Wednesday, September 24, 2008

A choice

When sleep eludes me in the middle of the night, I'm in the silly habit of muttering to God in frustration, usually as I roll my eyes..."Ok God...you've woken me up for something...what is it this time?" Sometimes I actually do have a profound moment with Him, either through his Word or prayer...other times I simply continue to kick the sheets until sleep falls again.

A few weeks ago, I woke up in the middle of the night as though it was midday. "Ok God...I'm all ears." I looked at my Bible laying on the floor, but didn't hear it calling my name...so I decided to seek greater adventures...and moseyed downstairs. :) I flipped on the TV just as Dangerous Minds was beginning. (A 90's movie about a teacher struggling to connect with students in an inner-city school.) "Really, this is why you woke me up?" I said in jest as I settled in to watch. I had seen the movie a couple times before...but this time I watched until the class period which they discussed verbs. They camped on one verb in particular...I watched the outcome of the discussion and then flipped off the TV, walked upstairs and fell asleep. But the next morning and every day since then I've continually reflected on their verb..."choose."

more from The Shack...

Jesus speaking..."Have you noticed that even though you call me Lord and King, I have never really acted in that capacity with you? I've never taken control of your choices or forced you to do anything, even when what you were about to do was destructive or hurtful to yourself and others."

main character..."I would have preferred that you did take control at times. It would have saved me and people I care about a lot of pain."

"To force my will on you," Jesus replied, "is exactly what love does not do. Genuine relationships are marked by submission even when your choices are not helpful or healthy."

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If we didn't have the total freedom to choose...we would not have the absolute ability to love.

God created the world because he loves us.

God created us to love him.

Love is a choice.

Monday, September 15, 2008

The Shack - Is God really good?

Many people, including myself, have struggled with the basic concept of God being good. We hear God is good...we hear God is love...but we look around this broken world and what do we see? Why would a loving God allow so much pain and suffering? It is a question I've been asked...it is a question I've asked myself...face down with tears streaming down my cheeks.

Is God really good?

I just finished reading The Shack. A fictional book, with an amazing testimony of God interwoven. A thought-provoking, inspiring story worth sharing! I look forward to touching on the many gems the author has eloquently buried, but I'll start by sharing a simplistic thought that reveals a concept that may plague the masses...

This is a perspective in the book from God to the main character...

"The real underlying flaw in your life Mackenzie, is that you don't think that I am good. If you knew I was good and that everything - the means, the ends, and all the processes of individual lives - is all covered by my goodness, then while you might not always understand what I am doing, you would trust me. But you don't."

"Trust is the fruit of a relationship in which you know you are loved. Because you do not know that I love you, you cannot trust me."

The Shack, William P. Young

Saturday, September 6, 2008

The unplanned journey

On the high from last night's Friday Night Flavor kick off (our version of Hip Hop Church)...I intended to hit the bike trail this morning to give God some praise. We have made some very significant changes in the ministry lately, the Friday night program being one of them. Although we are working through the many kinks of new beginnings...we feel God has already shown us very visible signs that we are on the right path. With my iPod loaded...I looked forward to the serenity of the riverfront...

But as I neared the path...I discovered the entrance was blocked. I circled around awhile in hopes this problem would quickly go away. I searched for another entrance...no luck there either...I kept circling. Finally after perhaps my 3rd pass...I conceded to a change of plans. A bit frustrated, I hit the sidewalks and city streets (not quite the serene image I had imagined).

Nevertheless I searched for a new adventure. After inhaling a bit of exhaust and surviving the depths of a few pot holes...I found myself on the trails of a park I had never ridden...but had previously visited. I rounded the corner and pedaled faster towards a shelter. As it came into view...I slowed down to a standstill and the memories flooded back. This was where I spent the first day on the job of my first promotion at John Deere. I accepted the position and joined my new co-workers on a team-building day in the park. I remember having to get directions to find it...I remember skeptically walking up to the group and making introductions...I remember what I wore...I remember getting a picture of an excavator pinned to my back and having to guess what it was without seeing it...I remember not knowing what to call it even after I did. :) I remember questioning why a farm girl was moving into the Construction & Forestry Division of John Deere.

Why was this day so significant? I have started many new jobs, teams, experiences...but this memory was vivid. I didn't have to ponder the question long before the answer came to me...this was the day I joined the team...which would ultimately change my life.

It was on this team where faith was eventually presented to me in a genuine, non-threatening, real way...that I had never seen before. It was on this team...three individuals on separate occasions reached out to me...to share God's love. It was on this team...I was invited to my first official Bible study (they still meet before work every Friday). It was on this team...I started listening to Christian radio...and was eventually lead to Christ.

I peddled not 30 feet up the road and realized I was in my current Executive Director's back yard...and I smiled. Who would have thought...a personal journey which started practically on his back doorstep would eventually lead me directly back there...under drastically different circumstances.

The unplanned journey...was worth the adventure.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

There is a love story

"The disciples' realization that Christ is who He says He is compelled them to obedience. That is the historic reality of Christianity. Understanding this is crucial, for it distinguishes Christianity from all other religions. The Christian faith rests not merely upon great teachings or philosophies, not upon the charisma of a leader, not upon the success in raising moral values, not upon the skill or eloquence or good works of its advocates. If it did, it would have no more claim to authority than the sayings of Confucius or Mao or Buddha or Mohammed or any of a thousand cults. Christianity rests on historical truth. Jesus lived, died, and rose from the dead to be Lord of all - not just in theory or fable, but in fact. With that understood, Christianity must evoke from the believer the same response it drew from the first disciples: a passionate desire to obey and please God - a willingly entered-into discipline. That is the beginning of true discipleship. That is the beginning of loving God." taken from Loving God, Chuck Colson p.40

God has a unique way of meeting you exactly where you are...therefore I'm not sure what other attendees might say was their big take away from the Leadership Summit this year...but mine was clear: Get on your face before God...and live out his greatest command...to love Him. To love Him...imagine the simplicity. All this time I've been feverishly scrambling around, desperately trying to serve Him...and missing the foundational truth...of love. As strange as it sounds, it was as though I heard this concept for the first time. It was certainly the first time it penetrated me to the core.

'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. Matthew 22:37-38


There is a love story...buried in the depths of all of our souls...

let it keep you up at night...if you don't know it.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16