For those of you that aren't part of the community at San Gabriel Valley Alliance Church, you can skip this message. For those of you that are, please don't feel offended or attacked by these thoughts. Well, actually, you can, because if any of this rings true for you, then you're guilty. And if it doesn't, then... well, then, you won't feel offended.

My heart hurts. I think it started a few months ago, when someone posted how they felt that worship music at our church was sub-par. It was really hurtful to read those things, not because i'm connected to music ministries... but because this person has made no effort to be a part of that ministry. Why do we tear each other apart? Why do we criticize and compare?

This morning, one member was talking with me over IM. (dangerous, i know) He was bitterly discouraged... i'd never heard some of the things he was saying come out of his mouth. It came down to little, simple things. Being on time. Respect. Love. Commitment. And i think the problem is, we're a lost, broken, worldly church. Lukewarm, i tell you. We don't have any zeal for the Lord. We are, in a word, "lame." There's a disheartening void of commitment and fire.

Brothers and sisters, i appeal to you... be zealous in your love. Live your life as one worthy of the calling and of the value assigned to you by the creator of the universe. You deserve better. He deserves better. Stop being late. Stop being a flake. Stop letting things slide. Stop wimping out. Stop holding back. Stop faking it. Stop the lip service. Stop tolerating mediocre, lukewarm Christianity.

Start loving until it hurts. Start giving until it hurts. Start holding one another accountable. Start giving things up for worship service, for the fellowship, for each other, instead of always looking to "trade up." Start loving on our leaders, instead of criticizing them behind their backs. At least criticize them to their faces.

And for pity's sake, start coming on time. It won't break your back to be early to something. I assure you. You don't go to school late. You don't go to work late. You don't flake out on your band practices, your club meetings, your social volleyball nights, your six-hour gaming sessions. You don't show up a half hour late to an appointment with the President of the United States. You don't saunter in twenty minutes late with the girl you have a crush on. What do we do instead? We show up early. We tap our feet in nervous anticipation. Our palms sweat.

Why don't we do the same thing for our worship services? Our fellowship time? Our prayer meeting? (I couldn't resist. I don't honestly expect anyone to start coming to prayer meeting. Maybe that's where my faith finds its limit.)

I've had it up to my eyeballs with Asian time. It's a self-deceitful practice that makes excuses. An excuse is a lie wrapped in the skin of a reason.

If we don't, we're going to lose this guy. And many are sure to follow. We're going to lose ourselves in the world. And once we cross that line, i'd daresay there's no going back.

Where is the Acts church today? Where is the community that has everything in common, that breaks bread together every day, that is moved and empowered by the Holy Spirit?

I'm far from a role model here. I've stumbled and bumbled and half-assed it, too. I've derided people for loving the church too much. But this morning's conversation was a huge wake-up call for me. So, my heart is hurting. Starting today, i'm not going to settle. And if you are, i'm putting you on notice. That's not gonna happen any more.