Preparing for 2012

 

    One of the constants in modern life is change. The rapid pace of change in every dimension of life causes stress and anxiety for many people. Change is often viewed as an enemy in life. When we resist change and avoid it, we only postpone the inevitable. Change waits for no one because it is a harbinger and guide into the future. Change is not an enemy, its a friend, calling you into the future.

    When we resist change we ignore the spiritual realities of life. At the center of the universe is a spiritual being.... God. God has created not a static universe but an ever expanding reality. You can't bottle up time...it marches on and only those who embrace change are in step with where history is taking us. When we ignore spiritual reality and don't relate to our creator in relationship, we get disconnected from both who he is and where he is taking us.

  People with a real and dynamic faith should  not only embrace change.... we need to anticipate it and plan for it. Learning to adapt and embrace change becomes easier when we know both the plan and person of God. Yes, God has a plan and history is not meant to be a random series of events. God tells us plainly in Romans 8: 28, 29, "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters."

  There is a purpose and more importantly a divine person behind the events of history and in our present day reality. When you are in relationship with God by the Holy Spirit you can hear a voice and discern a presence to the change that comes into your world daily. You are not meant to have a sacred/secular division in your life. Everything and everyone that comes into a believers life has significance from God's point of view. The last thing we need to be doing as people of faith is hiding in Bible studies or church ghettoes from the realities of every day life. Truth not juxtaposed into the middle of everyday challenges quickly devolves into fantasy and myth. The world is waiting for men and women of real faith who walk with God in the midst of rapid and seemingly unpredictable change.

  God wants to breathe into you and me an expectation and an excitement about the change that is upon us. When your faith is a real and vibrant trust in a living God, you are not a victim of circumstance or change. You are an active participant in God's plan for your life. When you get your direction and guidance from the author and finisher of life's great reality, you can have confidence and faith in the future instead of fear and hopelessness.

  Remember, change is not your enemy, it's the voice of a friend.... your God and creator, calling you into a future prepared for you before the foundation of the world!

Jim

Searching for Inspiration in 2012

Inspiration is a word whose root meaning flows out of the physiology of the body. Inspiration at its root means to "breathe". To take in oxygen by inspiration and to remove carbon dioxide (the waste products) by expiration enables physical life to go on. Without a fresh supply of oxygen you will die within minutes.
Life is dependent on an ongoing intake of "new" air both to energize and supply the body but also to remove that which is no longer alive.... The new thing DEMANDS the removal of the old. If we hold onto Carbon Dioxide too long we will also die.
As it is in the physical realm so it is in the spiritual realm. Our financial provision flows out of an exchange in time and energy... When what we do brings added value to the world in which we live we are compensated/rewarded for that exchange. When the world changes suddenly and what we do no longer adds value, the compensation either diminishes or is eliminated. This is how the world works. When we fight against this we are wasting time. The world rewards a fresh supply of life and responds accordingly. When we live in the past we can count on diminished returns and lack. God allows us to hunger and thirst and even suffer to some extent so that we will embrace the new things he is trying to do in the earth. Let's reflect on the powerful word from the prophet Isaiah 43:18 and beyond, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. ....".
When we hold onto last year's provision, profession, idea or memory we deny God the opportunity to provide for us with fresh creativity and inspiration and we ensure our personal lives, families and communities will become a wasteland. God wants to restore, refresh and bring life to barren souls and communities but first we have to take a risk... open our hands and grasp the new things from God. Turmoil breeds distrust and paralysis. Risk apart from knowledge of God's will is futile and foolish. But when we cry out to God and he "impresses" our hearts and minds with a vision and plan we MUST MOVE with him into his future... the only secure place on the planet. Are you willing to move with me as I follow God? God wants to inspire your heart and mind in the coming new year of 2012. Open your heart and let him breathe fresh air into your soul!
Jim

Learning to Embrace Weakness

 While the world teaches us to boast about our strengths and hide our weakness, the kingdom of God teaches us to be humble about our strengths and transparent about our weaknesses. Following Jesus Christ involves such an intimate relationship of honesty and dependence that we can rest and relax in openness. It takes a lot of energy to be 'always on' in terms of creating and maintaining masks and images. We want to be seen in the best light but often create our own false idolatry of image.

  We are more than the sum of our talents and gifts. The fact is that we all suffer from some measure of weakness and brokenness. Scripture teaches us that we are all guilty of imperfection and failure to some degree. We need a Savior..... and we need one another. When we aren't honest about our failings, weaknesses and needs, no one gets healed.... and we continue to suffer lack in key areas in our lives. Healing and growth flow out of relationship.... with God and with one another.   When we don't reveal who we really are, we all suffer.

 An early leader in the church (Paul) had a series of amazing miracles and visions take place in his life. Despite these experiences, others who knew him rejected him and challenged his leadership and authority. Instead of bragging and boasting about his qualifications, Paul learned some foundational truths about where real strength lies. In 2 Corinthians 12, he makes some amazing statements about the power of surrendered weakness. Paul has an ongoing weakness in his life that he seeks God to deliver him from. Three times he begs God for deliverance. God's responds with a profound revelation of truth, "My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness."

  Pride is the great grace killer.   When we gaze too long in the mirror of our gifts and abilities we lose perspective on what life is all about. The world does not revolve around us!  Self worship and self centered lifestyles ultimately end in dissatisfaction. We need a vital and real relationship with God. Pride and arrogance burn the bridge of dependence we need in relating to him.

  Real lasting strength for life flows out of relating to Jesus Christ and his power. Paul boldly states,"So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me......for when I am weak, then I am strong."

  Traveling the road of humility is not an easy path. The world will mock, persecute and ridicule the humble pilgrim. The road that leads heavenward is narrow and often misunderstood. The surrender of self glory and a focus on God's glory is the mark of a true follower of Jesus. The power of weakness is a transfer of your own limited and futile strength for the resources of the creator of the universe..... and the Savior of a broken world. His power is perfected in weakness...it's time to get real..... to be open.....and to live a transformed and powerful life, for his glory.

Let the weak say, I am strong....in him.

Jim

Preparing for the Dream

Dreams offer us an opportunity. They give us a picture of what could be.... what might be....what should be for our future. But dreams offer no guarantees. Dreams offer a doorway for the man or woman to respond to either in faith or in disbelief. Dreams are a call to relationship and partnership with the grand originator... our creator God. But relationship to God is not passive and it involves a give and take of communication and responsiveness. When we initially receive the inspiration of a 'life dream' or calling, we need to follow up with the discipline of preparation, training and the changes that our dream calls for us to make. Athletes get this. I was raised in a family of runners. My father was a sprinter. My uncle was a long distance runner and professional coach. My uncle would get up early in the morning and run 10 or 15 miles on a daily basis well into his 50's. Even into my teen years I could not defeat my father in a sprint race. There was always an expectation that I would be a runner like them. One year I went out for the cross country team in high school. I had run sprints the previous year in high school (my freshmen year) and had done pretty well. Cross Country season is in the fall. I had not done much training in the summer and when I went to the first few practices I was exhausted and quit the team. The following year I spent the entire summer running twice a day workouts. I had a deep desire born of initial failure to succeed. My senior year of high school I won an award for the 'most dedicated' runner given by the team to the hardest working athlete. I wanted the dream of being a runner to be mine... but I learned the lesson of preparation and training. Many talented people depend solely on their talent to take them to places of prominence and success in their dreams. But talent alone will often only project us forward to the first phase of our dreams. I have often heard it said that talent cannot take you where your character won't keep you. You see talented people can fail in very dramatic and painful ways. You are more than the sum of your talents. Your identity goes far beyond what you are good at! You are a human being...made in the image of God...born to know God and born to love him in a real and vital relationship. When you ignore that divine and eternal reality you are setting yourself up for disappointment and real and lasting failure.
  Are you preparing yourself for lasting success or temporary success? Awards, records, personal victories are important but short in significance and satisfaction. What are you preparing for? What are you disciplining yourself for? How are you defining yourself? How would you define success? Ultimately, why are you on this planet?
  The content of your dreams and your ability to discipline yourself to achieve those dreams is deeply connected to your spiritual beliefs. So many 'successful' people are ultimately unable to enjoy their achievements because they choose shallow goals and selfish means to accomplish them. Every achievement and dream demands great sacrifices of time and the surrender of some aspect of choice in life.
  To be a follower of Christ is an amazing life of blessing and satisfaction...but it is also a life of surrender and obedience to a real and personal God. Jesus described the ultimate priority for those who would follow him, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." When you achieve things apart from being rightly related to God, there will always be an empty place in your soul. Dreams are great but they are not meant to achieved in isolation or apart from loving relationship with God... and with the people that he has put into your life. When our relationships falter, achievements mean little. We should be asking ourselves some big questions all along the journey toward achieving our dreams.  Why am I doing this? What will happen to me If I achieve this dream? How will this impact my relationships? Who will get the glory if I achieve this? How will this impact my soul? I encourage you to 'go for your goals' but to also be thoughtful and count the cost before you set out on life's journey of faith and adventure. Remember what Jesus said about achievement, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"
  Dream...prepare for your dream. But remember dreams are not meant to separate you from your Creator...they are meant to draw you nearer to him than you've ever been. Dreamers believe.... and believers dream. It's all about relationship.

Jim

Our Dream: Jim & Mary

  As a child growing up I never wanted to be known as a 'dreamer'. I wanted to be known as someone responsible. Someone who made correct decisions with little risk. I wanted to live my life in the 'sure thing' realm. Get a decent job. Make average or better money. Live somewhere in the middle of 'middle America'. When I heard the word dreamer it conjured up images of irresponsibility. So at the age of 17 with no money for education, I did the responsible thing and joined the military. I would work hard, stay out of trouble, and save money for my education. And about 3 years into my sojourn of responsibility, my world became undone. I found myself in trouble on the inside. I had achieved a measure of success in the military.... graduating with honors in their medical laboratory training schools. I worked hard.... and saved every dime I could. I wanted to be safe. But the safety of a savings account did nothing for my soul. I was flat out empty and going into a danger zone emotionally and spiritually. I needed something more than a respectful safe place. I needed love.

  On August 2nd, 1980 I prayed a prayer that lasted no more than 5 seconds. I cried out to God on the gym floor of a Baptist church for help. I can't recall the words of my prayer but they were probably nothing more than, "Help, I am screwed up!"  Help came. My life has been an ongoing relationship with God who continually challenges me to walk with him to places I would never go alone. By nature I want to hide.... hide from people, hide from danger, hide from myself. But God.... is love... and he won't let me alone!

  Over the last several years I have been dreaming backward.... let me explain. My fears of becoming known as a 'dreamer' stem from observing that many dreamers never seem to amount to anything at all. Their dreams are fanciful, naive and frankly often crazy. But when you walk with God (and this sounds...excuse me...dreamer like) and he speaks to you through scripture it can define your life and change everything. I was reading in the final book of the bible known as Revelation. (Warning.... don't read this book at home alone...it could permanently alter the course of your life) I was specifically reading Revelation chapter 5 and verses 8-10. It describes a magnificent and hard to comprehend scene from heaven. Jesus is at the center of the picture, "When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and four gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; and you redeemed people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth."

  This vision of the future in heaven has defined my reality.... and my dreams for the last 15 years. While praying in December, 1997 in Gilgit, Pakistan, God spoke to me two words, "International Students".  I spent the next several months praying what those two seemingly disconnected words meant to me and my life. Previously I had told God while I enjoyed living and working in Pakistan I wanted to if possible to serve among people "all over the world".  Long story short I wound up in Mobile , Alabama where for nearly 13 years I have served the international students at the University of South Alabama.  Since the summer of 2009 I have also been developing along with a team of friends an international church known as "All Nations Community Church".  I have become a 'dreamer'. But unlike most dreams I am dreaming backwards. God has revealed the future to me.... well in fact to all of us... who choose to believe it. He has shown me the future and I want all of my decisions, plans, priorities and purposes to be defined by that future reality which I see by faith.

  I am building a house of love that goes beyond ethnic boundaries to cooperate with a future God has promised us all. I am living among a community of people defined by gratitude and worship of a God of love. We are wrapped together in a garment of many colors.... a rainbow of grace. I am no longer able to be that middle of the road man who won't take any risks. I have been transformed by a God who heard my cries for help three decades ago and will never be the same. Where he goes I go.... what he says I say. I'm dreaming backwards.... into a future....filled with love.

Jim

When Dreams Delay

  Dreams are a vital part of connecting the 'what is' with the what 'will be' in our future. Our interior being was meant to actively engage and interact with our dream world. A man or woman with an active faith life will not easily dismiss the power and purpose of dreams in their lives. God uses dreams to paint broad brush strokes of hope onto our souls. They can act as a catalyst or ignition device to move and act in a specific direction or purpose requiring both discipline and risk taking. A dreamless life is a faithless life. A dreamless life is a symptom of a soul that has lost its ability or even desire to be fully human.
  Perhaps you have found yourself struggling to pursue your past dreams. Maybe it's been a very long time since you've thought about an earlier time in your life when so many possibilities ran rapidly through your heart and mind. Perhaps somewhere along the way you were beaten down by some mistakes or failures in your life. Someone might have told you that dreamers are irresponsible and that you needed to get a 'responsible' plan together and forget about the deepest desires in your heart.
  The challenge for many of us who receive a very real dream and vision for our lives is not its validity or possibility. The biggest challenge for dreamers is that there is a 'time between' what we see with our souls and what we see with our eyes. Dreams are really 'faith vision'. Dreams enable us to see the future before it happens. They are real....they are substance and yet they are 'not yet'. The Bible is largely an unveiling of God's will and purposes into the earth....dreams being released into the heart and minds of people willing to walk by faith into the future planned in advance. The grand adventure of all our lives is so magnificent that when we stop imagining, stop dreaming....we cease to really live as we were meant to. There in the land of the 'time between' we often falter and lose hope about our dreams ever coming to pass. We stop hoping, stop believing, stop dreaming....and slowly and painfully begin to die on the inside.
  In my own life I've had to learn that just because my dreams are delayed does not mean that they are in anyway denied or invalid. There is a purpose and a plan even in the delays to physically seeing a spiritual dream become a reality. One of my early life dreams was to live and work in Asia as a medical missionary. In 1989 I began talking with an Ophthalmologist in England about preparing to help establish an eye hospital in Pakistan. What began as broad brush strokes of purpose and mission over  time became a finely detailed painting of faith enmeshed in my soul. I believed in it long before I saw it in reality. All along the journey there were specific points of testing and trial that threatened to undue the faith vision I so desired to live. Many times I thought of quitting and giving up on the dream. Every great dream requires a corresponding great faith to accomplish it. Great faith is not born out of ease and comfort. Great faith is born out of adversity, resistance, testing and trial. When I initially was exploring going to work in Pakistan as an eye nurse, I was an officer in the United States Navy Nurse Corps. I had served in the military for seven years and was making a 'good living'. I had wanted to perhaps do work overseas while still keeping my good job and career....security. But God clearly and dramatically (I'll tell the full story later) told me I needed to resign from the military and serve him full time. I left the U.S. Navy in the fall of 1990 after completing my term of service. I then worked in hospitals in Pensacola as an ICU staff nurse. I was supposed to be 'raising support' to enable me to serve as a missionary overseas. In other words I needed to somehow convince people and perhaps churches to pledge monthly financial support to enable me to work and establish the hospital in Pakistan. I honestly had no idea how to do this and faltered for many months. One day I received a call from our mission agency director on the phone. The call was brief, frank and discouraging, "Jim, I think you are not going to make it as a missionary. You have not raised support. You might want to give up and move on." I hung up the phone. I told my Mary what my director had said and then I fell onto the couch in our living room in despair. I went into a deep sleep and had a dream that I will never forget. In the dream I was standing by a rail road track with a slow moving train going by. I was watching the cars go by and noticed that there were loads of fresh fruit on the insides of the box cars. I felt like I wanted to get onto the cars... I wanted to get on board...but I felt a strange and dark presence lurking nearby resisting me...not allowing me to get onto the train. I felt this huge inner struggle going on and then I woke up in a full sweat on the couch. I woke up and then I understood some things about my future and my dreams. I understood that there is a battle for our future... for our dreams and that I must be willing to fight for my dreams... in prayer and in faith. A turning point erupted inside of me that day. I began to believe in my dreams at a deeper level and also began to understand more fully the cost of those dreams. The cost of pushing through... the cost of resisting discouragement....the cost of believing when others disbelieve. There will still more delays to encounter but all of them were not meant to deny the God born future I desired.... no they were meant to do a deeper work in me... shaping my character, preparing relationships, forging partnerships and softening hearts. You see, our dreams are not isolated from a much bigger reality we all need to embrace. God is big....and we are small. When we look up at the sky and see the immense beauty of a star lit night it should humble us and also encourage us. Each star has its purpose...its place and its light in the sky. It got there on purpose and its destiny is assured. It will burn and it will enlighten exactly that portion of sky it was created to.  So it is with you and me. Today, I encourage you to begin dreaming.... or dream again. The dreams for your life might be delayed but in God and by faith they will come to pass. Don't lose hope for your dreams connect you with a loving God and a beautiful humanity waiting on the dreamers who won't quit before the night ends.

Jim

  

Infidelity and Betrayal

For some reason in American life this has been the year of the 'affair' in married public life. One after another we see a man standing before cameras announcing his sexual sin in front of a cynical and sickened public. Typically, it's a male 40 or over who in spite of professional 'success' just threw his family life in the trash can. Just what form of stupidity causes a man (or woman) to throw their family life under the proverbial bus? The seduction of sexual infidelity is a powerful lie that appeals to our own pride and ego like nothing else. All sin flows out of the lie that we deserve something better than what we already have. To not "take" that something would leave us feeling dissatisfied.
When we leave our commitments to faithfulness and respect for marriage vows behind something inside of us dies. To betray our husbands or wives has a domino effect on children, parents, friends and society that leaves us all less whole. We would do well to remember the Proverb that tells us, "Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished."
The cost of pursuing sexual pleasure outside of God's boundaries is injury and death to the soul. The real you lies inside and the scars of betrayal impact both the guilty and the innocent. Only God can forgive and heal the broken heart. When we don't allow for that healing and even pursue it, we guarantee more injury, destruction and death. What we seek in adultery, pornography and other sexual sin is often a much deeper need that momentary pleasure can never satisfy. To be whole and healed of the emptiness in our hearts is a gift of grace and love that only God can satisfy. When we can't control our appetites, the answer lies outside of having more of what we crave. 
We are all capable of infidelity and betrayal. We are human and thus imperfect sinners in need of a Savior. But today we can make a choice to let God heal the broken places in our lives. Today let's examine our hearts and our steps to see in which direction we are walking..... toward sin which would destroy or toward faithfulness which heals and preserves.

Jim