When writing a blog that others read, it is probably not advisable to begin by offering an apology.  And yet I feel compelled to do so at this time.  Please understand before you read this blog that my intent is not to offend anyone or to downplay the role of the church (the body, not the building) in your life.  That said, please accept my most humble apologies if you are offended by this blog.

Normal.  For as long as I can remember I have disliked the word normal.  I dislike the meaning behind the word, the significance that society in general places upon that word and even more than that, the way in which the word, it's meaning and significance appears to have become a part of daily Christian living.  Perhaps I am just sensitive to this word because of who I am and the manner in which I live my life, however, I have a hard time believing that it is simply me and my baggage.

What does the word "normal" mean to you?  When someone speaks of normal, what images come to mind?  Does it invoke images of a lifestyle that you are or should be trying to obtain, the way in which your family should look, act or appear in any given set of circumstances or the condition of your home and lawn?  Assuming that the images that I just described make sense to you and somehow you can relate the word normal to those images, the next question that I must ask is if obtaining "normality" is important to you in life and if so, why?  What is so significant about the word normal that causes you to life your life based upon a set of preconceived notions that may or may not have any significant relevance to you personally.  Furthermore, what is it about that word which causes you to worship and experience God through Christ based upon someone elses idea of what that should look like?

Now, before you stop reading this blog altogether, lets pause here for a minute and clarify some things.  First of all, please re-read the apology at the beginning of the blog and forgive me again if needed.  Second, I am not implying that we should not worship God in a community form (the Church) or that your method of worshiping is somehow wrong.  I myself worship in a manner which is probably similar to what you do, however, that does not make this method of worshiping normal or not normal.  Rather, my purpose here is simply to cause a thought process as it pertains to the reasons behind why you do the things that you do and ask in all seriousness if you are experiencing God through Christ or simply going through the motions based upon the significance within our society of a word.

Having just re-read the Gospel's during this past Lenten season, it struck me that nothing about Jesus ministry was normal during that time.  His birth was not normal, His disciples were not normal, His method of teaching was not normal - nothing about His time here on earth was normal.  And yet, no other single event in our history has the potential to radically transform our life beyond Christ's non-normal ministry (I am refraining from using the word "abnormal" here as that invokes a whole different set of images and notions that I do not want to drag into the discussion).

I believe that all of us desire to experience God through Christ.  Our life is an opportunity to do just that.  The manner in which we do so, therefore, should be one which is free from preconceived ideas and notions and provides us with an opportunity to truly experience the Kingdom of Heaven.  That said, I urge you to look at the your spiritual life and ask yourself if you have been deceived by the evil one through ritualistic actions which have long ago lost their meaning or if you are indeed a free-radical for Christ.

I leave you with the words of a follower of Christ who understood something about not being normal...

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Romans 12:2)

Your brother in Christ,

Jim