Do and Do, Rule on Rule

"Do and do, do and do, rule on rule, rule on rule, a little here, a little there."

Hum. Has this become what my faith is to? I just went through at the beginning of the year and instituted a rule of life into my life. Basically my rule has many tiny rules that I try to follow throughout the days and months. Not all of them get accomplished, but it has been a way to bring accountability to my life. Actually, despite the fact that it is do and do, rule on rule, it has been very refreshing.

I wonder then if motivation for the do and do is the problem. In other words, I don't take for granted right now the relationship context of serving You. Everyday I enter the Word and try to be true to pray and sometimes write to You. Perhaps it is when faith becomes completely the doing, and the relationship is left out, that to do and do, rule on rule becomes detrimental.

I've been learning just how much faith is about balance. A balance of knowing and doing, a balance of acting and speaking, a balance of inward reflection and outward activity, a balance of relationship and accountability. It has become obvious that going to extreme in any one thing will throw the wholeness of a person out of whack.

The other thing I've noticed is how hard it is to stay balanced. I'll tell You why: balanced people rarely get noticed. You have to have extreme opinions and be terribly outspoken about them to get a rise out of people. Then, some people will back you up, some people will get mad at you, but you will be noticed. And I believe getting noticed is one of the biggest motivators in our current context. So people of faith often do and do and do and forget to relate to You in rest and comfort because they feel their good deeds may help them receive appreciation.

Let me know I am appreciated for what I do, but more importantly for just who I am. For the time I spend here in the mornings, let me know that You appreciate it. No one else has to notice. For my dedication to my rule of life, let me know that You appreciate it. For attempts to be a man of prayer, to rest in You, to truly know You, let me know I'm appreciated. For I love You, and certainly appreciate Your character and the actions that have flowed from that.

Thursday's to Celebrate

Part of my rule of life is to take Thursday lunches and determine what the Lord has placed in my life that I can celebrate. I think there are always going to be some of the "usual" things, like my beautiful bride, my adorable and active son, (hopefully) the fact that I am employed where I love working, and the wonderful community of Exodus that surrounds me. I would like to stay away from using those things though, and see where You are working uniquely within the week.

This week I'll start with the willingness of my community to break the norm of Sundays mornings and worship at The Window. Lord, that was pretty awesome to me. We had some predictions of lower numbers than normal, but everyone, even Aisha and the boys, were there. They hadn't been for a while so I wasn't sure they even knew what was going on, but seeing those boys work was inspiring for me. Plus it continues to give me hope for the future. So I celebrate Your people joining with You!

My classes have actually really started off well also. I haven't had too much trouble with specific students that I was worried about. And the lessons seem to actually interest the students. Besides those things, I am actually energized by the semester so far. So I celebrate my energy and the students attentiveness and activity.

Also, Monday night's leaders meeting was really good. I enjoy the fact that we are all coming together to support each other in our own Rule's of Life. I especially am pumped about the accountability part of the exercise. I know that I've already slacked on some parts of my rule, and I need someone to tell. I haven't dedicated the time to prayer that I wanted. But I celebrate the fact that I have brothers walking with me.

Those are the major things that stand out today. I continue to pray for my eyes to find celebration in my every day routines.

Rule of Life

So, it's the new year, Heavenly Father, and it seems time for me to post my Rule of Life. This is something that I'm excited about doing, actually keeping an account of the Christian disciplines and making time for each one. So, here is the plan for now, without a lot of details.

Solitude - Every morning before my wife and Gideon get up and before I go to school.

Silence - For five minutes before I start up the computer during my daily solitude time, I will simply sit and listen.

Fasting - Each Monday I will refrain from eating.

Frugality - I will spend no money without talking to Courtney about my purchase. None.

Secrecy - Each month I will try to do an act of kindness without drawing attention to myself.

Sacrifice - I will monthly try to seek the place I am gaining my security from. If it is not You, then I will seek to sacrifice that and reprioritize.

Prayer - Every morning and every evening. I will also make a prayer list, to keep my praises and requests more specific.

Submission - Once a week I will ask the guys of Exodus to keep me accountable.

Service - When something is requested of me, I will try to respond with a joyful attitude of service, not resentment and selfishness.

Worship - In any context, when someone praises You I will praise with them. I want to move past cynicism into worship.

Celebration - At Thursday lunch break I will identify all there is in my life to celebrate!

Fellowship - We will continue to meet regularly with Exodus.

Confession - Each night as Courtney prepares for bed I will review my day, and offer a prayer for forgiveness.


So these are the fourteen disciplines according to Dallas Willard. They look good to me. I am not doing them for selfish reasons, though. I want to be more like You and this gives me that opportunity, I believe. Bless my pursuit, continue to help me make the right decisions in regard to priority.