CONTINUE...

Too often I determine my spiritual growth by where I am camped out on the 'mountain' instead of how God determines our my change; by the very fact that I am still climbing.

I've been pretty intrigued my Everest lately. I've watched a couple of documentaries and even other climbing pieces. And ignoring for a few minutes that the proverbial parallels of living life and climbing mountains have pretty much been rung dry, there is an observation I've made that I think is worth sharing. Its not noteworthy just when you summit a mountain. Its also quite noteworthy when you give everything you have in the pursuit of summit-ting a mountain. To quote the cute disney star turned pop diva Mylie Cyrus, "Its not about how fast I get there...It's not about what's waiting on the other side...It's the climb!"

Philippians 2:12 says 'Therefore, my dear friends as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.' The key word here is...Continue. Paul was either casually mentioning something we all think is good (to never stop discovering God and who you are in Him) or maybe addressing a negative behavior! Either way...most of us need to hear this!

Going back to what I said in the beginning, its a very convenient yet fatal mistake to consider yourself changed (and therefore having discovered all God is and who you are in Him) based on where you are on the 'mountain'. Its easy to do. You look around and there aren't many climbers on the upper part of the mountain. Many...most are at most a couple camps up from base-camp laughing and enjoying there jouney! And why shouldn't you enjoy every step of the way - you've made it this far. So you set up camp...and get comfortable; never climbing higher than the safe majority. That is not a heart being changed by Him.

God calls us to a dangerous yet very powerfully worthwhile climb...where we are never finished and though there is comfort, joy and rest beyond our imagination, we never really camp! Sure its safe and comfy but the challenge and risk are worth it...He is worth it!

CONTINUE!

Keep on obeying when it doesn't make sense. Keep on trusting Him when its hard. Keep on loving others when it hurts. keep on discovering who He is and who you are in Him. There is more than you could image. (see Philippians 3:14)

Radical?

So I am reading the book "Radical" by David Platt and it has been challenging and refreshing hearing someone speak of the church and christians in the way I believe many people think but don't say! I recommend every christian read it.

But his title is all wrong! I like David and I know I've never written much less titled a book but I think calling this book 'radical' just continues the trend of reserving the level of commitment to Christ that God desires for the few! If I am radical about something then there are people who are normatively enthusiastic about it! It's different than a sports fan and a sports fan with 7 fantasy league teams! Genuine "christianity" and biblical commitment to God is an all or nothing standard, there is one ruler, you are or you aren't.

I understand the process of sanctification and growth that leads us to know and trust God more. I understand that today, at this moment not all followers of Christ (I would include my self) are not entirely at the genuine, biblical commitment level that God desires for us all, but my problem is this: we tend to reserve a camp for those believers mid-way up the mountain and call them climbers.

I think the name of the book should be 'Normal'.

I'm sure David and his publishing company didn't intend for me to feel this way - but in many ways I am growing more and more tired to calling base-camp my destination and me a climber! I want to know what all God has for me and to know all His is - or at least I want...to want it!! I happen to believe that all believers are called to same genuine, biblical (normal for us) level of commitment...OUR LIVES! Anything short of this is not genuine or biblical Christianity!

It may be radical to the world, but it is normal for those of us who've been changed by Him!

GOD CEO

I love the show Undercover Boss on CBS; maybe because I love organizational leadership executed by a sharp executive that is willing to sacrifice personally in order to better his company!

I see the same kind of thing happening in Matthew 21:33-46 in Jesus' story of the tenants! A landowner (God) builds a vineyard and rents it out to farmers (us who serve in the Church) then sends servants (likely: prophets, scripture, the Holy Spirit and Jesus) to check on the fruit of the 'vineyard'. We see servants and the landowner's son being killed by corrupt tenants and verse 43 says that the 'Kingdom of God will be taken from those who do not produce fruit and given to a people who will produce its fruit.'

God does a couple things as CEO/Landowner in this story that really unpack all He is able and willing to do as God to see that his tenants/laborers see the fruit of the gospel. God has sacrificed heavily for and continues to demand production! God, as the builder of this thing we work for, has given His son and is investing still by giving us His Holy Spirit. And He guarantees that He will remove influence and kingdom growth from anyone corrupt and not bearing kingdom fruit.

Meaning: God honors those who work hard to see His kingdom grow and He is not a God that sits lofty in a leather chair surrounded leather bound books in an office that smells of rich mahogany....!

Hebrews 4:15 - For we do not have a high priest (CEO) who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin.

Bible Study tips

Some Bible Study tips I am freshening up on:

2 steps to Understanding:

1. The more you read before and after a given passage, the more completely you will understand about what is said. (ie - 1 Corinthians 11:27-32 - "unity")
2. Work outward for better understanding: 'Word' to 'immediate context' to 'rest of book' to 'different books by same author' to 'different author on same topic' to 'all of new/old testament'


4 steps to Application:

1. What did it mean to them? (historical analysis)
2. What are the cultural difference? (recognize exceptions and barriers from then to now and from there to here)
3. What is the theological Principle? (general truth that is timeless and congruent w/ the rest of scripture)
4. What is the application? (based on steps 1-3, determine how you should behave)

Living "this" is better than knowing "that"!


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How to Obey God When You Can't...

God made you. He is perfectly aware of what you are and what you are not capable of. Sometimes that means that you will never be asked or impassioned to do anything that doesn't come naturally to you and sometimes......it doesn't!

Basically: can you do a Hard Thing for the glory of God even when you are, all things considered, not capable of doing that thing? You're not good at it - you are nervous - you are scared - you've never done it before - you're too young - too old - too ______!

I think we learn something big in the story if Gideon. His limitation: allowed by God only a 300-man army versus a countless multitude (Judges 7) when 22,000 were available to him! Here's the point, we will all experience limitations when it comes to obeying God or acting on our God-given passions! And the kicker is...God set those limitations on you...knowing what he wound request of you and what your passions would demand of you one day.

So here is how you obey God when you can't _____. Do the 80% you ARE capable of and trust God for the 20% you are (naturally) incapable of. Your 80% may be just showing up, making the phone call, standing up to someone or simply entertaining the idea of trusting God! But do your part and lean on Him!

I've heard that "If you can easily picture yourself accomplishing your dreams, you don't have God-sized dreams" and the way I see it in scripture is if God calls you to do something you can't do, He expects (even desires) to get involved and get glory only He deserves in the first place!

(Gideon and the Israelites won by the way!)

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Is the Church about the church?

So I've been reading the bio of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his reflections of the American Church in the 20s as a 24 year old have made an impact of me! he writes:

"The Union (seminary) students talk a blue streak without the slightest substantive foundation and with no evidence of any criteria...they are unfamiliar with even the most basic questions. They have become intoxicated with liberal and humanistic phrases, laugh at the fundamentalists...In New York they preach about virtually everything; only one thing is not addressed...the gospel of Jesus Christ..." He goes on to talk about large churches and describe them as "charitable and social corporations" instead of a "congregation of believers in Christ."

My question: Is it all that different today? My fear is that 'the Church is about the church' and by that I mean that God's people generally speaking are most concerned with the success of their local context (the local church as a social or charitable corporation) instead of being most concerned with sharing the gospel Jesus and disciple-ing people!

What if local churches cared most about telling the story of Jesus and about people? First of all, it would finally give context for the social and charitable behavior of a church that it no doubt must have. Its an issue, I think, of trust and priority as local church leaders. I will put 1st things 1st and trust God for what 'success' looks like for my local context!

more than TOMS

In the past year, I've read several books this year with a common thread of 'do something GREAT with your life' and besides wanting to change the world after reading each book, I end with a dilemma...is it better to do 'GREAT things' or to do the everyday things with GREATness? (This is partly to make me feel better that the 'GREATest' I've done for the world lately is sponsor 1 kid for about $30 a month and bought a pair of TOMS for my wife.)

But I read books and see movies of real men and women who changed the world, their country, even the life of a friend and I have to be honest; I get bored with my day-to-day sometimes and I want to give my whole life to something and specifically, something that God is doing. These heros give up everything from safety and convenience to money and even their life so someone else could live (better). What I forget is that these GREAT people lived ordinary lives before and sometimes after their time in the spot light. And I realize its not a question of choosing either moderately important things with GREATness or doing GREAT things with my life but more about being willing to exercise the same sacrifice when I have the opportunity!

So I will read fewer 'how-to change the world' books and more stories of ordinary people who seized opportunities to die so someone else could live! Meanwhile, I wait for opportunities to give my hour, day and life to something GREAT God would call me to!