Reality Show

It's weird to think on how God see's things and how we see things. We have such a limited perspective, yet we try to unravel the eternal mysteries of the universe, when our own world is beyond our comprehension. It's quite humbling really. I've been pondering lately, on who God really is (at least what I can fathom about Him) and the things we often consume our thoughts with. Talk about a disconnect, eh? Often the things we fill our mind with are thoughts of what is not real...imaginations...fears...what if's...faulty thinking...a lot of it is centered in the future and where we think we are going "unprepared". Our culture promotes this thinking in many ways. You won't have enough money to retire...for health care...for college! You need insurance just in case...better stock up now...you can never have enough...gas prices...housing problems...global warming... terrorists...salmanella...lock your doors...alarm systems...identity theft...stalkers...perverts...swindlers...it's everywhere! We're reminded constantly to be on guard, you don't have enough, and you better watch out! I know its part of our economic, political and social climate. After all, a lot of agendas get forwarded through these means, and a lot of businesses thrive with these tactics, as do politicians...but how much of it is real? Sure there is a grain of truth to many of these things, but enough to dominate our thinking...alter our lives...control our emotions? Often we forget what is real...and focus on what isn't. In many ways what is most real is the spiritual. The physical, tangible world we see is often an illusion, a facade, and all too often, fake. The world around us often is a "show" drawing our attention away from what really matters...reality...the "real"...that which is important and vital. For instance we rarely focus on "goodness", which is alive and well. Instead we tend to dwell on the evil in our world. In reality, evil is the absence of good. Yet our attention gets diverted towards the "evil in the world" so easily, and it squeezes the goodness out of us and the world around us. At the very least the goodness gets far less attention...how sad is that? So many things get our attention... evil...darkness...death...hate...confusion...lostness of the wandering soul I suppose. It pulls us down. Makes life seem like it sucks...just one huge burden. For instance, darkness isn't real...it's the absence of light. Light is real! Death isn't real, it's the absence of life. Life is real! Confusion isn't real...it's the absence of truth. Truth is real! Hate isn't real...it's the absence of love. But love is definitely real! The lostness of the wandering soul isn't real...it's the absence of knowing the way. But the way is real! Yet in spite of all this, we tend to dwell on our wandering, our confusion, the evil we see, the hate we see, the darkness all around us, and the death that dominates our thinking. No wonder we have fear, doubt, a sense of insecurity and inadequacy. Yet God offers the reality of Himself. God says He is "Good"...He is "Light"...He is "Love"...He is the "Way"...the "Truth" and the "Life". Drawing closer to Him brings these realities to the surface and allows us to overcome the "shadows" of whats not real...whats not permanent...whats not meant to be. There is a beauty in realizing these things, God's intent...which is far better than shaking our fist at God in misunderstood anger. Now that's not to diminish those in the midst of real life pain, it consumes us so easily as human beings, believe me I know. It seems so easy to blame Him when you don't know what else to do. But it really is a freeing thing to gain perspective, when you take time to think about reality...God's intent. At ECHO we hope to be a people that dwells on the reality of who God is and what He has meant this world to be. There is an incredible freedom in that. We want to see His goodness, His light, His life, His love, His way, His truth and His life manifested in us and through us to a world preoccupied with everything He never intended. He never intended our lives to be lived in the shadows of fear, pain, insecurity and doubt. He promises a life that's abundant...a real life centered in the reality of who He is...and what we have been designed to partake of with Him. Genuine relationship with Him & others draws these awesome things out of us...and allows us to see "reality" in the midst of a world disillusioned. Without Him, all we are left with is the shadows...the facades...the fake. I don't know about you, but I like God's reality way more than the one we've made up, don't you?

be God's!

Brian O

Lead Pastor dude, ECHO