Has Dust Clogged our Spiritual Veins?
Are we Too Laid Back?
Many of us reading this live in the “Old Pueblo,” Tucson’s beloved nickname. The name itself conjures up phrases like “laid back,” “quiet,” and “sleepy.” Most of us who choose to live here don’t want to live in Los Angeles or New York. We like our siesta-flavored city. If you’re trying to exit a parking lot and traffic is backed up, it’s highly likely someone will wait, wave to you, and make space for you to jump in. We aren’t absent from rage by any stretch, but the large-scale city rioting we see on television is hard to imagine here.
Are we laid back about everything? Last minute in all we do? We’re home to the Davis Monthan Air Force Base, a major employer that flavors our community. The military isn’t the only “on time is late” environment. We aren’t all that laid back about our UA Wildcats. Black Friday sales? Not so much. Even though country western isn’t my thing, when a big name comes through for a concert, act fast or you’re out of luck.
So here’s my question: has the dust from our laid back city and barely paved streets caused our spiritual veins to clog?
What's the Point?
“Tucsonans don’t sign up for things” - spoken like Old-Pueblo’s gospel truth. Pastors plan around that expected behavior, and couples about to get married don’t bother with RSVP’s for the reception, because what’s the point? I’m sure this isn’t only a “church” thing, and I’m also sure that Tucson isn’t the only city struggling to get people’s attention in our ADD time-starved world.
But again, there are exceptions. When we care enough, we don’t procrastinate. We might even set an alarm so we don’t forget to sign up.
I’ve recently started praying for a game-changing wave of spiritual hunger - in myself and everyone around. I long to see a sold-out, all-in, nothing-left-on-the-field spiritual hunger, where “Seek first the Kingdom” actually means something. Jesus told a parable of a person who found treasure in a field and sold everything to get his hands on that treasure - I’m aching to see that parable lived out regularly in my own home and everywhere I turn. “Only one thing is needed,” whether spoken by King David, Jesus, or the Apostle Paul, needs to fuel our passion.
More Spiritual Hunger, Lord!
Val and I are part of a church where how close we sit to the front dramatically affects our worship experience. Guess what? We’re selfish and try to get there early.
More spiritual hunger, Lord. Please, Lord, increase our spiritual appetite until we’re famished without you, and forgetting would be unthinkable.
Our men’s John 17 weekend wrapped Sunday evening, and the growing fervor was palpable, tangible, visible. The women’s weekend always has a waiting list, and it’s become intolerable to me that the men’s weekend doesn’t. So I challenged the guys: passivity has been a male problem since Adam watched the whole conversation between Eve and the serpent and did nothing. Laid back is highly inappropriate when it comes to Jesus.
Get Your Tickets
Long time Tucsonans remember with joy the day Lute Olson came to town and said at an early press conference, “Get your tickets now…” Within a few years season tickets were being willed to family members.
I love UA basketball, but it’s closer to a colonoscopy than it is to the electric environment of the Holy Spirit touching, healing, and changing lives forever.
It’s coming, friends! Americans won’t be left out of what already is true around the world. The Kingdom is accelerating! (In fact, both the Kingdom of Light and the Dominion of Darkness are accelerating.) The stakes are getting higher and the spiritual temperature is increasing. I have never believed that more strongly than I do right now. Actually… I’m betting my life on it.
Don’t delay; jump in today. You do not want to get left in the dust.
Sign up for the Citywide Prayer Summit!
Dave Drum, Executive Director
