Kingdom come

So... So far this has been an eventful day. I just found out that Evan, my old youth pastor, is going to be leaving Hope to plant a new church in Chestermere. It was kind of clever how he went about telling everyone because he did it through his sermon which was on the kingdom of God. I thought it was kind of weird because as he was getting farther in he was talking about how being a part of God's kingdom doesn't mean inviting him into our own kingdom and telling him to clean up, but it means to enter into his and be under him. And as he was talking about this he is starting to tear up a bit. It was kind of funny because you could feel everyone starting to feel that something's amiss and then after a minute, ding! We all realize what he's talking about. So there are some tears shed and some heartfelt prayers and then the service is over. After that all the youth (and the twenty somethings) all stay and have a pizza party to just sort of talk things over and ask Evan questions. Seems there's going to be some major changes going on for the youth! But he isn't actually going to be moving until the end of the year so at least everyone has time to get used to the idea. I'm really proud of Evan and his family. It took a lot of courage to do something like that and I like how Evan put it, "If I'm not willing to do anything that God asks me to, then how can I tell you that you should?" Too true, too true.

So on my way home I'm thinking about this, and I decided to blog this because I think it will probably be important enough for me to remember. So here I go.

I've realized that I have done what Evan was talking about, simply invited God into my kingdom and told him to clean up and help me with everything. and you know what? It hasn't worked all that well. So I have decided that I am going to become a part of his kingdom. I haven't been baptized yet because I always thought to myself, "I'm not ready yet". But I realized, what do I need to get ready for? And how would I ever get ready? I realized there isn't anything I need to do except take that first step. Make that commitment. So here I am. I have decided that there will be no deals, no if-thens, no takebacks. Because after all, isn't that what commitment is? I don't know when I'll be baptized, but I know that it is simply the physical showing of the commitment I have already decided to make. So here I go, hope for the best, and see what happens and if something changes. We shall see...