September Book Review

Rumors of God is an inspirational journey that gives practical examples of the characteristics of God that inspire us to press on to "continue to work out our salvation."  Darren Whitehead and Jon Tyson do a masterful job of giving real-life examples of how the God of 2,000 years ago, is the same God of today.

They also talk and illustrate in such a way that if you take what you are reading and practically attempt to apply it to your everyday life, it will close the gap between what you have heard about God, and what you actually experience with God.  An excellent resource to be read more than once that also provides study questions to be used in a small group or discipleship setting.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

No He Can't Review

Hey...been off the grid for awhile.  Getting back in the swing I thought I would post a review for my most recent Booksneeze book.

First I am not a huge political fan.  Especially of reading books about politics.  This book, however, is an easy read.  Kevin McCullough writes in a reader friendly fashion and is a very good storyteller.  No He Can’t is an interesting read for anyone who approaches it with an open mind, whether you completely oppose the current president or are one of his biggest fans. Kevin digs deep back in history, examining the defining moments of Obama’s life and political career, finding the roots of what he believes to be the key episodes which shaped the future actions of Barack Obama.

If nothing else, the book allows you to examine yourself and see what you think about the current political climate in America.  There is always room for debate and McCullough brings up some good issues that would be great for coffee shop conversations or at the next family gathering.  I give the book a 4 out of 5.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Cal and Dad vs. Food

I set out yesterday with my son Callen for Columbus, Ohio.  Our goals are many:  Eat, hang out and have fun together, experience a type of rite-of -passage as he looks to begin high school next fall.  We started out leaving our house and headed to Melt.  If you have never been to, or heard of Melt, click on the link.  As they say on the website, a trip to Melt is like an event, not just going out to eat.

I tried there winter chicken grilled cheese.  All sandwiches come with a hefty serving of fresh cut fries and Melt's own sweet slaw.  Take a look.  I admit I was able to eat the whole thing, while my son had to get a to go box.  We proceeded to the West side of Columbus where we will be hanging out for a couple of days trying to accomplish our goals mentioned above.

One of the rite of passage conversations will be around this verse:  Numbers 15:39.  I will present my son with a simple braided leather "tassel" that will hopefully serve as a reminder of the fun we had together, but more importantly of the plan God has for him, and how he must work to live like Jesus.

Well, he's waking up, and we have a Chinese Buffet to hit today and a burger place.  Headed to a 3 block bookstore over in German Village.  Thanks for praying for us.

Review: Pujols More Than The Game

"I can't make you believe what I stand for.  I can only tell you my story."  And tell his story he did.  Scott Lamb and Tim Ellsworth do a masterful job of painting a complete picture of the man behind the baseball player, Albert Pujols.  Many times misunderstood, or misread, they dig deep into the history and "good fortune", that has made Pujols one of the best loved, and most heroic players of the last decade.  There is quite a bit of the story that involves his wife Dee, and it keeps the reader engaged to learn how they, together, have used Albert's career and opportunities, to partner in ministry.  You don't have to love baseball to like this book, although Lamb and Ellsworth do an excellent job of chronicling the stats that Pujols has put together over his career.  The most impressive is the fact that in 2010, Pujols became the first player in baseball history to bat .300 with 30 home runs and 100 runs batted in for ten consecutive seasons.    An excellent book for the baseball fan and for the person looking for a feel good story about a million dollar athlete who has not lost perspective on life and is using his gifts to glorify God.

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson publishers for the complimentary copy of this book.   I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”  I enjoyed reading it for review purposes and hope that it is helpful.

Emmet

We started a sermon series at church this week.  It is based on the book Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby.  He is truly one of the great modern day pastors/writers.  You can read more about him and his book at the above links, but the basis of this particular book is that there are 7 realities to "experiencing God." 

The first is this:  God is always at work around you.  So pastor gave us a two-fold challenge.  We turned our palms up and simply said, "God, I want to know you."  Second, we put our hands on our hips, stuck our necks out as if straining, got a little wide-eyed...all to remind us to look around and try and see where God is working.

Tuesday I went to the local rec center.  Normally, I am already changed from softball practice and can head right to the treadmill.  For some reason (one I now know), I didn't change for practice, and had to go to the locker room.  I walked in on a conversation between two mid-50's men, and my ears perked up quickly when I heard "...he's not a Christian.  What is a Christian anyway?..."  They were semi-arguing (I later found out they were talking about Pres. Obama) about a decision that he had recently made or some statement he had said.

Emmet noticed I was listening, and promptly invited me into the conversation (God is always working).  We went on, Emmet and I, to have about 1/2 an hour conversation about "christian."  He was a Church of God member, now part of a "Baptist Ministry."  He was careful not to say church, as we both shared a like-mindedness that our "church" should not define us.  I could go on and on about the conversation, but there is a part of me that believes that is between Emmet and I.  Sorry.

Where is God working around you?  Turn your hands up....strain your neck a little....get a little wide-eyed...you just might run into Emmet!

Hey Coach

Knee deep into softball season.  Time is very precious these days.  One thing that has caught my attention lately at school is the number of students that greet me with "Hey coach."  Some of these are students that I have coached directly...others I have just been in the ranks of the program and have just crossed paths because I am involved and they are a player...no direct instruction, if you will.  The thing that has struck me is that I am still their "coach."  For some reason, they have put me in that rank and file in their brain sorting.  I must admit that feels pretty good.  It also is a big responsibility....I don't want to let these students down. 

I wonder if winning and losing is really what makes someone a great coach in a player's mind.  Have there ever been great coaches who haven't won anything?  As I finish this, March Madness is getting ready to start.  In my opinion, one of the purest contests that still exists in the sports world today.  Pre-million dollar salaried athletes pouring out everything they got in a one-and-done tournament.

I like to watch the coaches in these contests...they also seem to be in it for the pure pursuit of victory.  I'm sure I am somewhat naive and don't know all that is at stake, but it seems like most of them have really great relationships with their players.  The coach is not just trying to manage personalities, but players are actually looking to be a coached...I hope I never pass up a moment to teach

Another Adree Song

Several weeks ago I posted something about my daughter Adree introducing me to a Christain "rap" artist nicknamed C-Lite.  You can see that post here.  I have listened/watched the youtube video several times over that last few weeks.  I also stumbled onto another artist who C-Lite got together with on a song called "Background."  The artist is Lecrae.  The lyrics to this song have been so profound that I have actually committed to try and memorize them.  Here is the video from youtube with lyrics.  Let me know what you think.  By the way, the official video for the song can be found here.

212 Degrees

Been off the grid for about a week.  It has been rather busy.  First full week of coaching softball.  Thought for the week with the girls was "Practice as if you are the worst, and perform as if you are the best."  This is a really busy time of the year.  It is usually the time when patience is short and arguments are often.  Trying to talk to myself about this so as to make things a little more peaceful heading into the spring.

Talked to the girls on the softball team a lot about effort this week.  One thing that is unacceptable at my softball practice is "I can't."  I expect "I'll try."  One of my favorite inspirational videos is called 212 degrees.  It talks about the fact that at 211 degrees you have really hot water, but at 212 degrees you get steam,,,and that can power a locomotive.  Just one degree makes that much difference....here watch for yourself.

“By what power or what name did you do this?”

Peter and John went on their way in chapter 4 of Acts to begin the Proclamation stage of "Operation Gospel Expansion."  The religious leaders of the day felt very threatened by their teachings, techniques, and especially the following they were starting to amass in and around the area.  So they did what any good leader would do...they seized them and put them in jail.  Probably thinking this would scare them into stopping....??

The irony is that they were being brought to the religious leaders for actually performing an act of kindness!?  So, there have probably been times we have done things that go against popular opinion, and our character or motives have been questioned, but we knew deep in our hearts it was the right thing to do.  What do we do in these situations...become defensive?.....gather people to be on "our side"?....what should we do?

Well, what did Peter do?  He was filled with the Holy Spirit.  (v. 8)  Am I tuned up?  Living a spirit-filled life?  My personal test for this is to take stock of how comfortable I am.  If I am coasting, just muddling through my daily existence, I am probably living an "ernie-filled" life.  If I am being challenged, tested, forced to step outside of what I know I can do....chances are pretty good I am needing some supernatural spirit-like help.  Hence needing to be filled with the Spirit. 

So what is the result when we choose this path??  Look at verses 13-14.  "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.  But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say." 

So may we go about our daily grind attempting things way beyond what we can do ourselves so as to render our critics speechless....

..................by what power or what name did you do what you did today??

Valentine's Day

I got to go on a date on Sunday, right before Valentine's Day. It was time away from my "true" Valentine, but it was time spent with one of my "mini" Valentine's. We went to our favorite restaurant, Bahama Breeze, and just had a wonderful time. I realized when I sat down, and we prayed for our food, how truly blessed I am.

I heard one key phrase from my pastor's sermon this past week. "I am not all that I am supposed to be, but at least I am not who I was." Thank God for grace......

I hope my kids see this in me. May I always default to Grace when I am uncertain.....................................

This picture is from our last date at Steak-n-Shake, but it is a keeper. I wish life could stay simple, but kids grow, they become independent, but I hope they remember the grace extended to them...it would help all of us to remember the grace extended to us, then we would be more generous with grace.

May I always live as if my shake has two straws..........................

Author of Life

Peter goes on in Chapter 3 and begins to somewhat put the Israelites in their place.  Sharing with them, rather forcefully, how they missed out, killed the Messiah, and now it was time to change their ways.  He mentions the big 3, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, just to make sure he has their attention.

He then describes Jesus in a unique way...the Author of Life.  What a great metaphor for Jesus.  Authors originate things.  They create story lines that capture our minds and cause us to not want to put "the book" down.  They use words to convey messages, develop opinions, and promote discussions.  Peter made a careful distinction here by not just calling him Jesus.  The Pharisees felt threatened by Jesus.  So for Peter to make him the "Author of Life" it actually raised his "status" to beyond just a prophet or disciple of Satan, etc.

Also, the appropriateness of Jesus being an "Author" is related to him being "the word" as mentioned in John 1.  And then in Hebrews, Jesus is called "the author and finisher of our faith..."

So how is your book coming along?  Have you taken it to "the Author" for editing lately?  Are you reading the same old boring words, or are you looking to enrich your vocabulary by being editable and moldable?  Do you present yourself as a blank page (Romans 12:1-2) on a regular basis? 

Not that I am there...but I hope to live as a "man they would write about..."  This is an old 4 Him song (dating myself some), but I hope "the Author" hears these as sweet words........

Where is your beautiful gate?

Finally, I have made it to the 3rd chapter of Acts.  The apostles have been filled with the Holy Spirit and are now on a mission.  So Peter and John were headed to the temple, per their usual schedule, I suppose.  Interestingly, the place where they entered the temple, stated as being a gate, is called Beautiful.  The irony that I felt as I read this little passage at the beginning of Chapter 3, is that the scene of a lame beggar asking for money, does not promote beauty in my mind.

My mind began to wander...big surprise there!!  I probably have the chance to be Peter everyday.  I am by no means rich.  I try to give to worthy causes and all, but don't have cash just laying around to give to everyone who asks...probably a lot better off than Peter....but I'm pretty sure I have what Peter had, and what he offers to the man at the gate called Beautiful.

So, I said to myself, "Self, who are the lame beggars in your life?  Who are the people who need something beyond the tangible?  Who in your life needs Jesus?  Where is the "gate called Beautiful" that I have to pass through everyday?  Am I in such a routine that I don't notice those around me who need what I have?

Where is your beautiful gate....and are there any lame beggars sitting there in need of what you have??......

Footnote-- This is an actual photo of the Gate called Beautiful

No Tombstone

So I am sitting in my living room playing with our 9-month old boxer and I hear this catchy little tune pumping from the direction of our home computer being used by my 10-year old daughter.  I say to her, "What is that your are listening to?"  Innocently, she says, "I found this 'white rapper', and he is really awesome" (This probably comes from her limited exposure to rap music from her 14-year old brother)  She is really much more of a Faith Hill/Taylor Swift type of girl.  She goes on, "His name is Andy 'C-Lite' Mineo, and he is a Christian."  Skeptical, I say Ok, give it a brief "fatherly" look and listen, and continue with what I was doing.

Later on, my curiosity got the best of me.  I went back on Youtube and did a little investigation of this "C- Lite."  Come to find out, he is a guy from Philadelphia trying to spread the Gospel using as many media outlets as possible.  His website can be found here.  The message in this particular song is quite compelling.  He tells (and shows) a story played out thousands of times over in the streets of big cities.  I am sure there are ways to apply the message to situations in our everyday lives where we influence people.

This is definitely a specific genre of music that not all of you will appreciate, but as a father, I would rather my kids hear this message, through this mode of music, than some of the other stuff that is out there.

Enjoy.................

On balance and being a disciple

So I have arrived to the famous scripture in Acts 2:42-47 that most churches reference when they are discussing/training/justifying the small group ministry they are starting/involved in/trying to resuscitate.  Ironically, a friend wrote a post the other day containing an article about the idea of questioning small group ministries.  I hope he doesn't mind if I allow people to access it here.

The writer is convinced that small groups don't work.  I disagree with the statement, but not the principle.  For that matter, sermons don't work.  Should we stop preaching?  I think too much of anything can be harmful, that doesn't mean it is totally dysfunctional.  He states that "Small groups are things that trick us into believing we’re serious about making disciples."  He goes on that it is just a time to "develop shallow friendships" and "helping Christians feel connected" I think that can happen when people become too comfortable, but is that a symptom of a larger problem?  Say...a church that has become so good at creating disciples, that they forget to bring new people in to be discipled?  I do agree with his take that some churches have looked to small groups as the "magic bullet", but they have been sadly disappointed.

I agree with what I think he is saying about not being able to "force" relationships, however, the verse says "go and make disciples..." so there has to be some action on our part.  We cannot sit around and "spontaneously" wait for people to form relationships, in hopes that the Good News will be heard.  I think it has something to do with balance...

A balance between growing my personal relationship with God and sharing my personal relationship with others.  I think we are shy to share our personal relationship with others because we are not sure if we are keeping up with the growth expectation of others.  I also think we share with others (do and say all the right Christian stuff) to avoid the fact that we know we have not had much growth lately.  It is a paradox of sorts. 

We have been using Rob Bell videos (Nooma.com) in our small group/Sunday School for the past couple months.  Yesterday's was titled Rhythm...about being in tune.  About how some people know the song, but are still out of tune....about the idea that maybe their is a song playing all the time and it is up to us to get in tune...it really got me thinking...am I really a disciple?  Here is a trailer...try and watch the whole vignette if you ever have a chance

David said it all.......

I like how The Message summarizes what Peter was saying when he was quoting David....you follow all that?  Peter had just quoted the prophet Joel, and then in verses 22-24 he specifically addresses the Israelites and uses David at the end to give it a little more credibility:

I saw God before me for all time.
      Nothing can shake me; he's right by my side.
   I'm glad from the inside out, ecstatic;
      I've pitched my tent in the land of hope.
   I know you'll never dump me in Hades;
      I'll never even smell the stench of death
                                         You've got my feet on the life-path,
                                                 with your face shining sun-joy all around. (Msg Acts 2:25-28)

God never goes away or takes a vacation.  He is Emmanuel, God with us, and that gives us confidence.  I am not dependent on outside circumstances for the inside feeling of joy/contentment.  I exist where there is hope, knowing that I never will have to experience the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" that will be typical in the pits of Hell.  God gives me direction, steers me down the road less traveled, all the while spilling peace and contentment on those I come in contact with.  That is the type of Christianity I long to be a part of...David really did say it all.........

When do dreams die?

Acts 2:17 mentions that "in the last days", "young men will see visions and old men dream dreams."  I started to wonder....when do dreams die?  I have talked to a number of students over my 12 year teaching career.  Many of them started out with dreams of being a doctor or lawyer, but somehow have ended up possibly looking at barely finishing high school, and if they do, not really having much direction afterward.  How does this happen?

 Obviously there are circumstances, beyond their control, that may contribute to the dream slowly fading into nonexistence...but I wonder, is there an exact moment when the dream gets put to death?  It breaths its last, the guillotine drops, and it fades away to where?  Can it be brought to life again?  This intrigues me because I feel like this is where my calling is right now, for this particular season of life....I am a dream-keeper.  I endeavor to foster, develop, and resuscitate the dreams of young men and women.  Helping them to key in on their mind's eye, and look forward at what could possibly be out there for them.

Helping to do this involves the skills of unearthing a ‘picture of the future’ that fosters genuine commitment and engagement, rather than compliance.  Peter Senge wrote the book the The Fifth Discipline, and in it he talks about personal mastery and the idea of sharing vision with others in the order of systems thinking: 

"People with a high level of personal mastery live in a continual learning mode. 

They never ‘arrive’. Sometimes, language, such as the term ‘personal mastery’ creates a misleading sense of definiteness, of black and white. 

But personal mastery is not something you possess.

It is a process.

It is a lifelong discipline.

People with a high level of personal mastery are acutely aware of their ignorance, their incompetence, their growth areas"

 

Sounds a little bit like Holiness doctrine??  So doing this ministry is sometimes difficult....because it is hard to measure success (by the world's standards).  One thing I do know, however, everyday could be the 'last days', so I don't want to be found guilty of killing any dreams.

On daughters and Snowmen

"That snowman looks BAD daddy...it is way too small."  My 7 year-old's critique of our frozen creation we spent a good hour on Martin Luther King Day trying to construct.  I know she had images of Frosty with a perfect silk top hat, perfectly symmetrical branches, and as true to life as in the animated cartoon.  But our "Frosty," as you can see, does not quite measure up to expectations.  "It's not the right type of snow," I'm trying to console a now disappointed young lady.

A little back story:  All our kids were supposed to go out and play together.  The older two decided it was too cold and got engaged in other things...so the "duty" of going outside fell to me.  Honestly, the LAST thing I wanted to be doing at 3pm on Monday afternoon.

So, now we are knee deep, beginning to feel the chill, and I have thoroughly disappointed this little girl, who somehow wants me to create Frosty in our front yard.  "Let's put a hat and scarf on it, and look for some branches for arms, to see if we can make it look a little better"....I'm hoping this will distract the current state of disappointment.  She's good with that idea, and we head off hand-in-hand to find "arms" in the yard.  We find the "perfect" ones, and the disappointment on her face begins to turn to hope.  "I'm going to ask mom for the carrots," she says with a new found excitement.

We get the "eyes" and "buttons", and all the other accessories in place.  I look and my precious little girl's near tears have been replaced with smiles and joy.  "Hey Dad!  It still looks kinda bad, but we did our best.  Let's take a picture!"  WHAM!!  Spiritual awareness while building a snowman!!  I wonder if God says that about what we endeavor to do sometimes....it looks kinda bad....I know you did your best....Let's take a picture.

I later thanked my wife for "nudging" me to go outside(she is so wise).  It was time well spent...it is hard to disappoint those little ones who look to us as heroes...but their is learning that takes place in disappointment...and what I learned really mattered was the relationship and the time we spent together, not necessarily the quality of what we produced....i know their is spiritual value in that somewhere!!

So, next time it doesn't necessarily turn out as you, or someone who looks up to you, quite expected...remind yourself..."it looks kinda bad...we did our best...let's go ahead and take a picture........................."

Holy Spirit or Too Much Wine??

So, there they are, sitting in Jerusalem, waiting for "the gift."  Next thing they know, they are having a Wizard of Oz type experience.  I mean, rushing wind, tongues of fire, and speaking in a language different than their own.  What if that  happened today?  Sitting in church....."how great is our God, sing with me how great is our God...." and out of nowhere a crazy wind that undoes everybody's Sunday best!  I think know people would be speaking in tongues...probably saying some things not normally heard in church :)

I wonder...Am I so filled with the Holy Spirit that people think my actions are like someone who has had too much wine?  Do they have to be for people to know that I am trying to live a Spirit-filled life?  I wonder if I blend too much with the culture....I wonder.

Waiting and Control

Being a product of the 80's (there is no better music, by the way), I remember a Janet Jackson song (stop laughing) about control.  Click here if you need a flashback.  It was very self-serving and individualistic.  It described the rugged individualism that was so evident at that time, and continues to be evident, keeping us from existing in community as God designed.  That is for another post, however.  One of the bridges in the song says:

Got my own mind

I wanna make my own decisions

When it has to do with my life, my life

I wanna be the one in control.

So what do Janet Jackson and Peter in Acts Chapter 1 have in common?  They both had control problems.  Being patient was also a problem for Peter.  I don't know much about Janet Jackson, but Peter was told to wait for the Holy Spirit(1:4-5).

I was interested in this whole "casting lots" idea mentioned in Acts 1:26.  In reading some, it looks as if this occurred most often in the Old Testament, in Joshua, dealing with the division of land, as the Israelites had been instructed to do on many occasions by God in the Book of Numbers(Numbers 26:55; 33:54; 34:13; 36:2)  There isn't a whole lot (no pun intended) about casting lots in the New Testament except for this instance in Acts and when the Roman Soldiers were casting lots for Jesus' garments at the cross, and this was little more than a game for them.

So I am not thinking that casting lots was exactly what God had in mind to replace Judas, but that is what Peter knew, so that is what Peter went with.  Jesus was not there to give input, and the Holy Spirit had not yet come to give guidance, so Peter, in his boldness, went with what he thought was best.  Maybe he should have waited.  The two men considered, Joseph Barabbas and Matthias, are never really heard from again, but one of them tasted rejection that day.  I am so glad I have not been chosen or not by God, simply by flipping a coin or rolling the dice.  That seems pretty OUT of control....

I guess John Ortberg, Author and Teaching Pastor at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago says it best:

"Biblically, waiting is not just something we have to do

until we get what we want.

Waiting is part of the process of becoming

what God wants us to be."

Looking to keep giving up control, and waiting, so I don't miss out on something really good....sorry Janet!

Does God have a Plan B?

Sorry...been off the grid a couple days. Contracted a winter sinus issue and it has kept me down and out

However, continuing to read in Acts, I continue to find myself learning and having questions. So Jesus has left and gone into heaven. They return to where they are staying and begin to pray with Mary and others...probably asking themselves what they should do next. After all, they were told not to leave Jerusalem.

I am sure there were questions among them about what had transpired over the last several days. So on a day when there was a decent crowd, Peter (who was never shy to speak to a crowd), attempts to answer one of the questions that was probably floating around the rumor mill....what about Judas? How did we not know? Why would he do such a thing? He was one of us!?

So I have a question in my mind...was Judas' fate sealed? I think I realize God didn't cause him to sin, and that he was tempted by his own evil desires, etc (James 1:14-15) But Peter references some verses in Psalms that talk about what happened to Judas as scripture being fulfilled. They don't mention Judas by name but the reference fits saying "his home would have no one living in it." Obviously because Judas went out and hung himself. So I wonder, what if Judas would have chosen differently, if he indeed had a choice!? Would God have had a plan B person amongst the ranks to turn their back on the Christ?

Does God have a plan B for me? I know I have been dragged away and enticed by my own evil desires...I haven't always made the choices that have lined up with His plan for my life.........I just wonder. A question for Heaven, I guess.

Birth of a movement??

Do you think these guys that Jesus ascended into Heaven in front of, knew that they were the start of a movement that would ultimately change the course of human history? I'm not so sure. They were still very self-seeking in their questions of Jesus, after all they were expecting to see The Kingdom come with power(Mark9:1) So in verse 6, when they ask Jesus if he is going to re-establish the kingdom, I am not sure if they were being selfish, or still didn't quite comprehend what Jesus was about to assign them to.

But right away, like a patient grandfather, Jesus tells them that it is not for them to know (verse 7). Then, in what I believe not to be coincidence, He tells those who were expecting to see POWER, that they will get the POWER.....

However, a few moments later, staring aimlessly into the sky, I still don't think they realized what was going to happen to them in about 10 days (Pentecost). I think I am guilty of the same thing sometimes. I have been given power by the Holy Spirit. Do I live like it? Or am I staring into the sky....wondering...hoping He will ask someone else? I hope I continue to recognize opportunities to be a witness...sure am glad God is patient!!

Leaving Jerusalem

I had breakfast over the Holidays with a good friend.  We were talking about "doing church", among other things. We were challenging the traditional views on going to church and the whole idea that it is very easy to turn into a Sunday-go-to-church-consumer, and forget about why we "do church."

So I decided this New Year, I would begin by reading in Acts, and see if I could not learn some new things from the New Testament Church.  So I did not get very far this morning, and a phrase caught my attention.  (As an aside, I have decided to try a technique shared with me by a good friend.  Praying that something in a passage would jump off the page, and then reading it...reading it again, and then doing some journaling about what thoughts are evoked from that passage...that is where this blog comes in)  So, Acts Chapter 1 verse 4, Luke has set the stage describing the scene the 40 days after Jesus was crucified.  He states that he appeared to them several times to prove he was alive.

He then mentions a particular time, when they were eating together.  He says, "Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before."  The phrase that caught my eye was "Do not leave Jerusalem..."  How many times have I "left Jerusalem" before I got my gift?  How many times have I ended what I was doing, before I was able to be totally used by God?  Did I "leave" because it was too hard?  How many people leave a church because their preferences are not the same as the ministry team in place at a particular time?  How many people "leave" a job because of another person's attitude?  Now, don't get me wrong, there are definitely situations where this is appropriate, however, I think there are times that we "leave" before we get the gift......


I am challenged by this idea.  What if Jesus would have "left Jerusalem" before the plan was complete?  Sometimes I think we need to hang out, and not leave Jerusalem.  We need to wait and see what gift the Lord has for us.  This can get hard.  Maybe even boring....self-centered......Challenge us from all different fronts...let's choose to hang out, make another trip to the buffet, and see what the Lord has in store for us.

New Year's Resolution

Hey Everyone.  I tried this once before, and did not do a very good job.  I am looking for a way to hold myself accountable to keep track of what I wonder about spiritually.  My goal is to keep an online journal of sorts and share it with you, the people I consider solid influences on my spiritual development.  I hope to post a couple times a week.  I am not asking anything of you necessarily, but thought I would provide you some light reading when you are wandering around cyberspace and your email does not have anything too interesting in it. 

The title, Catterpillar Musings, goes back to a quote that I used when I started my teaching career at Orange High School...."There is nothing about a caterpillar that gives us any indication that it will someday be a butterfly"  I think there are things we think about and experience that somehow come together to form who we are and who God intends for us to be...we just don't always share them.  So this is my attempt to share them.  Please feel free to comment.