Dang, this is hard…

I've never been good at journaling, so blogging just doesn't come easy for me. Plus, on top of that my behavioral profile says I'm a thinker/strategy person first, then a communicator second. That means I like to think about things, sometimes way too much…okay maybe all the time…let me think about that statement a little more…and then I like to talk through my thoughts with other people. So when I sit down to blog I tend to spend so much time thinking about what I should say, what does God want me to say, how should I say …you get the idea. Then, I'd like to bounce that off somebody just to make sure my thought process is clear before I post. I have a propensity to complicate things by thinking way too much, so I'll just share with you what touched me this morning. Hope you enjoy reading Perry's blog.

Let my words be few…

Wow, I had no idea after writing the last post about waiting that I would actually wait this long before posting again! I'm not that disciplined to post everyday anyway, but a week come on! I just didn't have anything to say, I've been wrestling for words.

In my calling there is pressure (I'm sure much is self imposed) to explain God and His ways. But who am I to explain the great I Am. I'm neither the first nor the last to struggle with this. Ezekial tried but couldn't:

Then there came a voice from above the expanse over their heads as they stood with lowered wings. Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.
      This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking. Ezekial 1:25-28

All he could do is fall on his face in awe, not say anything. That is where God wanted me this week, didn't have a whole lot to say. Wondering though when I did speak, was it just the sacrifice of a fool?

Stand in Awe of God

 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

 Do not be quick with your mouth,
       do not be hasty in your heart
       to utter anything before God.
       God is in heaven

       and you are on earth,
       so let your words be few.
Ecc 5:1-2

 

Lord, I cannot believe I'm in Your presence. Help me not to be a fool.

 

Waiting

I hate sitting still! I can't imagine what it was like to be Caleb. You've seen the land that God has promised, you know where you are supposed to be, you're ready for the adventure, but other people's fear stops you dead in your tracks. Their fear cost Caleb 45 years…read that again 45 years!
I'm not sure I could handle that!

But after those 45 years he was still ready for the adventure!

The people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite spoke: "You'll remember what God said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me back at Kadesh Barnea. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of God sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land. And I brought back an honest and accurate report. My companions who went with me discouraged the people, but I stuck to my guns, totally with God, my God. That was the day that Moses solemnly promised, 'The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance, you and your children's, forever. Yes, you have lived totally for God.'

"I was ready 45 years ago, but because people didn't want to move out of their comfort zone, I've been wandering out here for 45 years! No longer."

Now look at me: God has kept me alive, as he promised. It is now forty-five years since God spoke this word to Moses, years in which Israel wandered in the wilderness. And here I am today, eighty-five years old! I'm as strong as I was the day Moses sent me out. I'm as strong as ever in battle, whether coming or going. So give me this hill country that God promised me. You yourself heard the report, that the Anakim were there with their great fortress cities. If God goes with me, I will drive them out, just as God said." Josh 14:6-12

"I've been waiting for this moment most of my life, I maybe 85 years old, but I'm ready for the adventure, give me those giants!
I refuse to surrender the journey!"

If you feel frustrated in the lack of movement by God's people, pray that you can wait upon the Lord like Caleb.

If you feel afraid, take a risk and follow God, don't be the one to cost someone 45 years of their life!

Christianity is a lifestyle, not a religion

Jesus did not say, "I have come that you might have religion … that you might have meetings … that you might have a ritual … that you might have doctrine … that you might have this or that ceremony." But He said, "My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."
Jesus says that Christianity is a life. He came to teach people how to live. Until you know Christ, you're not living, you're just existing.

 

Most people are searching for life; they're looking for it in anything. From one fad to the next, one commercial to the next, that will give me life! They call it other things – happiness, sex appeal, fame, status. But what they're looking for is "What in the world am I here for?" And the church should be the one place in society where people go to figure out how you live. The church ought to teach people how to live because Christianity is a life.

You think too much...

...know wonder!

Before you get on with life…

Coming off of Easter and the resurrection I wanted to remind us of a few things before we get on with our lives:

After the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. Suddenly the earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God's angel came down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it. Shafts of lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white. The guards at the tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn't move.

The angel spoke to the women: "There is nothing to fear here. I know you're looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed.

"Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, 'He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.' That's the message."

The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb. They ran to tell the disciples. Then Jesus met them, stopping them in their tracks. "Good morning!" he said. They fell to their knees, embraced his feet, and worshiped him. Jesus said, "You're holding on to me for dear life! Don't be frightened like that. Go tell my brothers that they are to go to Galilee, and that I'll meet them there."

Meanwhile, the guards had scattered, but a few of them went into the city and told the high priests everything that had happened. They called a meeting of the religious leaders and came up with a plan: They took a large sum of money and gave it to the soldiers, bribing them to say, "His disciples came in the night and stole the body while we were sleeping." They assured them, "If the governor hears about your sleeping on duty, we will make sure you don't get blamed." The soldiers took the bribe and did as they were told. That story, cooked up in the Jewish High Council, is still going around.

Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.

Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."
Matthew 28 1-20

• No one was prepared for what happened. In our culture we don't want any suprises, we value being in control.
  
• Everyone is a beginner in this business and there are no experts. We pretend to be.
  
• Those that thought they were – the Pharisees, Saduccees, and the Essenes – were looking the other way, and totally missed it. Don't miss it.
  
• The men and women who are the most valuable in advancing the Kingdom sometimes are the most unlikely: the poor, minorities, the suffering, the rejected, poets, and children.
  
• The resurrection took place in a quiet location without publicity or spectators. Why didn't He send out a direct mail piece?
  
• And then there is fear. "Fear of the Lord" keeps us it keeps us on our toes, from thinking that we know it all, and prevents us from closing our minds to what is new.
  

Don't miss the wonder. Don't miss the mystery. Don't just go back to your ordinary life!

Go out!

Palm Sunday - Guest Blog

Today is Palm Sunday
Today is the day Jesus traveled to Jerusalem by horse back. As he came down the road from the Mount of Olives a whole crowd of disciples praised god by screaming Hosanna, Praise the Lord, Blessed is the king, Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest. Some of the Pharisees in the crowd asked Jesus to "rebuke the crowd". Jesus replied "If they keep quit,the stones will cry out"

Altough I don't know if the stones would truley have cried out, I think the point was you can't stop what is by Gods' design. All of Gods' creatures were made to worship,plants, animals, and people.
Trees sway in the breeze, coyotes howl at the moon, birds sing songs, stars shine brightly in the sky, and Mountains reach for the Heavens, all praises to God.
All by His design.
People are also designed to worship. The difference is we have been given the ablity to choose who or what we will worship...........money, sucess, fame, sex, etc... or GOD

steve

Steve is one of my close friends who has learned to walk the narrow road. Thanks Steve for your insights and your friendship!