Writing a better story

I realize that it has been a while since my last posting.  I also realize that no one is really reading this thing yet.  I'm hoping that it will be like Field of Dreams.  If I write it they will come.  Which is really funny because Kevin Costner actually bought a minor league baseball team and built a field in my hometown.  Unfortunately, the people aren't coming.  On a brighter note, my niece Autumn got to yell "play ball!" before the start of one of their home games.  Very cute, but I digress.

I turned 30 last Sunday and birthdays always cause me to be very introspective.  I don't get depressed, but I always think about ways that I can better my life in the coming year.  Lately I've been reading Donald Miller's book "A Million Miles in a Thousand Years," which talks about writing a better story with your life.  It's really a fun read and a thought provoking one at that.  In the book, he is approached by some screenwriters who are wanting to take one of his books and make a movie out of it.  The only problem is that they feel that the character's story is boring and that people would walk out of the theater if they went to see it.  Ouch!  He poses that question to us.  If your life was made into a movie, would you walk out of the theater?  What are we doing with our life that would make anyone care how it turns out?  Is your movie about buying a Volvo (nothing against Volvos) and getting through your job until you can retire and do what you really want to do? 

Most of my favorite movies--Braveheart, Gladiator, Lord of the Rings--involve the hero risking their life for something they considered greater than themselves.  I've realized lately that the bulk of my life is about cultivating my comfort.  James 1:2 says, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  How in the world do I consider the trials of my life pure joy?      

Peculiar People

Over the last couple of months I've been thinking about how I can become more peculiar.  My saying that has probably convinced most of you that I have arrived at my desired destination.  Stick with me though.  Peculiar is not a word that you hear often, but it's a great word that means to be uncommon, unusual or distinctive in nature or character from others.  That last one really resonated with me.  Distinctive in nature or character from others.  I don't want to be weird for the sake of being weird, but rather to live a life that looks different than the norm.  Dave Ramsey always says, "Normal is broke." and I think that applies to every aspect of life.  I don't want to be "normal" in any aspect of my life.  How do I get there?
 
Seven times in the King James version of the Bible God calls his people "a peculiar people".  1 Peter 2:9 says, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." My goal is to become more and more peculiar as I learn what it means to follow Jesus.  If that's what God calls us, I want to become more and more like that.  The goal of this blog is to get others' insights and experiences about what becoming a peculiar people looks like.  I would greatly appreciate any insights you have on your journey towards peculiarity.

Steve