One command. (Gen. 2:16-17)  One seemingly simple command from God to Adam.  Don't eat it.  Eat from every tree in the garden except for one.  This isn't brain surgery.  It's not complicated.  Every tree that is NOT the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you can eat from but THAT tree is off limits.  Every tree is safe except one.  Just don't eat from that tree.  Don't do it.

One question. (Gen. 3:1)  One seemingly harmless question from the serpent to Eve.  Did God REALLY say you can not eat from any tree in the whole garden? Did He REALLY say all the trees are off limits?  Did He REALLY say that in this whole garden there isn't a single tree you can eat from?  Did I hear God right, did He REALLY say all the trees of the garden are not good for food?  Did God REALLY say not a single tree?

One response. (Gen. 3:2-3)  One seemingly rational response from Eve to the serpent.  God said we can eat from all the trees. Well, all the trees except one.  There is the one tree set apart in the middle of the garden we are not supposed to eat from but all the others are safe.  I'm not sure why the fruit from every other tree is okay but we will die if we even touch the fruit of the forbidden tree.  There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with the fruit.  It sure looks good.  In fact, it looks good enough to eat.

Eve lost focus on what God allowed her, eating from any and all trees in the garden, and became fixated on what God was denying her, the one tree that was off limits.  Why would God put the tree there and then not let them eat from it?  Why would He make the fruit so luscious looking if He didn't want them to enjoy it?  It really makes more sense to eat the fruit and be like God than to pass on it and remain innocent.  God didn't REALLY want them to miss out He was just afraid they couldn't handle it.  They weren't weak.  They could handle the fruit.  God didn't need to protect them.  They would be just like Him and everything would be better.

Too bad Eve was wrong.  Too bad Adam listened to her and followed along.  Too bad we do the same thing ALL THE TIME!   

Did God REALLY say you can NEVER have sex?  No. He said I can have sex…I just have to be married first.  But there are great people out there I'm not married to… surely God didn't mean them?  What if I am single forever?  Does God really want me to go my whole life being a VIRGIN?

Did God REALLY say you can NEVER enjoy reward for hard work?  No.  I have 90% of my finances to spend on myself but I have to give 10% to God.  But I don't make as much money as other people.  Surely He doesn't need my little pittance of money when there are others giving so much more.  God doesn't realize how much it costs to live these days.  I'm sure He understands I can't give anything right now.  I need my money more than He does.

Did God REALLY say everything good in life is off limits? No. There are plenty of things I can do that are fun but all the really fun things are for non-Christians.  How am I supposed to reach non-Christians if I don't do what they're doing?  I'm only trying to help God reach the lost.  Who would ever want to be a Christian anyway if it looks like we never have any fun?  God is good so He would want me to enjoy myself.

Did God REALLY say you can NEVER drink?  No. I am allowed to drink I just can't get drunk.  What is "drunk" anyway… it's different for everybody.  Besides, I only get more fun when I'm drinking.  Anyway, I don't get "drunk" I just let my walls down and people get to know the real me.  I've seen DRUNK people and He is obviously talking about them but I'm not like them so I'm okay.

Did God REALLY say you can NEVER live with someone you love?  No.  I can live with someone but I have to wait until I'm married.  But I don't think God understands that we can live together and still be pure.  Wouldn't He want us to save money instead of wasting it on two rent payments?   God would want me to be safe so instead of driving home late at night it is better to stay here.  It's not like we are just living together for the sex, we really love each other and we are going to get married.

Did God REALLY say… you fill in the blank.  

We all have "REALLY?" questions we wrestle with and whenever we live in the restriction instead of the command we will experience death.  Death of purity.  Death of joyful giving.  Death of relationships.  Death of living fully.  Death of the marriage bond.  Death of… you fill in the blank.

It really is simple.

Over the past months I have been inundated with messages on truth.  This means one of two things - God is trying to get my attention or it's a random coincidence.  Being as I don't believe in coincidence I am leaning towards God getting my attention.

You would think recognizing truth would be simple.  I mean really, if it's true shouldn't we be able to spot it from a mile away?  Especially if we're believers!  Anything less than the truth should trigger a response in us that something is off and perhaps we should reconsider our position or decision.  Instead we find ourselves struggling to recognize truth and find the lies permeating every area of our lives.  Most of the lies we have invited in with open arms and a warm welcome.

So what's wrong with us?  Why is it so easy to find ourselves wrapped in lies instead of truth?  Why do we struggle when trying to live in truth when living in lies and deception seems as natural as breathing? 

Well it all started in the garden.

Adam and Eve weren't bad people.  They didn't set out one morning thinking, "hmmm, I wonder what we can do to bring havoc into this beautiful utopia of Eden" or "Let's do something to be remembered!  Let's find something we can do that will have a lasting effect on mankind from this point forward."   They were just two people making everyday decisions until one day things got out of control and there was no going back.  Eve knew the Truth but when the serpent started talking she got confused and forgot what was True - we know how that turned out.  Adam knew the Truth but when his beautiful wife handed him the fruit he set Truth aside and joined her in accepting the lie - we know how that turned out as well.  Neither of them were looking to live a lie, but, in the moment, truth was traded for the lie and the world forever changed.

I don't believe Adam and Eve were destined to choose the lie.  In the moment the serpent proposed Eve eat from the forbidden tree she easily could have stood in the Truth and rejected the proposition.  She could have, but she didn't.  Adam again had that same opportunity.  Instead of following Eve's lead he could have redirected her back to God's command.  He could have, but he didn't.  As a result man exchanged lies for the truth and have been struggling with what is True ever since.

This is where we come in.  We are not destined to be trapped in the lies of this world.  We are not slaves to sin and therefore are not slaves to lies.  We, like Adam and Eve, have been equipped with God's Word.  We, like Adam and Eve, have the same opportunity to choose to be obedient to God or choose the lie.  We, like Adam and Eve, will affect future generations with our decision.  We, like Adam and Eve, will suffer the consequences of setting aside the Truth for the lie. 

We are armed with the belt of Truth (Ephesians 6:14) and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God (Ephesians 6:17).  We have no excuse for not living in Truth.  We have been given all we need to live victoriously and stand firm against the lies of the evil one.  Don't waste the days you've been given listening to the lies of this world but instead grab the Word and fight back with the God given Truth!  If Adam and Eve had made the radical decision to take God at His Word in the garden the entire world would be different…what makes us any different!  Be radical and choose Truth!

I love soccer.  It has to be my all
around favorite sport.  I'd much rather be playing but I also enjoy
watching especially when I can see how hard work and natural ability are
contributing to a level of skill that far surpasses my own.  

Over
the past months I have had the amazing privilege of watching many
Philadelphia Independence games.  I am constantly amazed at the
intricate footwork as well as the use of headers and body position to
achieve optimal direction of the ball.  The level of dedication and
practice it takes to reach that level of playing goes beyond anything I
can imagine so am thankful when I get the chance to watch the fruits of
their labor.

This past Saturday I was at a game and I was drawn
to pay close attention to how the players utilized passing to achieve
victory.  I noticed that when the players would pass to one another they
would move on the minute the ball left their foot.  They didn't stand
there and wait to be sure the ball went where they meant it to go or
that the intended player received the ball.  They just passed and ran
with complete faith that they had delivered it well and their teammates
would pick it up and carry out their responsibility to maintain
possession of the ball until it was safely tucked into the back corner
of the opposing goal.

I was struck by the confidence not only in
their own skills to place the ball where they want but also in the faith
shared among the teammates to work together as one.  I can't even tell
you how many times I pass the ball to a fellow teammate on the field and
then stand there and make sure they get it or make sure they do with it
what I intended them to do with it.  Not only do I show a lack of faith
in my teammates I also stand around missing the opportunity to sprint
ahead to receive my next play in the game. 

It's not just on the
field.  I do it all the time - at home, at work, in ministry.  You see,
I find it so easy to fall into the trap that if you want it done well
you have to do it yourself or at least oversee to be sure it is
accomplished.  In soccer we call these people "ball hogs"...in life we
call them micro-managers…. in both places they are annoying.  

Imagine
what a soccer game would look like if the players didn't trust one
another to carry out their role as they've been trained.  The striker
runs back to cover the keeper, the midfielder decides they can score
more accurately than the striker so they stay on the offense and never
drop back to help defend.  The keeper sees a hole in the defense so
spends her time outside the eighteen instead of guarding the goal.  It
would be utter chaos not too mention the means of constant defeat.

Jesus
has set the best example of a team player.  Think about it.  Jesus did
and continues to do all things well.  While on earth, in human form, He
failed at nothing and accomplished every task set before Him. 
Everything He did was done fully and in complete alignment with God's
will.  He healed, cast out demons, released the prisoner, bound up the
wounded, loved well, and lived sinless.  Yet what does He do?  He passes
the "ball" to us then moves forward and waits for us to complete the
job. He trusts us to each carry out our responsibility as established in
advance by God the Father.  Just as He completed His role we must now
complete our role.  Just as He passed the "ball" and let others carry on
we must follow His lead and do the same.  If you are like me and think
you can do it all, take a step back.  Look at the example of Christ,
prayerfully consider your position on His team, then hold your position
and play it well.  Victory is already ours!

God is good.  All the time.  All the time.  God is good.  Perhaps you've heard that phrase repeated in your church or at some point in your life.  Well that phrase was running through my head today and I started to think about what the reality means to my life.

If we were to say God is a good god we would merely be indicating that He exhibits goodness in relation to other gods.  To say God does good things leaves open for interpretation that God is capable of doing harmful things as well or that doing good things is based on circumstance or whim.  But the Bible clearly states "God is good". It's who He is not what He does.  There is no time or occasion where God can be less than who He is which means at no time is He less than good.

In light of this how do we wrap our minds around things that in our viewpoint do not seem good in any way.  How do we respond when the "good" we've been thanking God for suddenly turns to tragedy and instead of blessing it feels as if God has deserted us or does not care.  If God is good than why do horrible things happen and where is God when it's taking place?

The truth is God does not change.  James 1:17 - Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (NIV).  What we experience as less than good and less than perfect is the result of sin and the penalty of sin is death.  Death of hopes, death of dreams, death of wants and desires, and ultimately death of the body.

The good news from our Good God is Christ conquered death - all death.  Where there seems no hope or when dreams have been shattered Jesus sacrifice restores what is lost.  When what we want is so far from where we are Jesus is there to refocus our desires and fulfill in us what we need instead of what we want.  And the death of the body is merely the means by which we enter the true reality and experience God's goodness to it's fullness.  Jesus experienced the death of punishment to free us to experience life to the fullest.

God is good.  Really.  All the time.  We will never fully grasp that while housed in these temporary bodies in a fallen world but it doesn't change the truth.  Everything that touches us is tempered by the goodness of God.  As believers we must find peace in accepting He is more and we are less and have faith that everything - yes everything is under His feet and has been conquered.  Let's not just live like we believe God is good, let's actually believe it and live. 

We were sitting in a circle on the ground singing praise songs. Our voices blended as we lifted our worship to God. For many of us the tune was familiar but the words were foreign. In spite of that our voices sang in unity because mental comprehension of the words was unnecessary. Our hearts were singing the same song.

MeRsiz stopped to pray. Her words a lilting melody as she brought praises to the throne of God. Fervent and adamant she sought out her Savior in the presence and safety of new and old friends. As she prayed tears streamed from the eyes of many in the circle - half of which recognized not a single word. The connection made would not be seen with human eyes - we were too different. We were held by a greater bond than culture, location, or language could offer - we were united in Spirit.

Nothing can prepare you for a moment when you step beyond worldly barriers to the place where God resides. The unity of that moment went beyond anything I’ve ever experienced because the bond was not of this world. When we are in Christ we are united whether in our local congregations or those meeting around the globe. What a blessing it is to stand shoulder to shoulder with all nations lifting our voices to call out the name of Jesus.

When was the last time you thought about what it means to be able to read?  I’m not talking about “reading” as in pick up a book and read cover-to-cover.  I’m talking about the ability to decipher combinations of letters and spaces. Was it even two minutes ago that you checked Facebook statuses?  What did you learn?  Who’s doing what with whom?  What happened over the weekend or last night?  What events are coming up in the near future?  Do you even realize how much you read?  Do you even realize how much the ability to read has changed your life?

It’s a gift you know - the ability to read.  It’s not a right or an entitlement but a gift.  We can use this gift to gather information, develop understanding, create new paradigms, or change the way we think about and perceive the world around us.  We use it to connect with the past and prepare for the future.  We read to learn.  We read to relax.  We read to broaden our vision and introduce ideas and concepts otherwise foreign to our thinking.  We don’t have to like it or even be really good at it - the point is we can do it and we do it everyday all day long.

The head of the indonesian literacy program shared a story with us today about a man who felt indebted to do what he could to ensure that others receive the gift of reading.  He is not some rich benefactor throwing money at a cause but rather a husband and father working many more hours than we can imagine to provide for others what he himself never received - the gift of reading.  Circumstances have not made him bitter and angry but rather have driven him to go above and beyond the acceptable norm.  This man, who himself cannot read at all, opens his home as a reading post in his village where anyone can come, borrow books, and learn to read.  He is giving away what he never had so others will never know what it is to be without.  His sacrifice to us is so small but to the children and adults who are forever changed by his actions he has given them the world.

Jesus is the WORD made flesh.  He is the beginning (history) and the end (future).  He is the gift given to provide information, develop our understanding and broaden our narrow thinking.  The gift of reading changes everything temporal - the gift of the WORD changes everything eternal.  Reading is a valuable and rare gift worthy of one man giving all he has.  The WORD is priceless and worth selling all we have to pursue Him.  Don’t sit around wasting your gift of reading - use it for God’s kingdom.  And don’t sit around wasting the gift of the WORD - there are so many out there just waiting for their world to change.

One of my favorite things to do is rock climb. My skills are not extraordinary but I can hold my own.  I prefer crimps to pinches and incuts to slopers but jugs are the easiest.  I heel hook and dyno when necessary but prefer a slab and smearing if given the choice.  I've been heard yelling "take" when I feel myself slipping and although I've almost certified three times lead climbing sign off has alluded me.  I rarely barn door although I still tend to hangdog when I'm working the crux of a new or complicated route.  I match confidently and use crevices well.  I rarely experience sewing machine leg but fatigue and extreme climbs are known to bring it out.  I can top out a cave route, throw for a hold, and mantel with ease but still struggle with overhangs and sloping underclings.  Every climb presents challenges requiring a different combination of skills in order to send with confidence and agility.  I will most likely never campus well, as I am a female, but flexibility and well developed foot technique make up for this deficit.  All in all, there is nothing like a day on the wall.

I have found only one downside to climbing, aside from the mortal danger while dangling on a rope 100 feet off the ground, and that is the degree to which I lose the muscle and flexibility necessary to maintain and improve my skills and technique when I spend too much time away from the walls.  Whether it's do to injury (the usual case) or business when too much time builds between climbs I find where I left off and where I am now are no longer the same place.  Creating muscle memory - training your body to do it right, and increasing muscle strength - the ability to do it, are critical for achieving success and moving forward.  Too much time away from the wall causes the muscle strength to decline and even though your body knows how it can't necessarily meet the demand.

My spiritual walk is like rock climbing.  I have what I would consider a spiritual muscle memory and spiritual muscle strength.  The more time I spend in the Word whether it be in daily devotions, church, small groups or Bible study the stronger I become.  I am better able to face what comes my way because I've been training my mind and my heart to know how to deal with what I encounter.  The more I "train" the stronger I become which is reflected in my attitude, my responses, and often in my relationships with others.  Eventually I reach a point where my reactions are merely reflex, or muscle memory, and I easily take a discipline learned in one area of my life and apply it to another.  The downside to my spiritual strength is no different than climbing - time away and I start to lose my memory and my strength.

There is only one way to maintain a healthy spiritual life and that is to stay in the Word and in close relationship with Christ seeking God in all we do.  The only time I get to say "I've arrived" is the second after I've taken my last breath when I have actually "arrived".  Until that time there is no stopping, no vacations, and no excuses.  Even when I've reached the highest level of skill in my climbing that I desire I still have to work to maintain that level.  The minute I slack off is the minute I start to decline.  The same is true for my spiritual growth.  Consistent daily devotions last year doesn't do much for my strength in the trials today.  I may KNOW how to respond but I don't have the STRENGTH to respond the way I should and find myself at the mercy of the moment holding on by my fingertips.  It's not pretty.

It always comes down to a choice.  What you value most will determine how you prioritize your life.  You can choose to stay a newbie Christian for your whole life.  Learn some of the lingo, say the right things, pretend to have the answers - but when the world crashes down don't come crying to me when you lack both the knowledge and the strength to face it.  You can choose the middle of the road.  Put enough time and energy into your spiritual walk to build a solid "muscle memory" base with decent enough "spiritual muscles" but you need to know you will never move beyond coping with life's trials.  Finally, you can choose the high and narrow road paved with hard work and dedication.  You will have to give up things that hinder you and seek out the things that will give your strength and endurance.  "Enough" is not part of your vocabulary because it's been replaced with "MORE" because you refuse to settle for less.

Eventually I WILL reach a point in climbing where I will peak but I will NEVER reach that point spiritually and what a blessing and a joy that is to know.  All the hard work I put in today at the gym will already start to be lost tomorrow but all the hard work and time I put into knowing and loving God will only make me stronger for tomorrow.  I choose everyday to send the next climb at the gym and I choose to KNOW my GOD more and more until I send to His Throne.  Climbing is not for the weak and neither is a REAL relationship with the HOLY ONE!  No excuses! Push it to the limit and if you start to slip just do what I do and yell "TAKE" because Jesus never let's our foot slip off the rock!

I recently read an article regarding Facebook and how it is changing everything we know about social networks.  What in the past was done face-to-face, on the phone, or in some sort of written correspondence has been forever changed by services like myspace and Facebook.  Information about one's life is now on display to those we consider "friends" or even strangers depending on our security settings.  According to the article we are becoming less and less private as we continue to post pictures, make statements about our lives, and associate ourselves with things we "like".  The network is designed to engrain us deeper and deeper in the world of cyber social networking until we feel as though we cannot live without the latest feed or status update.  Don't get me wrong, I can't even remember life without posts and pics but have often wondered where do we draw the line.  What is off limits, or better yet, what SHOULD be off limits?  And what would Facebook look like if we chose to abide by Biblical principles instead of cultural influence.  Let me elaborate.

How many of you, in a world devoid of Facebook, would share the same personal information if instead of being online you were on stage in front of the same number of people?  Would you think twice about what you say or to what degree you vent or share your thoughts?  

Consider this example:  You and your significant other break up.  You each update your "relationship status".  736, the total of your collective "friends", are now aware you are no longer together.  You "untag" yourself in all the pictures you find of the two of you alone but don't untag group pics because you still want to be in the album.  Time goes on.  Two months later you meet someone new.  You update your profile pic to be that of you and your new love so your 459  "friends" know how blissfully happy you are.  This isn't even taking into account the 389 "friends" your new significant other is posting to.  Of your 459 "friends" 119 are also "friends" with your ex so whether you are "friends" with your ex or not the ex too knows you are blissfully happy with someone else.   What you didn't know was your ex is still hurting over the change in relationship status.  Your ex just can't seem to bounce back.  It was humiliating enough when 736 people were instantly aware of the break-up but now there are almost 900 people who know you are happy and content while your ex can't even get a date.  Add to that the status updates on mutual friends sites as you continually share what your new love and you have been up to.  A never ending stream of "in your face" to the ex who truly did love and care about you.  Even if you never intentionally meant to hurt your ex that doesn't change the fact that over 1000 people have had a front row seat to your relationship drama.  Just because we can post everything doesn't mean we should.

Unfortunately with Facebook we have the capacity to hurt people in new and far reaching ways as we publicly use words and pics to purposely or unwittingly decimate people around us.  News flash: online words and pics can hurt just as deeply, if not more, because we lack the personal interaction necessary to keep our thoughts and sharing in check.  It hurts to lose a friend.  It hurts more to see your replacement in never ending photos and wall-to-wall conversations.  It stings when backhanded comments are made about you.  It stings more when there is an audience of 500 reading the status update.  Isolation and rejection are horrible, public rejection online… that can't be beat. Being on the outside of an inside joke is bad enough, being on the outside of an inside joke wall-to-wall makes public the fact you are not part of the inner circle.  Gossip,  backbiting, and arguments all leave a mark.  Is it necessary to capture it for all eternity on a server?  All of this and more are part of the very public world we've come to know and love as Facebook.

I'm going to tell you, Facebook is not the problem - we are.  When we fail to stop and think before we open our mouths, or in this case, confirm a post, we fail to follow the example of Christ.  Jesus tells His disciples "a new command I give to you:  Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34)  I wonder what He would say to our use of Facebook.  Are we loving one another? Are we being careful to post online only what we would say face-to-face or want as public knowledge?  Do not fall into the snare of forgetting that Facebook "friends" are real people with real feelings.  We are Jesus' disciples and are commanded to love one another - that includes Facebook.

The plan was simple.  Drop Mike off at the surgicenter for a routine in and out procedure for the shoulder.  The routine surgery lasting one to two hours would be followed by a routine hour or two of recuperation at the surgicenter then rounded out with a routine ride home.  So how is it I am sitting here in the E.R. waiting for Mike's hospital admittance after a non-routine negative reaction to anesthesia.  The anticipated result of routine and the reality of non-routine hit head on…reality won.

So now I have to ask you, what happens when what you plan does not line up with what takes place?  How do you respond when the direction you were heading u-turns or even better yet throws you in the path of things you never saw coming?  How do you handle the revelation of the truth that we do not actually control our lives?  

If we are honest we will admit we ask the "God if You love me then why" question… God if you love me why would You let this happen?  If You love me why does someone I care about suffer?  If You love me you'd care that my life stinks and nothing runs smoothly and everything goes wrong!  If You love me why aren't my parents still together!  If You love me why is someone I love sick and dying?  God if You love me why is the person I gave my heart to walking out of my life?  If You love me why did I lose my job?   God if You really love me why aren't you fixing things?  WHY…WHY…WHY.  On and On as the reality of life hits head on with our faith in God we ask why until ultimately the question comes down to the barest of forms - God ask us, Why if you love Me do you not believe I truly love you and have your best interest at heart?  It's at the moment we get to that question that the reality of our faith is truly put to the test.  The outcome - refined and reformed into a deeper dependent relationship with Him or walk away and delude ourselves we can do it on our own and in our own power.

So what circumstances in your life do you think you control?  Your job?  Your education? Your relationships?  Your future?  To be perfectly honest we no more control what happens to us than we control whether our heart continues to beat.  We think we do because we make choices about where life takes us but the results of those choices really lie in the providence and protection of God.  He determines each breath, each heartbeat, and each moment we spend in this world.  Whether you acknowledge God is active in your life means nothing to the reality that He is and He will do according to His plan and as His child He will not leave you how He found you but continually transform you into the likeness of His Son.

Don't let this realism of the lack of control over life overwhelm you but rather take comfort in the fact that despite all your best intentions and worst failures God has been working and will continue to work.  James 4:14 says "you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.  You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes".    James' perspective brings into focus the reality of the world we live in and the God we serve.  There really is no gentle way to get the attention of man and bring him to his knees than to throw off his plans and redirect his steps.  All of which is done by a loving God who will do whatever is necessary to bring His own to Him.  Funny how what is best for us is the thing we seek the least - complete and utter reliance on God.

There is nothing I could have done to see the events as they unfolded today.  For all intensive purposes I should not be here right now but I am.  Now I get to make a choice.  Do I acknowledge God's hand over this?  Do I accept that He is in complete control in spite of how things may look?  Do I trust Him implicitly to do what needs to be done to achieve the outcome best suited for His Kingdom purposes?  Do I trust Him even unto death?  Jesus did.  Death on the cross.  Humiliating, painful, torturous death on the Cross.  The outcome - MY salvation, MY redemption, MY eternity with Him.  If I can trust God that the sacrifice of His only Son was the best way to achieve His purpose then how can I trust Him any less that anything I go through be any less?  I can't, can you?

What does it take to get your attention?  When was the last time you shook things up a bit?  Ever?  Recently?  Are you one of those people that just goes through life as a zombi - you know, nothing really out there gets your blood pumping, just a day in day out dullness of life?  Do you need heart stopping adrenaline or fear to make you feel alive?  Are you an addict to the rush of challenge and competition or are you content to just slide by as the world revolves around and around?

How about your Christian walk?  What word would you use to describe how you live as a believer - exciting? amazing? awe inspiring? never a dull moment?  so-so? boring? dreadfully uneventful and not worth mentioning? what Christian walk?

We are not supposed to be merely stirred by God's presence in our lives we need to be shaken!!  Our God is HUGE!  He does HUGE things! All around us every day our God is moving and doing and we miss it because we are too lazy or ignorant to see it.  Things happen when in the presence of God!  

God's presence among His people -  over a million people released from slavery in one day (Exodus 12:32),  whole mountain smoking and quaking (Exodus 19:18), temple clouded out (1 Kings 8:10), singe free in a furnace (Daniel 3:27), ravenous lions go hungry (Daniel 6:22)

God's presence in battle - two spies believe in victory (Numbers 13:30) an ass talks (Numbers 22:28), walls fall down flat (Joshua 6:20), the sun stands still (Joshua 10:13), a blind man brings down the house (Judges 16:30), a boy defeats a giant (1 Samuel 17:49), enemy troops hear things and run away from nothing(2 Kings 7:7)

God's presence through His prophets - a widow's son brought back to life (1 Kings 17:23) soaking wet wood burned to a crisp (1 Kings 18:38), iron floats (2 Kings 6:6) contact with bones brings a dead man back to life (2 Kings 13:21), a whole city repents on the word of one man (Jonah 3:8)

God's presence in His Son - born of a virgin (Matthew 1:25), leprosy healed (Matt 8:3), paralytic walks (Matthew 9:6), walking on water (Matthew 14:25), sight for the blind (Matthew 20:34, Mark 10:52), demons and pigs unite (Mark 5:13), angelic birth announcement (Luke 2:14), storms and waves obey (Luke 8:24), five thousand fed then leftovers (Luke 9:17), Jewish Revenue Service tax relief and refunds (Luke 19:8) religious leaders looking for Truth (John 3: 2) life restored to a stinky dead man (John 11:44), beaten down (John 19:1) crown of thorns (John 19:2), murdered on a cross (John 19:18), buried in a tomb (19:41), left the tomb empty (Luke 24:3), fish and chips on the beach (John 21:9) clouded from vision (Acts 1:9), seated at the right hand of God (Hebrews 10:12)

Our Christian faith should be anything but boring.  I'm pretty much thinking that if we are boring believers it's our fault.  Complacency has no place in the Christian walk because our God is NOT complacent.  He is involved!  He is REAL!  He is waiting for YOU!  You can spend your whole life waiting for Him to reveal Himself to you or you can get off your butt and start seeing all the ways He is being revealed!  Stop waiting for a "stirring" and start praying for a SHAKING!!! I'm game… are you?

All those who facebook were most likely some way involved in doppleganger week.  If you have no idea what I'm talking about than you are either residing on another planet or have made much better use of your time than updating your status.  Doppleganger week was a push for people to find and post a celebrity look-a-like pic as their profile pic.  It's pretty amazing the physical similarities between many celebrities and my friends.  I have to admit, some were a little closer than others, but whose judging.  I especially enjoyed the confusion of one friend.  She didn't realize she was looking at a celebrity pic and actually thought she was looking at her friend.  She couldn't figure out why he would be posting a pic without a shirt on!  Her confusion was short lived but for that brief time her friend was a dead ringer for someone famous.  Flattering, right?  Maybe not.

Were any of you disappointed with your doppleganger?  Seriously, were you embarrassed by the person you most resemble?  Why?  Not as popular as you would have liked?  Not as attractive you would have preferred?  Dejected to learn that you only resemble a so-so celebrity as opposed to a big screen actor or Emmy award winning performer?  Does the athlete you resemble spend more time on the bench than in the game?  Or does the celebrity you are mistaken for spend more time in and out of jail or rehab than they do on t.v.?  Was your own personal value affected by your look-a-like?  Amazing to think that the more famous or infamous the celebrity the higher or lower OUR status as THEIR "look-a-like".

What would your profile picture look like if instead of external appearance it reflected your internal appearance - the heart of who you are?  Would you still be embarrassed?  Would you be excited or ashamed to post it?   What if pics were not allowed to express who we want to be but rather who we are?  What if there was no more hiding, no more faking it, no more creating a persona to fit the image you think others are looking for?  What if all pics were fully honest images of who you are at this very moment - "the me nobody sees"?  Would you hold back?  Would you be able to post it?

I could.  Not because of who I am or what I've done but because of who Jesus is and what He's done.  You see, my internal appearance has been forever changed by Jesus.  His death on the cross redeemed me.  He took all my worthlessness and gave me value.  He replaced my stinking, rotting, hardened heart and gave be a living, loving, life filled heart.  Not only has He purchased my life on the cross but He took all my sins and failures and took them onto Himself.  Because of what He did my profile pic would show a heart that is beautiful and far better than anything I could have achieved on my own.  I have nothing to be ashamed of because Jesus is my doppleganger… is He yours?

Mistaken identity is really only valuable if the one we are mistaken for is greater than ourselves.  Jesus is far greater than any of us will ever be.  Post your pics this week on how Jesus is reflected in you.  Share with everyone who you are in Christ.  There are so many people out there who have yet to know Jesus as their savior.  Wouldn't you rather them see Jesus in you?  Christian - Christ-like - there is no greater Person worth resembling.  What are you waiting for… show us your doppleganger Jesus style! 

Who’s it for?

    * Mentorees: Any young adult man from college-age to mid 30’s
    * Mentors: Any spiritually mature man desiring to build into the life of a younger man

What is it?

    * An intentional discipleship program where an older man mentors a younger man.
    * We match men that are about one generation apart.
    * We prayerfully match men considering common interests.

Steps to get started:

    * Contact Neil Klusky, mentoring liason, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 610.633.0018.
    * Meet with Neil for a brief “get to know you” time before pairing with suitable mentor
    * Meet with potential mentor to discuss your goals
    * Start meeting regularly - Mentor liason is available to support and answer questions along the way

Guidelines for the mentoring relationship:

    * Meet once every 2 weeks, for about one hour, for a period of 6 months
    * Decide on a topic, book or need
          o It could be as simple as meeting for breakfast to share about life circumstances or an in-depth bible study.
    * We have an organized system but allow for freedom to move in the direction you sense God is leading.
    * Scripture and prayer are an essential part of mentoring and we encourage selecting relevant verses to memorize.

Mentoree quote: “Whether I've had a good or a bad week, I always look forward to meeting with my mentor.  It is a very encouraging time and I know it will change my life.”

Mentor quote: “It’s an enjoyable and rewarding way to deepen your relationship with God and one other, through encouragement, learning, and friendship.”

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. - Proverbs 27:17 NIV

Have you ever stopped to think that worldwide the one thing that permeates every culture and every peoples group throughout all time and all generations is storytelling?  Stop for a moment and consider that.  Think of the magnitude of that concept.  Why the story?  What is it about a story that transcends all borders?  

Our God, the Master Storyteller, created STORYtelling.  In the beginning was the WORD (John 1:1) because in the beginning is where the STORY began.  Our God, in all His genius, created a universal form of communication - heavenly and earthly - that would have no boundaries.  In addition, he created communication that requires relationship.  All storytelling is built on two fundamental parts - a “teller” and a “hearer”.  We are created to be relational, to be mutually dependent on our God and one another in order to have both rolls fulfilled within the story telling process.  There is no story if there is no one to hear and there is no story if there is no one to speak.   

From the foundations of the earth God has been telling the ultimate STORY through people, nations, and His creation.  From Genesis to Revelation we have in writing a STORY that supersedes every other story on the planet.  Jesus Himself in Matthew 11:15 says “he who has ears let him hear”.  Why would He say that?  Unless someone’s been born with a birth defect doesn’t that pretty much address the entire population of the world?  Should everyone hear?  Seems like a weird statement… you know, an “ok, Jesus” moment for the disciples.  What is He calling us to?  What if He is calling us to hear and understand?  What if Jesus, the WORD, knowing there is no STORY if there is no one to listen, is calling us to stay alert and keep listening?  What if He knows there are those of us who will forget the STORY or allow everyday life to push His STORY to the background?  What if Jesus knows there will be many who will tune out the STORY on purpose.  What if Jesus knows one of you reading this article right now wants to do anything but HEAR!   Jesus gave us ears to be hearers of the STORY not hearers of the world.  What value is there to listen to the irrelevant and inconsequential worldly-stories if we miss the STORY of STORIES and lose our souls?   

Jesus has plans for you.  You have been given ears to hear so start listening!  Stop wasting your time listening to those who speak unintelligible babble.  Every story the world has to tell you is merely a knock-off, a pitiful imitation of the true STORY!  Why buy a rodex when you can have a rolex and why settle for worldly when you can have heavenly?  I challenge you to find ONE story in all of history that comes close to God’s story.  Find one that resonates with love and compassion as His STORY does.  Find one where a love so great is poured out on the human race that God’s Son is put to death to save them.  Find an earthly story immersed in Mercy, Infused with Grace, and driven by Love.  Let me tell you now… it doesn’t exist.  There is only ONE STORY so this is my advice to you: just be quiet for a minute… don’t make Him waste His breath… seriously, just shut up and LISTEN!

Don’t stop there!!   You have only made it halfway!  There is more!!  All listeners must become tellers!!  Take what you’ve heard and YOU tell the STORY.  You don’t need a degree, you don’t need to be signed off, you don’t need a letter of reference!  It is your God given responsibility to go and TELL!  Don’t come crying to me that you stutter, stumble over your words or throw up when forced into public speaking!  This is God’s commission not mine!!  He has empowered you with Holy Spirit to enable you to be a hearer AND a teller!!  You are not alone!  We are never alone!!  TELL everyone you meet everything He has done!  We are not members of a secret society with a secret story.  We are members of a Kingdom without walls with a STORY to be shouted at the top of our lungs!   Open your mouth, pick up a pen, grab a keyboard, whatever, you know the STORY that has the power to bring Life!  Are you willing to LISTEN and TELL?