Ministry and Motorcycles

It has been the coolest thing - ministry with a motorcylce. God has provided some incredible opportunities to meet people using my motorcycle. I wasn't sure about it when I originally bought it. To be perfectly honest (Ok, honest is honest - how can you be imperfectly honest? yah yah yah) I bought it for me - to give me an out from the busyness of life and ministry. But God has surprised me - pleasantly surprised me.

Yesterday, I met a guy, John, at Starbucks who is a charter plane pilot (I tried to talk him into letting me go along on a trip, but to no avail). We talked for quite a while. We talked about motorcycles (to say the least), we shared stories, we talked about. . .life. It was great to see him smile and laugh. John, I believe, is a Christian. I fam sincerely happy for John, but I just loved hangin' with John and hearing his stories.

A couple of weeks ago, while riding one evening, I stopped in at Starbucks (alright, yes, I'm the self-appointed secret shopper for Starbucks ) and met someone else, a lady whose name is Tammy. She owns both a Quizno's sandwich shop and a motorcycle. It's not a Harley, but it is a motorcyle. We talked a long time about motorcylces, cars, marriage, church, and again. . .life.

About a week, or so, ago I went in to get my hair cut. I wasn't riding my bike, but had one of my Harley hats on. The young lady cutting my hair, her name was Tammy also, noticed my hat and asked if I owned a motorcycle? Come to find out her father had passed away and left her a Harley-Davidson. Not only did she ride, but so did her brothers. She used to attend First Baptist North Mobile, but now doesn't really attend anywhere. While she snipped away at my locks we talked. We talked about her dad and his love for motorcycles, we talked about church, pastoring, and most of we just talked about. . . you guessed it - life. When I shared with her my desire to begin a motorcycle club/ministry at our church she got very excited about it and wanted to be a part of it.

WOW!! I am both humbled and excited at the opportunities God has placed in my life to meet people and share life with. It is sooooo cool. I guess that's kind of what Jesus did - took ministry to the people and shared life with them.

Now, I'm no Jesus (quit nodding your head), but I can definitely minister like he did. I can take ministry to the streets, literally. I can be available when he places people in my path. I can be an ear for those who just need someone to listen. I can share Christ by sharing life - being honest and transparent. I can minister by letting them see a pastor who, like them, is human and on a journey - seeking, laughing, hurting, and enjoying life.

Thank you, Lord, for the opportunities to share life and in the process share Jesus.

Motorcycling for the Messiah,
Mike

Insecurity in the Valley

One thing I have never been accused of is being insecure of who I THINK I am and what I THINK I can do. Believe it or not, I have even been called over confident and cocky!! Yeah, I know, where do they come up with this stuff? I don't understand it myself.

(Now that you've regained your composure - shall we continue?)

In spite of my confidence in who I am and what I can do, I do know this one thing - it is easy to become insecure in the midst of the valley. What do I mean? Well. . .it has been easy for me to become insecure about God's love for me, insecure about God's promises, insecure about the fact that He wants what's best for me, insecure about His direction for my life. I think you get the picture.

Where do these insecurities come from? Great question. I believe they come from deep inside of us. They are always there, but Satan brings them to the forefront and uses them to distract us from God. . .from the journey. You see, if we become insecure we will begin taking things in our own hands - that puts us in God's place - and we start screwing everything up. Then we're off track, we are out of God's will, we begin to question God, His love, friends, family, in fact there's nothing we won't question - except our insecurities.

I was reminded of this as I read David Nasser's book A Call to Die. He said that when things are more unstable we become more insecure - we're not sure of what's going to happen, we can't see the future, we can't figure things out and we become insecure. Things are never more unstable than when we are in the midst of the valley. It's because we can't always see where the journey will take us. We don't know what's lurking in the shadows of the trees. We can't fathom what's around the next bend.

Rest assured - God is still in control. He's still God. And He's still right.

So how do we get that security back? We confess our insecurities. We confess our fears. We confess our attempts to take God's place. Then we trust in Him - completely and confidently (as hard as this may be right now). Psalms 24:17 says we are to wait on the Lord. We are to be strong and stay with God. That is how we gain our confidence back. I don't think it happens all at once - I guess it could. For some of us valley experiencers I think it takes time. So. . .each day we trust Him a little more, then a little more tomorrow, then a little more the next day. Then, when we least expect it we find ourselves totally immersed in our trust in God. This journey of trust, in and of itself, may be it's own valley experience.

Are you struggling in the midst of your valley? I fully understand. I've been there. I know exactly what you're going through. So do many other valley experiencers. Don't loose heart. Stay with God. Confess your insecurities and fears and allow the Shepherd to guide you through this season of life.

Confidently yours (sort of),
Mike

The Great Collision

On the way to church this morning I was listening to David Crowder's A Collision on the ol' iPod. Specifically I was listening to the song A Beautiful Collision when something hit me. Ok, ok, some of you are probably thinking I need to get hit a little more often. Yeah, yeah, I'lll give you that, but there's something more.

The song speaks of the beautiful collision that takes place when our lives collide with this incredible God! That, is indeed, a beautiful collision. This morning was different. This morning it hit me - what a beautiful collision it was when God collided with humanity!!

Think about it! Was that not the most beautiful collision of all? God, in his divinity, power and grace collided with his greatest creation and gave us a child. A child who was to grow up - 100% divine and 100% human - to become the Savior of the world. . .of history. . .of you and me.

Ever wonder what would have happened if this beautiful collision never occurred? Don't know if I want to think about - to be honest - but I am very thankful for it.

Today, don't forget to thank God for such a beautiful collision.

Mike

While I was on staff at Carpenter's Way we used to sing a worship song entitled Better is One Day. The chorus

Better is one day in Your courts
Better is one day in Your house
Better is one day in Your courts
Than thousands elsewhere

comes from Psalms 84:10 .

I actually ran across this passage while I was preparing for Karen's death. We both knew she was going home from the hospital to prepare to die. Unless God miraculously healed her, there was no way she would be healed from cancer.

Last night I was lying in bed - yes I do sleep on occasion - praying when this passage came back to me. As I lay there pondering the reality of this passage I thought of Karen.

While Karen was preparing to worship God for all eternity, she lived the truth of the message. She loved life, loved friends, loved family, but loved God even more. She knew the truth of this brief but deep passage of Scripture. One day in the presence of God is so much greater, so much better, than all the time we live on earth.

But how many of us live a life that relates more to David Crowder's Everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die on the band's A Collision CD. We all want to go to heaven, but who is willing to die for it. I know there are multiple levels I can take this. Here's where I'm going - do you really want to physically die to spend one day - ONE DAY - in God's presence? What if you knew it would be sooner than you thought? What if you knew, like Karen, without any doubt, you were going to die?

You will! Ever thought of that? You and I will die - unless Jesus comes back first - we will die!! Sooo. . .are you looking forward to spending one day, ONE DAY, with God, than all the days on here on earth.

Karen wasn't afraid of dying, she just didn't want to suffer. She looked forward to spending time with God. She exhibited Psalms 84:7

Do you?

Mike

Finishing Touches

Last weekend I was in Waxahachie and Midlothian, Texas. I grew up in Waxahachie and Karen grew up in Midlothian (they are only 10 miles apart). Our families live there and I went to spend Christmas with them.

On Friday my Dad and I got to hang out together. In the midst of our hanging out we went to the cemetary in Midlothian where Karen is buried. I went to see her headstone. Her sister, Jedon, and brother, Junior, really did all the leg work to design it and get it in place. And they did a GREAT job.



It was kind of wierd. I knew she wasn't in that hole covered by dirt and acorns. She was in heaven dancin' with Jesus and worshipping God. But this was where I said "Good-bye." This was the last time I was with most of our family and friends gathered together to celebrate her life and say "So long." I guess it just really hit me when I saw her headstone.

She would have liked it very much. It was simple - like Karen - and it included her favorite verse - Proverbs 3:5-6. It was the verse God gave us as we began our season of ministry together. He gave it to us separately, but one night with the young singles of Legacy Drive I shared this verse with the group. Karen, both disappointed and excited, shared that God gave HER that verse that week as well. So from that point it was our passage.

When I walked away I was OK. Dad was there, life went on, and I had a great weekend. It was like seeing Karen's headstone and visiting her final resting place were finishing touches of saying goodbye to a wonderful woman. She's still missed, still loved, and still in my memory. But warm is her place in my heart and in my memory!

Maybe you need to put some "finishing touches" on your valley. It may not be easy. It may raise some difficult emotions. It may even be something you just can't face right now. That' s OK. Just know that at some point in time you will need to put some "finishing touches" on your valley. May you have a "dad" or a friend who will be there for you, like mine was. Thanks Dad!!

Topping off the valley,
Mike

Christmas and the Cross

Each year as Christmas approaches I ask God to show me something new about the Christmas story. Not the "story" itself, but something new about comeing of the Christ - our Messiah. It is so easy for us to get lost in the "story" - the characters, the places, the people - and forget the purpose behind the story.

This year God keeps reminding me that while Jesus came as a child, he didn't remain a child. In other words, he came to grow up into the most influential and controversial man in the history of the world. He came and went from the cradle to the cross. He came as a child and left as a broken, tortured, bloodied mess of a man. You know the funny thing about all this - Christ chose to do this. Philippians 2:5-8 tells us he chose to empty himself of all his eternally divine rights and priveleges to come to earth to die a cross-like death.

Another "funny" thing about the story is that as Jesus was growing up he knew about a cross-like death. It was all around him. As he walked along the road he may very well see men hanging on crosses, dieing slow, horrendous deaths. Yes, he knew one day he would be one of those men.

His disciples also knew about crucifiction. They, too, saw it as they lived their lives alongside Jesus'. So when he said something like, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me," they probably stood with their lower jaw dragging the ground. If they were anything like me they probably smiled on the outside while on the inside they struggled to fully grasp what Jesus really meant.

In his book, A Call to Die, David Nasser challenges the reader to come to grips with this reality. To deny self, to take up the cross of Christ, and to follow him. There are things in my life that I definitely struggle with letting go. I have selfish wants, desires, and wishes that get in the way of hoisting the cross of Christ on my shoulders and following him - willingly. I even told God today that as much as I know the answer and I want to follow him it is difficult for me at times.

How about you? What is it you're struggling to let go of? What are you toting around instead of the cross of Christ? Have you shared this with God today? Are you willing to share it with him? I would encourage you to be honest with him. He already knows your struggles and what's getting in the way of allowing him to have full and complete access to your life.

Take time right now and ask God to show you what it is that is getting in the way. You may already know. Confess it to him and ask him to help you overcome, to turn aside, to remove whatever it is that is getting in the way of giving God full control and choosing Christ over your selfish desires and wants.

I'm right alongside you. . .

Man! That cross looks heavy!

Mike

Intercession and Redemption

Yesterday I came across a devotional by Oswald Chambers in his My Utmost for His Highest. One of the things that pricked my heart was his words, "You cannot truly intercede through prayer if you do not believe in the reality of redemption."

Did you get that? We cannot truly stand in the gap for a people or a situation, before a holy and mighty God if we DO NOT believe in redemption. If we don't truly trust that God can and will redeem people then we are not interceding. Chambers says that we "will simply be turning intercession into useless sympathy for others."

According to Oswald "True intercession involves bringing the person, or the cirumstance that seems to be crashing down on you, before God, until you are changed by His attitude toward that person or circumstance." Oh my, oh my. How difficult is that? Don't we want quick fixes from convenient prayers. Prayers that are nothing more than spiritual "fast-food".

How many times have we seen or met someone at church, work, socially and think, "they need help," or "those poor souls," or "they deserve this or that," or "they could really use ________" (you name it). When we pray on the basis of redemption we see people differently. We begin to see them through God's eyes - from His perspective. We begin to see their need for restoration, for re-creation, for redemption. Here's the problem, we can't give them these things. They only come from a restoring, re-creating, redeeming God. They may only receive it when someone like you and me intercede on their behalf believing God can redeem them. We we pray from a desire to see some one or situation redeemed we begin the quest for God's heart.

Praying like this take time and especially energy. Satan DOES NOT want us interceding for someone. He isn't especially excited when we boldy submit our prayers to God with the belief that God can redeem anyone and any situation!!

So. . .be encouraged. Be lifted up. Be on your spiritual knees. Someone in the valley needs God's perspective of them in us. They need you and they need me on our face before a redeeming God.


Believing in Redemption

Mike

Such Strange Ways

The other day I heard the song A Strange Way to Save the World. All I could find was the Jump5 lyrics, but iTunes had a version recorded by 4-Him. Go figure. So here are the lyrics. The chorus really spoke to me because it's as if Joseph was talking to God and asking why him, why Mary, why their child when there are so many other options?

The only thing I can say is that God uses strange ways to accomplish his purposes. I mean, think about it for a second. . .who would have thought that sending a Savior through the birth of a child would be the way God, or anyone for that matter, would have done it. I often wonder about it, then again, I'm pretty wierd like that.

It's no different for those in the valley. Think about that! Would you have done it this way? Would you have put yourself through this valley in order for you to experience the greatest potential for spiritual growth in your life? Me - NO WAY!! I would have chosen a much easier way. I would have selected something that didn't quite have the pain and suffering included. I would done it a number of other ways, but I would have never thought of putting myself in such a place.

But God did. He thought about it and here we are! I've said it before - God's still God and no matter what He's still right. He knew what I needed - what you needed. He selected this strange way for you to experience growth in your life. He chose for YOU to experience this valley. Christ also experienced his own valley. He chose to give up ALL of his eternal rights and privileges to come to earth and take on the form of man - just like you and me - but he went further to become a servant, a slave, who was obedient, even to the point of experiencing a cross-like death. Why did Christ do this? Because God chose this way for him. Yes, God did that - He did it for you and me. We wouldn't have chosen that way, but God did. And He did it for you and for me.

So. . .when you wonder why? When it just doesn't make sense. Remember that God's ways are not our ways, but His ways are always right and always best.

Learning to the strange,
Mike

Hope for the Holidays

Came across this article through an email I recieved from Family Life. It is entitled Giving Hope in the Holidays: Encouraging those who have lost loved ones. After reading the article I believe it's one we could use for everyone we know who is experiencing a valley time - a low time - in their life during the holidays.

I would like to take a moment to summarize for the flock and fellow valley experiencers what we can give to encourage and provide hope through Christmas:

1) The Gift of Listening
One of the greatest, and most overlooked, gifts we can provide is the gift of listening. It may not sound like much, but take it from somoeone who needs a listener every once in a while, it is very much needed. It has been very helpful for me just to have people in my life who listen. They don't try to judge, criticize, give advice, or help. They just know that being there to listen is ministry and encouragement enough.

2) The Gift of Remembrance
Memories, regardless of how much they make us cry, can be a great way to encourage others. Remember the good memories - experssions, gifts, situations that made you laugh, stories you shared together. Give valley experiencers room to share, laugh, and maybe even shed a tear or two. Believe me - it's good. I love to share stories. Sometimes they're the same stories over and over again. I find that the more I share them the more they warm my heart and put a smile on my face.

3) The Gift of Comforting with the Comfort You Were Given
If you have experienced a similar valley as someone you know who is currently going through a low time in their life ask God to give you the ability - the heart and strength - to minister to them with the same grace and comfort you received while you were in the valley. God has given me so many opportunities - some I'm just finding out about - to minister to others. He has helped me get this far and now I'm helping others. You can too.

4) The Gift of the Unusual
Try encouraging them to do something outside of their ordinary holiday traditions. Flock - we need to understand that following or participating in certain traditions may be too painful for valley experiencers. Karen and I would always open our gifts on Christmas Eve. Not anymore. Not this Christmas. I'm not sure what I will do instead. Maybe ride my motorcycle and enjoy the gift of Christ in an unusual way. Yesterday I joined a bunch of bikers in a Toys-for-Tots ride. Never did it before, but look forward to doing it again. Maybe it will become my new Christmas tradition.

5) The Gift of Enduring Friendship
Flock - just be there for those in the valley. Include them in what you're doing. Being alone while you're in the valley is difficult as it is - much less during the holidays. Invite them to gatherings. Sit with them in church. Call and check up on them. Send them a note or an email to encourage them. A friend from a former church sent me an encouraging note this afternoon. You may not say much and doing something like sitting with them in church may not seem like a big thing to you, but to those in the valley - man-oh-man - it speaks volumes.

6) The Gift of Prayer
Even if you don't think you can give any of the gifts listed above you can always pray. Pray for their journey. Pray for strength. Pray for God's presence to be felt in a very real way. Pray for endurance. Pray for personal peace. Pray for people to come alongside them. Pray for the wisdom, grace, and compassion to minister to them. I know from my own journey how important prayer has been. Not necessarily my prayers but the prayers of godly saints all over the world. Don't miss out on a gift that doesn't cost you anything but time.

7) The Gift of Hope
Remind them of the hope they have in Christ. Remind them there is an "other side" even if they don't see it or believe it now. Give them the gift of hope by being Jesus to them during this often difficult season in the valley. Love them, encourage them, come alongside them, and be there for them. Let them see you care, not because they are going through the valley, but because of Christ in you. A friend recently reminded me that there is an "other side" to the valley I was experiencing and at that place waits a marvelous blessing provided by my King!!

As each of us prepare for the Christmas season remember that we all will be preparing - each in his or her own personal way. Some of us will go through this season a little different - for some a lot different - than we did last year. Join me in giving the gift of hope.

May these be helpful to you.


Mike

Holiday Memories

I coming to my first really big holiday that Karen and I shared for 20+ years. Ok, Thanksgiving has come and past, but Christmas was really special to us. Karen would often spend a day or two redecorating the house for the Christmas. We had a Christmas tree in every room - even one in the laundry room. There were the smells of the season and candles and lights and the emotions, even the music. One of her favorite songs of the season was Baby It's Cold Outside. We would sing the parts to each other and laugh the entire time.

We both loved Christmas! I'm not sure how I'm going to feel when everyone is opening presents and she's not there. My house certainly isn't the same. But I do want to say that I'm not sad - at the moment, I may be as the time draws near, but for now these are sweet memories we created together.

I know some of you valley expereincers have or will go through this experience yourself. I'm sorry. . .sort of. I'm sorry because of the potential pain the holidays may create. I'm not because we have a life to live and I'm going to live it! Karen lived life even in the midst of her pain - she loved life. I definitely wouldn't want to disappoint her, so I've chosen to live!!

As a matter of fact tomorrow I may participate in my first Toys-for-Tots ride. It will be cold, but I've always wanted to do it. So. . .at 9:30 in the morning I'm going to show up with my new toy, bundled for the weather, hang out with some folks I don't even know, and live life!!

Would you join me in cherishing the memories of Christmases past? Hang on to those memories - they are special. But would you also join me in living life? You may not ride a motorcycle in the cold carrying a stuffed animal, but what could you do to share life with someone?

Valley experiencers - rise and live!!


Living out loud,
Mike

A change in the focus of my prayers

When I first began this journey through the valley my prayers were very much focused on myself, my needs and my journey. I have noticed, recently, the focus of my prayers have changed. Doesn't mean that I still don't lift of my needs, cares, feelings, thoughts, and emotions up to God. It does mean that rather than those needs being the sole focus of my interactions with God, other things have taken their place.

I have begun to sincerely and genuinely intercede for others - specific people God has placed on my heart to lift up in prayer. It wasn't a conscious effort. It just sort of happened. It's been a long time - or at least it feels that way - since I have passionately prayed for specific people and their needs. I am also praying for specific situations and circumstances. That's been kind of different as well.

I guess the gist of it all is that while I still pray for me and my needs, my focus has become external to myself. I don't have this long list of people I pray for. I pray for those that God specifically places on my heart. Some I know very well. Some I know on a limited basis. Regardless of what or who I pray for I am loving it. I picture myself standing, or sitting, before God and talking to - interacting with Him about the people and situations that are heavy on my heart. It's all quite surreal and very much real at the same time (I know, that may not make much sense, but I don't know how else to describe it).

It seems I pray quite often (I didn't even realize it until very recently) and at times with deep groaings for those I pray for. At times I weep for them and thier circumstances. I go to sleep praying. I wake up in the middle of the night and I find myself lying in bed lifting someone or something up to God. I wake in morning and before I get out of bed I discover myself talking to God about someone else or another situation. Sometimes I pray a different prayer for the same person or circumstance. It's whatever God burdens my heart with.

I know this sounds somewhat wierd or, to some, that I'm patting myself on the back, but, to be honest, it is kind of strange and all I know to do is to continue. I don't know that I have ever expereinced this kind of passion for prayer in my walk with God. I know to some this passion for prayer should be an obvious part of the Christ-followers journey, but let me remind ALL of you that the focus of many valley experiencers is themselves and their situation. Flock - that doesn't mean they don't love you or care for you, but sometimes the valley is so deep and so dark that even thinking about someone else and their circumstance is tough to do. So, don't take it personal.

Valley experiencers - let me encourage you to continue moving forward. Continue lifting up your heart to God. Be honest - you're only fooling yourself if you're not. And when you come to that place where you believe you're ready - and only you know when and where that is - ask God to give you someone or something to pray for. He will. . .you will. When you do, it will be an incredible feeling of freedom! This doesn't mean I don't cry or hurt on occasion out of my own experiences. I do. You will, too. But there's something about standing in the gap for someone that is wonderfully freeing!

OK, I could go on, but I think you get the picture. Let me know about your experiences.

Pursuing God's Heart,
Mike

Focus on the Cross

One thing God has really challenged me to do recently is "Focus on The Cross." When things begin to get a little overwhelming, my mind starts to wonder and ponder on things that are not of God I focus on The Cross. I have even sketeched a version of The Cross that keeps coming to mind with the words "Focus on the Cross" written next to it and stuck it up above my desk.

Tonight during worship I closed my eyes and I saw The Cross. A little different physical appearance, but there it was. While we were worshipping God began to give me some thoughts on the cross. What is listed below are those thoughts:

Can you close your eyes and see The Cross?

It's easy, or at least easier, to see the shape of the cross. Maybe you see a rugged cross. You may see the smoothe cross like those seen on the necklaces around our necks. You may see something else - a different shape.

But when you close your eyes and see The Cross do you see beyond the phyical shape of the cross? Do you see the pain the rough hewn wood caused as it rubbed against the beaten and bloody back of Jesus? Or the pain of exhaustion or the pain of the world's sin thrust upon Christ's shoulders? Or the pain of God as he watched his son be slaughtered for an opportunity to have a relationship with you?

Do you see the suffering of The Cross? The suffering that comes from an entire body hanging and slowly suffocating on three spikes? Or the suffering that comes from seeing your mother and friends watch as your life slowly slips away?

Do you see death? The death of a man wrongfully accused, judged, and condemned for the world . . . for you and me?

OR do you see the love of God manifested in the obedience of Jesus as he took his place upon The Cross? Do you see the faithfulness of God as he proivdes the bridge, the path, to Himself? Do you see life - life everlasting? The life that only comes from a Savior who so willingly laid himslef upon The Cross so you and I may have life? The life that is only available through the blood that Jesus shed on The Cross.

The Cross - Focus on The Cross.

The Cross - close your eyes and see The Cross?

When you do what do you see?

Focusing on The Cross,
Mike

It Happens to the Worst (& Best) of Us

The other night I went to see the movie Rent. Before you say - or even THINK anything - this was one I should have checked into before going. But it was one of those nights where Mom and I were looking for something to see and because of time we chose this one.

Rent is a musical. There are more words set to music that actually spoken. It was, at its basic foundation - a theatrical production put on film. I'm not going into the summary of the movie, the summary is not what caught my attention. It is what happens in the movie that caught my attention.

Death is all over this movie. From the girl friend of the rocker dude who dies from drugs/HIV, to the many who are struggling with aids - gays and straights alike. It was during the portrayal of Angel's struggle with and eventual death from AIDs related illness that it really - I mean really hit me - we all die. We ALL face death.

Whether it's due to some tragic circumstance like an auto accident, like my cousin, to murder, to old age and our bodies just finally wearing out like my Grandparents, to some tragic and incurrable disease like Angel - like Karen. Death is real!

Want to know what else hit me? Everyone who faces death also face the realization that one day they face the fact that they are either going to heaven or to hell. Like death, it's not an option.

Want to know something else? It hurts me that there are people who are dying and going to hell because of the reputation of the church - of the flock. People won't come to the church because it's condemning, judgemental, hypocritical, unloving, and fake. We talk a good talk, but we walk a lousy walk. Don't think so? When's the last time you sat with someone whose lifestyle you didn't agree with and just talked - about life, likes, dislikes, struggles (this is one for another post - we all have 'em), and battles overcome? When was the last time you walked with the dirty people? When was the last time you hugged them, hung out with them, didn't turn a cold shoulder or glance in their direction?

You're not alone. I count myself in this group of believers who are great at talking - I know what the Bible says. But walking it is another matter in and of itself. Jesus talked very little, but walked an incredible walk. Check out Matthew 9:9-13, Luke 8:1-2 - it seems that Jesus was constantly surrounded by people who were hurting, sick, "crazy", and led mistake-ridden lives, but that didn't stop him from loving them. . . from meeting their needs. . . from caring for them.

The valley if full of people like this. It's also full of people like us. Wait a minute. . .aren't those people the same as us? Aren't we all facing death? Aren't we all facing heaven or hell? Aren't we all sinners? Aren't we all in need of grace and redemption? Aren't we all struggling through life? OK, some of you "healthy" people have it figured out. I don't. I'm trying, but I don't have it figured out. Neither did guys like Paul, David, Hosea, Moses, Abraham, Peter, and a host of others throughout the history of God's Kingdom on earth. Only one person had it figured out and He's sitting at the right hand of the Father after walking out of a tomb. You do that, then I will give you your props.

Until then, let's come around each other and help one another through the valley of life.

Facing impending death,
Mike

Listening for God

I'm not sure whether God speaks in dreams anymore or not, but early this morning I woke up with a picture in my head that was pretty clear. Call it a dream, call it a vision, call it what you want, but it was real and I wasn't awake at the time.

I saw myself as an electrical box with a lot of plugs around it's four sides. And plugged into each of the receptacles were cords coming from a lot of other people and places. I saw this hand reaching down and unplugging all the cords but one. Written on the side of the last plug was the word "GOD." Then I heard a voice saying, "You don't need input from anyone else but me." It wasn't this eerie, ominous voice. Nor was it a searing, condemning voice. It was more like a reassuring voice. As if God was saying to me, "There's a lot of advice out there for the valley experiencer, but right now you only need to listen to me - to my voice."

WOW!

So, how do we hear God's voice and how does he speak to us? Great questions. Over the years I have been taught and have experienced God's voice in the following manners:

1) His Word - I heard Henry Blackaby once say, "When you open the Bible you come face-to-face with God." Don't know about you, but that's powerful. I have it written in the front of almost every one of my Bibles. I found one that I hadn't written it in, but Karen had.

2) Fellow Believers - God speaks through godly people - people who take the time to listen to God. They have been a very important part of my journey.

3) Ordained Authority - If you are a member of a local church, then God has placed ordained authority over you. I know that there are some valley experiencers who have been betrayed and hurt by those in authority, while there are others who have greatly benefitted from guidance of those in authority over them. This is a tough one, but God does speak through them. Test their fruit and see if it matches what they are saying.

4) Prayer - God often speaks to us. The problem is we aren't listening or we don't want to hear what he is saying. If you want to hear from God you MUST be willing to listen.

Not one of these are viable lines of communications with God if the Holy Spirit is not present. The Holy Spirit is the connection between you and God. I have equated the Holy Spirit to the electrical cord between God and us. Just as the cord provides a conduit for the electricity to go from the source to the object - say a lamp - the Holy Spirit provides a conduit between God's voice and our lives. We must give the Holy Spirit his place in our lives.

Hey valley experiencers - in the words of Hans and Frans, "Hear me now and believe me later," (yeah SNL fans will get this one). You want to get to the other side - listen. Listen for the voice of God. It's there, but are you listening?

Listening Loud,
Mike