Flying around the country and talking about LIFE...

So here I am, all checked in a waiting for my flight at Tampa International Airport. Security was quite possibly the biggest crowd of people being herded through cattle gates I've experienced thus far. And, you  know what, it seriously wouldn't hurt a few of those TSA folks to break the occasional smile.

Regardless, I'm glad I'm here. Scoutie was not really jazzed about a 5:20 am walk, but she managed to slouch around the neighborhood, albeit reluctantly, and she did brighten up considerably when we discussed the possibility of an equally early breakfast.

But for me, getting up early so I can head to the airport for the sole purpose of travelling cross-country to talk to a retreat full of men about what it means to live a fully-engaged life of discipleship, well that's as good a reason as I can think of.

It's not coincidental, when I think about it, that I finished up my proposal for a new book just yesterday. The new book is all about engrafting the imperative of life into what it means to be a person of faith. Of course, when I think about it, a lack of dynamic life is incompatible with faith - or it should be. Which is pretty much the point. I know it's early in the morning, but I'm on the verge of suggesting that faith without recognizable signs of life... is really no faith at all.

Life is, by definition, regenerative and constantly in a state of reinvention and adaptation.When those elements are removed, then an organism is typically described as dead. James was pretty blunt about this when he wrote "Faith without works is dead."

Let me parse it this way: Faith without self-evident life is faith that - in hospital lingo - is fixing to code (if it's not on life-support already). Think about it. It's the heart of my message this weekend and it's already buzzing around in my heart and spirit now... 7:35 at PTA.

God's rich blessings to all - DEREK