manupthebook

Lent is nearing its end. It is Holy week. Two thousand years ago, Christ’s first disciples have been walking with him for three whole years. They have seen him heal. They have seen him cast out demons. They have seen him calm the storm and walk on water. They have seen him feed thousands with just a few fish and loaves. They have seen him raise the dead.

And after all of this, they still didn’t get it. They still didn’t understand what it meant to live as a disciple! This week, nearly two thousand years ago one betrayed him, one denied him, and nearly all of them abandoned him. The people that lived with Jesus every day still hadn’t learned what he expected of them.

As part of my own journey, I’ve been praying to become a stronger disciple for well over 12 years. The kernels of thought that eventually grew into STEPUP have been gathering for at least eight of those 12 years. They really began to come together about five years ago and the book was published and approved by the diocese just about a year ago.

It took the Apostles three years of walking with Jesus and they still didn’t get it. It has taken me over 12 years to begin to understand the difference between a being a follower and beginning to live more like a disciple.

The tips in STEPUP are intended to help you walk a journey that took me over 12 years. Perhaps you’ll learn something. Perhaps you’ll remember something long forgotten. Perhaps an ember will turn into a flame or perhaps a spark will be lit.

One chapter takes about 3 minutes to read and a few more to reflect upon. The question is, do you have 5 minutes a day?