And a Dangerous New Year to you...

Seems pretty crazy that it's already ten years ago that the world was going through the Y2K scare, doesn't it? Here we are on the doorstep of 2010...And I couldn't be more excited about what the future holds, although I AM a little disappointed that we're not all driving flying cars or wearing jetpacks already...I've never been much for New Year's Resolutions, but I have made a promise of sorts to myself this year - actually, it's more of a promise to God. Most of you reading this know that this is the first "Lead" pastor position I've ever held, and the past three months have an absolute whirlwind for me...Transitioning into the role, getting a feel for what the Element community needs from me (and what it doesn't need :), and making some sense out of all the stuff flying around in my mind the whole time...It hasn't been the most relaxing time of my life, to say the least! But getting back to the promise...I don't want to be safe. I don't want this church to be safe. And I know, if you've been around Element for a while, you might have heard that we desire to be a "safe place to consider the claims of Christ." I still agree with that, as long as we have an understanding about the word "safe". "Safe" in this context means simply that you're free to check things out at your own pace without pressure. It means that your questions, no matter what they are, are welcome. It means you can be free to be yourself, and not have to pretend that you're someone you're not. I hope Element will always be that kind of safe.
     But I don't want to approach this whole journey timidly...I don't want to navigate through life guided by a fear of offending...I don't want to act like there's not a lot at stake, because there is. I don't want to take the easy way out. Jesus didn't. Why do we sometimes act like the church's role is to be a warm place to seek refuge from the nasty world, without seeking to actually change the nasty world? I'm reminded of something I heard Francis Chan say...He said that if Jesus had a church near his, his church would probably be bigger than Jesus' church. The reason? Francis admits that his church is safer than Jesus' church would be. The bar Francis sets for people is much lower. Jesus requires a full-on, "go nuts for what you believe in" attitude. In other words, buy into the idea that Jesus can change your life, or don't. What's the point in allowing Him only part of the way in? And I don't want to do that. I want my life to personally be a reckless pursuit of God. I want this church to be a place that God changes lives so completely that we stand amazed, continually amazed, by God's power. I know we're only human beings, and we get wrapped up in the petty concerns that humans get wrapped up in, but I can't stomach the thought of that being the model for how we live our lives, and how we pursue Him together. I want a dangerous pursuit of Him. We'll have to risk more, that's true. But we'll see Him in a whole new light, and the risk becomes nothing compared to what God has in store for you and me. Let's make this a year of living dangerously...I look forward to the journey with you all!