When I first considered joining The Nester for her annual 31 days, in which writers partake in a 31 day spree of posts for October on a variety of subjects, my reaction was “no.” Simply no. Because in truth, it scares me a bit to make that kind of commitment. I do tend to write everyday but all writers know about the crappy first draft. And sometimes the crappy second and third and finally the toss into the garbage bin.
Some of my thoughts are not worth sharing and others are still so very raw and in process that I’m scared what the reaction might be.
So, this is the last link up I thought I’d participate in. Not to mention, I am attending two blogging conferences this month and will have a lot of travels and jet lag and I pat myself happily on the back when I post 3 times a week at this point.
But sitting in church this morning, I felt these nagging thoughts, like the buzzing of some incessant unsatisfied fly, swarming through my mind.
I want to trust. To learn faith that depends on God, even if the task is daunting. Even if I don’t always have the words or eloquence or answers.
I want to be spread thin enough that God has to show up.
And if I call myself a writer, well, every good writer should write in a way that scares them a little. In a way that peels back the layers and reveals something true, something raw, even if it’s not all sorted yet.
So at the very last-minute, I am throwing myself into the ring and asking God to show up and use me to reveal His glory in the church. I pray you will join me on this journey and chime in along the way. I will be writing and posting every day in October. I hope you enjoy my series, 31 days to Why Church: Some thoughts on Church, culture, and community. This is Day 1.
Day 2: Has Church Become Obsolete?
Day 3: What You See is What You Get
Day 4: An Indictment of God
Day 5: Welcome to Church
Day 6: Surrendered to the Hard
Day 7: Concepts to Concrete: Thoughts on Church and a Link Up
Day 8: The Church Eternal
Day 9: My Testimony: In the Beginning
Day 10: My Testimony: The Big Picture
Day 11: My Testimony: Into the Wilderness
Day 12: My Testimony: Into the Open
Day 13: Displays of a Distorted Gospel: Club Jesus
Day 14: Displays of a Distorted Gospel: Activist Jesus
Day 15: Some Things to Love about Church
Day 16: Loving the Ones You Don’t
Day 17: The Sum of All Things
Day 18: Doing Life Together
Day 19, 20, 21, 22: Building Bridges and Baring Souls (a super long multi-post)
Day 23: Church Should Look Like Family
Day 24 and 25: On Introverts, Advent, and Intent
Day 26: My Testimony: Which Bubble Do I Fill?
Day 27: My Testimony: The Path Since Then
I will be adding a post everyday throughout the month of October. If you want to make sure you don’t miss one, you can easily subscribe here by RSS or email
Linked up with
Look at you!!!
Oh what God can do through you…
so proud of you. for showing up.
nikki recently posted..Grasping His Goodness ~ Five Minute Friday
Yes, with fear and trembling. I’ve never written every day and my thoughts are a tad jumbled so I’m hoping it goes well. Lots of prayer for the right words to be spoken through me.
Yay! The more the merrier
Michelle recently posted..31 Days of Quotes
Thanks Michelle. There are so many link ups I need 31 days just to read them all. What a fun group this is. So much diversity here. Is this your first 31 days?
31 days won’t be sufficient for me to read an 8th of the blogs
Yes, this is my first. I didn’t hear about it last year, not that I would’ve had the umph to join if I had.
Michelle recently posted..Day 1
I’m doing it, too, but I can’t wait to read what YOU write! Be blessed and just let it flow, sister!
Thanks Dara. This is an area I’m still very deeply in process with God about so it’s all a bit fresh and raw and I’m hoping God will use me to speak His message and I just stay out of the way. Looking forward to seeing what you write these 31 days and getting to know you more.
Alia, I’m really glad you are doing this. I contemplated it myself but seeing as I am packing up the house and moving 2000 miles this month, I thought it might not be feasible. Still, I think it’s a wonderful, scary project.
And I’m so excited to read yours. Its been years since I’ve gone to church and there’s so much tangled up in the idea. But I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Janice recently posted..Guest posting at Dreamer today
Whoa, a wise move indeed to not take anything else on. Moving is a bear. And that’s a far move. It is scary. I think I’m more scared of this than any other writing I’ve done on this blog. I think partly because I don’t have it all figured out. It’s a journey God has me on and I’m really in the thick of it. And I know, like you, there are so many different experiences, ideas, and emotions that are tied up in the church and I want to do justice to them while sharing where God has me right now. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and reactions as well, coming from someone who isn’t going to church right now.
Hi, looking forward to your series! My fiance is in seminary, so church in general and how to do church and what is church are frequent conversations for us.
Melissa recently posted..getting there.
Yes ,this is a hot topic. There are a lot of ideas and concepts abounding about church. I can’t say that I have answers to the questions but I know what God has done/is doing in my heart in regards to church and it’s something I feel I need to share to process. Since you and your fiance have had these conversations, I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas as this series goes on.
What a GREAT series topic!! I’m looking forward to reading:))
“Pinned” you:))
Stefanie Brown (@stefanieybrown) recently posted..31 Quotes in 31 Days :: Day 1 ~ Assurance…
Thanks Stefanie! Ooh, I’m so excited I got pinned. That almost never happens! I know, I’m a total dork but really, that made me happy.
You’re so welcome!! If being thrilled about being pinned makes you a dork, a dork am I:)))
Have a wonderful day!
Stefanie Brown (@stefanieybrown) recently posted..31 Quotes in 31 Days :: Day 2 ~ Give…
WHOA — this is going to be good friend!!! My mind is already wondering why???
Positively Alene recently posted..31 days of anonymity {day 1 – dear coach}
I hope so. I hope I do this subject justice sine it’s a big one. P.S. I love the idea behind your 31 days. I think it’s often really hard to balance the need to be open and the need to respect privacy and protect others from feeling slandered or hurt by our writing. I can’t wait to see what comes of it.
Glad you decided to join in…it’s my first 31 days too! =) Looking forward to reading what share.
Rachel recently posted..31 Days of Support: This Journey Our Life {An Introduction}
Thanks Rachel. I look forward to yours as well.
I’m looking forward to this! Can’t wait to meet you at Influence! Lisa~
Yay! Me too. I can’t believe how fast it’s coming up. Sounds like we’ll get a while to chat on the drive to the hotel. Look forward to reading your blog and getting to know you.
I believe in church, but honestly I don’t attend anymore. I study and worship at home. I do allow my wife to attend a chuech she likes, and she premits me to stay at home. Over sunday dinner she tells me what the Pastor preached about so I get a short sermon from her.
Robert Moon recently posted..CUMBERLAND VALLEY Chapter 1
Robert, I’m fascinated. I’d love it if you’d be willing to share a little more about what it is your thoughts are on “I believe in church,” and why it is that you don’t attend. You can share here or email me through my contact form or return address if you have the time. I would love to dialogue and get your perspective.
Great topic! I look forward to reading some of what you write! I’m impressed you took the challenge with TWO conferences this month! WOW!
Mary Beth recently posted..Making Decisions {A Guest Post} and the WIP Wednesday Link-Up PLUS a Giveaway!!
Impressed or thinking I’m crazy. I’m not sure which yet as it’s only day 4. We’ll see if I’m curled in the fetal position sucking my thumb and babbling about church when the month is over. Either way, I’m glad to see a friendly face along for the ride.
Awesome idea for a series.
Lisa recently posted..We Could Be Resting All Along
Thanks Lisa, and thanks for chiming in with your thoughts. I love the conversation that is developing.
Banging idea for the 31 day series. Good job, you.
What blogging conferences are you going to?
Amy L. Sullivan recently posted..Another Vlog and Sixty Second Service
Thanks Amy. I’ll be at Influence, Allume, Jumping Tandem, and possibly Blissdom. I’m still undecided on that one. I’d really love to go to a few others but I live on the West Coast and they’re always so far away. What about you? Any chances of meeting in real life?