The hunger of my soul drives me with longing.
I read the Bible, hoping to find the Lord
I look for God in His history
I study the ancient meaning of a word in hope of finding Him
I labor at grammar, to find the connector of all language
Probing the wisdom writings to find wisdom Himself
Probing the prophetic that I might find the Spirit of Truth
Unraveling the story to find the story maker
Again and again, in a million ways
Seeking in science, history, art, literature, music
Going deep, going ancient, in simplicity and in complexity
Through the gazing at the stars and in the dissection of light
From the notes of classical music to the sounds of the wild
Pathways to God are everywhere
He holds all things together
All that He has created give glory to Him
The greatness of God tempts me to turn back
Lesser things call us to cease seeking and simply enjoy life’s common grace
Our numerous limits mock our quest of Him who has none
Our pain distracts our pursuit of Glory
Daily I am mock for my pursuit of the Lord
Who would waist their life on God
Why long for what you cannot have
Do something for yourself and call it “for Him”
Be significant and you will find a great life
In the dust of the wilderness I found life
His water made me, and made me again
Silence and isolation have filled my soul with music and dancing
Uncreated has called to created, looking for a friend
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Saved
I came to Christ to get saved
But the saving required me to be lost
Lost is sin, in shame, in self
Lost in how out of control I am
To be saved, one must be broken
Not a little
But totally
The man that comes to God
Never arrives
The only way to God is through another
In other religions "the man" can come
"The man" can make a difference
Only the new creature can live
Exclusive in life and in death
Requiring an invitation
All must be drawn by God, to God
Are you so sick with sin that you feel offended
By a God who only invites who He desires
Do you love Him who must call you so that you can answer
Do you see "the call" as a gift
Do you mock the moment, pretending there will be another
Do you think that you are in control
But the saving required me to be lost
Lost is sin, in shame, in self
Lost in how out of control I am
To be saved, one must be broken
Not a little
But totally
The man that comes to God
Never arrives
The only way to God is through another
In other religions "the man" can come
"The man" can make a difference
Only the new creature can live
Exclusive in life and in death
Requiring an invitation
All must be drawn by God, to God
Are you so sick with sin that you feel offended
By a God who only invites who He desires
Do you love Him who must call you so that you can answer
Do you see "the call" as a gift
Do you mock the moment, pretending there will be another
Do you think that you are in control
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Intervention
A new look for church ministry. At the place where the Kingdom of God and the world meet is an edge on which people live. They meet there because the Kingdom keeps probing the dark for some soul to save. These lost souls are exposing themselves to the light because the power of God is working in them, calling them. I was and am glad that God has people who were “dark destroyers”, people who came and got me for Christ. For me it was much more like intervention than charity.
Today “charity” is associated with the collection of money and then giving that money to needs. Charity seems to focus on meeting the needs. Intervention focuses on a person, a family, life. At first when we read the Bible and look at the life of Jesus it seems like He was doing charity, but maybe what He was truly doing was intervention.
A&E television has a show called intervention. Below is the text that introduces the content of the show. Maybe it is prophetic for the church.
Compare that to the definition of intervention to charity.
Intervention
the act of intervening, especially a deliberate entry into a situation or dispute in order to influence events or prevent undesirable consequences
Charity
--an organization that collects money and other voluntary contributions of help for people in need
--money, materials, or help voluntarily given to people in need
What if in the days ahead we do want we see the Father doing so that everything we do is direct and intervening. We do not just do ministry but minister to people, personally, taking action for each one.
Today “charity” is associated with the collection of money and then giving that money to needs. Charity seems to focus on meeting the needs. Intervention focuses on a person, a family, life. At first when we read the Bible and look at the life of Jesus it seems like He was doing charity, but maybe what He was truly doing was intervention.
A&E television has a show called intervention. Below is the text that introduces the content of the show. Maybe it is prophetic for the church.
Intervention™ is a powerful and gripping television series in which people confront their darkest demons and seek a route to redemption. The Intervention Television series profiles people whose dependencies on drugs and alcohol or other compulsive behavior has brought them to a point of personal crisis and estranged them from their friends and loved ones.– A&E Television
Compare that to the definition of intervention to charity.
Intervention
the act of intervening, especially a deliberate entry into a situation or dispute in order to influence events or prevent undesirable consequences
Charity
--an organization that collects money and other voluntary contributions of help for people in need
--money, materials, or help voluntarily given to people in need
What if in the days ahead we do want we see the Father doing so that everything we do is direct and intervening. We do not just do ministry but minister to people, personally, taking action for each one.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Conviction
Several times over the past few weeks while I slept the Lord has bombarded me with my faults, weakness, sins and even immaturity. It was like being with God and having Him tell you all the things that are wrong with you. All I could do was feel bad and agree. I awoke every morning feet awful, mad at myself, dirty.
After the first time this happened I though I was just wrestling with some personal issues and paid little attention. As this process has gone on, I see that the Lord is trying to bless me. The Lord is trying to awaken me to my great need for Him and the 'thousand and one' areas that I have failed to mature. My immaturity is costly. God is showing me how my immaturity is resulting in His Kingdom not advancing. People are not getting saved, healed, restored or delivered because I have not done what is required to fulfill the promised provision. Sometimes the justice of God sucks. I want mercy, not maturity.
Recently I was compelled to read a sermon my Finney on the promises of God. Later I got the MorningStar word of the week http://www.morningstarministries.org/Publisher/Article.aspx?id=1000025566
and it was confirmed to me about the need to grow up and live a life worthy of Jesus Christ and not waist my life on "being saved". I believe "being saved" is a wonderful thing, but if you try to live there, you soon shrink back into shallow and lukewarm living. If all we contend for is daily happiness and self fulfillment then when is the Kingdom of God ever advanced? When do we die to self, if self is all we are living for (even - the Christian self)?
Saturday night as I lead the time of prayer for our city (40 days of prayer) I prayed for the prayer movement and the cost of city transformation. Someone is going to loose their life to take the city. People were visibly offended at this truth. If we can take the city with a shout or a praise, everyone is for it. But if sacrifice, perseverance, faithfulness, endurance and mytardum are required, forget it. Christians now days can always go back to living happy lives filled with inspiring messages of how to be blessed, rich, popular, anointed to be the worlds next great leader (humble of course).
Yet God is also raising up old people and youth who have it in their hearts to pay the full price. It is insightful if not fulfilling of Biblical prophecy that the old and the youth have it in mind to be Christian. I find more old ladies and more youth that want to live for Christ and not just have Christ live for them. In just a little while when the troubles of life increase we are all going to be very glad someone has been paying the full price for the promises of God.
In a sin sick church where the morality and behaviour of the people who call themselves Christian is compatible with the world; in a christian society that worships wealth, ease and self-gratification as much as it does Christ, let me offer these words of Peter.
2 Peter 1:3-11
3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; 7 and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.
NAS
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Trusting God
Have you ever noticed how people tend to trust God if He is doing what they think He should be doing? I have encountered some people lately that get mad if you follow a Jesus who is not like the Jesus they follow? There is only one Jesus and the one we follow is the one that we perceive or understand with our minds, hearts and bodies.
Now there are some who say they follow the "Jesus of the Bible" but even though we devour the Bible for understanding and revelation, we still filter that knowledge through ourselves. The point is that we must come to "trust in God" more than we trust in ourselves. To do this we must come to trust others more and more. This is quite contrary to the way modern man lives. For we are very content on judging others, evaluating them and using them to meet our needs or establish our identity. Who will trust God so much that they will trust others?
Our church meetings reflect great levels of un-trust. We make manuals and give detailed profiles on how to greet people at the door, pray with the sick, take up the offering and even worship in public. When did "equip the saints" come to mean "teach them our way of doing things"? But you are required to do this or someone is going to screw everything up by "paying cash rather than using their visa". People get mad when creativity is not controlled.
Well enough of that, the point is not to focus on what corrections are needed, but to actually trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. Here is a list to help us practice our faith.
1. Act as if others know something that you do not.
2. Act as if what they know is beneficial and not worthless or simplistic.
3. Acknowledge that although you are well read and have studied, you could still be wrong. You know, you could be like all those authors that you disagree with.
4. Remind yourself daily that, "you don't know what you don't know."
5. Learn to listen. Listening is not arguing and counter reasoning when another is talking. Critical thinking is good, but how much do you actually listen?
6. Practice not saying anything. Being slow to speak can help the heart learn.
7. Be teachable. Being teachable is a form to humility. True humility will end in honor.
8. Now here is a mystical paradox. Be 100% confident in knowing what you know by trusting the Lord. Have boldness and assurance as you live your life. Knowing that you can trust in God.
Now there are some who say they follow the "Jesus of the Bible" but even though we devour the Bible for understanding and revelation, we still filter that knowledge through ourselves. The point is that we must come to "trust in God" more than we trust in ourselves. To do this we must come to trust others more and more. This is quite contrary to the way modern man lives. For we are very content on judging others, evaluating them and using them to meet our needs or establish our identity. Who will trust God so much that they will trust others?
Our church meetings reflect great levels of un-trust. We make manuals and give detailed profiles on how to greet people at the door, pray with the sick, take up the offering and even worship in public. When did "equip the saints" come to mean "teach them our way of doing things"? But you are required to do this or someone is going to screw everything up by "paying cash rather than using their visa". People get mad when creativity is not controlled.
Well enough of that, the point is not to focus on what corrections are needed, but to actually trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. Here is a list to help us practice our faith.
1. Act as if others know something that you do not.
2. Act as if what they know is beneficial and not worthless or simplistic.
3. Acknowledge that although you are well read and have studied, you could still be wrong. You know, you could be like all those authors that you disagree with.
4. Remind yourself daily that, "you don't know what you don't know."
5. Learn to listen. Listening is not arguing and counter reasoning when another is talking. Critical thinking is good, but how much do you actually listen?
6. Practice not saying anything. Being slow to speak can help the heart learn.
7. Be teachable. Being teachable is a form to humility. True humility will end in honor.
8. Now here is a mystical paradox. Be 100% confident in knowing what you know by trusting the Lord. Have boldness and assurance as you live your life. Knowing that you can trust in God.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Professional Tough Guys
Today I was setting in a room filled with professional ministers. You know the type, men who read the Bible everyday, pray, serve, help the needy, listened the the endless woes of humanity with patience, hoping for a chance to help.
Today as I prayed with this God group it got a little emotional. There were voices that cracked in prayer, some tears fell from sober faces and marked the carpet and chairs. You could hear that "snot sucking" sound. You know the sound. It happens a lot in church when God starts to show up. It sounds to the natural man like some sick person trying to appear healthy and all together. But it sounds to God like a broken heart. God loves broken hearts.
When our hearts are broken there is actually a place for God to get in. Most of the time our hearts are full, busy, even self entertained by continual thoughts of, you know, ourselves. But then the heart breaks and creates a crack for the light of glory to come in. Usually the person who just had their heart invaded by God moans. Today I think I heard some moaning. Not a lot - for this is a group of professions and we know how to moan in dignity. Well most of them do, dignity has never come very close to me.
I love this group of professional tough guys. If I had a change I think I would live with them, die with them. They represent to me the wonder, creativity and beauty of God. I like their love, their hope and their tolerance of red-neck mystics. In just a little while heaven is gonna need to deal with this group of professional tough guys. Heck- heaven may be meeting right now trying to decide if they are going to give us what we want or not!
Love to the band of brothers
Today as I prayed with this God group it got a little emotional. There were voices that cracked in prayer, some tears fell from sober faces and marked the carpet and chairs. You could hear that "snot sucking" sound. You know the sound. It happens a lot in church when God starts to show up. It sounds to the natural man like some sick person trying to appear healthy and all together. But it sounds to God like a broken heart. God loves broken hearts.
When our hearts are broken there is actually a place for God to get in. Most of the time our hearts are full, busy, even self entertained by continual thoughts of, you know, ourselves. But then the heart breaks and creates a crack for the light of glory to come in. Usually the person who just had their heart invaded by God moans. Today I think I heard some moaning. Not a lot - for this is a group of professions and we know how to moan in dignity. Well most of them do, dignity has never come very close to me.
I love this group of professional tough guys. If I had a change I think I would live with them, die with them. They represent to me the wonder, creativity and beauty of God. I like their love, their hope and their tolerance of red-neck mystics. In just a little while heaven is gonna need to deal with this group of professional tough guys. Heck- heaven may be meeting right now trying to decide if they are going to give us what we want or not!
Love to the band of brothers
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Big Daddy God
One of the basic tenets of the faith is that God is God and we are created beings, made in his image. I think most of us like the “made in His image” part. It sounds important, doesn’t it.
But I have an issue I am concerned about. When the Bible talks about us “in His image created types” is uses words like sheep, children, infants and even new born babes. Whenever I am caught being childish or child like, I seem to get in trouble. It seems few people like my childish behavior.
It seems that what we want are grown up children. But it is this, “grow up and take charge” maturity that rebels against God. I think Satan tries to get us to grow up. You know Satan whispers in our ear that is it time we grow up and mature, develop some ability to stand on our own two legs. Everyone that I know that has grown up and now stands on their own two legs have relegated God to the reference section of their life. They are people who refer to God as some quote or statistic. These mature people occasionally ask God questions when they get stuck or when they think they will look wise by being seen inquiring of God.
But maybe God knows what He is doing. Maybe God calls us kids and childish because that is the highest we can be in relationship to Him. Maybe I don’t want to grow up because I don’t know how? But as long as I am required to live in this world I think I want to have a Big Daddy God. Someone who can handle me, laugh at me and get my attention just by saying my name in the right tone.
Today I was asking God one of those childish questions. God, if Jesus was perfect and did nothing except what He saw the Father doing, why wasn’t His prayer in John 17 answered? You won’t believe the answer.
But I have an issue I am concerned about. When the Bible talks about us “in His image created types” is uses words like sheep, children, infants and even new born babes. Whenever I am caught being childish or child like, I seem to get in trouble. It seems few people like my childish behavior.
It seems that what we want are grown up children. But it is this, “grow up and take charge” maturity that rebels against God. I think Satan tries to get us to grow up. You know Satan whispers in our ear that is it time we grow up and mature, develop some ability to stand on our own two legs. Everyone that I know that has grown up and now stands on their own two legs have relegated God to the reference section of their life. They are people who refer to God as some quote or statistic. These mature people occasionally ask God questions when they get stuck or when they think they will look wise by being seen inquiring of God.
But maybe God knows what He is doing. Maybe God calls us kids and childish because that is the highest we can be in relationship to Him. Maybe I don’t want to grow up because I don’t know how? But as long as I am required to live in this world I think I want to have a Big Daddy God. Someone who can handle me, laugh at me and get my attention just by saying my name in the right tone.
Today I was asking God one of those childish questions. God, if Jesus was perfect and did nothing except what He saw the Father doing, why wasn’t His prayer in John 17 answered? You won’t believe the answer.
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