The informal survey that I took yeilded one result that really struck me. Of the 20 or so answers that people gave almost all of them had a relational basis and not a scriptural one. This is not necessarily bad, just significant. A lot of people said they learned from their parents or grandparents, from their teachers or from the example of other poeple at church. Every answer could be traced back to the simple idea that every person that responded learned how to pray from another person! That is significant if you think about it.

In realizing the significance of this I also realized two other things. First, if we are going to learn from other people, effectively acting as their disciple or student, then we need to make sure that they are a Godly person with an intimate and genuine realtionship with the Father with whom we wish to speak.

Second, and more profoundly, we must realize that other people are learning to pray by watching us. I don’t know about you, but that one scares me. I can tell you flat out that my prayer life is not what I want it to be, and if my kids are going to model their prayer life after me then I really have some work to do, and fast. In realizing this I also realize my responsibility to study scripture all the more to make sure that I know as much as I can about what the Bible says about prayer.

So let me end by asking you: Where and how did you learn to pray? And to add another question; how does that effect the way you want to teach others?

Darkness is a definite experience of prayer. It is to be expected, even embraced.

This goes along with some of the thoughts I wrote about the other day on the blessing of the silence of God. I’ve been here in my prayer life before, though I’ve never really thought of it as darkness. But, thinking now, I guess that’s what it is; a time when we cannot quite seem to connect with God and we are therefore communicating with Him apart of the light that is Him. Kind of philosophical huh?

I’m not claiming to understand it, but I have lived it. I hate those times in life when I pray and pray and pray and then something significant doesn’t happen. I’m tempted to think it’s a lack of faith, or maybe just a lack of the proper etiquette. But then, I know that isn’t true. God hears my prayer, He just chooses to delay in answering. A delay that is ultimately good for me and a part of His plan.

As for embracing the darkness of these times of prayer, it’s frustrating and hard. Those times when God just won’t man up and do what I ask (tell) Him to do are difficult, but mostly because I’m selfish.

I think embracing times of darkness will produce in God’s people and endurance of faith that would otherwise be totally impossible. If prayer was as easy as calling a hot line, making a small payment, and knowing that everything we asked for will be delivered in exactly the way we want it, then we can pray without ever flexing our faith.

But it is during the times of darkness, when the whole world seems to be moving away from the Jesus whom we love and serve. And we faithfully stand by Him, embracing the darkness, those are the times that we test and approve our faith. Those are the times that we feel how alive our faith really is

Any thoughts?

While I was out of town I was fortunate enough to stumble across the Karate Kid on TV. I was also fortunate enough to not have anyone tell me that it is a stupid movie and to change the channel. So, what did I do? Oh yeah, I watched the Karate Kid, and loved it! And, “surprisingly” I was reminded of a few things:

• Karate Kid Lesson 1: sometimes menial tasks prepare us for far more important things.
  The Karate Kid had to sand the deck, paint the fence, wash the car and do other menial things. He thought that he wasn’t learning anything, but later realized that the physical motion of doing those things was the same motion to block a punch, kick, and so on. I think life is a lot like this.

  Sometimes God has us in places that seem totally pointless. But, there is a point, a lesson, a task, and a calling in even the little things. Sometimes we just need to look under the surface.

• Karate Kid Lesson 2: learn balance first and the rest follows.
  The Karate Kid had to learn to balance and defend before he was taught to punch and kick.

  Balance first, in life and in Karate. Too often I go running after something without first being balanced in my thinking and in my spirit. I am continually learning that I must balance the things in my life so that I’m not controlled by things, but so that I can be led by the Spirit.

• Karate Kid Lesson 3: the enemy always plays dirty and to win.
  The bad dudes in the movie were dirty, no playing by the rules for them, only playing to win by any means possible.

  Our enemy fights just as dirty, and worse. We have to constantly be on the look out for his sucker punch.

I’m thinking this is likely what Aaron was feeling in Numbers 17 when the people were rebelling against authority. Previously they had questioned his actions, his ability to lead, and his call from God. I’ve been there, and in many ways am still there, fighting to lead people into the place that God has called us to go.

Its during these times that I have a tendency to look for a sign, for some kind of reassurance that everything is going to be ok and that I will still be able to feed my family and stand up strait when all is said and done. I don’t think the need for reassurance is bad or that it is testing God. Its just who we are and how we operate.

Well, Aaron got his sign. God told Moses to take the staff of the head of every family (twelve) and to put them in the tent of meeting, and the staff that sprouted would be the chosen spiritual leader. The next day when Moses went in, Aaron’s staff had sprouted, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds.

Maybe God got carried away on this miracle. Or, maybe there was great purpose in this. God could have just made Aaron’s staff spout with little flower buds and nothing more, but instead God chose to make it sprout, blossom, and produce food. There was no room for doubt, Aaron was God’s choice.

I have had many seasons like Aaron’s when I will doubt, and God will answer my prayers in a huge way, far above what I could ever hope or imagine. In the last year my cane has blossomed more times than I can count and I am constantly thankful for God’s little reminders of my calling all along the way. Here are a few of the things that He has blessed us with since we accepted His leading to plant a church.

• A free mini-van to drive
• A condo to live in rent free
• Various forms of financial help amounting to around $1,400
• A free computer (not new, but still a lot nicer than the one I had)
• My membership to a gym in Decatur paid for
• My web design business is growing, very slowly, but growing

I am continually thankful for these sprouts of blessing that we have had all along the way. And, I’m sure that many of you have similar stories. Please share them…

Yesterday I was burdened because the gravity of God’s calling to plant a church was overwhelming, and today I am free as I have been struck by the gravity of Jesus’ sacrifice on my behalf.

The gospel that has consumed my heart today. I realize how much I need the gospel every day. Jesus death, burial and resurrection isn’t just a nice story that helps people that don’t know Jesus get to know Him, it is the backbone of who I am as a follower of Jesus. It is the love story that has and should consume my heart and mind. It is the truth that is absolute and unapologetically life altering.

It is this simple truth that sets my heart on fire; Jesus loved me enough to sacrifice Himself as payment for my rebellion against God. In His perfection He saw me in my brokenness and chose to love me.

Amazing.

How powerful would our lives be if we could follow God with that kind of simplicity and intensity? Its a simple idea that really should change the way we live. Discover the parts of your life where God is moving and camp there. Seek out the parts of your life where He is not moving and set out to follow Him.

Whatever you do, don’t camp in the wrong spot because you will be wasting your life sitting alone in some desert.

I think this came about because I began to recognize my own role in every unfavorable circumstance. I had this realization that every conflict, every weird encounter, and every misunderstanding was in some way caused by me (to a degree). And so, instead of asking God to change someone else, or asking Him to change a relationship or circumstance, I’m asking Him to change me.

As I change, so changes my outlook on life’s circumstances. As I get better the world around me may be just as dismal, and yet through my eyes seem brighter and more full of possibilities. As I change I become more like Jesus.

God, change me!

Now, looking back I have figured it out, I sucked. I had fooled myself. I was absolutely terrible.

I am becoming more and more aware of how easy it is for me to fool myself. I can make myself believe all kinds of ridiculous things. Know what I mean? As a kid I fooled myself into thinking I was good at sports. But now, as an adult, I fool myself about other things. Sometimes I try to make myself think that I’m being more productive than I really am. Sometimes I make myself think that I’m not tired so that I have an excuse to stay up playing xBox. I could go on, but instead I’ll get to the point…

One of the bigger areas where I tend to fool myself is in thinking about my spiritual life. When I was younger I would fool myself and think “I went to church this week, so I’m growing spiritually.” Or maybe, “I had a quiet time two days ago, so I’m still good.” Or even, “I’m ready to teach the Bible study, so I’m doing just fine.”

WRONG! Those are lies! I’m only doing fine spiritually until I am seeking after God with all of my heart, soul, and mind (or at least making a good effort).

So, I propose that we all need a spiritual barometer, so that we can measure how we are doing spiritually, and so that other people can easily see how we are doing. Otherwise we will just keep fooling ourselves, and fooling everyone around us.

For me (this is getting personal) the barometer is blogging. If I am writing about deep things, that means I am reading deep things and thinking about deep things. When this blog is silent, or just full of video clips, 90% of the time that means I’m being a slacker spiritually.

I’m telling you this because it holds me accountable. I’m also telling you this to encourage you to do the same: find your spiritual barometer and tell people about it. I dare you…

I was thinking about why God would command them to create such ornate expensive things in the midst of living this nomadic lifestyle (since most people don’t take their tux on a camping trip). And, I think it’s simply because He is worth it. The Tabernacle was His place for the ark (His presence) and the priests’ clothes were for the purpose of meeting with God. And He is worth making much of, even out in the desert in the middle of nowhere.

This helps me to see my own foolishness. So often I find myself trying to cram God into the small nooks and crannies of free time in my day. Instead I should be making much of Him, even when that means that I’m inconvenienced, and even when that means that I have to make sacrifices.

If the Israelites can pimp out a tent and some priests in the middle of the desert, I ought to be able to find time to read my Bible, speak with God and serve Him a little each day.

This is an area that I have struggled in lately. I have been very busy serving and have often neglected the opportunity to sit. There are two problems with this, the first is that I’m missing the “good portion” (Luke 10:38-42), and the second is that I find myself worn out.

I am slowly coming to the conviction that I must “sit to serve”, where I sit at His feet as He pours into me, and I serve out of the overflow of His outpouring.

Lately I have been identifying with Moses in Exodus 18:18-23:

You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.”

And so I find, the answer is in discipleship. Moses couldn’t do it alone. I can’t do it alone, I can’t even come close. But, if I can “sit to serve” and disciple people who will “sit to serve” we will accomplish great works of service for our Jesus, while sitting humbly at His feet.