorite spot to read and enjoy the mornings. I have found the front porch provides a wonderful view of the world around me and gives regular opportunity to engage people. I wouldn’t suggest that front porches are THE answer to building community but I think if everyone had a porch and used it our world would be a very different and better place.

I have recovered from our drive from Burlington. It was a great visit with Clark and Vanessa and Lacey. We are expecting grandchildren (Tyler and Madison) from Louisville this morning. They will will be staying with us while Byron and Melissa take a short motorcycle trip to celebrate their wedding anniversary which was August 4th. Next week I plan to continue painting the exterior of the house.

Last evening I went fishing with Daniel and Jerod at lock #7 on the Kentucky River. Tanya, Meredith, and Blake joined us until it got dark. We were planning to catch some catfish but were fortunate to catch several white striped bass. No monster catfish. Maybe next time.

I’m reading Dissident Discipleship. The current chapter is about authentic witness. The following quotation challenges my thinking:

Authentic witness is not pretentious perfectionism, but transparent vulnerability. It seeks not to change others, but to offer the story of its own need for change and discovery in a way that opens dialogue. John Drane offers pungent commentary on this point:

Christians love to correct other people. But an appropriate attitude for a renewed and faithful church will begin with the recognition that we can only challenge others to follow the way of Christ if we are continually hearing God’s voice for ourselves, and allowing our own understandings  to be changed in the process. We have something to share with others not because we are different, but because we are no different, and can become credible witnesses, not as we condemn others and dismiss what we regard as their inadequate spiritualities, but as we constantly listen to the gospel and appropriate its challenge in our own lives.