Grabbing the Brass Ring

My professor made an interesting comment during his lecture last week, and I'm still not sure what I think about it. Unfortunately, I don't have the scripture references he made. I'm going to try to get those.

So here's the basic idea. We know that we cannot save anyone alone. Unless the Holy Spirit opens their eyes and touches their heart, they will not be open to God. I recognise this in my own life. I had Jesus shared with me over the years, yet remained closed. However, once He opened my mind to the possibility that this was true, I couldn't stop thinking about it. The choice was definitely in front of me.

However, Steve's point was that in that moment you still have a choice (seems right). That you can choose Jesus or not. But if you don't then God may close your heart again and you will have missed your chance. Maybe not your only chance, but at least this one.

In a way, this makes sense. We do have a choice. Even if the Holy Spirit allows us to see the choice clearly we still decide for ourselves. We could chose not to follow Jesus. If we did, do we know that invitation is open forever?

Another point is that it does relieve some guilt on behalf of Christians. "Why did God choose me to be saved and not others?" Maybe He has chosen all of us at one point, yet only some chose to believe.

I'm still not sure where I fall on this. I need to do more study. But at first blush, it does seem to make sense.

I really want your opinion. Click the comment link and leave your thoughts.

Robin Hood

I was thinking this Easter weekend about how Jesus is alive. It is so easy for me to think of Jesus living so long ago and they God is in Heaven. The truth is, Jesus is alive. He may not be with us physically, but He is with us.

This reminded me of Robin Hood. In the story, Robin steals from the rich and gives it to the poor. This is done much to the aggravation of the Sheriff of Nottingham and Prince John who sits on the throne. Prince John is a horrible ruler. He does not care for the people, rather uses his position purely to enjoy his power. He burdens the people with heavy taxes so that he may enjoy his lavish lifestyle.

However, Prince John is not the king. King Richard is the king. However he is away fighting in the Crusades. Even though he is not with them, the people place their hope in the fact that Richard will one day return. They know that means that Prince John's rule of oppression will be over.

This Earth is also ruled by a horrible prince. Satan is the prince of this world. He has authority over it, and he abuses that power to his own end. However Jesus is alive. He is the rightful King and He will return to reign.

Update - St. Patrick's Day

Well it's been three months since I last wrote. In wondering why, I think it's a mix of not really knowing what to write and having other outlets for some of my thoughts. Anyway, if you're still around here I'll bring you up to speed quickly on what's been happening then later I'll post some of the particular things God has taught me in these last few months.

First of all, I started and completed my first quarter at Vineyard Leadership Institute (VLI). It was a great time. So far, it looks like I'll have an A average. The classroom time was good, but I really enjoyed the preaching mentoring with Linden. Six sermons preached, but overall a really good way to build experience. Overall, it really wasn't as hard as I expected. Then again, I wasn't working.

Speaking of that, I am starting back to work this coming Friday. I'll be contracting through RHT to Worthington Industries. It's only a month assignment, but you never know how these will go. My last assignment was only two months and I was there seven years.

Other that that, God has taught me a ton on trusting Him and relying on Him for provision, but that's another show.

Reboot

Well since my last post, things have continued to change drastically. The day after I posted about my wife was my last day at work. It's been almost four weeks now, with Thanksgiving and our Christmas program here, it's gone very fast. I'm continuing to look for work and know that God will open the right doors at the right time.

Immediately after I lost my job, I started here at the church on staff as a Pastoral Intern. It's been a little surreal as I'm kinda making this up as I go. My job is to fill two different COD positions, Director of Small Group Life and Director of IT, plus attend the Vineyard Leadership Institute. Otherwise, I am trying to get into a routine and make myself more available to the staff.

One new way I'm getting involved is with the Pastoral Care Team meeting on Tuesday mornings. That's when the staff goes over what needs there are in the congregation and how we can care for them. For now I'm mainly trying to observe and only share a little. I'm hoping this will expand more as my work with the Small Groups start to grow. If Small Groups leaders are our 'pastors in the field', then I hope to have more to report on as those relationships grow.

As for Small Groups, I'm getting off to a slow start and need to begin growing those relationships. I get hesitant because I fear how I'll be received. Time to get past that and start doing the work I want to do.

Seeing God Through My Wife.

You know, there are many ways in which being married really helps you understand God. Same goes for having kids. God's original plan for man (be fruitful and multiply) seems designed to illustrate who God is.

Now I'm not saying that the unmarried can't know God. We don't have kids, but I still know God. I just think that it really does help.

Case in point. As you know, I'm likely going to lose my job any day now. The stress is getting terrible, and finding the motivation to keep my tongue still and keep working is a challenge all its own. Yet my wife has shown me understanding and mercy beyond anything I expected.

What did I expect? Screaming. Criticism. Guilt.

Instead, she's showing me unconditional love, support and mercy.

As I was reflecting on how greats she's been, it struck me that God is so much more. What do I normally expect from God? Criticism and guilt. What does He give me? Absolute love, acceptance and mercy.

I can be so critical of my failures with God and just assume that He is the same. He is not. He sees and recognizes my failure, but forgives it and accepts me.

He loves me.

Yes, we say it so many time, but it's taking my wife to show me.

52 Pick Up

Well, I meet tomorrow with Linden and Mark, our Sr. Pastor and Administrative Pastor, to further discuss possibility of a Pastoral Internship. It was approved by the Elders, so we need to go over the details.

I'll tell you, it really feels like God is playing a game of 52-pick-up with my life right now. In four months I've gone from working my FT job and hoping that I could work towards being a pastor soon, to soon not having the FT job, considering school and a previously non-existent internship at my church. My wife and I feel like everything stable is gone right now and we are quite without direction.

Few of us ever hear an audible word from God. For me, it's often more of just an instinct I feel that may not make much sense.

Example: My wife's employer was in a renovated house and we almost rented the apartment upstairs from him. Even though it was a great situation, my instincts told me no. It felt like God was keeping us from taking it, so we passed. Most of the company, including Amanda, was laid off just a few months later. What would have been very convenient would have now been very, very awkward.

Today, I don't hear God saying anything clearly about my job or future. It's just this instinct that God is going to provide in pieces, even week to week or day to day for a while. During that time, I'll be working for the church, going to school, and getting prepared. It will be a time of purging and preparation.

I'm very scared for it. Not myself, so much, but for my wife. It's hard not to be able offer her a sense of security and stability. Those things need to come from God, so maybe that's the lesson for both of us.

Pray for us that God will speak comfort and confirmation to us.