Theologian Abraham Kuyper said, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, “Mine!” This quote communicates the heart of the #LiveFully conviction that “the redemption of Jesus transforms every area of personal life and positively impacts every channel of cultural life.”

To simply define “personal life” and “cultural life,” here are the 7 broad categories for each.  We believe the “full life” (John 10:10) that Jesus invites people into is an integrated spirituality that fills all seven areas of one’s personal life.  Then, together as a community, Christians are called to impact the 7 different channels of cultural life.

These 7 categories are displayed as a “dresser” (or at least my failed attempt at a dresser) because our lives often feel fragmented and disconnected like various drawers in a dresser.  Yet this holistic approach understands biblical spirituality not as just one of many drawers to manage but rather the dresser itself – a life with God that fills every area (or drawer) of life.

As Christians discover and live this kind of life, I believe they will begin to also gain clarity about their unique calling to impact the world in which they live.  The seven different channels of culture are not meant to be an all encompassing list of vocations and professions, but they provide a starting point for imagining where and how God is calling one to impact the world. Continue Reading…

My first semester of college was miserable.  I couldn’t sleep. Literally, I did not fall asleep before 5 a.m. my entire fall term. I tossed and turned and tossed and turned, unable to shake a mysterious inner anxiety.  The only thing worse than not sleeping was not knowing WHY I was so discontent.

There was a diverse group of guys on my hall.  Some smoked pot daily inside their dorm rooms.  Others went downtown to get drunk and meet girls just about every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. A few others stayed intensely focused on school and lived in the library.

As different as these hall mates were, they all shared one important quality: they were way happier than me! I was emotionally depressed- full of anxiety, insecurity, and sleepless nights.  I envied their carefree attitude and confidence that they were living the best life. All I could do was doubt. “Maybe following Jesus isn’t really the best way to live?” “Maybe it’s not worth it?” Continue Reading…

We really want to see our readers enjoy a more full and satisfying life. If that isn’t happening, we’ve failed. While ultimately, the Full Life boils down to doing one thing, there are many practical outcomes of living in relationship with Christ. Here are 9 simple ways you can enjoy a more satisfying life.

1) Get Outdoors More

I love technology, but it can be so stinking distracting. Getting outside, whether for thirty minutes in the park or 3 days in the mountains, really helps clear my mind to focus on what is important. It also reminds me how huge God is and how tiny I am. Fresh air does good things for the soul, so get outside!

2) Actually Call People

Texting, e-mail, and facebook are all great. They help us stay connected better than ever before. But none of them can replace an actual conversation. Try scrolling through your phone contacts list and calling someone you haven’t spoken to in a few months. If you’re afraid of drowning in small talk, call them with some questions in mind. For instance, “Have you done any travelling lately?” or “What are you learning at school/working on at work?” It is remarkably easy, and far more satisfying than poking someone on facebook. Continue Reading…

I am thrilled to share that my friend, and #LiveFully partner Evan Forester, has released his first eBook entitled “1 Step To Becoming a Good Christian.”

The message is simple yet profound, and brief enough to enjoy in one sitting.  It’s also a great conversation starter to share with others about what matters most in our faith. You can receive this eBook FREE by subscribing to our email list, so visit the book’s page and go for it!

In connection with Evan’s eBook, I want to ask you a question – “What is ONE simple change that made a significant difference in your life?”

This is not about getting real deep and philosophical, although I love that too.  This is practical, and a chance for us to help one another by sharing simple changes that have made a legitimate difference in our lives. Continue Reading…

We love sharing what followers of Jesus are learning about the most full life. Today we have a guest post from Supriya Sajja, a student intern at Grace Church in Snellville, Georgia.

What does it mean to truly live a full life? I thought I understood this concept, considering it much like the YOLO phrase – “You Only Live Once.” My thinking was that I should take every single opportunity to do as many different things as possible.

“When will I ever have the opportunity to do these things, with this person, at this exact moment?  Never again.”  I thought experiencing all God had to offer meant always being occupied. As long as I read my Bible, then I could just spend the rest of my day staying busy. Continue Reading…

I often heard that once a father I would understand God’s heart for his people on a whole new level.  That is true.  However, what I didn’t hear as much is how many things that my child would (unintentionally) teach me about living a life of Christian faith.  Here are 2 examples…

1. Ask “WHY” a lot

Kids question everything because they are hungry to understand WHY people do the things they do.

Too many Christians live with too small a vision for WHY they do the things they do.  This is sad because the Bible provides vision for WHY everything matters and WHY we should engage in the world today.

I once heard a man say “Those who know HOW will always follow those who know WHY.” If you’re like me, this line caused you to make some kind of audible noise in agreement. Christians (should) have the most compelling answers for WHY, and naturally  lead the way for those who know HOW.

We must never get so caught in the practicality of life that we fail to be compelled by underlying Christian vision.  God gives meaning to every area of life and provides real purpose for why we get up in the morning.  Are you driven by it?

2. Use Your Imagination

Kids entertain themselves for hours simply by imagining a different world. I love to watch my daughter in these moments, and it’s a blast to enter that imaginary place with her.

The use of imagination was never meant to stop after childhood, but oftentimes “growing up” means quitting all the pretending and getting serious about life.

Christianity calls for people to imagine how life could be different if touched by the redeeming power of Jesus.  We don’t just look forward to a New Heaven and New Earth one day in the future.  Rather, the future hope of completely restored life floods our imaginations for how redemption breaks into the present world NOW.

“What does redemption look like in ________?”  It’s not just a nice mental exercise, but the precursor, the imaginative work, that drives our action in the world.

Let us clear out the cobwebs of our imaginations and dream again, like kids do so well. And let us continue to ask WHY, searching for those answers in God’s story of redemption. Perhaps this is partly what it means to live with child-like faith.

Vision + Imagination + Action = #LiveFully

What else have you learned from kids?

Philippians 4:8 “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Paul commands the Christians in Philippi to think about things that are beautiful, good, and true.  For those of you philosophy people, you may be drawn to consider another person in history who called attention to those qualities. Plato considered these three things – the True, Good, and the Beautiful to be the “universals,” and he held that in order to live a holistic, mature life they must exist together in a harmonious way.

Eugene Petersen, author of The Message, describes the way in which the church has fallen short of embracing all three.  In regards to Christians, he states “we are vigorous in contending for the True, thinking rightly about God.  We are energetic in insisting on the Good, behaving rightly before God.  But Beauty, the forms by which the True and the Good take shape in human life, we pretty much ignore.” Continue Reading…