My good friend Andrew Jardine is getting married this weekend to his fiance, Bettina. This is extremely exciting for me because I have the honor in helping officiate the wedding ceremony. Plus we get to party afterwords like it's 1999.
My friends, his family, and I coordinated his bachelor party last weekend. It was an awesome camping trip to Taconic State Park in upstate NY near the tri-state borders. We actually got to see all 3 states during the visit, and we walked across the Massachusetts border on our way to Bash Bish Falls (a beautiful spot where my crazy brother jumped off a 35 foot cliff into 10 feet of water - we found a "safer" spot from 15 feet up).
During this trip we got to fellowship and relax, but we also got to hike and work hard. We hiked half-way up a mountain to Sunset Rock (which was gorgeous and taxing on the knees), and all the way up Brace Mountain (an INTENSE climb to the highest point in the Taconic region). On both challenging hikes, my friend Mikey D. quoted our old soccer coach John Allen saying, "If you are comfortable, you are not growing".
Granted he was talking about the physical work of hiking up a hill or training for a sport, but that's just it! I think that it is so true to our spiritual lives as well. I know we have heard it all before, but comfort in our spiritual lives is just as dangerous for our spirit as sitting on the couch eating Friendly's Grilled Cheese Burger Melt for our body.
I fully believe the church plant of Arise Community Church and ANY other church will face the giant challenge of comfort over calling. Do you choose a church by how comfortable you feel or instead by what gives you the opportunity to grow? Do you want to relax ALL the way into heaven or are you more concerned with the amazing plans God has for your life (notice the caps on the word "all" because relaxing is needed in moderation, but overdoing it can be a downfall in our growth)?
The future of the church rests on the challenge to follow God's call rather than your comfort.
I read your post, very inspiring and very true! Thanks for sharing Dan
Posted by: Amanda Fogle | August 22, 2010 at 02:05 PM
Nice article! I love the photo by the way. Keep inspiring others!
Posted by: Nantucket Weddings | April 26, 2011 at 04:25 AM
What a great way to spend your bachelor party. Head outdoors with friends and enjoy your last days as a bachelor with nature. Plus, nothing can beat the combination of good food and fine, expensive wine.
Posted by: Phoenix Edler | October 19, 2011 at 11:22 AM