erikscottberg.com

I found this link from another blog today. You can go there to see what the number one song was on the day you were born.

Mine was “Shadow Dancing” by Andy Gibb.

Yes, it’s lame.

But somehow my life seems better for knowing it.

Tonight we had a few of our youth workers over for a night of carving pumpkins, Wii Sports and Dominick’s $6 pizza. We had a blast. Here’s a picture of our our creations (you can see more pictures by clicking here).

From left to right.

1. Parker – Cub’s Player
2. Jim – Vomiting Cyclops
3. Bethany – 80′s Chick
4. Kathy – Trees and Stars
5. Erik – Superman shield
6. Samantha – Pastor George

So, apparently I’m supposed to write seven things about myself because Samantha “tagged” me the other day on her blog. Does this sound like something back from the days of the playground when your friend would arbitrarily make you play as the bad guy, just because he wanted to be the good guy? Or “1, 2, 3, not it!”, suddenly meant that you were safe from being it? What is it about screaming something out that makes us think that everyone must follow suit?

Anyway, here I go:

1. I played the trumpet (actually, the coronet) in Jr. High.

2. I bungee jumped off of a gondola in Switzerland from a height of 594 feet up.

3. My first car was a minivan.

4. I won’t eat cold pizza…ever

5. I’ve only been in one accident (when I was driving).

6. I have a straw that Christian musician, Carmen, used at a restaurant

7. The best meal of my life was in Florence, Italy

Tonight I shared from 1 Peter 2:1-12. This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible because of the powerful messages it contains. I’m always especially struck by verse 9. “You are a chosen people” Peter says. It’s pretty amazing to consider that the God of the universe selects us for his purposes.

Anyway, as I reflect on what I shared tonight, my mind keeps going back to the first several verses that deal with Peter’s metaphor of “newborn babies”. He challenges his readers to grow up in their faith, to throw off their old ways and put on a new life.

This is where I think a lot of Christ followers get stuck. Earlier, Peter calls his readers “new creations”. Here, he encourages these new believers to continue on from that point. Too many people refuse, or are too lazy, to bring about continued transformation in their life. They’re content to be a undeveloped spiritual infant.

I suppose that the initial reaction to something like this is “we need more discipleship”–whatever that means. Is that a class? A workbook? A mentoring program?

I don’t think so. This is more than some kind of program; it’s about desire.

Peter says in verse 3, “now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

It’s about realizing who God is and reacting to his goodness.

It’s like finding a treasure in a field and selling everything to obtain in.

When you realize (taste) the worth and beauty God, it’s no longer about obligation, but relationship and adoration.

I feel like this sometimes.