Your Life Long Counsel

Quiz - Can you name 3-5 people who fit the following criteria -
A). The KNOW you best.
B). The LOVE you most.
C). They are willing to speak the truth in love to you.

How did you do? The Bible speaks about having these kind of people in our lives. "Wise people seek the counsel of many" Proverbs says. It is where we get the saying "Two heads are better than one". We all have decisions to make that are pretty impactful and dealing with the pressure and knowing how to make the right decision can be alot to handle. So why not do the Biblically correct and entirely helpful thing and design a life counsel. I have several people I can call in a moment's notice who if I asked, would pray and get back to me once I shared the necessary information needed so I can make a great and Godly decision. I can say that each of these people has spoken the truth in love to me. It is a great person who can do this. We don't need "yes" only people, we need iron sharperners and truth bearers. One of my favorite verses is Proverbs 27:17
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another" I KNOW I am not wise enough, so I ask for wise counsel. I KNOW I don't have all the right perspectives on most situations, so I ask for perspective. I KNOW that prayer is essential and having others pray for me is VITAL... I KNOW that allowing others into my life who love me enough to give perspective and Godly wisdom with truth no matter the consequences is a gift beyond measure. They sharpen me which at times mean sparks will fly and pressure will be applied if I am to be shaped into all God desires in me, for me and through me. One time I did not heed their advice, fear and listening to the wrong voices brought about a terrible fate. One I would do over in a less than a heartbeat. I can't un-do it, oh how I wished I could, but I have learned from it, they have forgiven me and I have done the best I can to move on after much healing and counsel and time!
Write out those names, pray and then start communicating with them and ask them to consider being a member of your LIFE COUNSEL and watch how God uses them!

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

I LOVE Christmas! Nearly everything about it! Okay, nearly! There are parts I don't, probably the same ones you don't. But just like in the "Charlie Brown Christmas" where the characters try and capture Christmas in a play it starts complicated and then gets simple. Christmas is simple, we make it complicated with expectations and approval and making everything just right!!! It should not be complicated but simple!

I love getting and receiving presents. I love carols and being spontaneous and extravagant. Like tonight. I drove 45 miles one way just to deliver a couple of un-wrapped presents to some dear friends. The presents were not worth much, but it was the whole idea of driving there just to say hi, give them a couple presents and say Merry Christmas.

God gave! Simple! God gave His only Son, His perfect Son! His blameless, Holy Son! Why did He do that? Because He so loved the world! You and Me! I had a poster at one time that I loved. It said this "I asked Jesus how much do you love me, and He reached out His arms out and said "this much" and then He died". A picture was in the background of those words and the picture formed a cross on a hill! Get it?

After we were given and chose the costly and free gift of salvation we were given gifts! Unique gifts. No one can give the gifts we have! No one! Combined with our personality, our natural gifts and our Spiritual gifts you and I are totally unique... and we have MUCH to offer. Do you know what your gifts are? Most believers do not! How sad! May I encourage you to find a tool to find out what they are! You probably know what your personality type is, and what your natural gifts and abilities are. But...do you know what you super-natural gifts are? God gave them to you and the world needs them. Needs them desperately! The body of Christ does not function nearly as well as it should with you either sitting on the sideline or un-aware. This year make it your goal to know them and begin to use them. God gave His greatest Gift and His name is Jesus! Then God gave you and I gifts and we/they are needed! Merry Christmas!

How to Keep your Accounts Overflowing

A special Happy 21st Birthday cheer to my daughter Brittany! I love you so much and am so proud of you!

In these days of economic insecurity nearly all of us are watching more than ever where our accounts stand by checking daily on-line. This is a good thing. We do this to make sure there is enough to pay the bills, invest and have in case of emergency's.

If we are un-wise we can loose it all. In a heartbeat! I would like to move onto different accounts. Our emotional, physical and spiritual accounts. I heard a friend speak at a retreat say something both profound and impactful.

"You have as many friends in your life as you want, you have as much money in your life as you want, you have as much knowledge and strength in your life as your want, you have as much peace and God in your life as you want, and you have as much love in your life as you want."
Wow! I had to think about that long and hard and at first I rebelled inwardly about those statements and as the speaker went on and explained himself it did make sense. We have choices all of the time, and based on our choices we do have as much or as little of anything we want. Of course there are some exceptions...

So I keep close eye on these accounts and tend to them meticulously. Here's how;

I know the people and activities in my life that either make a deposit or withdrawl. As I am watching my accounts, if I see one or more running low, then I schedule time either with those people who are deposit people or by doing activities that do. I am not suppose to completely avoid the people and activities that are withdrawls but I make sure my accounts are full before I do. I do not enjoy paying my bill and balancing my check book, so before I do them or after I reward myself with spendig time being with or doing deposit things. The same is true with certain people. I may have a tough confrontation or leadership conversation to have and I am pretty sure it will end up being a withdrawl, I make sure my account is high first and after. I take time to know my schedule ahead of time and then assess my accounts to make sure I insert things into my life that are desposits because I am equally aware of the withdrawls coming up too.

Hope this makes sense. Here's my challenge.

1. Make a list of the deposit people in your life.
2. Make a list of the deposit activities in your life.
3. Make a list of the withdrawl people in your life.
4. Make a list of the withdrawl activities in your life.
5. Take daily, weekly, monthly and longer looks if you can (seasons) when you know you are going to need deposits because of the withdrawls.

You will find your life will become more joyful and more productive, your soul more at peace and what you give to others of youself will be so much better as well!

Speaking the Truth in Love II

Back to the subject of Biblical confrontation! I am going to share the steps I try to use in speaking the truth in love.

1. Seek to understand the other first.
Steven Covey in one of his 7 habits, states "to be understood, first seek to understand". Before confronting anyone and speaking the truth in love, it is truly wise to step inside the life of the person and envision their life and what brought the conflict on in the first place. One of the things I have learned is that so many times the problem is really the symptom. For instance, if a person has a drinking problem, many people might thing that drinking is the problem, not so! The better/deeper question to answer is what caused the person to drink in the first place.
So when going to a person and speaking the truth (which is really your version of the truth) in love, make sure you really know as much as you can. It builds mercy, grace and compassion.

2. Pray!
I am serious, it slows me down, and helps me hear from God. Don't think about praying, pray. Don't talk about prayer, pray!

3. Make Peace your goal!
I've found it's best to state the goal as being "to be at peace with anyone/everyone as much as it is possible". It creates safety and trust and makes the goal reconciliation not blame or right or wrong. Discord and misunderstanding if left alone for any length of time can cause infection, it festers. Too much time left without attempt to make things right and communication can allow for so many bad ideas and mis-truths. It's best to speak early so less damage takes place. The enemies of our own flesh, the devil and the world attack, know this, rebuke it and resist it!

4. Realize it's a process and not an event!
Rarely do two or more people arrive at reconciliation in one shot. It takes time. State this at the get go and it helps take pressure off!

5. Talk back.
What I mean is that when it looks like you are nearly done with the conversation do this simple skill. It goes like this.
"This is what I heard you say, is that accurate? Is there anything I missed or added that you want to comment about?" Then have the other person respond and then let them say the same thing. We have filters, we hear things that may not have been said or inferred. Make sure both of you are on the same page. In the same way, I like to close with this statement.
"we are about to walk away from this conversation, is there anything you would have liked to have said but didn't? Is there anything you want to say before we leave it at this point?" This helps alot. It is amazing how many times someone has responded.

Okay, this is enough for now. I want to hear from any of you out there!

Speaking the Truth in Love

Confrontation is hardly ever easy is it? It never was for me growing up that's for sure. I feared it! I admit it, it just was not healthy in my home as a kid. Whenever a difficult conversation would take place I wished I could just go invisible!

The late Jim Elliot wrote in the book "Through the Gates of Splendor"
"the fear of the thing is often more great then the thing itself".

That is true, and I think most people fear confrontation so we avoid it. And most people just are not good at speaking the truth in love. In Ephesians 4 we are commanded to speak the truth in love to one another. Most people get the speak the truth part down all to well, but it's usually not seasoned with love. In one church I served in, the church split over their in-ability to do this. The church lost, the community looked on with no real desire to join because of the way the church mishandled a conflict. For a long time I hoped that God would just jump in and fix relationships that had conflict, hoping He would supernaturally intervene so I would not have to. One of my long time mentors confronted me early on in my adulthood and ministry experience in a very healthy way, but I remember my reaction was not healthy, it was more of a "how dare he". I now realize he did not have to confront at all, but he showed his love for me by doing it. He has become my daughter's God Father because of his love and truth lifestyle.
My parents did not do this so well, and I hated confrontation, I cringed and felt so weak and shamed through most of it. Case in point, I have 4 siblings and at the landing of our house was a wodden plaque with a dog house and a hook in the middle, and next to it were 5 puppies and each bore our name. When we got home and saw the plaque (we couldn't miss it) we would look to see if one of us was in the doghouse. Many times passive/aggressive behavior took over and either a yelling/shaming confrontation occured or the silent treatment did and we never knew where we stood until our puppy one day was out of the doghouse.
The Holy Spirit, books and authentic relationships over the years has strengthened my emotional health and I am now able to speak the truth in love to people, and do it very well I think. I don't go searching for conflict to resolve but will face it rather then avoid it or become resentful.
I am going to continue this thread as I have a very significant confrontation coming up, I pray it goes GREAT, not just good. There is a lot riding on it for many people and a long future potentially hanging in the balance. I end with a question that invites response, "how do you do confrontation?"

Dealing with the Here and Now!

Happy Thanksgiving! My two daughters are supposed to be here for Thanksgiving. I was so looking forward to it. Time together, no expectations other than time spent together. My oldest daughter got in on time and though I have had to work she has caught up on sleep and getting better since she is run down. My other daughter was supposed to come down this morning but missed her flight. So instead of a whole day spent together eating and hanging with friends, she won't be getting in until 10 tonight. A whole day lost of not spending time together. She was distraught, I am sad and it is what it is! My daughters missed a day of being together, we all did.
Life is like that more often than not. It is amazing how many things don't work out. I can count so many times where the thing desired for most of the time just did not happen. The longer I live the more I understand that most of life comes out of disappointment not of dreams fulfilled. So what do I do with this? I have noticed it takes a lot of hope and energy to desire after so many disappointments. Lately, after some pretty horrific disappointments I am having the hardest time desiring and having hope. "Hope deferred makes the heart grow faint" the good book says. How true! How very true! Now with the holidays here, there are things we all hope for, family and friends to get along, or even better, get along great! Gifts to get and receive that we truly hope will at least give some satisfaction! In other words GREAT MEMORIES MADE!
I love Romans 15:13, I come back to it time and time again in moments like these when my hope is low and my desire is hard to find.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

There is so much to glean from in this verse, and all of it requires my trust and dependence on God. He provides joy, peace and hope and it comes in overflow, not just enough but more than enough. I find that when my trust and dependence on Him is low so is my joy, peace and hope. In this season may you and I find that no matter what our desires and hopes that we find them through God and not through anything else.

Embracing Trials

Psalm 71:20-21


"Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up. You will increase my honor and comfort me once again."

True confession here - most all of my life I just was never sure I had what it took to make it, I mean really make it in life. I grew up with this message that I just was not good enough and that life is measured by success and achievement. Sound familar? At times I would experience moments when what I offered to others was very very good and oh to hang onto those moments. But they were fleeting and for whatever reason I did not absorb them deeply into my heart, instead I would rush into the next thing trying to prove my worth.
I understand now that the only way to know I have what it takes is to be tested, to face trial after trial. And really, it's not just a issue of achieving to prove worth, my true worth rests in who God is, what He has done for me and who I am in Him. Read through a couple of my favorite quotes;
"Hope knows that if great trials are avoided, great deeds remain undone and the possibility of growth into greatness of soul is aborted. Pessimism and defeatism are never the fruit of the life-giving Spirit, but rather reveal our unawareness of present risenness." Brennan Manning from Abba's Child

"A warrior must develop an un-yielding heart. This is where he will be most profoundly tested. Above all a warrior learns to yield his heart to nothing. Not to kill his heart for fear of falling into temptation, but to protect his heart as a great resovior of passionate strength and holy desire." John Elderedge

I will write more, but I know as a Valiant Warrior I was meant to fight in battle, have adventure in my life to keep my soul alive and alert and to have a beauty to rescue. Trials are my friend!

DFP - Defensive Fighting Position

A Foxhole! Perhaps an odd subject to write about when it comes to all things spiritual transformation but not really. BTW, the picture I posted I found out is from July of 1958, I was a month old! Okay moving on, we are not meant to wage war alone. Far too many people live their inner lives isolated, private and alone. WHY? Are they afraid that if people really knew them they would freak out and leave? If that were the case then nearly everyone would be alone. Life is a both a process, but it is also a hostile battle. Scripture clearly points this out. I think many people are un-aware, they just believe their lives are full of hassles mixed with joys. Ever since Eve and Adam were tempted the battle ensued. Spiritual warfare will be another upcoming subject I am passionate about. But back to the Foxhole.
A foxhole was set up so that there was a 360 degree fighting position where those in the foxhole could protect each others' back. Whose got yours? I am serious! When you are hit with battle who has your back? Who is in your life that you know and are known enough to trust each other to be there during life's most difficult times? I want a sharpshooter who knows how to defend and take out the incoming attackers. I don't want just a nice person I am friends with. I want a warrior, someone who is not afraid of war, who not only is willing to be on the front-lines but knows it's necessary. Someone who wears and uses the entire armor with great skill and a warrior's mind and heart.
Here's my question to you. Who is your foxhole person/people? YOU MUST HAVE SOME! Who would say they want you in their foxhole? This needs to be addressed immediately, if no names pop up you need to fix this right away! I have several and I am grateful, and for all you Kevin Conklin Foxhole people out there reading this...thanks for asking me to watch your back/heart and for doing the same for me! We are in this together!!!!

Take Heart

In John 16 Jesus is giving the news to His followers that His time with them is coming to a close. They don't understand it, Jesus makes it clear and then gives them some promises about life after the one they know. Then He says them in verse 33;

"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the (troubles of this) world. italics mine!

Yesterday I got the news that due to budget constrains myself and 22 other people were going to be layed off at the church I serve at. In this world you will have trouble! I sat there in shock and disbelief, but only for a moment. I am in touch with my emotions to be sure, but the reality of God's promises to me and His faithfulness brought me almost immediately out of my shock. I was facing trouble, but Jesus has overcome everything! That's the truth.
In James 1 it says "Consider pure joy when (Not if) you face various trials BECAUSE you know (are convinced) that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature/whole, complete, not lacking anything."
This has to be one of my favorite scriptures because it explains the point of hard times, and even better it reminds me to embrace trials because my true desire is to be whole/mature and complete not lacking in anything. James says that the only way to get there is through various trials. NO SHORTCUTS!
Just a couple minutes ago I read my oldest daughters blog (thanks sweet Britt), she has faced many a trial in her almost 21 years. She is a deep feeler and that means she has mercy gifts like few I know. As her Dad, all I wanted to do was drive up to N.E. Georgia at her college and hug on her, love on her and be there with her. I can't, but God is and does! she knows that deep in her heart and I pray she is convinced of that right now in this moment and the ones to come! I write all of this to remind us that hard times and suffering will come, they are promised not out of some sadistic manefesto by God but as an opportunity for us to become whole and complete not lacking in anything. I close with this incredible verse from Proverbs 4:23 "Above everything else, guard your heart, it is the well-spring of life." We are assualted all of the time, the enemies of satan, the world and our own flesh attack us, so we must protect the most important thing, our heart, our good and valuable heart! Jesus said that the thief comes to "rob, kill and destroy, but I have come that you may have life to the full/abundant/overflow." In the midst of our sufferings and trials remember that Jesus has overcome and that we can be joyful in the midst of them because of what it will produce in our lives.

A Big taste of Humble Pie!

Today at my Optical job I got jolted. I think God wanted to show me that I need to have a much more merciful and compassionate heart. Sometimes I need to get a refresher course in humility. The very first patient was actually a homeless man. His odor evident within 25 feet. I found out later he hadn't showered in 3 weeks. He had just been released from jail after having been shot in a fight. He walked in without shoes, carrying them instead in his hands with another change of clothes, and clearly had been in a bad place in his life. I won't speak for anyone else at our store but it was repulsive. I was concerned that other patients once they came in would walk out. The guy had insurance so he was eligible to receive glasses. I asked him to put his shoes on, he went to the Dr.'s office to fill out paper work and the Dr.'s tech ran him through a series of pre-exam tests. Once he came from his exam and I saw that he had an RX, I went to him to wait on him. I had him sit down and saw that he had no co-pay so a free pair was coming his way. His skin was worn, chaffing and his smell only worse the closer I got to him. He had a terrible wheezing cough and to safeguard myself from potential sickness I asked him about it. He told me he had emphysema and some other type of cancer. In other words, he wasn't just sick, the man was dying. I found him a frame, filled his RX, gave him his receipts and since he had no phone in which to contact him, I told him to come back in a week.
I cleaned all the instruments I had to use to fill his Rx and washed my hands completely. Then I wept inside and asked God to wash my own heart clean. Jesus died for him as much as He did me! Later today, a proudly homosexual teen came in to order glasses. I don't know what his situation, but Jesus loves him as He does me and my homeless patient, and as much as the College Professor I waited on and as much as the elderly couple. I needed to swallow a big helping of humble pie today. I choked down my pride and self-righteousness, I am no better than any of these and as the Apostle Paul said of himself "the chief of all sinners". I just know this. No matter my financial situation, my educational achievements, the people I know, the places I've lived and traveled, the car I drive or the talents I possess, I need God's love and grace every second of every minute of every day! Thanks God for the humble pie, may I be different for this helping!

Less Information More Transformation

In studying the great revolutions of our country one such revolution was the industrial revolution where we went from manual everything to mechanization, it changed so much of how we do what we do and allowed for mass production. We now live in the information revolution and it amazes me what we have access to in just seconds. Okay, I am not old but even in my adult lifespan so much has changed how I do life and my job. For instance in high school there were typing classes where we typed on real typewriters. In college we actually had to use the dewey decimal system because you had to go to a library and grab a stack of books to research and pull out quotes and read the book in order to write a paper or make a speech. Then the green screen computers came out and we used MS Dos and we had those templates that went over our keyboards so we could know all the things our computers could do if we pushed certain keys with other keys. Amazing! Now, with wikipedia and google life is so much faster and easier. But....when it comes to spiritual things reading and information do not altogether mean change and transformation. Knowledge and understanding do not automatically produce morphing.
I am even more passionate that true transformation comes one person at a time, over time and that through test and trial we learn all about the kind of character, strength and perserverance we have. There are no shortcuts to transformation. In this Information Revolution seekers and believers alike still want the answer to this question "does it work?"

How to Clean Out Your Fridge

At my office is a Staff Refrigerator. That fridge has been on the fritz for awhile and facilities sent out an e-mail basically asking all staff to clean out any food we brought. No one did! For a week or so that fridge was unplugged. So as I was picking up some copies in the workroom today I noticed a foul odor, upon further investigation I came to the conclusion it was the fridge. I opened it (what was I thinking?) and out came one of the worst smells you can imagine. Things were growing in there if that gives you a word picture. So, Robyn from facilities and I strapped on some latex gloves and cleaned that baby out. Problem solved! But not easy on the eyes, nose and the office.
Now let me move onto our lives in the same vein. Often times if we leave things alone that we know are not good, rotten is more like it, it will not be hidden for long. It will be noticeable!! Why on earth do we allow ourselves to be convinced that we might get away with hiding the yuck of our lives from others, even God?
Believers do not for the most part do a great job of "speaking the truth to one another in love" nor do we do a great job of "confessing our sins to one another so we might be healed." Nor do we practice much of what we are commanded by going to someone in sin and confronting them over for the sole purpose of restoring them back into right relationship with God. How long do we think we can hide the rotten smell of our lives in secret? Perhaps at one time or another instead of grace being applied liberally we experienced judgement. So we might not know how to apply it to others or we are fearful of being considered self-righteous and judgemental. Or we just live much too isolated from others to earn the right to know and be known. Scripture is clear that we must be iron sharpeners. We must live close enough to each other to know and be known, to care/love enough to confront, for the long term consequences are not good. We will end up being a stench to ourselves and others.
So lets choose to live out what David said in Psalm 139, "search me O God and know my heart, try me and see if there is any wickedness in me and lead me to the righteous and everlasting way." Today, do a self inspection, clean out your "fridge/soul" before the inner contents get out and everyone knows, or worse, God and you end up far apart/hypocritical and hardended in your heart. I think I will clean out my fridge on a regular basis, excuse me I need to go to the kitchen right now!!!!

Contenment

Life is FULL of challenges! They are not our enemies but our friends! They bring about character and perseverance! At the same time we have our desires. Assuming our desires are Godly and aligned with His will, God wants us to ask for our hearts desire. We have the story of the persistent widow who wore out a Judge to get her way. I often wonder if God wants us to "wear Him out" to test us to see if we are serious about our desires. But...these desires must not become an obesession/idol. Paul said that he had found contentment in every circumstance. I have some things to learn in this regard.

I got some news today that crushed a huge desire of my heart. I prayed and lived out all the things I could that I truly thought right about this. I am not sure I have prayed harder for something. And I must admit, I had let the desire take over my thoughts this past week. Not Good! I had a strong sense about the situation taking a turn I didn't want, and fought hard in the battlefield of my mind. My sense of intuition/spirit prompting is pretty accurate and what I sensed turned out to be true. I deeply want to be content in all situations. I must be a slow learner when it comes to this so God is granting me another test to conquer! I so need the workings of the Blessed Counselor on this one and to saturate my mind with His word and make sure I am alert and aware of the enemies (my flesh, the world and the devil). How are you at contentment? I could use some advice!

What Makes your Heart Come Alive

I love amusement rides. What I don't love is standing in those long lines just to get on the ride. The ride is what I am waiting for, wanting to experience, but which takes longer? (the long boring line) What is over so quickly? (the exhilirating ride) While I wait in these long lines, my heart is aching to hurry up and get on that ride and experience life to the max. Most of us are willing to wait ridiculously long amounts of time for a few brief moments of "LIFE". Jesus was talking about the kind of life He desired us to experience and why He came, but it came as a good news/bad news announcement. John 10:10 "The thief comes to rob, kill and destroy..." get us in the long lifeless line we call life. He robs us of what God truly wants us to experience, he kills our desires and hopes and he destroys within us the longings we have to make a difference, to make our life count. So maybe we experience life every once in awhile like God intended, but like that ride it's brief and then we hop back in another lifeless line where we spend the bulk of our lives. We were called to be aliens, not to imitate the others, this is not our home, this place robs us and kills us and destroys us. We become like cattle/sheep following the one ahead of us doing what everyone else, in a line that is going to eventually slaughter us.
But Jesus went on to say at the end of the verse "but I have come that you might experience the life I intended for you to live, one that overflows (not just trickles). There is a constant (sometimes second by second) battle going on between the life God intended and the one we settle for. God says we must "be alert, always standing firm for the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour." Alert! What, we must be alert? Absolutely! But do you feel alert most of your life? Or more like you do when standing in those hideously long lines? Now since God truly loves us and wants the best for us, I don't think it included the long lifeless life. But the overflowing, live life to the full kind. Can it be done?
That's next!

A shout out to team Fusion

Okay just a quick step away from the handling challenges. Tonight one of my activities was to stop in and say hi at a Fall Harvest Party that 60 or so attended from Christ Fellowship's Singles Ministry (Fusion) at the church I serve at. I had the honor of starting this group up from scratch a year and a half ago and now there is a strong core team of 20 or so leaders developed, leading teams themselves. Onto this idea of producing reproducers, I just stepped down as Director a couple weeks ago so to watch this leadership team in action tonight was a blast! Exhilirating really! It was so fun to watch. I built the team to give it away. And I must say, it worked. I truly believe the best days of ministry are the ones when we give stuff away! Jesus did it so well and I imagine He was so proud! I am of the team God helped us form. Now it looks like it is going to multiply at two of our other campuses as two of our leaders want to do this, and form their own teams! Exponential and transformational! What a great thing to be a part of! One of the reasons I know I was created to be and do!

How do you live during life's challenges?

Challenges - trials - tragedy - We cannot avoid them try as hard as we may, and we do try hard. Making great choices helps but not complelely. Doing your best to control others (I know you don't do it but others do) control enviornements around you only gets you stressed out and prideful over others who are in difficult situations. But there are times when you have absolutely no control over how and when and even why challenges come your way. Did Job? What he got for being the most righteous man during his life was perhaps the hardest challenge of anyone I've read or heard about.

Here are a couple quotes to chew on;

"Hope is the language of faith when evidence of God's care and presence does not seem clear to us." Brennan Manning.

And again from Brennan;

"Hope knows that if great trials are avoided, great deeds remain undone and the possibility of growth into greatness of soul is aborted. Pessisim and defeatism are never the fruit of the life giving spirit but rather reveal our unawareness of present risen-ness."

Wow! Instead of avoiding challenges they should be seen as pathways of character building and greater intimacy with God. There are no shortcuts to great faith. "And without faith it is impossible to please God." I am not saying ask God for challenges, yet we can embrace them rather hurry through them. I am finding the deepest and most intimate times with God (and isn't that the goal?) are when I am faced with the greatest challenges of my life. I think I will make this a discussion topic this week. Here is a verse for you to ponder as you think about these quotes as well, for scriptures are even better than great quotes from deep people.

Romans 15:13 "may the God of all hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Lots to meditate on there huh? Until tomorrow! Or tonight!

The Be with Principle

Okay so in my last post I talked about how Jesus took 12guys for 3 years and even in His presence for the most part they did not truly "get" who He was. It was only after He ascended and the Holy Spirit came and then commissioned that they became world changers and went from fearful to fearless. One of the sad things about today's discipleship/spiritual growth is the lost aspect of being with people. We are all in process and yes there are things to study and discuss (absolutely necessary) and scripture totally supports and promotes it. But...what is sort of lost and to be honest even lost in scriptures is Jesus' building relationship with His followers. Not much is really written about this. I wonder why. 3 years together day after day and much of those details are left out. These people left everything to follow Him and His mission for all eternity hindged on these 12 for the 3 years. Regardless of what is not written, Jesus took time to build up and in and later through these people. So, what does that mean for you and I when it comes to the great commisson. We know the first part..."go into all the world and preach the truth, baptizing and make disciples... but look next, "teaching them to obey everything I have taught you and I am with you until the end of things here on earth as you know them." This is HUGE!!! We live in a Biblically illiterate Christian age and believers moral standards and lifestyles (according to a lot of studies/polls) are not that different than un-believers. I believe it's due to these two aspects. The lack of being with and building deep relationship and teaching people everything Jesus taught and that we need to obey it. Discuss!!!

Passion vs. Emotion

I have some passions, and so do you! But life can bury them can't they? I was talking to my foxhole buddy Tim last night about desire. It took him a couple minutes to come up with the things he was truly passionate about, that he truly desired for life. Those passions and desires get lost in surviving financially, our jobs and relationships and time goes so stinkin' fast that before you know it another week has passed, another month and another year. What do we have to show for it? I am realizing that the few things I am passionate about will either get buried (along with me) or I will fight hard and pursue them. It takes so much effort however to keep them in front of me long enough to do something about them. Emotional events/moments last a day or week at best, but true passion can and should last a lifetime. They should define us! Do they? Let me briefly share one of mine. Producing Reproducers. I heard Dr. Dann Spader share this at a training conference run by Sonlife Ministries that Dann founded and ran. Dann and some guy named Bill Hybels were running Son City in suburban Chicago in the early 70's and Bill went on to start WillowCreek Church and the WillowCreek Association, Dann instead used their philosphy of ministry and used it to train Youth Workers. Both used the same model. I look at Jesus' life and how he took 12 guys (not the type of men we would have chosen) and took 3 years (we like instant) and added with the Holy Spirit transformed the world. If you are a believer and follower of Jesus then one day you and I will be able to trace our spiritual roots to one of those 12 Apostles. I can't wait. On the trail behind us, people we lead to Christ will have to go through us in their roots to the 12. Frankly, I am hoping, praying and trying to do something about that being a really, really long line. Next post I will begin to share my thoughts on how that can be done today!