During The Hard Rain...

Today I was listening to Casting Crowns (I Will Praise You In the Storm). I immediately began to reflect on the storms in my own life. Some more recent than others.... I know how difficult it is to simply trust that God's got a plan. Every once in a while things happen that don't look like they're anybodies plan! How do I trust God through that? Exactly how far away is God when I can barely hear him calling. During those brief moments when I can hear him..."it's still rainin..."

Where did he go? Why didn't he fix it...whatever it was? .....I don't know. But just like the song says, "you are who you are, no matter where I am.....I will praise you in the storm."

Years back I saw an interesting episode of OZ. (A prison drama on HBO)I've never been able to shake this. In it, a gang member had been lead to Jesus by a priest (the prison chaplain). The inmates girlfriend was about to have a baby. The priest got permission for him to go and see her...hopefully just prior to the birth. She's having the baby...he's on the way...and just before he walks into the hospital room, his son dies. The next scene is a few days later. The priest comes by to see the young man in his cell. The inmate says something like this..."I want to thank you father for showing me a better life and introducing me to God. I just have one question...Where was God when my son died?" The priest didn't miss a beat and said, "The same place he was when his son died."

Kussshhht!

One of my best friends in the world is a guy named Mark Stubbs. He and his family have been more to me than I could ever explain here. One of the verses that he taught me (early on) was Proverbs 27:17. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." But what does that mean? It means that you need someone in your life that is a little further along in their relationship with God than you are. (a little more wisdom & maturity) Someone with which you're building a best-friend realtionship. (Can you hear it?...Kusshht!) That someone is going to be there through anything, and you're going to do that for them. (Kusshht!) They aren't meeting with you periodically or just doing some kind of 8 week bible study...you're living life together. (Kusshht!) They know that they're not your personal "Jesus police". What they try to be, is someone who loves because they are loved.(Can you hear it?....Kusshht!) And knows that they're problably closer to where you are than any of us are to being like Jesus....so if we're going, we might as well go together. (Kusshht!)

You both experience a friendship and a bond that cannot be explained. You find yourself learning more about Jesus than could ever be put down in a lesson plan. The bible becomes a handbook for loving both God and your neighbor. You see it...you get it now...because you have the practicle example of your own relationship. You feel more and more aware of who Christ is every day. Everytime you get together you can hear the kusshhhht of iron against iron! ...and when you've forgotten that God was even there...(trust me, it happens...) it's that same sound that echos through your heart...and turns your head around.

That being said, what's it sound like when you & your friends get together?

Toler-a-tience....

Greg posted a blog the other day, (floating or swimming) and as always, forces me to engage and not just absorb. Greg asked me to consider my perspective. Perspective got me thinking about something I had to face recently. I was talking with a friend and telling him to be patient with a mutual acquaintence. He stressfully said that up til now he'd been tolorating him. Then he asked me, "What does that mean?" I told him that it was what Jesus does with me. He sees in me more than I see in myself. He sees that I can change, grow, ask forgiveness, and allow him to change my heart. Patience is standing, pecking on my shoulder and waiting for me to realize that my Daddy's right there. It would seem that patience is definitely a love thing. I realized that I was givin some great lip service, but that wasn't what my heart looked like in that same situation. My problem (I believe) was perspective. I wasn't being patient at all. I was tolerating. Websters says those two words are the same...but maybe websters' wrong? Tolerating someone is what I do when I HAVE TO ENDURE....whether it's work, play, or whatever...it's when I grin and bare it. (but would light you on fire if I had a match....) When people are in the weeds...they act like there in the weeds. Well, what'd I expect? Ducks typically act like ducks. But, that's not a love that waits for them to see it. That's not seeing what a different person he might be if he knew Jesus. That's not giving them a chance....it's writing them off. One could say it's the act of my heart and mind seeing them as the enemy instead of a prisoner, and demanding an abortion. When it comes to you....is it patience or toleratience?

Hey...What happened???

Post your story. God got to you or used you to get to someone else? What happened? Maybe you're working on someone or got totally disrepected while trying to be Jesus. (They're not all ready when you are...) We'd like to here about it....You may be checking this out and be really put off by the (so-called) christian you met.... Give me that to!

Who's Really There...???

I've shared a few things with you guys. Most of these things have been a product of some close relationships that God uses to grow me and them. But, this blog isn't for the churchy to be churchy somewhere else. Most people, when it comes to God (even the ones who profess to be followers) are stuck in the weeds. It's hard to see over the high grass.(take it from me...I'm 5ft 3.) If I'm really going to reach out to those around me...I've got to be willing to get in the weeds, to stretch out my hand. Am I living life in this loosly held religious fascade, or am I reaching through the high grass? If I can see the grass but I'm too far off to feel the blades. I may never know the joy of seeing someone be changed by Jesus Christ. When I'm standing by the weeds around my circle....do I know who's really there? If I can't answer that...then I need to look in the mirror...and ask the same question.

Painting...Rand McNally

Several years ago, one of my biggest struggles was that I wanted to see the... "down-the-road". I knew God had a plan and had called me to certain things, but I was childish and impatient. I desparately wanted to be livin my life according to whatever plan he had for me. The problem came in getting side tracked with asking Him to show me a little of that plan. I'm not talking about a vision that God wanted me to share and accomplish. I'm talking about where exactly to step. I didn't want just know about the bridges I was to cross, I wanted to know exactly when i would encounter them; what they'd look like and how to get past them. Unlike Abraham, who took a journey to only God-knew-where...based on a promise...
I wanted to promise I'd take the trip if he'd show me a little of the map. That doesn't sound like the canvas of a walk -by-faith...it sounds a little more like a paint-by-numbers. I had to learn (thanks Greg) that giving your life to God is not a stop at some cosmic gas station, to pick up your personnal Rand McNally map of life. It's an adventure and I have to trust that God's plan will come through. That's faith.

What'd he say that looked like?

You are so right Doug! Hopefully, when we wake up in the morning we can ask ourelves..."what's that gonna look like today?" I don't think people aren't put off by God, I think they're put off by me when I don't live what that looks like. Check out Isa. Chapter 58...then let me know what you think.

If I claim to follow God...am I live, or am I memorex?