How do we measure success?

They tell us that we measure what is important to us or what we value? What does that say about what we value as the Church? From my readings in God's Word, who we value is central. The reality is that we measure warm bodies in a seat and monies given, this is what has become the all important image for the Church. Speaking of image, it is more important to create an image rather than be in the image of God. I'm curious how we got here. Maybe it has to do with the idol worship of money and power that so dominates our ideology and stages. Maybe it is that our ego's are too fragile to handle the suffering that being a follower of Jesus brings. (again, being consistent with Scripture, most of the suffering seems to come from the religious people) I'm even more curious how we get out of the mess that we created? Maybe, just maybe when we set aside all the labels, awards and tribes that we create, then maybe we can be focused on the right Who and measure the things that are really important.

Coming to our senses

One of the key phrases we find is that the younger son "came to his senses". There are those moments in all our lives where we see more clearly than we did the moment before. This event seems to happen to us rather than something we will on our own. However it happens, what is critically important is how we respond to those moments. Are we willing to make the shifts necessary when confronted with the reality of the moment, or is it easily simply to fall back into our bias and delusions? Repentance is the courage to make the right choices when we "come to our senses". Repentance sets us on a journey where we are stripped of self and presented with the forgiveness of God. Repentance brings us into the preferred future that God has designed us for. Repentance turns us completely around and sets us on the course we should of been in the first place. May we not pass up those opportunities where we "come to our senses".