Most days when I arrive home from work, I walk into a fairly busy home. My two year old son will be playing with his hotwheels cars, while my wife is doing some work of her own. I love joining my son on the floor to play with his cars or hearing about the day my wife had. Recently, I came home to an empty house because my wife and son were driving home from visiting grandma that day. It was weird because it was so quiet at home and I was thinking to myself “I have so many things I could do, but really the only thing I wanted to do is relax”. I decided to go into the home office to do devotions and felt the need to BE QUIET.
I turned on some worship music very low and really tried to tune my ear to the Lord. Many times I go into devotions with my own agenda, but that day I felt like the Father really wanted me to "just listen". It took about 15 minutes for my mind to stop wandering. Initially I was thinking about work, then what I needed to do around the house, then about my wife and son. Finally, after all the distractions, my mind focused and I could feel the presence of the Lord come into the room. I love this feeling!! I honestly feel like an ant in the room when I feel the Father’s presence, and I feel like God is huge. When I feel His presence it feels as if He just wraps his arms around me and holds me. It is so awesome!!
As Bill described in a couple of his earlier posts, a group of our college guy friends have started going on an annual trip to whatever location we decide for fellowship. The focus of our fellowship has been “the masculine journey”. We have been discussing the book The Way of the Wild Heart by John Eldredge. As Bill discussed in the last post, Eldredge describes six different stages each man will go through in his life. The first stage in a young boy’s life is the “Beloved Son”. This is the stage where the young boy wants to know that he is loved and adored by his father. When I was sitting in my office I felt the Lord was saying to me, “you are my beloved son” over and over. The Lord was telling me that I was important and loved by Him. I am not a very emotional person, but I started crying from the power and comfort that was in those words.
I have been so busy with work, family, being with friends, and keeping up with my own hobbies (including things in the church) that I forget to “Just Listen” to hear what the Lord has to say to me. Prayer can be either a one or two way conversation. To be honest many times for me it is a one way conversation, and I’m always the one dominating the conversation. I feel as though the Father has many things he wants to say to me, I just need to listen. I probably only spent about 30 minutes focusing on those simple words “you are my beloved son”, but I haven’t felt that much joy, peace, hope, love, comfort all at once in in a long time.
The Father is waiting for us to join Him. He has a plan for our lives, and it is a perfect plan. I love the verse Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. If God has a plan that includes prosperity in my life, hope, and a future, then I want to know what it is. The funny thing about the Father is I’ve never known Him to give you everything all at once. I always tell people life is like a puzzle. The Lord will give you the pieces to put it together, but only if you allow him to. We have to make it a priority to find quiet time to listen to Him. Recently I have been praying that God helps me yearn to read the Word and to be in the consistent prayer with Him. I’m going to start making time to “Just Listen”, because the Father has so much He wants to give to His son. It is my job to give Him a chance to do it.
God Bless You!!
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Sunday, November 27, 2016
Fathered through Difficulty, by Will
This past June our fellowship took a trip to the New River Gorge in West Virginia for a weekend of camping and white water rafting. It was good weekend, though all of us were not able to be there, those of us who were enjoyed great fellowship and adventure. A full day on a river going through class 2-5 rapids, jumping off a large rock into the water, and good conversation over meals. I've come to really look forward to these outings and can't wait for this upcoming June.
My most vivid memory comes from early on in the trip. We were in our raft and as we came up to a rapid our guide told us, "It's a class 2, but you can swim it if you want." Aaron was sitting across from me in the boat and he looked at me and said, "Do you want to do it?" I was like "Alright", and we climbed out of the boat into the river. The guide told us to stay right behind the raft and swim, but as we started, the current took the boat and we just looked at each other. As we approached the rapid and saw the first wave I was thinking, "This was a mistake" and needless to say, it was rough.
We tried swimming and that was hard. We then flipped over on our backs, toes up, and that was worse because the water would come up and cover our faces. I tried turning around allowing the back of my life vest to block the water, but that just meant I couldn't see the waves and hold my breath before they hit me. I'd love to say I kept my cool and made it through the rapid just fine, but I'd be lying. If I'm honest, I was a little panicked. I was at the mercy of the river, having trouble breathing and difficulty moving forward towards the raft. Everything I tried seemed to make the situation harder. At one point I caught site of the guide in the raft and waved my hand hoping he would throw me a rope, but he didn't. Aaron made it through and back to raft, and shortly after I made it to the calm pool where the raft was waiting for us. I was exhausted, and Aaron helped me back into the boat.
We finished the trip with no issues. No one in our boat fell out and the worst injury was the fantastic sun burns Russ and I got (we ended up going to buy aloe that night so we could sleep). We ended the trip the next day with breakfast at Biscuit World, and then I began to reflect on the weekend. I began to reflect on that moment caught in the rapid wondering if I was going to drown. The guide saw me, his eyes were on me the whole time, but he didn't do anything to help me, and the reason he didn't was because I didn't need him to save me. He knew that as long as my head stayed above the water I'd get through the rapid and back to the boat safely.
I'm finding that God works in the same way. The focus of our fellowship is the masculine journey. Right now we're working through The Way of the Wild Heart by John Eldredge. We've all grown up in a generation that has lost the tradition of initiation, but it's something all of us have been longing for. In our mid to late twenties we began to be intentional about our initiation as men of God. We're looking for the things our dad's couldn't do for us because their dad's didn't do it for them, and we are determined to break the cycle for ourselves, and any boys we have the opportunity to guide, either biological sons, or spiritual ones.
In the book, Eldredge outlines the six stages that God intended for every man to experience during his life, and I've been amazed at how God has guided our retreats to fit the stage we are focusing on. This year we looked at stage 2, the Cowboy stage. This time is meant to focus on adventure and hard work, and white water rafting fits that so well. It takes work to get form the top of the river to the bottom, but it's an adventure to be caught up in the power of the river. It is at this stage of the masculine journey when initiation really begins. It is here that the question of "Do I have what it takes?" is meant to be answered.
As I've read, and re-read, the chapters on this stage in my preparation for the trip and reflection for the coming year (the retreats are meant to give focus for the upcoming year, and on the first night of each one we share what God has done in our lives since the last one), this section of the book stood out to me:
How much of my life have I been misinterpreting? How many things have I just written off as hassle or "life is hard," or even as warfare, when in fact God was in it, in the difficulty, wanting to Father me?
I'm not ready to go into the details of the past year of my life yet, but as I've stated in a previous post, it has been the most difficult time of my life. When everything began to fall apart at the beginning my prayer was for God to fix it and just make the problems go away, He didn't. I questioned His goodness and His love for me, and while the guidance of pastors and a counselor helped, it wasn't until that day, caught in a class 2 rapid, that everything started to make sense.
God could have fixed my problem right at the beginning, but if He had, I would have missed out on so much that I have learned. God could have thrown me a rope and pulled me back to the boat, but He didn't, because He knew I wouldn't drown. And while God didn't pull me out of the rapid, He never took His eyes off of me. He used the experiences of the past year to really show me who I am, and who He created me to be. He was there, in the difficult times, fathering me, showing me that I have what it takes, and initiating me into His man.
The process of masculine initiation is something that God has to do for me, and for about eight years of my life I thought it was happening. I had read Eldredge, even blogged through his books. I thought I knew what to do and that I knew who I was. But then everything came crashing down, and it's in those moments you learn what you’re made of. At that point I began to really get serious about allowing God to initiate me as the man He created me to be. I've come to see that you have to be serious about this, because it isn't an easy undertaking for the faint of heart. God isn't going to step in and fix everything, because if He did, I'd never realize who He made me to be. But I have come to see that He is at work, especially during the hard times, helping me to see who I am in Him.
God is present in the difficulty, fathering us, and never taking His eyes off of us. You will not drown in the rapid, but God isn't always going to through you a rope because He wants you to see that you have what it takes. He is present in the difficult times, and He is always fathering and initiating us as His men.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
We're the back four, Aaron is back left, Russ is in front of him, I'm back right and Ty is in front of me, sadly Jeremy and Kenny were unable to make it on this outing.
My most vivid memory comes from early on in the trip. We were in our raft and as we came up to a rapid our guide told us, "It's a class 2, but you can swim it if you want." Aaron was sitting across from me in the boat and he looked at me and said, "Do you want to do it?" I was like "Alright", and we climbed out of the boat into the river. The guide told us to stay right behind the raft and swim, but as we started, the current took the boat and we just looked at each other. As we approached the rapid and saw the first wave I was thinking, "This was a mistake" and needless to say, it was rough.
We tried swimming and that was hard. We then flipped over on our backs, toes up, and that was worse because the water would come up and cover our faces. I tried turning around allowing the back of my life vest to block the water, but that just meant I couldn't see the waves and hold my breath before they hit me. I'd love to say I kept my cool and made it through the rapid just fine, but I'd be lying. If I'm honest, I was a little panicked. I was at the mercy of the river, having trouble breathing and difficulty moving forward towards the raft. Everything I tried seemed to make the situation harder. At one point I caught site of the guide in the raft and waved my hand hoping he would throw me a rope, but he didn't. Aaron made it through and back to raft, and shortly after I made it to the calm pool where the raft was waiting for us. I was exhausted, and Aaron helped me back into the boat.
We finished the trip with no issues. No one in our boat fell out and the worst injury was the fantastic sun burns Russ and I got (we ended up going to buy aloe that night so we could sleep). We ended the trip the next day with breakfast at Biscuit World, and then I began to reflect on the weekend. I began to reflect on that moment caught in the rapid wondering if I was going to drown. The guide saw me, his eyes were on me the whole time, but he didn't do anything to help me, and the reason he didn't was because I didn't need him to save me. He knew that as long as my head stayed above the water I'd get through the rapid and back to the boat safely.
I'm finding that God works in the same way. The focus of our fellowship is the masculine journey. Right now we're working through The Way of the Wild Heart by John Eldredge. We've all grown up in a generation that has lost the tradition of initiation, but it's something all of us have been longing for. In our mid to late twenties we began to be intentional about our initiation as men of God. We're looking for the things our dad's couldn't do for us because their dad's didn't do it for them, and we are determined to break the cycle for ourselves, and any boys we have the opportunity to guide, either biological sons, or spiritual ones.
In the book, Eldredge outlines the six stages that God intended for every man to experience during his life, and I've been amazed at how God has guided our retreats to fit the stage we are focusing on. This year we looked at stage 2, the Cowboy stage. This time is meant to focus on adventure and hard work, and white water rafting fits that so well. It takes work to get form the top of the river to the bottom, but it's an adventure to be caught up in the power of the river. It is at this stage of the masculine journey when initiation really begins. It is here that the question of "Do I have what it takes?" is meant to be answered.
As I've read, and re-read, the chapters on this stage in my preparation for the trip and reflection for the coming year (the retreats are meant to give focus for the upcoming year, and on the first night of each one we share what God has done in our lives since the last one), this section of the book stood out to me:
How much of my life have I been misinterpreting? How many things have I just written off as hassle or "life is hard," or even as warfare, when in fact God was in it, in the difficulty, wanting to Father me?
I'm not ready to go into the details of the past year of my life yet, but as I've stated in a previous post, it has been the most difficult time of my life. When everything began to fall apart at the beginning my prayer was for God to fix it and just make the problems go away, He didn't. I questioned His goodness and His love for me, and while the guidance of pastors and a counselor helped, it wasn't until that day, caught in a class 2 rapid, that everything started to make sense.
God could have fixed my problem right at the beginning, but if He had, I would have missed out on so much that I have learned. God could have thrown me a rope and pulled me back to the boat, but He didn't, because He knew I wouldn't drown. And while God didn't pull me out of the rapid, He never took His eyes off of me. He used the experiences of the past year to really show me who I am, and who He created me to be. He was there, in the difficult times, fathering me, showing me that I have what it takes, and initiating me into His man.
The process of masculine initiation is something that God has to do for me, and for about eight years of my life I thought it was happening. I had read Eldredge, even blogged through his books. I thought I knew what to do and that I knew who I was. But then everything came crashing down, and it's in those moments you learn what you’re made of. At that point I began to really get serious about allowing God to initiate me as the man He created me to be. I've come to see that you have to be serious about this, because it isn't an easy undertaking for the faint of heart. God isn't going to step in and fix everything, because if He did, I'd never realize who He made me to be. But I have come to see that He is at work, especially during the hard times, helping me to see who I am in Him.
God is present in the difficulty, fathering us, and never taking His eyes off of us. You will not drown in the rapid, but God isn't always going to through you a rope because He wants you to see that you have what it takes. He is present in the difficult times, and He is always fathering and initiating us as His men.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
We're the back four, Aaron is back left, Russ is in front of him, I'm back right and Ty is in front of me, sadly Jeremy and Kenny were unable to make it on this outing.
Sunday, November 20, 2016
It's About God, by Will
When we set up the "rules" for this blog, we decided there was only one, everything written has to point the reader to God. I've been thinking about this idea for a while now, long before we talked about the blog. It's something I need to remind myself of on a personal level, and the older I get the more I am doing that. Back in October 2012 my grandpa told me, "The Church spends too much time trying to do the work of God, and not enough time teaching who God is." In my own life that has been true. I've spent nearly half of my life trying to do the work of God, trying to appease Him and make Him happy by doing things for Him, but that isn't what life is about. Life is not about doing things for God, but knowing God.
I'm in the process of pursuing a couple of Master's degrees, and this past week I read a quote that really hit me and inspired this post. "It is to theology, as such, a matter of entire indifference how long man has existed on the earth." The section of the book was looking at the genealogies in Genesis, and points out that are there to show a line leading to the Messiah, not a complete list of the people in the family tree. The point is not the people, but how God is at work through history to accomplish His will.
Man is made in the image of God, not the other way around. God is the creator, not the creation. Man exists to worship God, not to be served by Him. Theology is the pursuit that every human being is called to, because it is the pursuit of God. The Bible is a book of theology, it serves to tell us who God is. Theology is not concerned with the age of the earth, or the significant impact man leaves on it, because the creation is not the focus. This is all about God.
The Bible begins with God creating, and them making man in His image. There is fellowship and perfect harmony, and then man decides he wants to be in charge, and as he strives to make life about him, he messes everything up. God then goes to work to restore His creation, helping man to refocus on the proper subject. Nothing in this world matters except for how it helps me to grow closer to God.
I've reached an age where I've really started to think about what matters, and the more I do, the more I'm starting to see how everything pales in comparison to God. The older I get the more I'm starting to see the insignificance of the temporal, and I'm starting to put the eternal in its proper place. The book of Philippians has had a huge impact on my life. When as a junior in college I began to really take my faith seriously it was the book that God had me read over and over. The section that most stood out to me was Philippians 3.7-14,
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
I want to count all things as loss that I may gain Christ. I want to desire to know Him more than I want to pass this class, have fruitful ministry, or live a long productive life. I want to be willing to sacrifice my temporal dreams and desires for the pursuit of righteousness that will draw me closer to God. I want the determined discipline to pursue God.
Life is all about God, and I want my life to be fully committed to knowing Him and making Him known.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
I'm in the process of pursuing a couple of Master's degrees, and this past week I read a quote that really hit me and inspired this post. "It is to theology, as such, a matter of entire indifference how long man has existed on the earth." The section of the book was looking at the genealogies in Genesis, and points out that are there to show a line leading to the Messiah, not a complete list of the people in the family tree. The point is not the people, but how God is at work through history to accomplish His will.
Man is made in the image of God, not the other way around. God is the creator, not the creation. Man exists to worship God, not to be served by Him. Theology is the pursuit that every human being is called to, because it is the pursuit of God. The Bible is a book of theology, it serves to tell us who God is. Theology is not concerned with the age of the earth, or the significant impact man leaves on it, because the creation is not the focus. This is all about God.
The Bible begins with God creating, and them making man in His image. There is fellowship and perfect harmony, and then man decides he wants to be in charge, and as he strives to make life about him, he messes everything up. God then goes to work to restore His creation, helping man to refocus on the proper subject. Nothing in this world matters except for how it helps me to grow closer to God.
I've reached an age where I've really started to think about what matters, and the more I do, the more I'm starting to see how everything pales in comparison to God. The older I get the more I'm starting to see the insignificance of the temporal, and I'm starting to put the eternal in its proper place. The book of Philippians has had a huge impact on my life. When as a junior in college I began to really take my faith seriously it was the book that God had me read over and over. The section that most stood out to me was Philippians 3.7-14,
But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
I want to count all things as loss that I may gain Christ. I want to desire to know Him more than I want to pass this class, have fruitful ministry, or live a long productive life. I want to be willing to sacrifice my temporal dreams and desires for the pursuit of righteousness that will draw me closer to God. I want the determined discipline to pursue God.
Life is all about God, and I want my life to be fully committed to knowing Him and making Him known.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Thursday, November 17, 2016
Memories, by Will
Over the weekend my alma mater had homecoming, for the first time I went, and honestly had the best weekend I've had in a long time. I've been on campus since I graduated back in 2009, but it's been a while since I've really walked around. A lot has changed. There are new roads and sidewalks in places where there used to be grass. Buildings have been torn down and additions built on. Even small things like paint, decorum, and new furniture in common rooms. It's a different place than it was seven years ago.
One place I was eager to look at was the prayer room. During my last two years of school I spent countless hours in there, both alone and with others. It was in this prayer room that Jeremy and I really connected for the first time. It was in this room that Ty and I shared some late nights with God. It was in this prayer room that during January 2008 I prayed in more hours than I slept in my bed. It's a place that holds a lot of memories, and a place I was curious to see what had happened to over the past few years.
I walked into the Birch F lobby, and headed to the back corner. The lights in the small room were off, but the door was unlocked, so I went in. Immediately I was disappointed. I wasn't expecting much, but I was let down. The room that I had left upon graduation was one where people prayed. The walls were covered with prays, both written and drawn. A shelf had a CD player and soft worship music. There was comfortable seating, and soft lighting. There was a Bible I had donated (all that was in there originally was a King James), and various resources to help people focus on, and connect with, God.
The room today was mostly empty. There were a couple small couches and end tables, an old metal desk, and a dry erase board. One light hung in the corner with a burnt out bulb. The walls were empty and the room was cluttered. Aside from a coat rack behind the door that said "Prayer Changes Things" you'd have no idea you were in a prayer closet and not a storage room. The only sound was from the drawers as I opened them to see if the Bible I had left was still there, it wasn't. The only drawing was this,
I sat on one of the couches under the light and pulled out my Bible, and opened to the book of Philippians. I had spent so much time in these pages while sitting in this room. Philippians 1.3-5 says, "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now." As I was on campus, interacting with former classmates, and as I've thought about it over the past few days, I really miss those times. They are fond memories that I am so grateful for.
I miss those times, and I so badly want current students to experience them. As I sat in that room part of me wanted to get to work and restore it, making it a place of prayer again, but at the same time, I know that really isn't a battle I can fight. I'm hours away with no real connection to campus anymore. While I can reflect back on those memories, thanking God for them, and the people I shared them with, they are in the past, and I cannot live there.
Later in Philippians 3.13-14 Paul said, "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." My life, my journey, did not end at graduation. Those memories of the prayer room are not meant to be the highlight of my walk with Christ. I can't live in the past, I must thank God for those times as they have served as a foundation for the future, but I must press on towards Christlikeness.
Memories are good, but they are in the past, and our concentration must be in the present, with a focus on the goal God has for us. He brings people into our lives sometimes only for a season. He puts us in places for a reason. Life is meant to be a journey towards Christlikeness. A key part of my journey was in the safety of the prayer room with good friends, some of whom are still by my side. But my life has to move outside of those walls if I am to continue towards the goal. My prayer needs to grow beyond those of a college student. I need to be ok that the room has changed, nothing will change the memories I have there. God was glorified then, and He will be glorified now.
I thank Him for the good memories of the past, but I must continue to press on, pursuing Him in the present, not living in the past.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
One place I was eager to look at was the prayer room. During my last two years of school I spent countless hours in there, both alone and with others. It was in this prayer room that Jeremy and I really connected for the first time. It was in this room that Ty and I shared some late nights with God. It was in this prayer room that during January 2008 I prayed in more hours than I slept in my bed. It's a place that holds a lot of memories, and a place I was curious to see what had happened to over the past few years.
I walked into the Birch F lobby, and headed to the back corner. The lights in the small room were off, but the door was unlocked, so I went in. Immediately I was disappointed. I wasn't expecting much, but I was let down. The room that I had left upon graduation was one where people prayed. The walls were covered with prays, both written and drawn. A shelf had a CD player and soft worship music. There was comfortable seating, and soft lighting. There was a Bible I had donated (all that was in there originally was a King James), and various resources to help people focus on, and connect with, God.
The room today was mostly empty. There were a couple small couches and end tables, an old metal desk, and a dry erase board. One light hung in the corner with a burnt out bulb. The walls were empty and the room was cluttered. Aside from a coat rack behind the door that said "Prayer Changes Things" you'd have no idea you were in a prayer closet and not a storage room. The only sound was from the drawers as I opened them to see if the Bible I had left was still there, it wasn't. The only drawing was this,
I sat on one of the couches under the light and pulled out my Bible, and opened to the book of Philippians. I had spent so much time in these pages while sitting in this room. Philippians 1.3-5 says, "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now." As I was on campus, interacting with former classmates, and as I've thought about it over the past few days, I really miss those times. They are fond memories that I am so grateful for.
I miss those times, and I so badly want current students to experience them. As I sat in that room part of me wanted to get to work and restore it, making it a place of prayer again, but at the same time, I know that really isn't a battle I can fight. I'm hours away with no real connection to campus anymore. While I can reflect back on those memories, thanking God for them, and the people I shared them with, they are in the past, and I cannot live there.
Later in Philippians 3.13-14 Paul said, "Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." My life, my journey, did not end at graduation. Those memories of the prayer room are not meant to be the highlight of my walk with Christ. I can't live in the past, I must thank God for those times as they have served as a foundation for the future, but I must press on towards Christlikeness.
Memories are good, but they are in the past, and our concentration must be in the present, with a focus on the goal God has for us. He brings people into our lives sometimes only for a season. He puts us in places for a reason. Life is meant to be a journey towards Christlikeness. A key part of my journey was in the safety of the prayer room with good friends, some of whom are still by my side. But my life has to move outside of those walls if I am to continue towards the goal. My prayer needs to grow beyond those of a college student. I need to be ok that the room has changed, nothing will change the memories I have there. God was glorified then, and He will be glorified now.
I thank Him for the good memories of the past, but I must continue to press on, pursuing Him in the present, not living in the past.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Saturday, November 12, 2016
The Right Way, by Will
The older I get, the more I'm starting to realize that there is a right way to do things. And the older I get, the more I appreciate the right way to do things. Properly lifting saves my knees and my back. Warming up before stretching (and actually stretching) before exercise, and then cooling down and stretching afterwards keeps me from getting sore (I'm not as young as I used to be, which a few workouts have taught me).
I'm into outdoor activities, and recently I've been focusing on the right way to do them. The first involves fire. I'm a bit of a pyro (and I'm not just saying that because it's cool). During my junior year of college the press box by the soccer field was burned down, and the following day a few people asked me if I had anything to do with it (I didn't), and I was voted most likely to start a wild fire by the class council.
When I was a teenager I had a fire pit in my parent's backyard. It was about a four foot circle, a foot in the ground, and another foot of rocks piled around the surface. In the back of my parent's yard are about two dozen massive pine trees. I used to take a couple five gallon buckets and make two or three trips back to the trees filling them with pine needles and filling the pit with them. Afterwards I would pile logs on top and then strike the match. The flames were impressive, a four foot ring, twenty feet high. The issue was fire that intense is really hot. Even once the flames had died down to a manageable level the heat was still there, and it was so hot that you couldn't sit closer than ten feet away.
Now that I'm older, and more mature, I still like fire, but I want a fire to be useful. The above method works great if you need to signal for rescue, but it doesn't work to well if you want to fellowship with some people. You properly build a fire by starting with some tinder, then you add the kindling, then some sticks, and finally logs. You let it catch gradually and build slowly. The flames aren't burn your eyebrows off massive, but in the end you have a fire that will keep you warm and allow you to be near.
The second activity involves winter. I'm not a huge fan of snow, part of that is probably from being in Northeast Ohio and dealing with lake affect snow for months on end. I've been into hiking for years now, but always put my gear away once it started to get cold. Last year I decided to try winter hiking. When I was younger the key to staying warm was putting on thicker and heavier layers. And while layering is good, I didn't do it right. I ended up with a lot of bulk, which prevented mobility, and with all of those layers you're sweating before you even get outside.
I've now started to really focus on the layers I use, trying to minimize weight and bulk, and increase warmth and mobility. Moisture wicking base layer, followed by an insulating base layer, then my mid layer for warmth, followed by my outer layer that is water proof (which also keeps the wind out). This method involves a lot less bulk, less time getting ready, and more speed and mobility on the trail.
Yesterday, Aaron wrote about the opening section of the Lord's Prayer. When Jesus responded to His disciple's request to be taught how to pray, He said to them, "Pray then in this way" (Matthew 6.9a). The following verses outline the principles that are to guide the prayers of a disciple of Christ. He doesn't say, "Repeat these phrases" this would become a repetitious ritual that doesn't serve the purpose of drawing us closer to God. It's like a fire I'd light as a teenager, intense with the right material, but lacking the time that makes it really beneficial for the long run.
The model Jesus shares displays an order that is to guide the time when spend in prayer. It begins by acknowledging God for who He is, and inviting Him to have His way in our lives and on the earth. It then moves into presenting the requests we have to God, asking Him to provide for the needs we have. It then asks that God empower us to live as He would live, and treat us as we deserve based on how we have treated others. It concludes with a request for God's protection and guidance as we go through life.
Just like how there is a right way to layer clothing for winter activities, there is a right way to pray. It isn't about the words, Jesus actually condemns the use of repetitious and showy prayer (Matthew 6.5), but about the content and attitude of our hearts. It begins with humble submission to the glory of God, it invites Him to have His way, and then requests that our needs be met. It then asks for God's help in living as He would have us live. The proper model keeps our prayers focused. It is so easy for my mind to wander during prayer. It is so easy to focus on the wrong things in my prayer time. They add unnecessary bulk and hinder my relationship with God.
There is a right way to do things. God created the world to function a certain way. He created fires to be built in a way to be effective and not overwhelming. He created the science that allows for proper layering. He gave us a model for effective prayer. I've spent a lot of time doing things the hard way, but I'm getting to the point where the hard way is too hard. I want my life to be effective in everything that I do, so that I'm able to experience more. I want my prayers to be effective so that I can grow closer to God and watch Him move in greater ways. I want to do things the right way.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
I'm into outdoor activities, and recently I've been focusing on the right way to do them. The first involves fire. I'm a bit of a pyro (and I'm not just saying that because it's cool). During my junior year of college the press box by the soccer field was burned down, and the following day a few people asked me if I had anything to do with it (I didn't), and I was voted most likely to start a wild fire by the class council.
When I was a teenager I had a fire pit in my parent's backyard. It was about a four foot circle, a foot in the ground, and another foot of rocks piled around the surface. In the back of my parent's yard are about two dozen massive pine trees. I used to take a couple five gallon buckets and make two or three trips back to the trees filling them with pine needles and filling the pit with them. Afterwards I would pile logs on top and then strike the match. The flames were impressive, a four foot ring, twenty feet high. The issue was fire that intense is really hot. Even once the flames had died down to a manageable level the heat was still there, and it was so hot that you couldn't sit closer than ten feet away.
Now that I'm older, and more mature, I still like fire, but I want a fire to be useful. The above method works great if you need to signal for rescue, but it doesn't work to well if you want to fellowship with some people. You properly build a fire by starting with some tinder, then you add the kindling, then some sticks, and finally logs. You let it catch gradually and build slowly. The flames aren't burn your eyebrows off massive, but in the end you have a fire that will keep you warm and allow you to be near.
The second activity involves winter. I'm not a huge fan of snow, part of that is probably from being in Northeast Ohio and dealing with lake affect snow for months on end. I've been into hiking for years now, but always put my gear away once it started to get cold. Last year I decided to try winter hiking. When I was younger the key to staying warm was putting on thicker and heavier layers. And while layering is good, I didn't do it right. I ended up with a lot of bulk, which prevented mobility, and with all of those layers you're sweating before you even get outside.
I've now started to really focus on the layers I use, trying to minimize weight and bulk, and increase warmth and mobility. Moisture wicking base layer, followed by an insulating base layer, then my mid layer for warmth, followed by my outer layer that is water proof (which also keeps the wind out). This method involves a lot less bulk, less time getting ready, and more speed and mobility on the trail.
Yesterday, Aaron wrote about the opening section of the Lord's Prayer. When Jesus responded to His disciple's request to be taught how to pray, He said to them, "Pray then in this way" (Matthew 6.9a). The following verses outline the principles that are to guide the prayers of a disciple of Christ. He doesn't say, "Repeat these phrases" this would become a repetitious ritual that doesn't serve the purpose of drawing us closer to God. It's like a fire I'd light as a teenager, intense with the right material, but lacking the time that makes it really beneficial for the long run.
The model Jesus shares displays an order that is to guide the time when spend in prayer. It begins by acknowledging God for who He is, and inviting Him to have His way in our lives and on the earth. It then moves into presenting the requests we have to God, asking Him to provide for the needs we have. It then asks that God empower us to live as He would live, and treat us as we deserve based on how we have treated others. It concludes with a request for God's protection and guidance as we go through life.
Just like how there is a right way to layer clothing for winter activities, there is a right way to pray. It isn't about the words, Jesus actually condemns the use of repetitious and showy prayer (Matthew 6.5), but about the content and attitude of our hearts. It begins with humble submission to the glory of God, it invites Him to have His way, and then requests that our needs be met. It then asks for God's help in living as He would have us live. The proper model keeps our prayers focused. It is so easy for my mind to wander during prayer. It is so easy to focus on the wrong things in my prayer time. They add unnecessary bulk and hinder my relationship with God.
There is a right way to do things. God created the world to function a certain way. He created fires to be built in a way to be effective and not overwhelming. He created the science that allows for proper layering. He gave us a model for effective prayer. I've spent a lot of time doing things the hard way, but I'm getting to the point where the hard way is too hard. I want my life to be effective in everything that I do, so that I'm able to experience more. I want my prayers to be effective so that I can grow closer to God and watch Him move in greater ways. I want to do things the right way.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Friday, November 11, 2016
He's all about the Details, by Aaron
We have been going through a series on the Lord’s Prayer at church the past two
weeks. Last week, our pastor focused on
Matthew 6 :9 “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name”. Hagiazo is
the Greek translation of hallowed meaning to set apart as holy. The rest of the week the Father kept asking me
the same question, Aaron am I hallowed to you?
Do you think I am Holy? Are you
in “awe” of Me? I wrestled with this question all week long. Many times I answered yes; I whole heartedly
believe you are Holy, but I knew I was incorrect. Even though I wanted my answer to be yes, the
Holy Spirit helped me realize that I fail each day secondary to my actions and
thoughts focusing mostly on my world and minimally on His plans. Luckily our Father gives us so much grace, 2
Corinthians 12: 9 says “My grace is sufficient for you, My power is made
perfect in weakness”. The only way to
surrender fully to the Father is through the Father, not by our own doing.
This week I was challenged to be still and just be in awe of the Lord. I work in the medical field as a Physical Therapist. At night I sometimes look through textbooks or skim articles to refresh my mind because the body is so complex. As I was reading through one of my anatomy text books last night I just got this overwhelming feeling of how wonderfully and perfectly God created our bodies and that God is all about the details. He made every body part for a reason, no matter the size.
“Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of Life, and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). When you look at this verse it makes it seem as though creating our body was so effortless. However, when we look at our anatomy, I think it points us straight to the Creator because of the complexity which is exhibited. God was reminding me that He is the “author of life” and that Holiness is His name. He created us because he wanted to share His love with us. The body just gives us a minute example of how detailed the Lord is, but yet how effortless it is for Him because of his Power and Glory. God is all about the details.
Bill wrote in the previous post that for more than half his life he believed that the only way for himself to fully serve God was through church ministry. God is now calling him to the world of academia. Bill now has to decide whether he will stay in “church ministry” that he knows very well (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing) or to surrender to God’s call leading him to academia. The decision is simple, but the path is not easy. Bill has made a decision to “hallow” the Father by surrendering to His will because he knows the plan of the Father is perfect. The very definition of the Father in scripture is hallowed. The father wants the best for our lives. He deserves to be hallowed. Sometimes you just have to be still and know that He is God. God is all about the details.
“Our father in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.”
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Turning 30, by Will
Over the weekend I reached a new milestone in life, I turned 30. Back when I was a teenager 30 was so old, but now that I'm here I'm realizing that even though I'm not as young as I used to be (I've been feeling that way for years now), I'm really not that old. I'm at the age when Jesus began the main stage of His earthly ministry, and I feel that for perhaps the first time in my life I have an actual awareness of wanting to be part of something bigger than myself, and an idea of what God has for my life.
Over the past year I've been through the most trying challenge of my life, and God has used that to refocus, or perhaps for the first time, focus His plan for my life. For more than half my life I've felt that I had to serve God through church ministry. I felt that the church was the only avenue to fully serve God. I pursued this course of action fully. I graduated at the top of my class, had great encouragement and references from my professors, and was able to intern in some fantastic churches. But when I finally got on staff the situation was different. You don't start, typically, in the places with all of the resources. Every church has plenty of need and opportunity, but many of them don't have the willing man power or finances to make the most of them.
When my last full time church position ended a little over four years ago I was frustrated. I had poured myself into this call that I felt God had placed on my life. I had excelled academically. I had been able to meet and learn from some amazing leaders. I had been given an opportunity and tried my best to make something happen, and I failed pretty spectacularly. I began looking for another church position. I had a couple interviews that I turned down, I applied for a job I desperately wanted, but didn't get. I ended up working at an industrial supply warehouse, and going to school preparing for the next church job.
Over the past few years I've really felt God leading me away from full time church ministry, and to be honest, I've been denying the leading of the Spirit because it terrifies me. The church is an area I'm familiar with, and to a point, know how to function within, but in recent months, God has been showing me that His plan for my life, at least for the immediate future, does not lead to a pulpit.
I've felt lead into the world of academia, at the moment, I'm feeling like God is leading me to become a college professor of Biblical Studies. As I've sought counsel on this impression, the feedback I've been given has been overwhelmingly positive. In so many ways this course plays to my spiritual gifting and personality, as well as my hopes and dreams, in a way that church ministry does not.
Now that I'm in my third decade, I've felt my focus shift. I've been listening to a lot of audio books recently, and yesterday I finished The Catcher in the Rye. There was a quote that really stood out to me, "The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one." For me, church ministry was dying nobly. It was something I pursued out of a sense of duty, but if I'm honest, it sucked the life out of me. The thought of academia energizes me. In many ways it is a behind the scenes role, training those who will go out and do something, but I'm honestly really excited about the potential of being able to invest in the lives of so many people.
Twice Proverbs says, "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (14.12, 16.25) I've spent my life trying to serve God in my way, and while it hasn't been a total waste, it hasn't been abundantly fruitful. My pursuit of God's service has brought about a lot of stress, hardship, and brokenness. My immaturity could not set aside what I thought I was supposed to do and listen to what God was trying to lead me. The past year has caused me to surrender a lot. It has caused me to do a lot of listening. The path that I am now embarking upon is not going to be an easy one. There will be years of academic study, even now the thought of all of it is overwhelming me, but I am reminded that what God has called me to, He will make a way for. Proverbs 16.3 says, "Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established."
At 30, perhaps for the first time in my life, I'm committing my works to God. I see time slipping away, and I'm tired of wasting it. I've lived for three decades, and feel that I really have made no impression for the Kingdom, and I don't want to get to the end of this and look back at all the dreams and goals that I never accomplished because I was so focused on how I felt that I had to serve God.
I want my remaining time on this planet to be committed to the Lord.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Over the past year I've been through the most trying challenge of my life, and God has used that to refocus, or perhaps for the first time, focus His plan for my life. For more than half my life I've felt that I had to serve God through church ministry. I felt that the church was the only avenue to fully serve God. I pursued this course of action fully. I graduated at the top of my class, had great encouragement and references from my professors, and was able to intern in some fantastic churches. But when I finally got on staff the situation was different. You don't start, typically, in the places with all of the resources. Every church has plenty of need and opportunity, but many of them don't have the willing man power or finances to make the most of them.
When my last full time church position ended a little over four years ago I was frustrated. I had poured myself into this call that I felt God had placed on my life. I had excelled academically. I had been able to meet and learn from some amazing leaders. I had been given an opportunity and tried my best to make something happen, and I failed pretty spectacularly. I began looking for another church position. I had a couple interviews that I turned down, I applied for a job I desperately wanted, but didn't get. I ended up working at an industrial supply warehouse, and going to school preparing for the next church job.
Over the past few years I've really felt God leading me away from full time church ministry, and to be honest, I've been denying the leading of the Spirit because it terrifies me. The church is an area I'm familiar with, and to a point, know how to function within, but in recent months, God has been showing me that His plan for my life, at least for the immediate future, does not lead to a pulpit.
I've felt lead into the world of academia, at the moment, I'm feeling like God is leading me to become a college professor of Biblical Studies. As I've sought counsel on this impression, the feedback I've been given has been overwhelmingly positive. In so many ways this course plays to my spiritual gifting and personality, as well as my hopes and dreams, in a way that church ministry does not.
Now that I'm in my third decade, I've felt my focus shift. I've been listening to a lot of audio books recently, and yesterday I finished The Catcher in the Rye. There was a quote that really stood out to me, "The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of the mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one." For me, church ministry was dying nobly. It was something I pursued out of a sense of duty, but if I'm honest, it sucked the life out of me. The thought of academia energizes me. In many ways it is a behind the scenes role, training those who will go out and do something, but I'm honestly really excited about the potential of being able to invest in the lives of so many people.
Twice Proverbs says, "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (14.12, 16.25) I've spent my life trying to serve God in my way, and while it hasn't been a total waste, it hasn't been abundantly fruitful. My pursuit of God's service has brought about a lot of stress, hardship, and brokenness. My immaturity could not set aside what I thought I was supposed to do and listen to what God was trying to lead me. The past year has caused me to surrender a lot. It has caused me to do a lot of listening. The path that I am now embarking upon is not going to be an easy one. There will be years of academic study, even now the thought of all of it is overwhelming me, but I am reminded that what God has called me to, He will make a way for. Proverbs 16.3 says, "Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established."
At 30, perhaps for the first time in my life, I'm committing my works to God. I see time slipping away, and I'm tired of wasting it. I've lived for three decades, and feel that I really have made no impression for the Kingdom, and I don't want to get to the end of this and look back at all the dreams and goals that I never accomplished because I was so focused on how I felt that I had to serve God.
I want my remaining time on this planet to be committed to the Lord.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
Monday, November 7, 2016
Let's see where this goes
A man of too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
-Proverbs 18.24
A few years ago I had the idea of doing ministry with some of my closest friends, my brothers, through writing. At the time it was something that I'd get to some day, and for a while that was where the idea ended. It slipped from my mind and I forgot about it completely.
In March of 2015 I was at a first birthday party, and a couple of my brothers were there. One of them mentioned a desire to go camping with a couple guys, and at that moment we decided to make it happen. That August six college friends took a weekend camping trip at a state park in Ohio, and though the location has changed, it's turned into an anual trip. We get togehter for some outdoor adventure, masculine fellowship, and to challenge and encourage each other to become the men God created us to be.
A few weeks ago God brought the idea of a blog back to my mind, the right group of guys was finally together. For the past few weeks we've been sharing ideas and hopes, and it's finally gotten to the point where we need to start doing it and see what happens. What we're attempting is a digital small group. The six of us are spread out, five are around Ohio, one is in Illinois, but we all have the desire to help each other grow closer to God. The past year has brought both joy and hardship to our lives, and we've walked together through it. This blog is us doing life together, sharing things God is teaching us, encouraging each other through the trials, celebrating the blessings, and standing togther in the battles.
You're invited to share in our journey. So as the first post of this blog is written, let's see where this goes...
-Proverbs 18.24
A few years ago I had the idea of doing ministry with some of my closest friends, my brothers, through writing. At the time it was something that I'd get to some day, and for a while that was where the idea ended. It slipped from my mind and I forgot about it completely.
In March of 2015 I was at a first birthday party, and a couple of my brothers were there. One of them mentioned a desire to go camping with a couple guys, and at that moment we decided to make it happen. That August six college friends took a weekend camping trip at a state park in Ohio, and though the location has changed, it's turned into an anual trip. We get togehter for some outdoor adventure, masculine fellowship, and to challenge and encourage each other to become the men God created us to be.
A few weeks ago God brought the idea of a blog back to my mind, the right group of guys was finally together. For the past few weeks we've been sharing ideas and hopes, and it's finally gotten to the point where we need to start doing it and see what happens. What we're attempting is a digital small group. The six of us are spread out, five are around Ohio, one is in Illinois, but we all have the desire to help each other grow closer to God. The past year has brought both joy and hardship to our lives, and we've walked together through it. This blog is us doing life together, sharing things God is teaching us, encouraging each other through the trials, celebrating the blessings, and standing togther in the battles.
You're invited to share in our journey. So as the first post of this blog is written, let's see where this goes...
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