Summer time in Texas

It's hot. Not just hot, but dang hot. We haven't had any rain lately. The ground is literally cracking underneath our feet. What I wouldn't give for just one day of rain. Sometimes, the soul needs rain. Rain is good for emotions and the mental state of a person. It's about cleansing and washing away the old and starting over. Jesus, bring on the rain.

I've been thinking a lot about a new start. In my missions class this summer, we've spent a lot of time about becoming a new creation, about how mission, according to Paul, is about living in a community of believers where the will of God is earnstly sought out. I wonder what this looks like for our church today?

If I had the answer, I wouldn't need this class. I don't expect to have an answer anytime soon, but I think we (the church as well as myself) need some rain. We need a good cleansing. I feel like our church has perverted so badly the mission of church with our evangelism and prostyzing that we have officially muddied ourselves with filth. We become so enamoured with sheer numbers within our walls that we forget to nurture the souls of those in our pews each week. Is this what God meant for the church? I don't know much, but I really doubt it. I don't feel fed. I don't feel like I am being "taught". Paul emphasizes making disciples, baptizing, and teaching. Of those three, what are we doing the most of.....baptizing, but we seem to not even do that well. Christianity is falling behind in "numbers" (if you want to play that game). Christianity has dropped as the leading faith in the United States and instead cult-like faiths have invaded our culture. Why is that? Does the church really want to take an honest look at itself? Who would?

You see, we need rain. We need an awakening.

Let it start within me.