Finger-picking good

I'm learning to play the guitar. This has been a year and a half process (give or take) and I'm realizing that with the guitar...especially "post-teenager"...that's not a long time at all. There have been frustrating moments, from being a musician and wanting it to go faster. BUT, there have been many more rewarding "light-bulb" moments - the times when I see the patterns as they seem to leap off the neck. Isn't that the real reason we learn anything new? That's when the challenge seems to give back. That's how you increase your capacity for "new." It's the same whether you're earning a new language, going back to school, buying a home for the first time. And when it comes down to reading the Word, talking to God, hearing His voice, sensing His presence, the "new" never has to wear off...because it will always challenge you to stretch and grow and increase. That's the beauty of relationship. Bring it on!

Surveillance

Most people know I kinda have a "thing" for cop shows. So, during PK's message today about the virgins and the oil (Matt. 25) and being "ready" & how easy it is to fall asleep when you are waiting on the Lord, my "ever-busy-little-brain" went straight to snipers for a minute...I know, I know...but think about it. These guys are highly trained, highly skilled individuals who spend MOST of their time, well, waiting on their target. If they fall asleep or get distracted - even for a moment - they may very well miss their perfect opportunity to accomplish their mission. I spent a lot of the message today wondering how many opportunities I have missed on the journey of my mission...all because I have let the "distractions of the dailies" lull me to sleep. It was one of the most sobering messages I have heard...OK, so the last FOUR have been that...and I feel a little like I've been wakened from a coma. "Lord, breathe into my soul once again. Let me become a geyser of anointing - so much so that every person in my world can leave my presence not thinking of me, but knowing they have been touched by YOU!"

I want to fly away...hey, hey hey!

Dennis and I went flying Friday morning in a friend's Cessna. What an experience! Watching the shadow of the plane on the ground get smaller and smaller as we climbed higher and higher...
We took the motorcycle down (the airport is in Marion, NC), and I was overwhelmed by the things I saw because I didn't have to concentrate on driving. What a beautiful ride!!! The mountains are incredible...so blessed to live here!
What came to mind was...well, different. The day before, I watched "Full Force Nature" on the Weather Channel. A guy with a video camera chased a tornado on a complete whim. At one point, he tried to get out of his car to get a better shot and almost couldn't get the door closed back due to the force of the wind. He said he'd never felt so small in his life.
That's how I felt on the bike...small...surrounded by incredible beauty that came to life with a single word from our amazing God. And yet, here we are - created in His image, given the same power and authority, the same life and death - the true pictures of beauty according to Him. It was one of those mind-blowing moments as I considered the greatness of His power, beauty, purpose...and His love...

The Shack

I read an incredible book traveling to and from Tacoma last week. The Shack. It's the most un-religious and "real" portrayal of God I believe I have ever read. At first I found myself saying, "Is that ok?" and realizing that was the whole point. It deals with the reality of forgiveness - beyond "the Christian thing to do - and makes you ask yourself a lot of HARD questions. I found myself grabbing my highlighter...for a FICTION book!!! Hello? But, there are some points I really want to go back and study.
I let a friend read it after returning. She texted me and said, "This book should come with a disclaimer: 'May cause injury to knees!' And a spatula with which you can scrape yourself up off the floor!" Well put, Julio!
It's amazing the pre-conceived notions we develop over the years - almost as escape-mechanisms...places to hide when we don't understand. It would seem God is inviting us to REALLY "dwell" (consider that word) IN Him and REST in His true, simple, beautiful love and the complete DELIGHT He takes in being WITH us...

Get on with it!

Just got back from a leadership conference in Tacoma, Washington with the pastoral staff. It truly was a beautiful week to go...80 degrees...clear enough to see Mt. Ranier in all her glory (all but one day)...
It was also the most incredible conference I have EVER been to. My world was completely ROCKED!!! I felt like I met up face-to-face with some of my greatest fears and was given a choice of submitting to them or getting out my handy dandy slingshot... Those fears have not only affected me, but everyone in my sphere depending on me to "get it." I left the conference with one phrase rolling around in my head - "Get over it...and get on with it!" Fear makes it all about me...freedom makes it all about God being glorified and everyone else being blessed!