Bored?

People close to me have asserted lately that if you're a Christian and your life is boring, you're missing out on something. In fact, I've heard lately that if you don't remember the last incredible thing that God did in your life, you are probably "doing it wrong." This isn't a health/wealth prosperity gospel variant at all, this comment was intended to be deeper, more personal. There are times God has used us in incredible and humbling ways that didn't lead to outrageous prosperity or fortune...our reward was simply being present when some incredible life change happened for someone else. Our reward was to be a witness to a miracle.

Now, I'm not one that believes that there are different levels of salvation. Saved is saved. If you're saved, it's impossible to be more saved. However, I am a firm believer in spiritual growth, commonly called discipleship.  Salvation happens once and is life-changing. Through spiritual growth, a relationship with God is developed.  If you stop at salvation, you miss out on the intimacy of a relationship with Jesus. You miss out on the guidance and assurance available through that relationship. You also miss out on the life of significance and adventure that is the result of a passionate pursuit of God (and His passionate pursuit of you.)

Am I great at this? Absolutely not. I was recently asked which of these five areas I was best at: prayer, solitude (in the context of Jesus isolating himself to focus on his relationship with the father), small group, time in the word, and trust in the unconditional love and guidance of the Father.  My honest answer was that I completely suck at all of them. Sure, I happen to be in the habit of consistently attempting them all, and maybe God's giving me credit for that. But, honestly, when judged on my results, I'm failing miserably.

Fortunately for me, I am not judged on my results. It isn't my effort that matters, and God seems like he's not done with me yet. This is still an incredible journey he's got me on. He continues to teach me about grace and unconditional love. His favorite teaching method seems to be continually giving both to me.

Gospel and Fruit

It's human nature to try and control our own destiny. At some level, we all believe we can save ourselves. At the very least, we can influence the outcome. Even those of us that have experienced a life changing salvation through Jesus Christ. Even though we know we're saved, we still want a checklist to follow. We want to be able to look at our own lives and convince God and everyone around us that we're worthy. Worthy to be saved, worthy to be loved. Daily quiet time, Bible reading plans, church attendance, even giving things to the poor and feeding the hungry are all often self-salvation projects. We do them because it makes us feel saved.

That's one of the reasons we have a love/hate relationship with the Law. The law gives us a guideline. If we can just figure out this law stuff and then work hard enough to follow it, we can be accepted on our own merits. We don't have to trust God to save us, it's up to us. We like control. At some level it makes a lot more sense to rely on our own efforts than it does to build a relationship with a guy that we can't really relate to (I mean, how many universes have you created lately?) and that we can't call on the phone, text, email, or meet for coffee at Starbucks. How do you build a relationship with someone whose voice you're not sure if you can ever really hear? Being a good person on your own effort makes a lot more sense.

The message of the gospel just isn't logical. It doesn't make sense. What makes more sense are the self help guides...full of checklists, dos and don't that lead you step by step into a more perfect life if you just follow them closely enough and perfectly enough. That's what we understand. That's what the law is like.

The gospel, on the other hand, says that the work is done. That's the good news. The work has already been done for us. We can throw away our checklists, understanding the crushing weight of the law that we've been living under. Now we're free from that, right? Now, what is our response to that freedom? I think our next move should be into John 15.

Good tidings to you

May the peace that surpasses all understanding find you this holiday season. A life with Christ is the greatest adventure available to any man (or woman). It doesn't matter if you are the wisest of men or a lowly shepherd, you matter to God. Merry Christmas!

My Message - Pursue

Trust30 - Day 10

To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, that is genius. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

What is burning deep inside of you? If you could spread your personal message RIGHT NOW to 1 million people, what would you say?

Many readers will probably click away with my next sentence. There's more to this whole God thing than you realize. Humanity has twisted and abused religion for so many years it can take a lot to break through the hurt and find the truth. But the truth is there for those that earnestly seek it. God is bigger than you can imagine. 

I know I can't use my logic and wit to persuade anyone to look to God again. We each have our own road before us and your quest will not look like mine at all.  I can't tell you what your next step will be. I encourage you to take it, though. Even if you think you're a Christian. Especially if you think you're a Christian.

This whole God thing isn't only about where you go when you die. When you find Jesus, He brings you to life RIGHT THEN. The apostle Paul repeatedly uses phrases like "You were dead because you were apart from Him, but now you are alive." He's not talking to people that are in Heaven. Your new life starts here and now.

I'm not one to say everything's perfect all the time, I still have my ups and downs. But the life I've lived since I found Christ goes beyond words.  I used to think I was free because I could do anything I wanted...that Christians were boring and stuffy. Now that I've found true freedom in Christ I look back at my old life and can see the shackles and bars that held me. 

My message: pursue God. Question everything you think you know about God. Revisit the scriptures with an open mind. Please read the Bible, but feel free to read the Quran, Tao Te Ching, Book of Mormon, the Upanishads, the teachings of Buddha, the Vedas, or any other Holy book you wish. The true God is bigger than your questions, and if you honestly seek Him, you will find Him.  My belief is that an honest and humble quest will lead you to the truth.  And the truth will set you free.

Be Bold?

Trust 30 Challenge Day 7 : Dare to Be Bold

The question (with a little editing for the sake of brevity)

Our arts, our occupations, our marriages, our religion, we have not chosen, but society has chosen for us. We are parlour soldiers. We shun the rugged battle of fate, where strength is born. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

The rest of the intro by Matt Cheuvront is here 

What’s one thing you’ve always wanted to accomplish but have been afraid to pursue? Write it down. Also write down the obstacles in your way of reaching your goal. Finally, write down a tangible plan to overcome each obstacle. 

The only thing left is to, you know, actually go make it happen. What are you waiting for?

The Response

Like many of the other Trust30 challenge writers I've been reading, I'm already working/living toward the dream.

What have I always wanted to accomplish but have been afraid to pursue?

Trick question.  Choosing to pursue is the accomplishment.  I started life seeking awards, rewards, and pieces of paper.  Once earned they still leave something missing inside.  So I shoot higher.  But higher goals aren't the answer.  Publishing a book, having a million dollars in my checking account, or traveling the world will not fill that spot.  That doesn't mean those are worthless, it just means I can't hope for those things to complete us.

Living on faith in God while pursuing Him is the answer.  I feel like a broken record, but since I've put my own agenda aside and have instead pursued Christ and His will for my life, two things have happened:

1. Life has been sweet and fulfilling.  Much more so than I ever expected in my wildest dreams.  That empty spot stays full most of the time.
2. About 90% of the dreams I had for myself (that I had let go of) have come to fruition.  Each one a miracle. Most I didn't even ask for, they just happened. Things I had given up on years ago.  It's mind blowing.

Do I still have dreams?  Absolutely.  Even more now than before Christ found me.  I believe that God has given me a glimpse of what is to come in my life and it's a complete turn from what I'm doing now.  I have no idea how it will come about, but I trust Him.  In this one thing, this one dream, I am patient.  I don't see how I will get from here to there, but I just walk the road.  One step at a time, trusting the path.

Obstacles

My biggest obstacles are consequences of past mistakes.  Primarily debt.  Without this burden I'd be free to give even more away.  I'd have more freedom to pursue.  But these are debts that I owe, so I diligently pay them off.  I am fortunate to have a wife that has come to hate debt as much as I do...we knocked most of it out in 2010.  The rest (except the house) goes in 2011.  This is another area that God has worked in our lives...we began faithfully honoring him with every dollar that comes into our house and as a result paid of almost all of 20 years of accumulated debt in about a year.  God can do that when you let Him.

Tangible Plan

My tangible plan is to take my relationship with God to deeper levels.  I still doubt it when I feel Him directing me...it typically takes 3 nudges before I move.  I need to learn to recognize His direction more quickly. Not out of fear that He'll punish me...it's more that where He leads me is always incredible.

My plan is to continue to pursue Him by deliberate prayer time, worship, studying His word, and building a community of believers that seek the same thing.  And I won't stop talking about how awesome my God is.

It's an active process, not just sitting back waiting for Him to work. But the end result is life changing and eternal. And bold?  A life that is truly based on faith in God is as bold as it gets.

Living Water

I'm finally going public with my big announcement. I've have decided to go on a mission trip with "Living Water". At this point I'm certain that I will be helping to drill a water well in a community in Central or South America. Exactly where and when I'm not sure at this point.  Part of this trip will also being doing Christian outreach to this area.

Since finding Christ about 3 years ago my spiritual journey has been a crazy ride. I've moved from wondering who Christ is, to attempting to remove any obstacles between He and I, to intently listening to Him and determining His will for my life. Yes, I believe that Christ died to free me from my sins and that he rose from the grave, walked the earth again, and ascended into heaven. He changed my life.

The thing that really draws me to this particular mission is that I would actually be the hands and feet of Christ, so to speak. This is so much more than just driving somewhere and handing out religious tracts. This is making a community-changing difference that will span generations. It is not just "planting seeds" but watering the seeds as well.

The past year I have focused on going deeper. I could fill the internet with all thing amazing, life-changing things I have experienced. I have been quiet about it because I am not doing this to appear righteous to the world. The Word has been my guide, I have been spending a lot of time in it both by myself and with others. While I don't claim to be the strongest prayer warrior around, my prayer life has been active and intentional, constantly asking for Him to reveal the next step He intends for me to take.

It has become quite clear that the next step is this trip. The decision has been made, now there is action that must take place. Now, I'm in "fundraising" mode. There is no way I can come up with the $2,000 to take this trip on my own. So, I'm reaching out to my community, family, friends, and church. No amount is to big or small to give, and all will be used for this trip, which is ultimately for His Kingdom.

My goal is to keep updating this blog with news about the trip. It's important that I write out what I'm going through, how I see Christ working, and what my fundraising levels are.

Isaiah 6:8 says: "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

I heard that same voice, and I will go. If there is any way you can help me get there, please help.