by Jolleen Owens

Created on: May 13, 2008   Last Updated: May 14, 2008

How many of you Christians struggle with the idea that your relationship with God is really more like that of a person reading a good story and getting great ideas for your life from what you've read? It seems almost as though your daily walk really is more of a discipline than a desire, and you just can't get to a point where you have a connection or an intimacy with the almighty. Reading the Word becomes taking a theology class and then church on Sunday mornings is now your weekly lecture in this college course, where the exam is how you live which becomes viewable by all you know. I struggled with this very same monotony for many years, and it turned into my excuse for complacency as a Christian for why I wasn't growing and maturing in what was supposed to be the love of my life. Over the last few years it had become my sincere desire to make it real to my heart who Jesus really was as a person when he roamed the face of our planet just as we do, and what made God decide to allow His only son to be crucified so that we could live for eternity; and not in just any eternity, but perfection to the utmost understanding and beyond.

For all you married folks, do you remember your wedding day? How in love you were with the one you were making a promise to love, honor, and obey them for the rest of your lives? This is the kind of relationship that Christ desires to have with us, as we are His bride and his passion. I'd like to introduce some of you to a brand new way of living, loving, and serving God as He has loved us so much more, and much deeper than any of us (including myself) could ever possibly comprehend.

Think of someone in your life who has been extremely close to you. It doesn't matter how long you have known them, all that matters is the quality of the time you have spent knowing and caring for one another. Maybe for some of you its the mother who gave up everything she had to raise you in a healthy and safe environment, or the boss who mentored you not only in your work but also in your personal life. It could be the firefighter who rescued you from a burning building that suffered severe burns and other health complications to keep you safe, and yet here you are. What kind of passion do you feel for these people? What emotions do you experience when you think of them or simply hear their voice? Its so easy to have passion for a person who you can see, hear, touch and smell, but being a Christian its so much more difficult to put this same passion into

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