Spiritual Exercises from Chapter 4: "Practicing the Way of Jesus" from Finding Our Way Again by Brian McLaren.

1) To what degree would you describe yourself as a "Jesus-y" person? What is the story behind your answer?

I think it might be easier to talk about the story behind my answer rather than my answer. What a cop-out, and un-Jesus-y thing to do, eh? In truth, or reality, I am a Jesus-y person in ways that I do not care about being religious in my faith, yet I am not a Jesus-y person because I lack the discipline to be faithful. This is why I'm reading this book in the first place, yet failing to be consistent about it.

When I interact with people, I truly do care to listen to them, to not judge, to give them freedom and room to be themselves, to be hospitable, to be welcoming, neighborly, etc. Do I fail at this? Of course, but I honestly believe the majority of the time I live these out.

Within the religious parts of my faith, going to church services, etc, I more or less tolerate the process. It doesn't fill me, it doesn't sustain me, sometimes it drains me, and other times I'd rather be anywhere but there. Sometimes it does charge me, sometimes it does get me through another week, but not often enough that I don't dream of something new and different. My story has a lot to do with this. I grew up fundamentalist baptist, and I don't wish to dredge up memories. But as I warmly received this encouragement from the last chapter of Rob Bell's book Love Wins, I cannot count that history as false or not from God. It is part of my story, but only part.

2) Reflect of three important metaphors used by Jesus: kingdom, yoke, path. Talk about them in your own words. Explore what they evoke for you, what they challenge you to be and do, and how they speak to you in your life situation today.

Kingdom - This is a big deal for me because about 3 or so years ago, I made a conscious decision to register politically as independent, and sought a centrist/moderate position of most, if not all, policies. I did this not to be apathetic to the kingdom of the United States, but to remove any allegiances from the political parties that try to control that kingdom. I don't serve or align with this kingdom, and it is important for me to align solely in the Kingdom of God, which is not a kingdom of power over people, but a kingdom of love for people, all people. My responsibility within this Kingdom is to love all as God loves me, not seeking to persuade them to think or believe that I am right, but to show them love as purely as I can.

Yoke - this is not a big deal to me, though I suspect it should be. I do not feel burdened, either heavily or lightly, by my following of Jesus, nor to I feel a sense of urgency. I do not quite know what to do with this metaphor any more. I used to think of it as a rescuing from my life, but in fact, I find that I don't really need rescuing from it as much as I need to be more intentional within my life.

Path - I liken this to its synonym of journey, that following Jesus is a process, not a destination, and that little by little, I'll learn more about God's love and how to share it. I also think this is an earthly process, rather than simply a process to get to the afterlife. If it is really just for the afterlife, then what a waste of good amount of time to love now.

3) The author contrasts Christianity as an institution on the one hand with being disciples and being part of a movement on the other. How do you respond to this contrast? What do you think would happen if the institutions of Christianity became more focused on forming disciples and supporting a movement?

I am wholeheartedly against following or contributing to the institution of Christianity. I don't appreciate the business-like manner churches confine themselves as, nor do I think it reflects on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. If our institutions became focused on forming disciples and supporting a movement, I think we would be seen as more dangerous initially, but much, much, much more productive in solving problems around the world. We would focus on need rather than power, love rather than theological position, person rather than identity.

4) As an experiment, try avoiding the words Christian and Christianity for the next week or month or year. Instead, use the terms follower (or disciple) of Christ and the movement Jesus started. How would this change in terminology affect you? What problems would it cause? What insights might it produce?

I think I use these terms mostly now. I generally use Christianity more as a term I don't really identify with, or at least try to distance myself from. I think being more intentional about it would separate me more. Would it really cause problems? Probably a little, especially if I were to be seen as anti-authority. It would also make things a little more complicated while trying to re-translate Sunday School lessons with my kids. As for insights, I honestly don't know.

5) Talk to God about Jesus, your feelings about him, your beliefs and questions, your commitment, your appreciation.

God, I'm thankful for Jesus, for how you and he are intertwined. I'm confused about how you work within the trinity, what is really the holy spirit and what is just my conscience. I believe you are true and truth, that your love is greater than any understanding of love I will ever have. I believe you love everyone in this world, and made us diverse to learn more about your love rather than how we use it to separate ourselves. I question the Bible often, how you seem to be so angry, murderous, inconsistent, and a segregationist within the OT, but how you are changed in the NT. I believe that the Bible is human, but your Word, which is greater than the Bible is not. I don't believe I need to figure out anything about how you work other than trying to love others as best as I can, and follow what I believe you are leading me in anything I do.