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I mentioned in the last blog that I'll probably be posting less this Fall because of the season's speaking commitments. True. So I thought I'd sign in and share a bit of what's simmering in my soul as I'm preparing this weekend's message. On Friday, I'll be flying to Memphis, Tennessee to partner with Dr. Frank Thomas of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. The Boulevard is launching a new location in their city. Pastor Thomas graciously invited me to speak for their Consecration weekend. The opportunity feels pregnant with God's Spirit and weighty with responsibility... The theme is consecration from Joshua 3.5:
 1. We often hope that a spacious place awaits us after a major life transition both individually and corporately. But rarely is a Jordan crossing followed by anything other than surgery, battle, and purging. 2. How sobering to observe in the Scriptures and history of the Church, that great manifestations of God's power are often followed by great manifestations of people's weaknesses. |
Comments
hope to hear or read more of your thoughts on this subject, i think very relevant, current, edgy stuff; also hope that your speaking appointment in memphis went well, as i can only imagine it went!
becoming the people of God in daily practice ( i'm learning from experience) requires the deep (ouch!) fires of God's Spirit purifying, removing the world's contaminations and our favorite sins from our souls; it requires the Spirit of the Lord digging up our inner ears, enabling us to hear what really is, honestly and accurately. necessitates the Teacher of our hearts to insist that we drop our narrow presuppositions of how the Lord works and what he expects of us, his people, ridding us of the artificial, acting-masks, pretense --- as if we really knew! thank God that he doesn't give up on us--- once we've arrived (after much humbling) at a certain plain of spiritual growth, once we've crossed over the valley of whatever, which separated us from the promise of God---but instead remains our one Constant, our God, showing us tenderness but firm, diligent "eye upon us" carefulness, reassuring that he is in for the long haul; we will be transformed; we will be whole. thus: there will be pain, there will be things that trouble us. in fact, because we've chosen to respond to his great love---we're in for a world of trouble!
something in me is a hopeless idolator. i will make an idol of God's last great victory or miracle through which he mainly meant to show me more HIMSELF. (the miracles becoe my new subject for preaching!) was this the reason for Jesus' frustration with those who wouldn't follow him simply because he was who he said he was but required miracles before they'd believe? we follow because the jordan fled from the presence of God... because of the loaves and the fish... our own brand of religious idolatry. Our God does these things to show us that it is only he who loves and protects and delivers, but we often miss the point. (ahhh, now look at me, waxing so eloquently!)
bob a.