Launching Soon . . .
By Kirk Walden
A confession: Jenn and I love home fixer upper shows. You know the ones; where the star couple (Chip and Joanna Gaines, anyone?) reimagines a family’s home—which needs tons of work—and for the next hour, we watch an amazing transformation.
The last five minutes of the show are the best. These are the moments when the anxious couple—having put their hopes and dreams in the hands of the stars of the show--arrives at their totally remade home, takes their first peek from the street and one of them blurts out, “Oh my gosh!” This is followed by gasps, hugs and joyful tears.
Then, the hosts and the cameras take us inside to absorb the massive makeover. Tossed in are “Before” and “After” shots so we experience—with the homeowners—how what was once an awkward, dilapidated living space is now a haven of rest and rejuvenation for the overjoyed couple.
Yep, Jenn and I have a soft spot for these shows. Especially those last few minutes.
A Thought
Over coffee one morning (well, a lot of mornings), Jenn and I started thinking, “What if our faith was like this? What if “flipping” our faith could not only change our lives, but shift the way we connect with others and make the idea of faith just as inviting and attractive as what we see on the fixer upper shows?”
After all, there are a ton of parallels, right?
Our faith often has “good bones,” but may require some demolition, too. We need to sledgehammer useless walls and get them out of the way. Perhaps we must rip out the shag carpet from years ago to uncover those gorgeous hardwoods underneath. And maybe it’s time to take a few rooms which no longer serve their best purpose and transform them into spaces where the entire family can say, “This is uhhhh-mazing!”
Maybe we’re naïve, but we truly believe faith can be transformed, too.
An Invitation
Jenn and I are on a journey to revolutionize our faith; to flip it. We want a faith full of eager anticipation and joy; just like the experience of the happy couple (or single!) when they see their revitalized digs for the first time.
And when Jenn and I connect with others, we want friends and neighbors to view our lives in the same way we experience the last five minutes of these shows, saying, “Wow! Gimme some of that!”
Are Jenn and I there yet? No. We still have walls to demolish, hardwood to reveal, rooms to transform. All of us do.
But we believe we’re on a good path. It is a journey of animated (in a fun way!) conversations, challenging questions and hopeful expectations of what might be next. We’re loving it.
So, this is Flipping Faith, where you can connect with us and even join the conversation. If you like an article or a podcast (coming soon), share it with a friend.
Here, everyone gets a seat at the table. And as the sign in our home says, “You can always sit with us.”
Thanks for dropping by. Feel free to stick around.