Jethani spoke about the age old story of the Prodigal Son. We have all heard so many teachings on this famous parable about the wayward son and his merciful father. Jethani took a new approach, one I have never heard before. He spoke of the wayward son, how he returned to the Father not in repentance but in selfishness. He returned because he was hungry and needed a job, not because he felt bad for what he did. Yet the loving and oh so merciful Father still accepted him back as his son. Jethani goes on to explain how our Christian walk tends to be about us and what we can get from God in His name of course. So much of my walk with Christ had become about me being the best, in Jesus name. "Jesus help me with my Spanish so I can share more about You, Jesus give me wisdom so I can bless more people, Jesus we need favor with this pastor or with these youth, or blah blah blah." All in the name of Jesus. I was impacted greatly by this conviction.
In just a week Gallo, our team, and I will begin a new journey as we enter into the unknown. Soon, Ilumina Churches will begin. Every four weeks we will be doing huge youth events at different churches around our area in Rosarito and Tijuana. We will have the same DNA as our Ilumina Conference (we just had our first conference in the summer of 2016) but all jam packed into one energy filled night instead of over a few days.
I am so excited and expectant that God has amazing things in store for these events. But after listening to "Rethinking Radical" God challenged my view point. Jethani taught that the word "radical" comes from the Latin word "radicalis" which means, having roots. Therefore those who are radical are those rooted, grounded, wise, not quick to make decisions but thoughtful. I have not been that person. With Ilumina coming I was getting way over the top with my "passion". I was a tree without root. I lost the why in what I did. I was more preoccupied about the churches getting on board, about our team catching the vision and the details getting in place than I was about putting Christ in the center. If you asked me a week ago what my definition was of radical it would have been something like, "over the top" "crazy" or "creative". Those things aren't bad but I want to be rooted and wise. I want to abide before I venture out into the craziness of ministry.
That's just what Jethani finishes with in this teaching, abiding. I don't want to see what I can get from God, rather, what I can give to him as praise. This morning I had a sweet time of fellowship with God, it was so fulfilling and although on paper, sitting and abiding in Christ doesn't get your to-do list done, it makes everything on your to-do list worth while. Be radical and the outflow of being rooted in Christ will so beautiful.
Please pray for us as Ilumina Churches begin this week! If you want to learn more about Ilumina and what we do, please visit our website at www.omargallo.weebly.com
