Book Review: "God of the Mundane" It's a Christivus Miracle!

Many of you have seen the classic Seinfeld episode revealing George's colored heritage of Festivus.  It is the festival for the "rest of us" complete with the airing of grievances and feats of strength.  It was created not by the Seinfeld show but by a father of one of the writers who was fed up with the over commercialization of the holidays.  Our Super-Sized world certainly is enough to leave one disillusioned.  Even in our churches what is celebrated are the BIG visions, BIG Sundays, BIG acts of faith, but what about the rest of the mundane moments of life?  Is God at work in those too, or do we only experience God when the sea is split and I do something radical for God?

Matt Redmond, author of God of the Mundane, is turning our gaze away from the over sensationalized Christianity that is so prevalent in our American churches.  We are consumed with a drive to be radical, risk taking, dreamers who forget that God is at work redeeming every moment of every day.  Most of those moments are filled with driving to and from work, changing diapers, drinking refreshing beverages, and generally not "spiritual" giant activities.  So what do we do with ALL of those other moments which are the majority of our existence?  Is there a "Christivus" (Christianity for the rest of us)?  Redmond very personally and passionately proposes that the gospel and God Himself is at work in all of the moments of our lives not just the few, the proud, the giant moments of the faith. 

"We are redeemed from the slavery of thinking our mundane life is not enough."

There can be much guilt heaped on the life of a Christian with so many Super-Sized faith messages. We end up rolling in our obesity and missing the precious moments God has given us each and every day.  Redmond asks so many good questions contrasting the Super-Spiritual drive and the everyday moments,

"Really? Is this the normal Christian life? Is God sitting around waiting for each and every believer to do something monumental? Is this the warp and woof of the New Testament? Are the lifestyles of the Apostles the standard for the persons in the pew? Are the first-century believers the standard? 

Is this our God? 

In the economy of God, do only the times when we are doing something life-changing have any spiritual cache with Him? Does He look over the mundane work of the housewife only to see the missions trip she may go on? 

So, I wondered."

We all should wonder and question the call to BIG Christianity in comparison to the call of the gospel.  This message is so needed in our oversized church world.  There is a Christianity for the rest of us.  The gospel does transform every moment of our lives, and Redmond has proclaimed it here.  It is a Christivus miracle!

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Countdown to the Big 4-0!!

To My Kids... and anyone else who would like to waste a few minutes on me:)

40 years of experiences has brought me to this year. I will attempt to make a few lists for my kids to see what made dad who he is. Here is where we will start.

Some Accomplishments That Are Important to Me:

1. Married with two wonderful kids who are all a gift from God. I love you all!!

2. Masters degree from Covenant Theological Seminary: education is more than a piece of paper at graduation. It is a learning and maturing experience for life. It influences more than your career!

3. Bachelors degree from THE Auburn University: I almost dropped out after four years of school. Your granddad helped me see that I could never marry your mom unless I finished that degree.

4. Wrote and Sang a Song for Your Mom at Our Wedding: Driving one night from Atlanta to Birmingham (I kept that highway hot for about 6 months) I stopped along HWY 20 and wrote "Lord, Make Us One." God continues to answer that prayer!

5. Panama City Beach Ironman 2008: What a great day! Megan was born just a month before. Tyler and I drove to the beach and stayed at the "Condor" (condo) for about two weeks. It is one of my favorite memories with T. We ate alligator, completed a human maze (with Tyler stuffed in my fleece since it was cold), played on the beach, got bit by a thousand mosiquitos, performed my cousin's wedding ceremony, and I finished the Ironman tri in 12:09:45.

6. Learned to Provide Meat for My Family: O taught me how to hunt from the time I could walk and by the time I had graduated high school I had killed quail, squirrel, dove, pheasant, turkey, rabbit, deer, and other various critters. Bottom line hunting is a life skill that helped make me a man. It is one thing to be able to get a job and pay the grocery bill, and it is another entirely to know that you can go out and find your own food, kill it, and grill it up for the family.

7. Performed the National Anthem at the Savvis Center in St Louis, MO: I had set as a goal to sing the national anthem at a major sports stadium or arena. This is the most nervous I have ever been in my life. The guy who sang before me forgot the words to "God Bless America" and I had to help him finish. All the lights were out other than the bright spots on me at midfield. Maybe I'll show you the video some day.

8. Planted a Church, WayPoint: this has probably been the biggest challenge and learning experience of my life to this point. We made some great friends, many came to Christ, and many made significant life changing decisions through this endeavor. It renewed and in some ways established my trust in God's sovereignty because as the leader there are many who are encouraged and there are many who are offended as well. But it is my trust that God is over all even though I can really screw things up that makes things ok. All in all, I hope God used WayPoint as a checkpoint in people's spiritual journey while discerning their place in God's eternal plan; I know He did that in my life.

9. Became President of the Student Senate at SCCC: Before transferring to Auburn, I attended a junior college in St Charles, MO. I was very involved with student leadership and became president of the student senate (government). The big memory that I will always carry with me from that experience along with the lifelong friends is the opportunity to speak at the grand opening gala of the new campus along side college administration and public officials.

10. Ran My First Marathon on Thanksgiving Day 2000: This accomplishment has changed the way I view life as much as anything. Life is a marathon and not a sprint. It was difficult, and I questioned my sanity most of the last half. But in the end I decided to go back for more again and again. Maybe one day we can run one together.

There are other memories that might make a future list like the day I bought my first motorcycle and got a tattoo. But you'll have to wait until later for that. Cheers!