Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you—[this is] the Lord’s declaration—plans for [your] welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. [Holman CSB]

I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out-plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. [THE MESSAGE]

His plans always make my plans look insignificant because His plans have eternal purpose.

Acts — Impressed or Impression?

In my NT trek to take an unfiltered look at what Jesus and the early believers had to say about the body gathered I reached Acts today! Hooray! I'm reading through this time in The Message. While I would not recommend a paraphrase for study, this one is really outstanding for leisure reading like I'm doing during my trek.

As has been my pattern I purused the introduction which NavPress placed at the beginning of each new book. This one sparked an interesting thought:

Because the story of Jesus is so impressive — God among us! God speaking a language we can understand! God acting in ways that heal in help and save us! — there is a danger that we will be impressed, but only be impressed. As the spectacular dimensions of this story slowly (or suddenly) dawn upon us, we could easily become enthusiastic spectators, and then let it go at that — become admirers of Jesus, generous in our oohs and ahs, and in our better moments inspired to imitate him.

Throughout my years I'm met many people that have impressed me for a variety of reasons. Something about them prompted me to stand up and take note. To admire him or her for some feature of how he or she lives. Dedication. Organization. Genuineness of care for others. And so on...

However, on the few and far between list are those who have made an impression on me. These are folks who didn't just pass through my life intentionally or unintentionally marketing a noble quality. These are the folks who took the time and cared enough to impress upon me who they had been impressed into being.

Now this one may not be fair, but my dad is one. He spent his college years at the Citadel military college in Charleston SC. His school has a rich tradition for impressing upon cadets a noble and responsible lifestyle. The work they did in his life doubtless transfered through to the families of every cadet in some manner. In my case, it was a good impression on who I am today.

John Wyatt was a man of God who led the church we attended during worship services. But, personally, in those moments I had alone or in small groups with John, he always impressed upon me a life of worship. John fell out of bed in the morning on his knees in prayer and praise. Then, he spent the day on his knees. Though he walked on his feet, sat in a chair, or -he was on church staff you know- stood on his head. John impressed upon me a daily walk of worship.

Frank Case, Perry Floyd, and Steve Kunkle were men who impressed on me the importance of being a 2 Timothy 2:2 believer. For about 14 years I lost touch with that impression, but God has recently drawn it back to the top. During college and seminary I was taught and trained how to do church but it was the time and focus poured into me by men like Frank, Perry, and Steve (and John of course) which truly impressed upon me how a disciple of Jesus lives his daily life.

Harold McGlamery was a lay leader in the church we were a part of in Aurora, CO. Harold thank you for your passion to be an impression on my life for Jesus, not just a leader in the church. Harold cared about who I was, not just what I did as a leader in his church. He invested in me as a person and tried to be a tool used by God to smooth off rough edges (he'd tell me I was being a little wordy right now as a matter of fact).

Many have taught me along the way. Few have allowed themselves to be used by God to make an impression upon my life. How about you? Who have you allowed God to use to make an impression upon who you are? In whom are you allowing God to use you to make an impression?

Some may be called to be apostles and pastors and teachers and evangelists. But we are all called to be impressors - discipling as we go in the name of Jesus! Won't you pray and start watching for the impressionable ones whom God has placed in your path right now?

Agendas

On my trek through the New Testament striving to look intently at what Jesus and the early believers had to say about what it was to be the body of Christ in the world, one of the interesting ah-ha sideline discoveries came out of a desire to watch for themes or patterns of topics which Jesus taught to His disciples. I'm through John now, and it's pretty clear the core of Jesus' message was an understanding of how to look at... well... stuff. To say the world would be inadequate. To say possessions would be short sighted. Even to say life would sell His message short.

In the book Spiritual Leadership Henry and Richard Blackaby outline the work of a spiritual leader to move those over whom we have influence off of the agenda they are on and on to God's agenda. I read that book over two years ago. Now, having plodded through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John it appears in retrospect Jesus was carefully and methodically watching what His Father was doing in the lives of those who followed Him [Jesus] closest and relating it all to an adjusted view of everything with God and His agenda at the center.

Most of us carry some sort of planner. I carry a Palm Treo 700wx. It's my feeble attempt to stay on agenda. Well, my agenda and the agenda dictated to me by the pressures of work, family, household, etc. typically fall into the arena of the critical urgent. Fires that need to be put out, projects that someone needs me to get done, stuff my honey would like me to do, just... well... stuff.

This re-read through the New Testament has re-ignited my passion to be on THE agenda that matters. If you want to, pray for me as I seek to see and walk in the path that is laid out straight before me as I trust and ponder He who matters most! (Prov. 3:5-6)

Web 2.0 and Church 2.0

Okay, so I've been "away" for a while. Just distracted. So, let me try to get back in the swing with a portion of an article I read today about the Web 2.0 craze (Web 2.0: The Power Behind the Hype). One of the interesting things about the Web 2.0 movement is how many similarities there are between it's relationship to Web 1.0 when considered against the relationship between the existing institutionalized church and the church that seems to be being reborn as a movement. Here's the interesting quote that sparked this post:

Web 2.0 isn't a 'thing', but a collection of approaches, which are all converging on the development world at a rapid pace. These approaches, including APIs, RSS, Folksonomies, and Social Networking, suddenly give application developers a new way to approach hard problems with surprisingly effective results.

So, let's reword:

Church 2.0 isn't a 'thing', but a collection of approaches, which are converging on the believing world at a rapid pace. These approaches, including the desire on the part of folks to be part of a movement not necessarily part of an organization, having a missional focus, wanting to transform the community we live in from the inside out vs. from the outside in, redeeming the use of culture rather than rejecting it, (etc.) suddenly give believers a new way to approach hard problems with surprisingly effective results.

Wow! There is a new "web" emerging right under our nose. There is a rebirth of Jesus' Body occurring as well. I want to use the new web. I want to be part of a movement.

Did you ever wonder...

I have a cold right now. Stuffy head, scratchy throat, coughing... you the drill. UGH!

Driving into work this morning, as is my usual practice, I was meditating on Jesus and the Word when I started wondering... Did Jesus ever have a cold? That led to others and, well... here's some of the wondering (wandering) thoughts:

• Did Jesus ever stub his toe?


• Did Jesus ever tattle on his brother or sister?


• Did he sooth the sore thumb of his earthly father Joseph when Joseph missed with his hammer?


• Was he ever tempted to look to heaven when he had to clean up the workshop after a busy day of building?


• Did Jesus ever have a hangnail? Did he just heal it?


• Did Jesus ever have a bad hair day?


• Did Jesus ever have a button fall off? Did he just touch it and it was sewn back on?


• Did Jesus' sandal straps ever break? Did he tie them back together? Speak and new ones were in place of the old ones? Or did he just look up to heaven and the two pieces were one?


• Did Jesus ever have an ingrown hair?


• Did Jesus have any allergies?


• When talking to someone and the sun was in his eyes was he tempted to produce a cloud to shield his eyes?


• Did Jesus ever un-burn a burned meal?


• Did he ever quietly correct the bad breath of someone to whom he was speaking?


• Did Jesus brush his teeth somehow?

Wow... it goes on and on. Trust me no disrespect meant... but God with us... Immanuel offers some interesting wondering.

It's all about timing (on Teach Me Dad...)

An interesting post about God's timing. Kind of goes along with my own realization that Jesus was always at the right place at exactly the right time, doing exactly what he was supposed to be doing. I'd add to teachmedad's thoughts my own thoughts in HDJD (How Did Jesus Decide).

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
6 think about Him in all your ways,
and He will guide you on the right paths.

As a graduating high school senior this verse was the focus of a Baccalaureate service. I don't remember for certain who spoke. I don't remember all the words that surrounded the service but this verse has been the number one foundation to every day since. The simple truth of trusting in God is so hard for most to grasp. We tend to seek our own understanding and wisdom to guide our ways, but as for me, I've chosen for the author of everything to guide my steps on the path of life.