Francis Chan Sermon!!

I believe God totally calls EVERYONE to be a radical Christian! Here are two quotes from one guy that the world knows because he's in the history books, and another guy who I personally, along with many sports fans, look up too. Booker T. Washington once said, "Those who are doing the vital things in life are those who read the Bible and are Christians and not ashamed to let the world know it." Then my second quote is - "The other day a reporter asked me if I would take my life as a success. I know she was meaning on the field, but I said, 'I would. My life is a success, but it's not for the reasons you're thinking of. It's not because I've won a national championship or because I've won the Heisman trophy. It's because i have a relationship with Jesus Christ." - Tim Tebow. Now there is a guy that has a heart for Christ! Something I think is really important to become a RADICAL Christian is to have ONE OBSESSION. God's first commandment requires us to be obsessed with God. When we obsess over worldly things we fail to focus on what matters. Our obsessions are found by where we spend our time and money. One way I've evaluated my obsessions is writing down all the hours to which I do things, to see where my obsessions lie. I put them in areas as in sleep, school, sports, internet, tv, cell phone, quiet time/journal, relationships, family, prayer/church, and miscellaneous. I constantly find the most hours in the section of cell phone and texting (besides the things like sports and school and church). Texting?? seriously? I think thats just the dumbest thing. I spend so much time texting. Its humiliating just admitting it. I have the KING of KINGS waiting for me to increase my relationship with Him, yet I want to text my friends? We are chasing after obsessions that won't fulfill us! I think that God can't tell us His will or answer us because we are so obsessed with this world! To me, it seems like we get up in the morning or after school or whenever and spend time with God and then we turn around and go to school or sports or texting and FORGET about Him. I feel like God is just crying out saying "Courtney! No!! Where are you going?? If you would have just stayed with me a little bit longer I would have answered your questions. I would have told you my plans for you. Why can't you just listen to me instead of turning your back on me?" When we rest in God, our obsessions will become His obsessions He wants to fulfill our dreams. Martin Luther said "I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess." I deffinetly believe that there is NO middle road! Matthew 7:13-14 says "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Lets first look at the narrow gate… Jesus told us that it: It is the gate that leads to heaven. It is difficult to enter. There will not be many people who go in the narrow gate. Imagine that there is a sign over the narrow gate. What would it say? Obviously, it would say, "To Heaven” Now lets look at the broad gate... Jesus told us that it: It is a wide gate. It is easy way to go. It is the gate that leads to Hell. There will be many people who go in the wide gate. Let's use our imagination again, and ask ourselves: "What does the sign over the wide gate and broad road say?" Most people, when asked this question say that the sign over the wide gate would say "To Hell." It is true, that Hell is where those who go in that gate will end, but is that what the sign would say? No! That sign over the broad gate says "To Heaven!" It is a lying sign. It is a sign that gives false directions. Think about it a moment. People going through the wide gate and broad way actually believe that they are going to end up in heaven. Prove it to yourself.. Read what Jesus says in the next verse. Matthew 7:15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." I think that God calls us all to be radical Christians. Honestly I dont know if I am a lukewarm Christian. It really scares me to think that I am, but truly I think I probably am. Am I loving it? ABSOLUTELY not!! I can't tell you how much I would love to just pack up and move and be a missionary for the rest of my life! I would just adore that! I want to daily grow closer to my Father in Heaven and become even closer best friends with Him!!! He is so mighty and so awesome and I want to soak up ALL the information I can about Him! I daily try to get rid of idols or obsessions in my life and ask God to help me and to examine my heart. I want GOD to be my one and only obsession! Oh how I long to claim God as my primary passion! Claim it with strength that is. I confess my hedonism and the search I have for pleasure in everything else but God. I find myself more excited to get a letter from a friend than to dive into the depths of Scripture that is living and active and possesses the ability to enter the very strands of my heart. To be free from this world that so easily entices me is what I long for!! But what does it even mean to be free?? The choices I freely make only seem to imprison me to their consequences. I may not be a physical slave, but I have come to realize the different forms of slavery - and it is only by being a slave to Christ that I have been able to find any freedom at all! It is within this freedom that fear begins to fade away. The understanding I received when I was enlightened that when we fear God there is nothing else in this world to fear. When God is my primary fear all other fears lose their grip on my life. The fears that prevent me from living a life of faith are not the fears from the Father, but of this world. If only I may continue to have a healthier fear of God. So many times I hear that voice deep in my soul screaming out, "Live, and live it to the full!" Far too often do I allow the thief to destroy my dreams and desires. Dreams and desires I pray have been molded by God as He continually transforms my character!! It is in Philippians 1:21 that this transformation first begins, and only by dying to myself will I ever begin to truly live. Sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it? In order to live, I must die. Lord may I die today, and tomorrow, and the day that follows! May Your desires be my desires, Your dreams my dreams, and may Your will forever be done in my life. My character must be transformed and continually molded. This life is not a sprint, yet not even a marathon, but rather a journey. It is on this adventure that I must chase after You, and only You, never the wind! It is the wind that leaves a trail of no significance, and You know how I want to live a life of significance...eternal significance.