Category: Random Thoughts

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It’s been awhile

As I look back, I see that even though we are 18 days into the new year this is actually the first posting I have made for 2009. Why is this, well for lack of a better reason, I have been consumed by the urgency of the world around me. Cold, work, car, computer, studies, have all conspired against me to distract me from what I am to be about.

At church last night, there was a great message about being connected to or close to or sensing the presence of God in our life. It got me reflecting back on the last year and how a simple blog posting has launched me on an incredible adventure of discovery about who God is and allowing Him to guide my steps. In this pass year I have allowed God out of this tiny box in which I had placed Him. In a story told me the other night expanded my understanding of God even farther. What type of box have you placed God in? Is it a conservative box? A liberal box? A traditional box? A ___________ box? God is not a prepackage commodity that we take off the shelf and use as we choose. How have you tried to conform God into what you believe about Him?

I think the most intriguing thing about church last night was how God spoke to me through a song that was sung by Brandon Heath called “Give me your eyes.” In this song the request is made of God that we might see people as He sees them. By doing this, we can then be His arms and hands and minister to the people we interact with in a way that God himself would. What powerful words and message this portrayed. What a challenge this has left me with. The prayer that I need to carry now. The action I need to execute. I challenge you to find the song (.99 on iTunes), listen and ask God how you should respond to its message.

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Making a Difference

I just finished watching one of my favorite movies “Amazing Grace”, the story of William Wilberforce. This is a man who not only received a calling from God, but one who also allowed that calling to become the passion that drove his life. The movie itself really focused on Wilberforce’s crusade to abolish slavery, but his passion went beyond that to many of the social issues of the day. What really excites me about this movie is not Wilberforce’s calling, though I am very much intrigued with the issues of social justice and the social Gospel, rather I am moved by how William listened to God’s call and then acted on it.

I have blogged about both these topics in the past and invite you to look back over past posting to see what I have said, but what I want to do today is once again invite you to recline your ear, still your heart and listen for that still small voice calling you to action, what ever that action may be for you. For each one of us this call will be different, in the broad sense it will be about serving God and/or serving others, but what that will look like in your life or mine could be very different.

Tonight I am struggling to hear, I am confused, I am overwhelmed. At times I seem to have great clarity in my call, at other times I feel quite lost. Now is a time of being lost. There seem to be to many paths, some leading in different directions other moving parallel to each other, separate yet together if that can be. Perhaps it is my Möbius band and sometimes I am on the inside and other times I am on the outside but always moving in the same direction. I need to be still, I need to listen, as William did I need to sit in the wet grass (ok its winter here so I would sit in the cold snow and look at spider webs) and wait upon the Lord.

What about you? What passion has God ignited in you? Have you reacted to it?

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Thoughts on Community

I have reached a nice two week break from work with the Christmas holiday to celebrate. My thoughts will turn to a further study of 1 Peter and my doctoral studies. As the new year approaches I will be looking at the way to use different Web 2.0 technologies to engage people in the area of spiritual formation.

Part of this research will revolve around the idea of community in on the online or virtual world. I am currently conducting a research study to gather some data and thoughts about this think we call community. I would appreciate it if you would take a few minutes to complete a survey on “community.” Just follow the link below to complete the survey. Thanks for your input into this study.

http://CTLSilhouette.wsu.edu/surveys/ZS86859