Shock & Awe - 2/22/09

Why is obedience so hard?

The difficulty of obedience in particular cases in our life is not merely a perception, it really is hard. But why? Allow me a few observations:

Obedience is Allegiance
When I decide to follow Christ, I am aligning myself with His will, His way, His plan. This means that I also place myself in opposition to those who do not accept Him. Obedience is hard because it identifies me with Christ and puts me at odds with His enemies.

Obedience is Sacrifice
In order for me to fully commit, I must lay down my own life, my hopes, my aspirations. Obedience is hard because if forces me to choose between my will and His and my will hates to be denied.

Obedience is Faith
My heart fears the unknown. When I step out and obey, things may not go as anticipated and may even get worse for a time. The possibilities for perceived failure prevent me from taking steps toward certain success. Obedience is hard because God makes me nervous.

But here is the deal, and I have to constantly remind myself of this truth... are you ready for it...log this away in your mind, here it is - God's Plan is Better. And obedience is the pathway to discovering His plan. Press on in obedience until you experience the amazing power of your Father in heaven who loves you. Don't Quit - Be Faithful - You Belong to Him.

Moving Forward with You,

Aaron

The Invitation (Moses meets his Maker) 2/15/09

For a substantial portion of my life I found myself wondering what "God's will" for my life was. I began to notice that I wasn't alone. Almost all of my friends were wondering the same thing. We would pray, wait, listen, and long for God to tell us what it was He specifically wanted us to do. We desperately wanted a "burning bush"!

Several years ago I was attending a conference in Texas and I was challenged by one of the speakers there. He made an astounding observation. Could it be possible we've been asking the wrong questions in regards to finding God's will for our lives? Maybe God is already doing something and He is inviting us to look up and see what He is doing and give our lives away to that. Maybe the will of God is being done in places already and we join Him.

Furthermore, is it possible that God might be pleased with several different scenarios, rather than limit us to just one possibility to fulfill? What if there wasn't just one right answer to my purpose, what if the definition of "God's will" was often a broad definition that I could see fulfilled in many different ways, choices, occupations and decisions?

I've come to discover that God is, and has been, at work all around me and when I lift up my eyes I discover something; there is more to do than I could possibly accomplish in my lifetime. I also begin to recognize that God , the "I AM", is fully capable of correcting or redirecting my course at any time. This is the beauty of serving a "present" God. He will never be "I WAS" or "I WILL BE", He is, and always has been "I AM". He is not off in the distance or waiting for you to show up, He has been at work and is inviting you and I to join our lives with His ongoing work in the world.

So, may you discover that your Father is fully present with you and that He is wanting you and I to step into the life He has called us to live, and may we begin to see the opportunities all around us to fulfill the "will of God" with our lives.

Living in Liberation,

Pastor Jonathan Walker

Time Between Times - 2/08/09

I love those instances when a particular study of scripture springs to life as a very specific message for here and now. This was my sense as I reflected on the early life of Moses in preparation for Sunday's teaching. Many of you have been walking through a Time Between Times. Without a Biblical category for this time; it can leave us feeling as if we somehow missed out on God's plan, like maybe He gave up on us. Discontentment grows, frustration deepens, and confidence wanes. Isn't it curious that at 40 years old Moses believed He was God's man, and when God shows up in a burning bush at 80 years old, Moses responds 'I am not your man'? But guess what... he was. He was God's choice. He had always been God's choice, it just wasn't yet time.
My prayer for each of you is that God would give you the capacity to believe the calling He has invested in you. He has a purpose. He is writing a much larger story and He calls us to fulfill the role He created us for. A time between times is not an indication that the time after will never come, it only means it has not yet arrived. We can never predict when the time between will end, we only know when it has. I was so encouraged by the number of individuals who expressed a similar conviction; "Now is the time." We are truly blessed and God's providential hand is upon us to accomplish His plan. "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31 It is with eager expectation that I look towards the future and all that God has for his children right here in our Hamlet by the Sea.

The Journey of a Thousand Miles... 2/01/09

The journey of a thousand miles...

As we've begun to make the turn into Exodus I've been struck by the implications of the Bible's story on my life. If what I'm reading is true, about God and the ways He interacts with mankind and about human nature and our response to Him, I am left with a decision about how I move forward from here.

If God is truly passionate about liberation, not only eternally but presently as well, then how does this glimpse into His nature transform how I think about my life? I am increasingly convinced that if I am to take the call of Christian life seriously I must... well... take it seriously.

As you and I begin to grasp the implications of being part of a much bigger story that is taking place we should find ourselves asking the question "What is my part and how do I play it well?" It is in this question that the Scriptures can begin to shape us. When we come to it as seekers with eyes of discovery and wonder and hope.

It is often confusing as we read through the Bible to recognize that, although it may be broken up into books and chapters and "old" and "new", it is still one story, one account. I believe this is the reason that God reveals Himself through a "chosen" people, so that we could easily follow the story line as it reveals the image of the Father.

As we've moved through Genesis I hope we have begun to discover that God is a creative God, that He makes and keeps His covenants, that He is looking out for the good of His creation, that He has a unique and powerful ability to turn what corrupt men and women intend for evil into good, often to their own salvation, and that He is a God of providence not punishment.

So as we continue to move forward into our story with God may you begin to discover that:

if our Father is creative and not destructive,

if He is faithful to His covenant,

if He is full of grace and mercy toward His children,

if He is looking out for the good of His creation, and...

if He is in the "business" of liberating and redeeming the world,

the implications on our lives, money, relationships, plans, and pleasures is nothing short of revolutionary.

As we begin to discover the Father through the Scriptures and through shared community I often envision the scene from the parable of prodigal son and his return home.

The father is standing just off the porch, looking out into the horizon, joy and elation are on his face as he sees his son coming home. I can only imagine the anticipation in the heart of the father as he realizes the implications of his boys return home. The things that can only be discovered through relationship and humility are about to be revealed to his kid, maybe for the first time.

As you begin the journey into freedom may you discover that there is always more in the heart of the Father for you and I than we ever dreamed possible. And as you take the proverbial "first step" may you hear Him say... "Welcome Home."

Pastor Jonathan Walker