I received some good-natured trouble about saying in a recent service that I found a song by Aretha Franklin to be profoundly spiritual. It just didn't seem manly that I was so moved by a song called, "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman!" So, in this installment of my Messages About Purpose and Strategy, I'll try to counteract the impression of that story by sharing lyrics to a more masculine song that really helped me express my heart to Christ. It's by Matthew West. He sings,

I don't want to go through the motions. I don't want to go one more day without Your all consuming passion inside of me. I don't want to spend my whole life asking, "What if I had given everything, instead of going through the motions?"

These words describe the level of passion needed to get off of top-dead-center and get going. What a shame it would be to remain in one place and miss out on what could be ours if we just stretch out in obedience. The status quo is a place to leave behind as we take the risks to reach out. May God motivate and mobilize us to move forward.