Ain't No Party Like a Holy Ghost Party...

... 'cause a Holy Ghost party knows how!
(In case you want to know, the quote is from a Fall Conference several years ago...)
(apparently, it also can end "...'cause a Holy Ghost party don't stop", but I prefer the former)

I've been holding two partial posts for about a week and a half, and have obviously been procrastinating. I meant to finish it over the wonderful Thanksgiving break, but it just didn't come out right. Tonight at church, it became a lot clearer, and I realized how and why to share what God has been doing in my life.

Lately, I've been attending the Arvada Vineyard Church, which is much different than the churches I have previously attended. The churches that I have attended in the past have been doctrinally sound, but usually de-emphasizing the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Christian. One of the first times that I heard Pastor Jay (pastor of Arvada Vineyard) speak, he was introduced as "someone who expects God to show up." Little did I know all the ways that God was to "show up" and mess with (maybe mess up) my life.

The posts that I haven't posted have been about how I've been re-evaluating different areas of my life under the scrutiny of a paradigm shift from "the list of rules" to merely "Loving God and loving people", as He commands. However, they seemed really disconnected and without much of a point.

Tonight I went to the evening church service, which is purported to focus more on worship and (prayer) ministry than a message. I have been blessed by Pastor Jay's messages, and am seeking to hear from God and to have Him work through my life in all areas. I don't know what exactly that means yet, but I find out more every day. Tonight, Jay's message was on discerning the will and voice of God. Some of the relevant passages he mentioned were 1 Corinthians 13:9-12 (all prophecy is in part), 1 Corinthians 14:1 (prophecy is to be much desired) and 14:29-30 (discernment is required). Also, 1 Thessalonians 5:19-20, where it talks about not holding prophecies in contempt, but sorting through the words for the parts truly from God.

The service tonight included a time of seeking the word of God in worship and prayer, a practice that I should do more. Anyway, Jay shared some particular needs in the congregation that he was led to pray for. The last of these items was "people who just need God to speak to them." More and more in my life, I see that I need to hear from God. Therefore, I stepped out in faith and went forward for prayer.

Mike, a brother in Christ, asked if he could pray for me, and I consented. When he asked if I had any specific prayer requests, my only thought was that I needed to have God speak clearly in my face because I sometimes don't listen. We started praying, and God showed up. Mike prophesied that he saw me in a "wide-open space", something that I didn't understand until he saw me "coming out of a narrow place into a wide place where you can see a long ways. You can see a lot further now than you used to. You have a lot of opportunities, and will be able to do a lot of things." I then realized that it was indeed God's truth. For a long time, I've lived in an externally-imposed structure replete with rules and regulations not of God's making. This semester, God has been breaking me out of my man-made box into the wide plain that is His way.

My first reaction upon seeing the "wide open place" in my mind was that there appeared to be a lot of ways that I could go wrong. God may be giving me many opportunities, but how am I to choose the best way? Because my God is big, though, He had answered before I had even asked. Mike "saw" (for lack of a better word) me "walking out to an an airplane on a runway", then God spoke that "He would protect me like when I was a child." Not 24 hours ago, I was telling a friend how God had used the close structure of my past church/social environment to keep me straight for several years. God also spoke that "He would be my Shepherd now just He has always been." God has the perfect words (duh...) to show me where I was to go, and to reassure me that His hand was on me. God is always the same - He is the same today as He has been, and He will still be the same tomorrow! As He had kept me safe when I had "retaining walls" around me, so He will keep me safe without the walls. God is not a God of walls. God is a God of freedom and love.

A word about the airplane part. The last thing Mike asked was what my job was. After a moment's consideration about what my current job actually is, I answered that I was "a college student, although I used to be a flight instructor." Right about then, my cell phone "rang" (my phone almost always lives on "vibrate"). I glanced at the number and saw that it was one of my flight students that I haven't heard from in months. After church was over, I listened to the voice mail that he left, and found out he wants to come flying again. In the past week, I had twice mentioned (to different people) that although God led me into flying for a living last year, it looked like he was leading me out of aviation for a time. I still don't know how God is going to put me back into aviation as there are many demands on my time at the moment, but if He promises it, I'll believe it.

It truly takes only faith like a mustard seed. I'm new at the "listening to the Holy Spirit" bit, but God undeniably spoke to my heart tonight. He wants all of me to follow Him, something I am easily distracted from. In the next week or so, I'll try to tell you more about this wide open space that God has brought me into.

Vaya con Dios! Until next post, God bless.

Fields White for Harvest, Part 2

(Read Part 1 first. It will make more sense. I promise...no, not really. :-) )

A short bunny trail here may clarify things. Three weeks ago, I visited a Bible study at UNC that is led by a couple of my friends. We manuscripted Luke 4, which is a melange of Jesus' interactions in different places with different people. Without transcribing every note from my manuscript, I would like to highlight a few things that God laid on my heart.

In verses 18-19, Jesus is reading from the book of Isaiah (emphasis mine): " The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." It strikes me as I reread, that it's not just Jesus. God has sent His Spirit on my heart, to proclaim His good news. It is up to you, and it is up to me to tell about God's love to those who have never heard. Pastor Jay was talking in church on Sunday about how often the perception is that a "good church member" is one who sits in church and writes checks. The reality is that it is so much more than that. God has called us to take an active hand in His work. If we turn it down, He will still accomplish it, but we will not get the privilege of sharing it.

A few verses later (v.25-27), Jesus is "ranting" about how no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. During the days of Elijah, there were many widows in Israel, but Elijah was sent to a foreign land. There were many lepers in Israel, but Elisha healed Naaman the Syrian. The Pharisees thought they would be the closest to God, but in reality, they were ones that Jesus berated the strongest. Lastly, in verses 38-43, He heals many sick in one town, then leaves, saying "I must preach the good news of the Kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose." (v.43)

I was thinking. Elijah and Elisha were called out of their usual way to bring the word of the Lord as He commanded. During worship at the beginning of the evening, we had sang that "These are the days of Elijah/Declaring the Word of the Lord...and though these are days of great trials/Of famine and darkness and sword/Still we are the voice in the desert crying/Prepare ye the way of the Lord!..." If we are the voice in the desert, who are we crying to? Who am I to be crying out to? Who is out of my way that I am called to go to?

At CBM the first time, I felt a little out of place. Out of the 6 students, the other 5 were "working the crowd" (to use a phrase from a different context), listening, talking, praying for people. Being the adept socialite that I am (that was sarcasm, if you didn't notice), I held back. At one point, Alli turned around and beckoned me to come over, but right then Sally (the "boss") came over and called me away to help. On the way home, I did some more thinking (dangerous, I know). This was one of the opportunities where I may have missed out on helping in God's work by not talking with those that He called me to serve.

This last Saturday, I was given another chance. Since last Saturday was the first Saturday of the month again, it was our responsibility to send people. Brian asked me if I was interested in visiting again, and I agreed without hesitation. I knew where I went astray last time, and as I rode into downtown, I prayed that God would put His hand on me and lead me along His path.

The situation was much the same as the time previous: sort food, then go downtown and wait. This time, though, I made a conscious effort to be "friendly". When you take a step God's way, though, He'll make a way. One of the other Mines students was also in my vicinity, and she's a better conversationalist than I am in most regards. There's a reason that Jesus sent his disciples out two-by-two (sorry, I can't think of the reference at the moment) - so that one can pick up the slack for the other. Erin and I visited with a fellow named Ryan, who shared his experiences working in Louisiana for FEMA until it was too depressing, then moving on. Three days earlier, he had driven to Denver to look for a job. Even though he'd had a rough start, he said that he really enjoyed the town.

After distributing the food we'd brought, I was visiting with a lady who'd come a little late. It worked out OK for her because she was able to take all the leftover food for the people in her building that were unable to come. She then started telling me about what God had done in her life. What an amazing story! God had brought her through multiple abusive relationships, healed her from drug addiction, and even gave her a daughter even though doctors had told her when she was young that she would probably not be able to have children.

I realized that while handing out food and listening to stories may not look like missionary work, this is where God has called me to reach out at this time. CBM has a ministry to the poor, the cold, the hungry, the homeless, the widows and fatherless - those that God has specifically called us to minister to. While I need to be a shining light on my campus,I am also called to go out of my way to serve God. We talk in our campus fellowship about serving God and loving others, but it's when we set out purposely with that agenda that God works. When I'm downtown ministering, there is very much a feeling that I am on God's "front lines" - a place where He is moving in people's lives. Loving others and talking about God becomes a practical exercise, not just of academic interest, "an exercise for the reader."

I leave you with a verse from Psalm 107: "Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! He is good, and worthy of praise! Look for His wonderful works in your life today, my friend.

Fields White for Harvest, Part 1

I left a large loose end from my series of posts from RMGA by promising to tell about where God is leading me, then promptly forgetting. Hopefully I can remedy that today.

My friend Brian spoke at RMGA about an amazing new opportunity that God led him into with Christ's Body Ministries, which is a ministry to homeless people in Denver. Each week, CBM takes a truckload of donated food to downtown Denver. After a church service (which is organized by a different church each week), the pastor on staff with CBM preaches a short couple paragraphs from the back of the truck, then much food is unloaded and distributed. Campus Crusade comes in because the shelter doesn't have a whole lot of regular help. They asked Brian (or he volunteered, I'm not entirely sure on that part) if he could find some people to help.

Crusade stepped into the gap, and now every week a different Denver Metro-area school sends a crew (Cru - crew - Get it? Bad, I know...) to help. Mines had the honor of sending the first group one week after RMGA, and since I had no reason not to, I volunteered to help. One of the things God has impressed on my heart is that missing opportunities to share His love with people shortchanges me the most. His Word will be preached where He desires, but it's my option if I want to be involved. I thought that CBM would be a good opportunity for me for a couple reasons. First of all, I'm generally better working with my hands than working with my voice. I.E., I can do more than I can talk about. I figured that if nothing else, I would have no problem handing out food to people.

Six Mines students made their way downtown that morning: Ben, Alli, Nate, Brian, Marc, and I. Only Brian had visited this ministry before, and I'm not sure even he knew what to expect. I know that I didn't. We made sure that we were walking in God's hands the whole way, notably through the liberal use of prayer. We prayed before leaving campus, before leaving the shelter, and pretty much all along the way.

When we arrived, we found that all the organization had been done, and literally all that we had to do was do the work. Some of the donated produce was past its useful life, so our first task was to sort out the spoiled food from the good. Some of it was quite rotten, but a lot of it was still good. I laughed to myself - one of my tasks was shucking sweet corn. Like this was something I'd never done before... reminds me of home. We drove down to the ministry site, and had about 20 minutes before it was time to unload the truck.

Through various pursuits, including sitting in on the church service offered on Saturday mornings, we spent our time more or less profitably until we were given the "high sign". Pastor Bruce preached for a couple minutes from the back of the truck, then it was time to unload and pass out. The food was unloaded and sorted by type (produce, bread, etc), then Sally got the folks into a line, and we passed out food. After I got the hang of it, it became a lot of fun. It was a little like a sales job without money changing hands ("You know you want some of this fine [whatever], it looks really good this week. Let me hook you up with a little extra..."). Amazingly, in much less than half an hour, the truckload of food that we had brought was gone. It was pretty amazing!

(To Be Continued in Part 2)

A Story That's Not About Monotony

While not very historical (i.e., out of order), I have an interesting story to tell you today. Today, I could tell you a story about how my life is boring, but that would be a short story. My life tends not to be boring. I was reminded about God's call to my heart to rise above the "boring" things.

A few weeks ago, I was visiting some friends, and needed to email some schoolwork from my laptop. Sadly, the days of open access seem to be declining, and the school network where I was wanted a username and password that I didn't have. Thus began a saga that ended up to be about twice as long as necessary for me to transfer my file from my laptop to a USB drive, to a desktop, and lastly over email to the intended recipient. What my friend didn't realize is that not only do I
often think aloud, I usually have a running narrative directed at my computer when I'm trying to do something. (It usually goes something like "Come on...no, not like that!...stupid thing...do it this way...thank you...no, not like that...just do what I want...", etc.) I do it so much that I don't realize any more that it's audible to those around me (and there's usually nobody around me that really pays that much attention).

For these reasons, I caught myself when my friend asked what I was doing. If I recall correctly, I muttered something about "talking to the computer." She had an interesting response, though: "It's not the talking that surprises me. It's the passion." After having it brought to my attention, I noticed that I do indeed implore and disparage my computer at times with gusto.

The second part of the story comes at the IVCF Fall Conference this last weekend. Through a strange sequence of events, I found myself outside the room for the main session quite early (like half an hour early) Saturday morning. I was sitting there being quiet and thinking about
the teaching from the weekend when a young lady walked up and started visiting. As I'm sure you've noticed, when I have nothing else to say, I tell stories. She had asked me about my background, and I was telling her about some of what God had done in my life to bring me to where I am today.

Sometimes I tell stories about myself, but it's way more fun to tell stories about my God. My God is big, and He shows Himself to us in big and little ways. I enjoy hearing about how God has worked in other people's lives, and I also enjoy telling about how God has worked in my life. I was telling my new friend Rachel some of the awesome stories about God that I've seen this year, such as my friend Marc who chose his major just to better reach a certain people group for God, or the Crusade guys who have the prayer room and PB&J station set up in their apartment and leave the door constantly open as a ministry to the campus.

As I was talking, I got more and more into my story. Rachel stopped me short by saying something to the effect of "You're really passionate about this. I can see it in your eyes." I surprised myself with my response, though, as I said "Well, I guess I gave up a boring life long ago. You only get one time around on this Earth, and it's too short to live boringly."

As I was remembering later, I thought about how many times we go through life apathetically or half-heartedly. I think of the days where, for one of many reasons, I fulfill my obligations, but don't really pour all of myself into what I'm doing. Although I can't find it at the moment, I recall a quote that someone told William Booth to the effect that "The world has not yet seen what can be done by a man fully committed to God." Booth went on to found the Salvation Army. How many times are we not fully committed to anything, let alone God? How many days and weeks do I waste by being apathetic towards those around me?

It's not necessarily easy to be passionate for God in a dying world, though. We have an enemy who wants to steal your passion. It is sad that in this day and age "passion" is used more often for a heart's lascivious desire than for a heart's deep desire. (A parallel to the the corruption of the word "love" in our culture today.) I found out a few years ago the Arabic word for passion, and I was amazed.

The Arabic word for "passion" is Hamas. How sad that, in this world, what God gave us to make our hearts yearn for Him and His work of loving on people has been corrupted into a byword for terrorism and fanaticism! If we are supposed to be salt and light in a dark place, wouldn't it be an amazing witness to show people what Godly passion is!

As Dr. Seuss is supposed to have said, "Be who you are and say what you feel because those who care don't matter and those who matter don't care." Trust God with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3) Go out and live passionately and crazily for God. People will sit up and take notice, which will give you an opportunity to share "the reason for the hope that is in you."

I would challenge you to examine what your passion is for today. Is it for God? Are you seeking to love Him more? I know I often get distracted with things of this world including acheivement at school and trying to look good to others. These things are the straw and stubble that will burn in the last day. It is only work in God's power and for God's cause that will survive God's refining fire in the last day.