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.
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