Garden Variety Sin

The more common it is the more we are willing to tolerate it.

What are the common maladies of the modern day church that make it so anaemic?

Prayerlessness – This is produced by a sense of self-sufficiency. Desperation drives me to my knees. If I found out today that I had terminal cancer there would be a resurgence of the importance of prayer in my life.

The Pursuit of Spiritual Intimacy – Tendency to rest on corporate experience. We know a lot about God but do we really understand His wonderful heart? Distant hearts.

We talk to others about the things that God would have us talk to him about – your frustrations, anger, disappointments. We come to God and try to construct our prayers from the things that we think He would like to hear us say – near with the lips . . . .

Often He has to empty our hands in order to fill our hearts.

Relinquish control

Seek the sidelines, anonymity

Learn to develop an appreciation for the imperfect.

Secularism. Call it what you like but there is little difference between the average Christian and the non-Christian. We make no sacrifice in the areas of finances. We spend our money to satisfy our own desires and to pursue our own interests. We handle our money as though it is an investment that needs to be personally guided by market knowledge rather than offering it to God – he provides the accounting for His resource. It is a tremendous responsibility of those who manage God

How do I awaken the Holy Awe within me?

Learning