Shock and Awe1 is a war doctrine developed by Ullman and Wade that is best described as … “the use of overwhelming power, dominant battlefield awareness, dominant maneuvers, and spectacular displays of force to paralyze an adversary's perception of the battlefield and destroy its will to fight.”
In many ways…the last year or so of my journey seems like it has been impacted by a form of spiritual Shock and Awe. On the relational front…today marks the passing of one year since the dissolution of my 20+ year marriage. In terms of my journey…this came as what would have appeared to be a fork in the road where I was being forced to take the only open path that would be unfamiliar at best and a deep sense of loss and regret at worst. Other relationships became stressed to the point of near breakage, loss of family and friends seemed to move me further away from the well paved roads I had become accustomed to and onto narrower and pothole spotted paths.
Ministry has also been impacted by this Shock and Awe. After two decades of being actively involved in a church, with the last year and a half as the Pastor, I bid farewell to the church, as new leadership was necessary and a personal friend of mine was called as the church’s new minister. My journey moved onto uncharted one lane graveled paths. Followinge this transition, the ministry opportunities I was so assured and affirmed that existed and could use a “quality guy like me” seem to have ripened and been harvested by others…or have been camouflaged by the unfamiliar scenery I have traveled. And as I, and others on my behalf, continued to pray for answers to specific positions …the uncomfortable “no” has been the dominant prayerful reply.
With all that should have (and sometimes momentarily did) paralyzed me and destroyed my will to fight…I have experienced a greater form of Shock and Awe that is for me and not against me. In one of my first blogs, I recognized I had an “uncomfortable peace” along this journey…and through all its twists, turns, narrowing and terrain changes…one thing was constant…God had never left me nor forsaken me. I was constantly reminded of how much he loved me through his prayerful comforts during my laments. He's been faithful to travel this journey…even into the “desert”, where I felt the greatest aloneness and furthest away from His green pastures and still waters…God never abandoned me…his Word and Spirit comforted and guided me. He renewed and deepened friendships that have offered encouragement and prayer out of their own journey experiences. God also brought new people with incredible servant hearts, who have shared their lives and cared for me with the love of Father.
I know on my own… or even with strong encouragement, I would have never chosen many of the paths in this journey…but as I reflect…I recognize that it’s not as important to see how the journey has been changed by the paths…but how God has changed me by the journey down those paths. This is the start of a new year…I pray I will be open to the Shock and Awe only God can and willingly affords me…as I am blessed to continue this Faith Journey I find myself on!
1. Harlan K. Ullman and James P. Wade, Shock And Awe: Achieving Rapid Dominance (National Defense University, 1996), XXIV.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
HE IS RISEN….HE IS RISEN INDEED?
For most churches on this Easter Sunday…the responsive statement will be uttered with upturned faces and broad smiles…”Jesus is Risen… He is Risen Indeed!” And as somewhat usual to my processing…I had to ask… “INDEED? REALLY?” Are you sure? Webster defines the word INDEED as without a doubt, truly or unquestionably.
Part of my question came from this early Easter morning…my study took me through the last few days of Christ’s Journey here on earth through the eyes and heart of the Apostle John…who was otherwise known as the “Disciple Jesus Loved.” What powerful imagery and story as John navigates us through the last supper with Jesus washing his disciples feet, the breaking of the bread one last time, Judas falling prey to Satan and betraying Jesus, the trial, and his crucifixion. And through all of this time, we see how different people reacted- Peter at one point being protective by cutting off the ear of Malchus…then in just a few hours…he was denying the fact that he even knew Jesus at all. Caiaphas the high priest and Pilate the Roman Governor-both acting tough toward Jesus…but neither wanting to exact the death penalty justice the Jewish mob wanted. And then we have the women and the disciple Jesus loved-willing to risk their own lives…were “front row” during the crucifixion. Not to mention Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, both “closet” followers to this point, openly taking responsibility for Jesus’ body and its preparation for burial. I am sure if you could have asked any of these people…the only “INDEED” would be uttered in response to his death!
And then, on the third day after this heinous event…the world was changed…”JESUS IS RISEN” was confessed not by a man… but first by the empty tomb…as witnessed by Mary Magdalene followed by Peter and John. It took two angels and Jesus himself for his disciples and those close to him to even tender the thought that he had conquered death and was very much alive and well and with them…INDEED! I love John’s “note ” at the end of chapter 20,
“Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing you may have life in his name.”
Jesus’ death and resurrection was done on all of our behalf…a free gift from God so that no one could ever mistake he or she might just be good enough…or work hard enough to earn it on their own! His death and resurrection opened the door to eternity…we are invited to enter that life in his name as we believe Jesus is the Christ…the Son of God. When we do…our lives…so much louder than any voice can ever, proclaims the truth…”JESUS IS RISEN … HE IS RISEN… truly…without a doubt…unquestionably…INDEED…INDEED…INDEED!!!
A truthfully Happy Easter to you all...INDEED!
Part of my question came from this early Easter morning…my study took me through the last few days of Christ’s Journey here on earth through the eyes and heart of the Apostle John…who was otherwise known as the “Disciple Jesus Loved.” What powerful imagery and story as John navigates us through the last supper with Jesus washing his disciples feet, the breaking of the bread one last time, Judas falling prey to Satan and betraying Jesus, the trial, and his crucifixion. And through all of this time, we see how different people reacted- Peter at one point being protective by cutting off the ear of Malchus…then in just a few hours…he was denying the fact that he even knew Jesus at all. Caiaphas the high priest and Pilate the Roman Governor-both acting tough toward Jesus…but neither wanting to exact the death penalty justice the Jewish mob wanted. And then we have the women and the disciple Jesus loved-willing to risk their own lives…were “front row” during the crucifixion. Not to mention Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, both “closet” followers to this point, openly taking responsibility for Jesus’ body and its preparation for burial. I am sure if you could have asked any of these people…the only “INDEED” would be uttered in response to his death!
And then, on the third day after this heinous event…the world was changed…”JESUS IS RISEN” was confessed not by a man… but first by the empty tomb…as witnessed by Mary Magdalene followed by Peter and John. It took two angels and Jesus himself for his disciples and those close to him to even tender the thought that he had conquered death and was very much alive and well and with them…INDEED! I love John’s “note ” at the end of chapter 20,
“Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing you may have life in his name.”
Jesus’ death and resurrection was done on all of our behalf…a free gift from God so that no one could ever mistake he or she might just be good enough…or work hard enough to earn it on their own! His death and resurrection opened the door to eternity…we are invited to enter that life in his name as we believe Jesus is the Christ…the Son of God. When we do…our lives…so much louder than any voice can ever, proclaims the truth…”JESUS IS RISEN … HE IS RISEN… truly…without a doubt…unquestionably…INDEED…INDEED…INDEED!!!
A truthfully Happy Easter to you all...INDEED!
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