Perhaps a Jesus way has less to do with politics, belief structures and institutions, and more to do with the rhythms and rules of our daily lives.

How we live has very little do with what we claim our beliefs are.  It is grounded in rhythms and practices we live out each day.  Unintentionally, our rhythms and rules become focused on solving immediate problems like hunger or lust or sleepiness, and our life goals become completely self centered.

If I were truly living a Jesus way, I think my rhythms and rules would look something like this:

Rhythm

• Daily:  Spend time with Jesus everyday. When possible, this includes reading the Bible, especially the gospels, praying and journaling. Get a good nights sleep.
• Weekly: Hang out with my church and small group.  Serve someone poorer than me.  Seek wisdom from someone wiser than me. Spend time with my neighbors.
• Monthly: Get away to somewhere quiet. Reflect on what is taking my time, money, and energy.
• Yearly: Seek a way to glorify God in the unavoidable cultural rhythms, such as school year, football season, tax day and SXSW.  Incorporate this with highlights from the liturgical year and personal holidays.

Practices

• Know people: Before you can love people, you must know them. Intentionally focus on creating relationships with family, mentors, old friends, Church, literal neighbors and individual poor people.
• Share: Set specific amounts of time, energy and money that you dedicate to others.
• Proximity: Stay close to home. Think of the time and relational depth you would get from shopping, eating, office-ing, and worshiping with those near your home.
• Stay Healthy: Recognizing bodily health is a gift from God to be used to serve him, exercise regularly and be conscious of your eating and sleeping habits.
• Fast: Temporarily sacrifice things in order to bring focus and clarity on your Jesus way.
• Be Honest: Seek counselors, mentors, friends and books that will help you take a regular personal and moral inventory.
• Sex: Approaching the opposite sex by first respecting the image of God in all people, and second, the mystery of Christ and the Church found in marriage.
• Challenge: Trying something new and see what God can teach you.
• Create: Write a blog or a book. Plant a garden. Paint a picture. Just spend some time creating instead of consuming.
• Bless: Do something thankless for someone else that no one can know about. Then praise God for it.

What have I left out?  What would you add?