The Get Off Your Butt School

"Hope is the elevating feeling we experience when we see--in the mind's eye--a path to a better future.  Hope acknowledges the significant obstacles and deep pitfalls along the path.  True hope has no room for delusion."  

Jerome Groopman, The Anatomy of Hope.

I am still thinking about the centurion in Luke 7.  I often wonder what it is that people expect when they come to church.  Do they expect that following Jesus will do them any good?

Following Jesus should make my life better.  Following Jesus should make my life better physically.  Following Jesus should make my life better emotionally.  Following Jesus should make my life better in community.  Following Jesus should make my life better spiritually.  This pagan understands that and asks for help.

If following Jesus does not improve my life in those ways, then somehow I am missing out.  I am living as a functional atheist.  I think our churches are filled with functional atheists who come week in and week out with little or no idea why they are there.  Is it any wonder that the world outside the church can't figure it out either?

Hopeful people get all the help they need and give all the help they can.

I remember when I was in the deepest despair over the death of my first wife.  I could not see a way forward.  I was ready to abandon Jesus, his church, and everything that mattered to me.  A Christian friend sat me down and gave me a good talking to. 

“You need to snap out of it,” he said.  “You are acting like Jesus can’t do anything about this.  Worse yet, you are acting like you don’t want Jesus to do anything for you.  You are a Christian.  You know Jesus is raised from the dead.  You know that there is more to life than this.  Stop feeling sorry for yourself and start believing again.”

That’s not the pastoral counseling technique they teach us in seminary.  This is the "Get off your butt and do something" school of bereavement counseling.  It was the best advice I ever received.

I stopped short.  I had to take that seriously.  Jesus was giving me all the help I needed to survive and to flourish after tragedy.  Was I willing not only to ask for the help but to accept it as well?  Asking for the help we need is one aspect of faith.  Accepting the help when it comes is a second aspect of faith.

Do you need a physical or a health improvement program?  They certainly exist.  Would you benefit from counseling or coaching to be a stronger person?  Talk to me!  Do you struggle with parenting issues or marital concerns?  We can hook you up with people.  Are you wrestling with addictions or compulsions?  Help is available.  Do you wrestle with greed and materialism?  The church will put your money to good use for the poor and needy.  Help is available!

Hopeful people get all the help they need and give all the help they can.

Here's a place to ask for help!

http://lrhennigs1.wix.com/hcsi-home#!contact/c3kh