The Beginning of the Blessed Loser

It's interesting that looking back at my slow climb into social media, I have been somewhat critical of blogs and have even called them frivolous drivel from self absorbed people.  Just a confession.  What I have realized is that much of what I have read, especially from some recent missional blogs, has helped me as I have walked through some difficult times as a ministry leader.  Who was I to decide what needs to be written and what doesn't?  Just because it isn't for me doesn't mean that it isn't for anyone. 

So there was my confession, but on to the content.  The title, The Blessed Loser, comes from something that Randy Harris has to say about the sermon on the mount.  He equates, "blessed are the poor in spirit" with blessed are the losers.  I think in this current society it is extremely difficult to embrace the reality of our loserness (probably not a word but that's ok).  Many of the stories that we try to forget about ourselves are the things that reveal who and what Jesus came to bless.  I have spent most of my life trying to hide the fact that I have been picked last before, I have been the unpopular kid, the poor kid, the one who struggled with school, didn't get the job I wanted, and the list goes on and on.  Jesus comes and offers blessings to the losers like me.  I'm done pretending to be something that I am not.  In Christ I have a promise of something greater but in my own spirit, I am a loser.  Thank God because he offers me blessings, a hope and a future. 


Now that I have confessed and explained a little about the title of the blog. let me share a bit about its purpose.  I have been doing ministry in Pontiac and Waterford Michigan for the last three years and hope to graduate this year from a masters program in missional leadership at Rochester College.  God has slowly been pealing back layers that I have built up about my own absolute truths, the way church should be done, who's in and who's out, and the reality of who I have been to community, family and friends.  I want to share this process.  Partly because it will be therapeutic to me but also because I hope it may be therapeutic to some who may take the time to read it.  Join me as I dwell in the word and community, explore what God may be up to in my community and imagine what His preferred and promised future may mean for us now.