In Eugene Peterson’s "Christ plays in 10,000 places", this morning he was noting how our culture has replaced "soul" with "self" when it comes to describing who or what we are. As he puts it, "self is soul minus God. Self is soul with all the transcendance and intimacy squeezed out."
Because of this substitution, the world around us has become consumers. Everyone we meet is a potential resource, asset, product for our needs and vice-versa. When did people become "resources" or "assets" instead of human beings with souls? This has definitely infiltrated the church in general, even ours. Heck, I caught myself referring to a church member as an "asset". Shame on me. I think we need to spend more time learning who we are in Christ, and less time trying to prove to people who we are. What I mean is that we expend a lot of energy trying to impress people, and somehow convince them of some perceived value. This is because we have become "selfish" instead of "soulish". Understanding that we have value because God created us in His image as well as everyone else would have an impact on how we treat others.
Author: rwren
Musician, writer, reader, thinker, worshiper, leaning on the Gospel, depending on Grace, learning obedience, failing, falling, getting back up.
Married to Tina, father to Gage, covenant member of The Village Church.
Dependance
Pastor Frank’s last Sunday was last week, and now my uncertain future begins. Well, uncertain in that I don’t know the what and where. I am certain that Christ desires my dependance on Him, even if I’m uncertain what I’m depending on Him for. God has revealed His ways more so in the past year than any other, and I’m hoping to become that person who breathes faith instead of the one who hyperventilates over the future.
I haven’t always responded to skepticism, criticism, and uncertainty in the way I’m "supposed" to as a Christ follower, but my goal today is to strive without "striving".
Oh, what might have been? Nah!
Not many people know that I played on the same football team as an NFL Pro Bowl player who is making his 2nd Super Bowl appearance Sunday. We were both members of a very good private school jr. high football team back in the early 80’s. Though both of our first names were the same (Robbie Wren and Robbie Tobeck), obviously we were destined for different career paths. Even in Jr. High, you could see that he was one of the tougher players on the team. Me? I just hoped to get off the bench. You see, when you’re about 4’11 and 85 lbs, you don’t see alot of action. By the way, Robbie Tobeck is on the front row bottom right corner. (can you find me in the shot?) He doesn’t look bigger than me, of course I’m about 3 years older. Get the picture? Anyway, not only has he played for the Falcons and now the Seahawks, but he is a Pro-Bowl Center clearing the way for the MVP (Shaun Alexander). And yes, he is still bigger than me. See comparison below. 
Grace Breaks 