“People think what we are doing is weird but when I read the bible it looks like what we are doing is normal.”

It’s Sunday night, I’m sitting on the couch in my flannel pajamas watching football. My wife Robin just said that to me. She’s amazing. (She was thinking about something Lisa Chan said.)

Here we are, prepping to sell our house, getting a paycheck until the end of March and facing the total unknown of starting a new church that won’t launch until September. I gotta be honest. I’ve had a bunch of times when I’ve thought to myself, “What are you? A complete idiot?”

But really, Robin is right. When I read scripture I see that what we’re doing is normal. It’s not a heroic, big deal thing to God. He isn’t sitting up there impressed by us. It’s just the normal faith walk He’s called us, and you, to walk.

What does it mean to “pick up your cross and follow” Jesus? What does it mean to step out of the boat? What does it mean to lay down your life for others? To sell it all and follow? What does it mean to give sacrificially? How have we watered it down to make ourselves feel comfortable and look good?

I wonder if we’ve watered it down so much that we’ve put out the fire?

Yeah, the mission of the gospel makes me squirm too.

What are we willing to give for the cause of Christ? Biblical “normal” is placing it all at His feet for Him to use however He would like.

If we dared to live the biblical definition of normal, how would our lives and our neighborhoods be different?

Mark 8:34-37 – Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for? (MSG)