The Tulip Driven Life

Book Excerpt Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Fletcher Booher Chapter 1 The tavern was old- it smelled of manure and smoke, grime and dirt salted the stone floor, and the dim light revealed walls stained with ale. A man was sitting on the ground against the corner of the wall furthest from the bar. He had one leg fully stretched out in front of him; he bent his other knee up near his face as he hunched forward, the sole of that shoe planted firmly into the dusty floor.   He wore a dark cloak with the hood over his head and held a mug of ale in one hand, resting that arm on top of his bent knee. His weight was shifted towards his other hand which  braced against the floor, supporting him. He sat there motionless, eyes fixed on the golden liquid in front of his face. The hooded man was familiar with Old Mason’s Tavern, too familiar, and many who frequented the tavern were too familiar with him. At times he would drink himself to a fit of rage, cursing and spitting at ...

That title is not a gimmick to get people to my blog site. I'm not pulling the bait and switch like a seeker sensitive church (although sadly they often never really get to the gospel, so I think often they have baited themselves),  but rather I am wanting to point to something much deeper that I see needs to be addressed within the church. The church is to be salt and light into the world, but I think far too often we limit that to just doing evangelistic/mercy ministry type of things. No, all of life is to magnify God and His righteousness. The problem is, I think too many people and churches act as if all there is to life for the Christian is preaching the gospel. If this were true, then what would we be winning unbelievers to? What is the end goal of evangelism? I think many people believe it is to get people saved and out of hell. That is not the end goal. God says the end goal is holiness, and to glorify Him in all things, so that "whatever you eat or drink, or whatso...