Panting on a Leash

This evening I took my dog, Easton, for a walk. I figured he'd really like that considering the size, or rather lack of, of the house that we currently fit four humans and three dogs in. So here we are, man and his best friend going back to the stone age setting out on this adventure. Easton, for those who aren't in the know, is a chocolate lab (black at night though) who's still got plenty of puppy in him for being almost two years old. We start out and Easton is dragging me along by his leash, just constantly tugging. Then we hadn't even made it a full block before he saw another canine and went ballistic with hair rising up and guard dog mode in full gear (he's actually a big sissy so no worries.) Finally we settle into a good pace with plenty of slack through the leash. The walk ends up being very anti-climatic and we both made it home safely, but I had discovered a pretty astonishing thing.

The walk I just took with my dog was incredibly similar to another walk in my life, my walk with Jesus.

Only instead of the one holding the leash, I'm the one kept on the path by it. Like Easton, I keep tugging on this leash of my beliefs and just as I love my dog so I don't let him run wherever, Jesus holds onto the leash so I won't become overwhelmed by everything in the world.

Another good similarity shows up in the way Easton acts once another dog is in sight. He puffs up and barks to put on a good show, letting the other dog know that he's protecting me. In life we come across those who challenge our faith in Christ and we have to put up a guard against said challenge.

There are also things on our journey that can distract us like a squirrel coming into Easton's sight. We get amazed at such simple stuff sometimes causing us to lose focus of the main goal in life. The world catches us up in the busyness and gossip until we feel that tug on the leash.

Eventually, like Easton finally did, Jesus and I settle into a good pace, just enjoying each other's company.

Just as my canine friend trust me, I put all my trust in Jesus, knowing He's leading me back to that glorious front porch waiting with a heavenly bowl of water.

Great Revealation

We, as believers in Jesus Christ, have been blessed and anointed with the responsibility to share our faith. (Matt. 28) But if you're anything like me, this aspect of the whole Christian shin-dig is one slightly shied away from and swept under the rug. I mean, we would just hate to maybe offend somebody or throw-off their busy schedule if we ever ask them about Jesus. It's not like we were given a spirit of power or nothing. (2 Timothy 1)

I've been given a great opportunity to really branch out up at Northeastern. I'm going to be in a place with so many people and able to interact with them on a really raw level. How could I possibly be in a better situation to spread the Truth?

A few weeks back I went up to campus for two days of orientation. I got this feeling of just these other students, smart, funny, and great people, were starving for something. It was almost like whatever they had been doing so far with their life hadn't filled them up at all. Some of them knew there was something better out there for them while others still don't at the moment. After bearing witness to all this I came home with this new mission of preparing myself for the encounters with people up in Boston where I would get the chance to share my faith. Looking back now I realize God was a couple steps ahead of me in this great preparation.

I came up with the question of in my conversations with people about Jesus what should be the thing I leave them with? I thought of all sorts of good theology and whatnot but it just didn't seem like the right thing. In my time spent reading the Bible the word "love" kept coming up. It wasn't love like husband and wife, rather like neighbor and friend. It seemed like it was everywhere- Jesus' teachings, Paul's letters, John's letters, and Proverbs. Even in the way Jesus spoke it felt like there was so much love for His disciples and everyone else He came across.

Finally the light bulb went off. That was it- love. That's what all those students were missing. They just need to be loved on, shown that someone else actually cares. I'm also willing to bet that kids up in Boston aren't the only ones missing some good lovin'. Therefore I'm asking you to join me in sharing some genuine love with whoever needs it. That is in my opinion the most powerful way to share your faith with another.

Child-like

Matthew 18:3

And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

It seems lately that I have found such amazement in God's working both in and around me. It is a miracle to be able to recognize it and another miracle entirely to have faith that He's still at work even when I haven't picked up on it yet.

Now I must admit for I feel rather silly since these moments of awe aren't the seeing Him hold back the Red Sea or watching water flow out of a rock, but incredibly child-like.

"Wow God, You can really do that?" is a typical question of mine followed by His loving response of "Yes, my son, don't worry."

Like I said, totally three-year-old-ish.

Sometimes the wording of my question shifts when I look back on events and finally see His work to more of a "Oh, hey, You were right there in the middle of it the entire time, weren't You?

Once more, followed with a heartfelt reassurance from Him.

I confess, sometimes I feel dumb for even thinking of asking Him such questions. I get critical of myself for not having that seemingly minimal mental capacity of knowing He is always at work in my life, but seemingly is such a big snag there. Then right at that time is when I usually get His answer which just fills me with awe and warmth. It truly is just a wondrous thing to rest in amazement of Him.

I remember back to one evening where I was driving and coming across the top of this hill I saw the most amazing sunset. The horizon was filled with bold reds and oranges and deep purples and blues. The clouds formed a magnificent silhouette and the little child rose up in me asking "You created all that?" After receiving His overwhelming peace and joy, I slowed my speed dramatically just to soak up the scene and the amazement that came with it.

So I encourage everyone to go out and ask Him silly questions that a three-year-old might come up with; ones such as "You can do that?" or "You actually do love me?" Then rest in His love and grace that is His answer.

Matthew 11:25-26

At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure."

Leaving On A Jet Plane

So at the moment it's 5:45... In the a.m. And I'm sitting the the terminal at Mid-Continent Airport in Wichita waiting for my flight to Boston to board and get on its way. What makes this so different from all the other incredibly early flights I've made in the past is I'm alone. Just me, no mommy or daddy there to hold my hand.

In a lot of ways this is terribly frightening and amazingly exhilarating at the same time. I am leaving the house of my father just as Abraham left his when God called him to. There is this part of me, instinct or something I suppose, that just tells me it's alright. It's normal that I'm sitting in the airport all by myself about to travel halfway across the country. And this instinct brings an incredible amount of peace with it somehow.

The lady at the counter just told everyone we're boarding now so I guess that's my cue to take a few more steps by myself this morning and really a few more on the journey of life.

How's It Going?

There are random times throughout everyday life where you'll be walking past someone, or standing next to them, or even sit down beside them. Whatever the circumstance, to break that first awkward silence they ask, "How's it going?" or "How are you doing?" If you happen to be like a majority of society, you answer back with a simple "fine" or "good." If you're feeling wild you might throw out at "not too bad." No matter the answer, you just want this guy off your back so you can get back to just being content in your own little world.

Then there are other times with the scenario being exactly the same save there is actually something wrong with the person being asked. But instead of taking the time to get that huge burden off their back they shy away and give a completely empty answer of "just fine."

My question is have we become so wrapped up in ourselves that we ignore our fellow man? Have we gotten terribly caught up in the American dream of prospering our own lives while leaving everyone else behind that we simply turn of an intuition screaming that something wrong here is going on?

And to those struggling but simply choose to hide it, what are we afraid of? Is the fear of being weak an exposed driving us to hide deeper within our shells overruling the glory of being free and liberated?

With all this I can honestly say that I have absolutely no answer. It just is an enigma to my mind and my own experiences have driven me to pen all this down. I was almost stopped in my tracks there in the hallway simply by all the thoughts that rushed to my head. I wish I were capable of solving this issue but I come up short...

Whirlwind

10/9/08
It's kind of windy outside, blowing just enough wind to make you want to grab a jacket right before you go out. But it's nothing compared to what's going through my mind right now.

With that said, let me unload all that's going on. First off, I met a pretty awesome girl this past Sunday at house church. Her name's Laura and the kicker is she's a Kansas girl that somehow made it up to the big city. She's truly this cute all-American girl. We've spent this whole week so far just talking and hanging out, went down the the aquarium and we're going out for dinner on Friday. I've feel like there's just been this sorta goofy smile on my face all week. Hopefully this is the start of something beautiful.

"This is the start..." That's exactly what I'm wondering. It's like I know that God is in this situation but what exactly is He up to? This summer was a time of turning my relationships and girl situations over to Him. It was pretty cool and at one point it was like He just flat out told me what my wife will be like. She's gonna be musically talented somehow and have a super sweet personality with this ability to minister to issues that people hide below the surface. I'm maybe a little afraid to acknowledge it but Laura fits that, which now that I'm really confronting this whole thing is flat out awesome.

There is still a little fear though. Let's say things between her and I keep going great like they are now. Let's say we get serious about things and we're in a relationship. What's gonna happen with those deep conversations about our pasts? I mean I'm so far from perfect and perhaps contrary to appearance, there's stuff in my past that I don't want to bring up. Or how about conversations about the future? I got no plan of where I'm going to end up in life. And what about the topic of past relationships? I've had a bad experience with girls' past boyfriends. As obvious as it is, I really need to pray about this.

Even with all those questions and maybe "doubts" you could say, every single one of them disappears when I'm talking with her or playing cards. I really think this is a glorious start of something beautiful and I'm just going to take it one day at a time enjoying every minute of it.

Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself."

Learning As We Go...

Life does not come with a user's manual or an instruction handbook.

In all my searching for one, my quest simply seems to leave me more confused and bewildered than when I first tried to figure out one little aspect of life. However, I think I am finally on to something. This so-called "manual" does exist; the problem is that it needs an author. Each individual I believe is charged with the call to write their own handbook however they see fit. Certain influences such as parents, environment, and other conditions will help to shape that handbook with unique flavors.

With all that said, I think I have gotten a fair start on my own personal "how-to" booklet. I've been raised in a small town with those small town principles about right and wrong, but yet I am human and surrounded by other humans who make the same mistakes I do. I've gotten out and seen things that some do not have the opportunity to see. I've done somethings on the darker side of life, but it is only by the grace of God that He sought me and hunted me down to come into a relationship with Him. I can honestly say, to whoever may read this, that I would not trade my relationship with Christ for anything in the world. I also have come to discover that in life there are a ton of things to do, think about, and just be overwhelmed by. When it comes down to it, I believe the best approach to life and all it encompasses is just to take it one step at a time, and to learn as you go.


I wish you all the best of luck in the progress of your manual or guide or whatever title you see fit to it. It is yours so who am I to say what you ought to call it. I think I will just keep doing what I am doing and figure it all out as I go.