The other day I found myself with a severe case of spacial disorientation… a.k.a.…IN THE FOG! I was out early one morning before sunrise and drove into bank of fog that went on for miles. I was amazed how the road, which I have traveled dozens of times, became a strange path with every turn almost catching me by surprise. As I walked into the woods, the fog made the trees look unfamiliar. The fog was so dense that the sunrise seemed to make little difference. Even the familiar sounds of the woods were different and unusual. I was sure the sun would burn off the fog and my day of hunting would be in full swing…but it never did...the fog was in and thick!
The Federal Aviation Administration describes the effects of fog this way: “Any differences or discrepancies between visual, vestibular (inner ear), and pro-prioceptive (muscular/skin/feeling) sensory inputs result in a “sensory mismatch” that can produce illusions and lead to spacial disorientation”. In other words…fog messes with your senses. The FAA offers this helpful insight when pilots encounter a fog induced disorientation: “If you experience a visual illusion during flight (most pilots do at one time or another), have confidence in your instruments and ignore all conflicting signals your body gives you.” The fog had caused me to experience a spatial disorientation without the usual references and senses I was so use to trusting. The longer I was in the fog…the less I trusted what I saw and felt.
I realized this is a great picture of our faith journey. We spend much of our faith journey traveling familiar paths that offer a sense of security. For years we have attend the same church, at the same time and even sit in the same seat…or we have part of the same bible study, small group, or committee… everything is familiar and regular…it just looks and feels right. Then a time comes when we find ourselves with everything that was familiar and comfortable is now lost. Some may call this “desert time”, being “in the valley”, or when “God goes silent”. The FAA advice for combating this “illusion” is valid for us believers as well…trust your instruments and beware of your feelings...they may be misleading you.
God offers us holy instruments to help navigate our faith journey…especially during our "fog" time: The Holy Spirit is our Guide (John 16:13, Rom. 8:27), God’s Word is trustworthy (John 1: 1-2, Titus 1:9), and Prayer is our direct connection to God (Mark 11:24, Eph 6:18). As I travel this road to obedience, I recognize as I approach the fog…I do not have to suffer while I am disoriented... I can have confidence in remaining obedient through the holy instruments of Spirit, Word and Prayer to guide me through and dispel the “illusions” of the world and my own sinful nature. Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight…AND HELP ME IN MY SPACIAL DISORIENTATION!!!
Obedience verse for the week:
Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the word of his servant? Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. Isaiah 50:10
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
The Obedience Hunt
I enjoy hunting. From my first hunt as a kid in Montana, it has been something I knew I would do for the rest of my life. There is so much more to it…if you let it. There is the incredible experience of being out in God’s creation and enjoying the mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes, plains, open prairies or dense forests. Here in Michigan, you regularly encounter more than the animal you are looking for…it is not uncommon to see birds and bugs, squirrels and skunks, chipmunks or coyotes. Then there are the sounds…smells...changes in weather… and going out with friends…all play a part of the experience and the privilege. And if you are not careful...you can miss all of this because of focusing on solely on bagging the buck.
My hunting experience this year has been an experience to say the least. I have hunted with two long time Christian friends. Each morning or afternoon, we have been diligent to be in the woods and prepared for our hunting objective, whitetail deer, to come within range. But in my “neck of the woods” the only things to come near have been--Nut Hatches (birds), a Red headed Woodpecker, and a bunch of well fed gray and black squirrels. Oh, I have seen deer almost every day, but they have been out of range or at dark…or on dead run in the other direction. And of course, each night after dark…3 or 4 deer faithfully show up in my friend’s back yard... just to let us know they really are there.
As I was sitting in the woods, I realized how much this hunting season has been a parallel to my journey in obedience. I have been hunting for that deep, intimate relationship with God that demands my obedience to go deeper or farther… toward the intimacy I have craved for a long time. I see how easy it can be to focus on the end result of obedience instead of enjoying the “hunt experience”. Each morning I am spending time in the very Nature of God as I read, meditate and engage God in his Word. I have found myself encountering some of God’s unique creatures…like reconnecting with old friends who recognize God’s impact on my life…incredible prayers with and for new friends…and lamenting (see Psalm 56 with verse 8 as the key). But unlike the deer trying to evade me, God is not…he is at work in me and invites me to join him as he works in his kingdom. It is my obedience that moves me to “hunt” the deeper experience with the Father who also shows up in the dark times…just to let me know he is really there...and how much he loves me!
Obedience verse for the week:
"If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love." John 15:10
My hunting experience this year has been an experience to say the least. I have hunted with two long time Christian friends. Each morning or afternoon, we have been diligent to be in the woods and prepared for our hunting objective, whitetail deer, to come within range. But in my “neck of the woods” the only things to come near have been--Nut Hatches (birds), a Red headed Woodpecker, and a bunch of well fed gray and black squirrels. Oh, I have seen deer almost every day, but they have been out of range or at dark…or on dead run in the other direction. And of course, each night after dark…3 or 4 deer faithfully show up in my friend’s back yard... just to let us know they really are there.
As I was sitting in the woods, I realized how much this hunting season has been a parallel to my journey in obedience. I have been hunting for that deep, intimate relationship with God that demands my obedience to go deeper or farther… toward the intimacy I have craved for a long time. I see how easy it can be to focus on the end result of obedience instead of enjoying the “hunt experience”. Each morning I am spending time in the very Nature of God as I read, meditate and engage God in his Word. I have found myself encountering some of God’s unique creatures…like reconnecting with old friends who recognize God’s impact on my life…incredible prayers with and for new friends…and lamenting (see Psalm 56 with verse 8 as the key). But unlike the deer trying to evade me, God is not…he is at work in me and invites me to join him as he works in his kingdom. It is my obedience that moves me to “hunt” the deeper experience with the Father who also shows up in the dark times…just to let me know he is really there...and how much he loves me!
Obedience verse for the week:
"If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love." John 15:10
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Obedience is all about the Relationship
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” John 1:1-5
I love the opening to the book of John…each time I read it, I seem to discover something new. Again, this week as I read it…I realized something about me. I had allowed myself to become one dimensional with my Bible…I was obedient to reading the Word a lot each week as I prepared sermons or lessons. I love studying God’s Word, and the writings of some of the Christian Greats, in ways to discover his truth to effectively communicate to others. It was also true of my time in seminary…reading it in a way to be able to communicate with appropriate academic understanding. But as I reflected back on John 1… I realized my obedience to the Word…had become obedience to the words on the page…not the WORD that was with God in the beginning…and was God…Jesus. I had turned the WORD into a text book instead of the opportunity to encounter my risen savior.
So I’ve gone back to the Word with a different focus. I am now spending time in and with the Word…Jesus, my savior. Each morning I read from a Gospel, in this case-John (The Gospel of Love), a proverb or two and a Psalm or two. And as I do…my goal isn’t to make sure I get the reading done…but to allow Jesus as the Word to speak to me…speak in to me…to build our relationship deeper…fuller...more intimate.
Today as I read John 14, I encountered Christ. I was reminded that my obedience to the Word is my way of showing true love to him and to be open to be loved by Jesus…and loved by our Heavenly Father. And if you don’t believe me or forget…ask the Spirit of Truth I gave you when you first loved me!!! I love you Paul...and your obedience proves it!
Obedience Verse for the Week
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." John 14:21
I love the opening to the book of John…each time I read it, I seem to discover something new. Again, this week as I read it…I realized something about me. I had allowed myself to become one dimensional with my Bible…I was obedient to reading the Word a lot each week as I prepared sermons or lessons. I love studying God’s Word, and the writings of some of the Christian Greats, in ways to discover his truth to effectively communicate to others. It was also true of my time in seminary…reading it in a way to be able to communicate with appropriate academic understanding. But as I reflected back on John 1… I realized my obedience to the Word…had become obedience to the words on the page…not the WORD that was with God in the beginning…and was God…Jesus. I had turned the WORD into a text book instead of the opportunity to encounter my risen savior.
So I’ve gone back to the Word with a different focus. I am now spending time in and with the Word…Jesus, my savior. Each morning I read from a Gospel, in this case-John (The Gospel of Love), a proverb or two and a Psalm or two. And as I do…my goal isn’t to make sure I get the reading done…but to allow Jesus as the Word to speak to me…speak in to me…to build our relationship deeper…fuller...more intimate.
Today as I read John 14, I encountered Christ. I was reminded that my obedience to the Word is my way of showing true love to him and to be open to be loved by Jesus…and loved by our Heavenly Father. And if you don’t believe me or forget…ask the Spirit of Truth I gave you when you first loved me!!! I love you Paul...and your obedience proves it!
Obedience Verse for the Week
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." John 14:21
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Obedience is a Trip
Over the last week, I spent most of my time at home. And yet, I feel like I am on a long distance trip. The word trip carries two distinct yet complimentary definitions. 1. Trip (noun) - a journey with a purpose. 2. Trip (verb) - to make one misstep or stumble.
My week was spent evaluating potential ministry opportunities. That in itself is a trip (noun) as I research: a) Where are the churches or ministries located? b) What is their ministry like? c) How do my gifts and experience line up with their needs? You could say I am engaged in a trip that the best I can hope for is to travel far enough to get outside myself…
That’s when it hit me…the true trip here…is not the job hunt…but in my obedience! To allow the full blessing of the trip, I must be willing to place my trust in…to be obedient to…God, who has plans for me of hope and a future (Jer.29:11). This trip is about the growing and maturing of my relationship with my Heavenly Father who loves me and longs for me to place all my delight in him and to be willing to allow him to give me the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:3-6).
I also recognize that there is another trip involved here. And that is the trip (verb) that works hard to keep me from an obedience that reflects an intimate and purposeful relationship with God. Satan works hard to cause me to stumble and the world, by its very nature, is disorganized and full of missteps. However, my greatest trip (verb)…is ME when I pledge my obedience to myself (Rom.7:22-23).
This week is prime time to deepen my focus on the obedience to my relationship with God…which is the trip of an eternal journey of love with God!
Obedience verse for the week:
“But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:5-6
My week was spent evaluating potential ministry opportunities. That in itself is a trip (noun) as I research: a) Where are the churches or ministries located? b) What is their ministry like? c) How do my gifts and experience line up with their needs? You could say I am engaged in a trip that the best I can hope for is to travel far enough to get outside myself…
That’s when it hit me…the true trip here…is not the job hunt…but in my obedience! To allow the full blessing of the trip, I must be willing to place my trust in…to be obedient to…God, who has plans for me of hope and a future (Jer.29:11). This trip is about the growing and maturing of my relationship with my Heavenly Father who loves me and longs for me to place all my delight in him and to be willing to allow him to give me the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:3-6).
I also recognize that there is another trip involved here. And that is the trip (verb) that works hard to keep me from an obedience that reflects an intimate and purposeful relationship with God. Satan works hard to cause me to stumble and the world, by its very nature, is disorganized and full of missteps. However, my greatest trip (verb)…is ME when I pledge my obedience to myself (Rom.7:22-23).
This week is prime time to deepen my focus on the obedience to my relationship with God…which is the trip of an eternal journey of love with God!
Obedience verse for the week:
“But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:5-6
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
"I Believe, help me overcome my Unbelief"
It came quietly, almost as if nothing had changed from the day before. Wasn't there to be fanfare as I walk gracefully into that new life of obedience? Wasn't the crowd there to cheer on the victorious hero as he rides out from the fog into the light? No, that only happens in movies or melodramatic churches who need the drama and production to help themselves feel better (or worse) about decisions made in ministry. But not here...and not for me.
This is what my new day in obedience felt like. I awoke to an uncomfortable peace in my home. And the entire day seemed filled with a quietness that was routinely interupted with short prayers of "God, now what?" Followed by, "I do believe, Help me overcome my unbelief. (Mark 9:24b)". I think I received a glimpse of what Peter experienced when he climbed out of the boat that stormy night. The power and energy of obedience in Christ is intense and focused to do what we can to be like Jesus and please the Father...and then the waves of life begin to beat against you and cause you to lose balance, to change focus and...to start trusting what you know for sure...that which you have experienced.
Our obedience must wrestle with which master will it serve. The master that reminds you of your past--your limitations, your failures and your humanness. Or the master who fills your heart and mind with a present and future--one not alone but through a savior who modeled obedience and lets us know that we "will do greater things than these (miracles) because Christ went to the father." (John 14:12).
Today, I align my obedience with the God of heaven and earth who chose his son's death and resurrection to reflect his love for us. And in that love, I witness and can experience the obedience of Christ, "who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God " (Heb.12:3).
This week, I will consider Christ as I endure opposition by sinful men or my own limitations and failures so I won't grow tired or lose my heart of obedience.
Obedience verses for the journey this week:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1: 7
This is what my new day in obedience felt like. I awoke to an uncomfortable peace in my home. And the entire day seemed filled with a quietness that was routinely interupted with short prayers of "God, now what?" Followed by, "I do believe, Help me overcome my unbelief. (Mark 9:24b)". I think I received a glimpse of what Peter experienced when he climbed out of the boat that stormy night. The power and energy of obedience in Christ is intense and focused to do what we can to be like Jesus and please the Father...and then the waves of life begin to beat against you and cause you to lose balance, to change focus and...to start trusting what you know for sure...that which you have experienced.
Our obedience must wrestle with which master will it serve. The master that reminds you of your past--your limitations, your failures and your humanness. Or the master who fills your heart and mind with a present and future--one not alone but through a savior who modeled obedience and lets us know that we "will do greater things than these (miracles) because Christ went to the father." (John 14:12).
Today, I align my obedience with the God of heaven and earth who chose his son's death and resurrection to reflect his love for us. And in that love, I witness and can experience the obedience of Christ, "who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God " (Heb.12:3).
This week, I will consider Christ as I endure opposition by sinful men or my own limitations and failures so I won't grow tired or lose my heart of obedience.
Obedience verses for the journey this week:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Proverbs 1: 7
Monday, October 19, 2009
New Beginnings
"Today is the first day of the rest of your life". I have always bristled a bit when I hear that. It always seemed to be used as a "cop out" for trying to forget or hide the past. But that has all changed in the last few months....so to all I may have challenged about a new day...I AM SORRY!
Truth be told, I am entering a new phase of my personal and professional life that I never imagined. And while the circumstances that brought me to this point were less than stellar...the God who loves me is more than stellar! My journey will be different than the last one, as I pray and plan to follow Jesus where he goes...and serve where he wants me to serve rather than the previous "I am going here...and Jesus your invited to come along"...and the "I am going to serve here and you can join me here."
This journey is exciting and tension filled at the same time...I want to experience the passion and joy of full obedience...and at the same time, I am apprehensive of what will happen if HE REALLY TAKES ME UP ON MY OFFER!
My hope is through this blog, I will be able to process that journey of obedience in a way that will assist my growth in my love, appreciation and relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And if anyone else finds truth in my writing...then all the glory and honor goes to him...because that's what obedient people do...give the credit and ownership to its rightful owner!
So yes...let it be known... "Today is the first day of the rest of my life...of Obedience!"
Obedience Verse for the Journey this week:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths." Prov 3:5-6
Truth be told, I am entering a new phase of my personal and professional life that I never imagined. And while the circumstances that brought me to this point were less than stellar...the God who loves me is more than stellar! My journey will be different than the last one, as I pray and plan to follow Jesus where he goes...and serve where he wants me to serve rather than the previous "I am going here...and Jesus your invited to come along"...and the "I am going to serve here and you can join me here."
This journey is exciting and tension filled at the same time...I want to experience the passion and joy of full obedience...and at the same time, I am apprehensive of what will happen if HE REALLY TAKES ME UP ON MY OFFER!
My hope is through this blog, I will be able to process that journey of obedience in a way that will assist my growth in my love, appreciation and relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And if anyone else finds truth in my writing...then all the glory and honor goes to him...because that's what obedient people do...give the credit and ownership to its rightful owner!
So yes...let it be known... "Today is the first day of the rest of my life...of Obedience!"
Obedience Verse for the Journey this week:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths." Prov 3:5-6
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