Close Encounters of the God Kind…

I had an awesome encounter yesterday.  I just stopped in to Port City Java to get a cup and check my e-mail.  A guy came over and sat down at my table.  He asked me if I would write an entry in his journal.  I thought this was a little weird and for some reason it was a little uncomfortable.  He said he had noticed a book on my table and he asked me what it was about.  I said it was a book written by a Pastor about the journey of following Jesus.  He asked if I was in ministry.  I told him I was a Pastor.  He asked a few other small talk questions then said that he would often ask other people to just write something in his journal and that I could take my time and write anything I wanted.  I felt God move me even though I was tentative.   So I agreed.

Now was the big thing.  What do I write?  After all this is not my journal and I don’t know anything about this guy.  It was a real step of faith.  I prayed to myself asking God to guide me in my thoughts.  Then-I began to write.

What I wrote did not seem as significant as what took place after I finished writing.   When I was done I went over to his table and handed the journal back.  Then I sat down.  I asked him what he was reading.  He explained that it was a book on Zen meditation.  Many thought were firing through my brain at lightning speed.  What do I say to that?  I said “That’s cool.”  Sounds brilliant!?  Was that the best I could come up with?  Truthfully, it was the only thing that came to mind.  He looked at me, backing his head up a little with a questioning smile, and said “I’m surprised you would say that being a Pastor.”  I said “Well the Bible says a lot about meditation.”  He asked where.  I said the book of Psalms in particular.  He said show me.  So I got my Bible and read to him from Psalm 119 about meditation on God’s precepts and fixing our eyes on His ways.

This sent us into a conversation over many issues about Christianity and following Jesus.  For an hour we talked.  It was obvious that something had painfully shaped how he felt about church and Christians.  His mom was christian in a very legalistic denomination and his dad was Buddhist.  They divorced over religious issues and probably others, when the kids were grown.

I told him as our conversation was coming to a close that I really enjoyed the time with him and his openness.  He told me that he hoped he did  not offend me.  I said to him that when it is our agenda to always convert people instead of knowing people we offend them or at least walk away disappointed because we didn’t reach our goal.  When it is our chief desire to connect and know people and we value them as created by God even if they don’t know him, it opens doors through relationship that will never open through trying to argue or convince people. 

God is so good.  If we stay open to people and to His leading we will experience some incredible things and He will use us in the process.

What great encounters have you had lately?

Risky Business…

My highlight from toady’s message - I got to show a clip from the movie Transformers.

I mentioned in an earlier post that me and Jesus were on a journey.  One of the things I’ve been pondering is found in a quote from this movie.

“50 years from now, don’t you want to say you had the guts to get in the car.” - Sam

This is a defining moment for Sam and Makala, will they go home or will they become a part of living the adventure? Will they take the risk?  Will they take the road less traveled?  Or will they play it safe?

Maybe it was not so theatrical and with no building music in the background but this is exactly what was going on when Jesus spoke to Peter and Andrew on the shore of Galilee saying, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  This was a defining moment.  They had no idea what was exactly ahead for them. 

3 years down this road Peter was so in love with Jesus, he said he was willing to go where ever Jesus went even if it was to the cross.  In John 21:15-22 Peter has now witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion and failed miserably by denying that he knew Him.  He was probably evaluating Jesus call to “Follow him.”   After the resurrection,  Jesus comes to Peter and has a little breakfast with him on the shore.  Jesus asks Peter “Do you love me?”  Peter replies “Lord you know I do.”  Jesus says “Feed my sheep.”  This He does three times.  Then Jesus describe the kind of death Peter would suffer and then again as He did in the beginning, He says, “Follow me.”  Peter goes on to ask “what about John.”  Jesus says “What is that to you if he lives or dies, you follow me.”

Jesus call to us to follow Him.  If we choose, it will be a life filled with meaning, purpose, adventure, mystery, and danger, perril, sacrifice, and unlimited posibilities.  We don’t know all that will happen.  Each persons life and journey is unique as is their purpose.  But will we “get in the car?” 

I don’t want to settle for a life without meaning.  I want to say I had the guts to risk it all, where ever Jesus takes me.  I want to Follow Him!  Will you?

Have you had a defining moment?

Did you have the guts to take the risk?

 

What Great Leaders Are Made Of…

Amy and I took the kids to see Prince Caspian last night.  One of the greatest lines of the movie came near the end.  After the Talmarines are defeated, Prince Caspian, Peter, Edmund and Susan kneel before Aslan.  He says “rise kings of Narnia.”  They all rise except Prince Caspian.  He says again, “I said rise kings.”  Prince Caspian responds, “I do not believe I am ready.”  Aslan says, “It’s for that reason I know you are ready.”

Humility is the key to great leadership.  I know my greatest moments have come when my King has spoken and I feel like I’m not ready.  God can do more with my weakness through humility than all the strength and pride in the world.  It is only through my humility and weakness that God can do His greatest work through me.  When I am weak, He is strong.

This reminds me of an old song, “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.”

When have you felt weak and not worthy and God did great things through you?

Me, Erwin, Jesus & Java…

Just so you know where my head is right now, I’m in my Tuesday Office meeting with Erwin McManus and Jesus.  OK, Erwin is not actually, physically here.  I am so excited about my devotional and study time.  The other day I was in the bookstore picking out a couple of things to read.  I felt really drawn to a specific author, Erwin McManus, who is the Lead Pastor of Mosaic.  Something in me got excited like me and Jesus were about to embark on a great journey.  So I am stoked.

Go pick up a copy of one of Erwin’s books.  It will bless you or maybe I’m just on my own little trip.

What good books have you read lately?

Jam on it.

Amy’s 20th reunion is coming up soon and she is helping plan the event.  My sister sent us her collection of 80’s music and we happened to be listening to some last night when our son (Nathan) came into the kitchen.   Nathan constantly cracks us up.  Here is a spontaneous dance by Nathan - a lip-sinc, robot, gangsta, hip-hop thing.  Jam on it!

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

So what goes on at your house that no one would expect?

Do Your Thing…

Good day.  Up early - cast my vote.  A little time with Jesus, myself, a good cup of coffee and some great music on iTunes.  Proverbs3:3-4  Love and faithfulness brings success and favor in the sight of God and man.

I get to spend some time with some cool people.  Today I got to have lunch with this guy.  I love to be around people who “know their thing and do their thing.”  Nobody can “do your thing” better than you.  You were created for it. Find it, pursue it, love it, do it!

Do you know what your thing is?

What’s your thing?

Are you pursuing it?

Why we do this…

This is the kind of stuff that makes it worth it. 

Today I performed a wedding ceremony for a couple who came to me and said they finally realized that they could not walk in God’s full blessing unless they quit living together and got married.  They realized God could not bless disobedience.  But that was not the best thing.  They both wanted to commit their lives to Christ and be baptized.  So we had a sea shore wedding and then got baptized. Dude.

That Rocks!!!!  God is so good.

This makes up for so much religious junk that you have to deal with in church.  It’s about relationships.

Congrats to Utah and Kim.  God bless you.  It was my honor.

Count it all JOY…

It’s been a heck of a day.  I woke up to my hall bathroom being flooded.  Water must have been overflowing from the toilet half the night.  It went through the floor and caused the ceiling in our den to fall, flooded the den with 1/2 inch of water then flowed thought the wall to the garage and laundry room.  Praise Jesus! 

I spoke about joy on Sunday.  New revelation.  You cannot know true joy until you are tested.  James said to “count it all joy when you face trials of many kinds.” James 1:1  I think this one qualifies. 

I must be doing something right.  Amy and I went out to eat tonight at Hiro’s for Japanese.  My fortune cookie said, “Stay your present course, you are doing the right thing.”  I don’t normally take advise from Confucius but I think I’ll believe this ones from God.

You must choose Joy despite your circumstances.  When things suck choose joy.  Deep huh?

Now I’m more excited than ever about what God’s up to.

It’s JOY BABY!!!!   Join the happy wagon!

A Sure Footing…

“The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.”  Proverbs 10:9 (NIV)

Amy and I just got back from a week in San Antonio, Texas where we were invited to speak at a retreat by a great friend and his wife.  The time we spent with Robbie and Annie made me think of the first part of the verse above.  Robbie is a Youth Pastor with 412 Youth Ministry at Trinity Church.  and was a part of the camp ministry we were involved in over the last 15 years.  We have had the pleasure of watching Robbie grow into a man of God and one of the best Youth Pastors I know.  Over the last week I felt like a proud parent as I watched Robbie handle very trying issues with the utmost integrity. 

Integrity is a most precious commodity.  It is Kingdom currency.  While others around you compromise and operated dishonestly, men and women of the Kingdom of righteousness must walk in integrity.  Integrity enjoys the favor of God.  It sustains you in the pleasure of the Father.  It keeps you on a sure footing.

A lack of integrity robs your security and any attempt to hide dishonest or compromising ways will be short lived.  God’s plan for our lives is too important to the Kingdom for Him to leave us living lives that lack integrity.  He will allow us to go in the wrong direction in order to deal with what is lacking or needed in our lives in order to make us more effective for the kingdom.