Live Differently

By Mark and Kathleen Rambo

Live Differently is a compilation of stories, vignettes, and observations about the journey of faith that one can engage in, with Jesus Christ as their guide. The book outlines a postmodern process of discipleship that focuses on Belonging (Community), Becoming (Community spiritual practices), and Believing (the How of faith) that leads to soul transformation (re-Living). Live Differently is a first-person narrative that can be used as an individual devotional tool, a small group discussion guide or a beginning point for conversation for those who are exploring what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark and Kathleen Rambo
• Release date: Jun 24, 2012
• ISBN: 9780615662541

Mark and Kathleen Rambo

Mark Rambo is a follower of Jesus and Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church, Olympia WA. He has served on that staff almost 15 years. He is also the lead facilitator of Emmaus House, a community of believers interested in building bridges for those timid about entering the walls of the established church. He is married to Kathleen and together they strive to live out the teachings of Jesus in tangible ways in their local community.

Book preview

Live Differently

Life as a Remix

Mark and Kathleen Rambo

Copyright © 2012 by Mark and Kathleen Rambo

Smashwords Edition

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Original Art by Jesse Ferguson

for Kardia Press

Table of Contents

Disclaimer (Prologue)

Section One- Belonging:

Chapter 1: On the Edge

Chapter 2: Broken Lives; Wounded People

Chapter 3: The Original Nic at Night

Section Two- Becoming:

Chapter 4: Pack a Bag; It’s a Bumpy Ride

Chapter 5: Batteries Required

Chapter 6: A Right Side Up Life

Section Three- Believing:

Chapter 7: Table Scraps

Chapter 8: Fear Factor

Chapter 9: The Way I see It

Section Four- (re)Living:

Chapter 10: A Gentle Life

Chapter 11: Extreme Makeover

Chapter 12: Fruit Salad

Epilogue:

The End or the Beginning?

About the Authors

Notes

Disclaimer

(Prologue)

In our age of technology anyone can write and publish a book. No credentials, no big hype or hoopla--just ordinary, everyday people with something to say and a little technology to back their play.

Seems a strange and almost funny part of our culture, our very own little pocket of counterculture to our world of investment bubbles, The Next BIG Thing and experts. We are indeed a culture of paradoxes or perhaps split personalities. On the one hand we are always looking for that next big band wagon to jump on; yet on the other, we still hang on to the tried and true, the old faithfuls of our life that make us feel comfortable and grounded. It seems we have one eye on the horizon with a pocketful of well-seasoned experts to cover our back. Maybe that’s the way of humans, one foot in each, the old and new worlds.

Sadly, we think the church reflects this same paradox, although we shouldn’t be surprised at all. On the one hand, we have hip and cool super pastors, jammin’ music, technology geared worship so perfectly orchestrated that it rivals a Las Vegas show. You can pay your tithe online in many churches (so you get those coveted air miles) and hear most any sermon on a church’s website no matter where on planet earth you may be. Even though information is everywhere, we still flood to mega-conferences to hear the latest Cool Guy with his highly polished look tell us how to be Jesus to our world. All of this energy is focused on educating us on how to simplify our lives, focus on relationships and engage the culture around us while being the coolest, hippest Christians in town. Yet on the other hand we struggle to build and maintain honest, deep relationships where we can truly relax, be safe and be ourselves. We desperately need relationships that will sustain through the chaos of life, yet distance ourselves from people through technology.

Somehow I suspect the Jesus of the Bible would be less than impressed with all our self-proclaimed knowledge and perfectly timed worship services. It occurs to me He saw value in the mundane and everydayness of life. He could have been with anyone, yet He celebrated life with ordinary, simple people, who often were societal outcasts. He wasn’t impressed by the cool factor and found joy in the people society didn’t hold much regard for. You see, life happens to ordinary people. And the Bible tells us they become extraordinary people as their lives intersect with God’s.

It is in that spirit, the spirit of the everyday, that this book celebrates the ordinary. What follows are stories, vignettes, and ponderings of life with God by two very average people who have experienced and tasted the love of God in both subtle and overwhelming ways. We hope that in sharing our life with God, we can help others make connections between the ordinary run-of-the-mill world and the presence of God in those moments and experiences.

All of us, we believe, want something more than we are presently experiencing. So as we talk about belonging, becoming, believing and re-beginnings, our prayer is that what you read will entice you into deeper thought, deeper conversations and a deeper desire to explore the things of God in the midst of life.

Grace