The Journey

Ever since I had an encounter with the Father's love my life has not been the same.  It has been a life of change, trials, joy, and adventure.  I feel incredibly blessed for the times that individuals have followed the leading of the Holy Spirit.and have spoken into my life.  February 12th, 2002 was one of those times that a person was obedient to God and their obedience changed my life.  One of our staff members,Sharon, came into my office and told me that the Holy Spirit had told her that she needed to give me that day's devotional from a Max Lucado devotional she was reading.  Sharon gave me the following quote, "There is a rawness and a wonder to life.  Pursue it.  Hunt for it.  Sell out to get it.  Don't listen to the whines of those who have settled for a second-rate life and want you to do the same so they won't feel guilty.  Your goal is not to live long it's to live.  Jesus says the options are clear.  On one side there is the voice of safety.  You can build a fire in the hearth, stay inside, and stay warm and dry and safe.  Or you can hear the voice of adventure-God's adventure.  Instead of building a fire in your hearth, build a fire in your heart.  Follow God's impulses.  Adopt the child.  Move overseas. Teach the class.  Change careers.  Run for office.  Make a difference.  Sure it isn't safe, but what is."  "Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it."  (Luke 17:33 NIV)  I thanked Sharon, closed my door and prayed for forty-five minutes.  When I got off my knees I knew I would resign from my job leaving a job I had worked hard to get to become a full-time pastor of a small struggling church.  I was not  leaving a good job, a good salary, security, I was following a God.

For the next eight and a half years the God adventure was being a full-time pastor.  Then my wife Lisa spoke into my life and one more time God was building a fire in my heart for a greater adventure.  I did  not realize until the week after I announced my resignation that Lisa had told me that I would resign to do ministry in a different way four years to the day I decided to resign.  I was a year late leaving because of my fear of thinking I had failed God because the church did not grow and do all that I had prayed for.  I realize today I did not fail but was obedient to what God had assigned me.  In that time at FHO I learned a great deal and today I look upon that time as a time of training for even greater things.  One more time God would stir my heart for leaving the safe and secure for the unpredictable and unknown.

Today I am have a part-time job with a wonderful ministry using all of my non-profit, managerial, and pastoral experiences.  I have met several people who do not just talk about doing church but are the church.  They are touching the least of these and are making a difference for the kingdom.  Every day I am doing ministry just as my wife told me, by just being myself.  This is an exciting and challenging adventure and I am pumped about the possibilities. I don't know where it will lead or how long it will last but I like the adventure.

God never calls you to a boring adventure but one filled with the unknown with limitless possibilities.  Can you hear His voice?  How are you going to respond?  Will you build a fire in your heart or one in the hearth staying nice and warm and dry?  Will you follow after Jesus as He calls you?  I don't know about you but I want something more than the 'average' Christian Life I want to experience all that He has for my life.         

A Troubling Dream

Two years ago I had one of those dreams that bothered me in my spirit.  In this particular dream I was walking through the church parking lot with a friend and there were people all around the property and in the buildings talking, laughing, sharing life together.  As I looked up I saw four tornadoes to the north and I looked back to the south I saw the biggest blackest tornado I had ever seen.  I told my friend to save as many as he could (he has the call of an evangelist on his life).  I told the group walking behind us to hurry and run for shelter, they just kept walking at their slow, leisurely pace.  I ran to a group in one of the buildings and said they needed to run for shelter and their response was that there was a soccer game to get the kids to, laundry needed to be done, yard work was waiting, etc,.  A third group, who I pleaded with, responded that it was just Carl and just to ignore him.  Finally, there was a small group who heeded my warning and sought shelter.  After the tornado had blown over we left the church basement and nothing was left except this small group of people.  Destruction was all around us.  I awoke from the dream deeply troubled and sought understanding from the Holy Spirit.

After a few weeks of prayer and sharing this dream with those I trust I shared the dream with the congregation from the pulpit with my understanding of the interpretation which follows.  There is a group within the church that is satisfied and complacent. This group does not understand the urgency of the time.  They are content with their walk and have no desire to go any deeper any time soon.  The second group are those that have idols in their heart. As I have thought about this, activity is an idol in our culture.   Everything else is more important than the Father.  The third group are those that do not honor the prophet and are not hearing what the Holy Spirit is saying through the prophetic voice.  Finally, the fourth group is the remnant that God has graciously placed within the Church.  

This prophetic word, I believe, is for the whole Body of Christ.  If we are honest, each of these four groups are in our churches.  The numbers may vary from church to church but these four groups are normally present in the local assembly.  This may be discouraging to some but I am encouraged that there is, at least, a remnant within the Body.  Let us pray for that remnant to begin coming forth and taking it's place in the church and that it would become the majority.  Let us pray that the first two groups fall in love with Jesus all over again and their hearts burn with passion for Him.  That they would repent of their complacency and for the idols of their hearts.  For those not listening to the voice of the prophets let us pray that their ears would be open to what God is speaking through His prophets.

Not only should we pray for each of these groups but we should take time and allow the Holy Spirit to show us which group we belong in.  Honest self-examination is an important part of our walk and should be done on a regular basis.   

I always appreciate feedback but I would especially like your views on this dream  The prophets are to test the prophets.