Hearing from God

When I'm not sure I'm hearing the voice of God or just had bad pizza the night before . . .

1. Continue to pray and listen. When it is a significant decision I include fasting (typically from 1 to 3 days).

2. Make sure everything is in line with the Bible. The Holy Spirit will NEVER contradict God's Word.

3. Ask people I trust to pray and fast with me. There is wisdom in many counselors.

4. If hearing from God effects others than myself I always involve people that I know are Godly to help me discern God's will.

Filled

I have a confession to make: I have grown up a bit "Spirit-phobic."

My church background and seminary training both taught me that the Holy Spirit no longer works the same way he did in the Book of Acts (the cessationist view). That if people were taught about the full empowerment of the Holy Spirit then pretty soon they would be barking in our church services and chewing on the carpet--of which I want no part.

Sooo, I've done a pretty poor job over the years of teaching about the third person in the Trinity. BUT, this weekend we're beginning a new teaching series called Filled. Yes, filled with the Holy Spirit.

I would love to hear from you . . . What questions do you have about the Holy Spirit?

Prone to wander

We're probably all familiar with some type of image of a shepherd carrying a sheep around his shoulders. The truth is that it is not an uncommon way for a Bedouin shepherd to carry one of his flock.

But the image has a deeper meaning . . .

I was in Bethlehem at the traditional site where the angels would have appeared to the shepherd announcing the birth of the Messiah. Our local guide shared with us some very meaningful knowledge about the normal practices of the shepherds. In particular about why a shepherd would carry a sheep on his shoulders.

Lambs are prone to wander--to wander away from the flock--to wander away from the safe care of their shepherd. Because the shepherd cares deeply for his flock, when he finds a wandering lamb he intentionally breaks one of its legs. Then, for the next six months, the shepherd carries the lamb on his shoulders while the break heals. During this time of healing a deep bond is formed between the shepherd and his wandering lamb. The lamb becomes intimately aware of the voice of the shepherd. By the end of six weeks the lamb is very unlikely to wander into danger ever again.

Having traversed the rugged hillsides in the wilderness of Israel I gained a greater respect for the shepherds and their care for their sheep. I had to wonder if a shepherd might think, "Not again. Now I have to carry this animal on my shoulders for six weeks!"

If a shepherd didn't highly value a lamb I doubt if he would go through the personal agony of breaking its leg and then lugging it around for a month and a half.

I wonder how many times Jesus, as my Shepherd, has had to do the same with me? I am prone to wander.

Lessons from Israel

I'm still processing my pilgrimmage to Israel. In fact, I'm sure I will still be processing for weeks and months to come. But, here are some lessons I've learned so far . . .

1. I cannot fully understand the teachings of Jesus without knowledge of the geography of Israel.

For example--when Jesus (in the Sermon on the Mount) told his hearers that they must "love their enemies," he was speaking from a hillside that would have directly overlooked the city of Tiberias less than three miles away. Tiberias was a Roman city. A city which housed the Roman military. The Roman military that was oppressing the Jewish people. The Roman military that was the bitter enemy of the Jew. When Jesus said, "You must love your enemy," it was nothing short of revolutionary with the enemy in sight.

2. I cannot fully understand the teachings of Jesus without understanding the Jewish religious system.

For example--Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi . . . a highly esteemed position of learning. For Jesus to undercut (undercut is too gentle a term). For Jesus to provoke, attack, dismantle the religious leaders of his day was to sign his own death warrant. A fact I am sure of which he was aware.

3. I cannot fully understand the teachings of Jesus without understanding the culture of the Jewish people.

For example--When Jesus spoke of a sheep knowing the voice of its shepherd, he knew the culture and responsibilities of a shepherd. If a sheep was prone to wander away from the flock the shepherd would break one of the sheep's legs. The shepherd would then carry the sheep over his own shoulders for the next six weeks until the leg was healed. At the end of the six weeks there would be a deep bond between the shepherd and the sheep which had been carried. The sheep would know the voice of the shepherd. Most often, the sheep would never wander again.

Jesus was Jewish . . .

For now

I am sitting in an internet cafe in Old Jerusalem drinking a Turkish coffee. This is my third day in this amazing city.

I have enjoyed many cross-cultural opportunities and this one certainly ranks as one of the most intense. 35,000 people live within the city walls encompassing 6 tenths of a square mile. The city is divided into four quarters--the Muslim, Christian, Jewish and Arminian. All are getting along reasonably well . . . for now.

This morning we walked the 14 stations of the cross ending at the empty tomb of Jesus. It was a very meaningful experience. This evening we will watch the Sabbath come in at the Wailing Wall.

To walk where Jesus walked is difficult to get my arms around. I'm trying to let it all flow over me and into me. It will be interesting to see what difference a pilgrimmage of this magnitude makes in the long run.

For now, I will simply let my heart be filled, my eyes be opened, my mind be renewed.

USA Mary

Israel is one of the only countries to which I have traveled where I actually resemble the local ethnicity--which can be a bit challenging. Everyone assumes I speak Hebrew and Aramaic. I say the only word I know, "shalom," smile and keep on walking.

Yesterday we visited the Church of the Annunciation. It is the traditional site of Gabriel's announcement to Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah. One of the really cool aspects of the church was the 50+ mosaics around the walls depicting Mary and the baby Jesus in the ethnicity 50+ different countries. Japan, Thailand, Guatemala, India, etc. The depiction of Mary from the USA was inside the church. It was nothing short of imposing. Unfortunately, USA Mary looked angry and aggressive in all of her glory. AND, no Jesus in the picture. Hmmm.

Today, on our free day, three of us rented a car and drove up Mount Tabor (the traditional site of the transfiguration when Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus). I have always wondered if the other disciples were jealous of Peter, James and John when they got to go up the Mount with Jesus. Now I'm not so sure. The climb was a seriously long one up the side of a small mountain. Now I wonder if the other disciples were relieved that they didn't have to make the arduous journey.

Tomorrow we leave Galilee and head to Jerusalem . . .

Thin places

There are times when God seems exceptionally close - close enough to bring tears quickly, to rend your heart, to cause uproarious laughter . . .

This morning I got up at 5. My roommate, Bart Stone, and I walked down to the shore of the Sea of Galilee to watch the sun rise. As the sun ripped over the mountain I swam about 40 yards out from shore. As I was treading water I couldn't help but think of Peter jumping over the side of the boat after recognizing Jesus and then swimming to shore. I swam to shore. Thin place.

At 8:30 we went to the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized. I knelt down and lifted water over my head. Tears flowed with the Jordan. Thin place.

Later, we took a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. With the crowds pressing in on the shores I came to believe that the Sea was most likely a quiet place for Jesus. That two hours of sailing was welcome respite before walking amidst the masses once again. I rested. Thin place.

We closed the day with communion. My prayer partner, David Loveless, served me the body and blood of Christ. As he broke the bread he said to me, "This is the body broken for all of our idiotic screw-ups in life." I started laughing and handed him the cup saying, "And this is the blood shed for all of our idiotic screw-ups yet to come." We walked away from the altar laughing out loud. Thin place.

May you find your thin place.

This is the essence

This morning I spent two hours on the Mount of Beatitudes-the traditional site where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.

After some general information about the location we were told to simply go spend time with God. I spent the next several minutes reading through the Sermon on the Mount as recorded in Matthew 5-7. And then I reread it . . . only this time asking God to speak into my life.

Matthew 7:12 came alive to me: Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of ALL that is taught in the law and the prophets.

Okay, at a very young age I memorized the Golden Rule. Perhaps that's why I don't pay too much attention to it. It's for little kids. Didn't Jesus say, "Unless you become like a little child . . ." Hmmm.

So I wrote in my journal:

If I were an orphan I would want someone to adopt me.

I were ill I would want someone to care for me.

If I were elderly and alone I would want someone to visit me.

If I were oppressed I would want someone to fight for me.

If I were wealthy I would want someone to teach me how to invest for eternity.

If I were addicted I would want someone to love me unconditionally.

If I were to win I would want someone to celebrate with me.

If I were on a journey I would want someone to walk beside me.

If I were weeping I would want someone to hold me.

This is the essence . . .

The strong name of Jesus

After 24 hours of travel we checked into Scott's Hotel overlooking the Sea of Galilee.

As every night, we closed our day with worship and communion together. Tonight was very meaningful. We came into God's presence in St. Andrew's Church right on the Sea.

Our Team Leader, Tom Jones, invited us each to come forward. As Tom placed a cross around my neck he said, "Greg, my friend, receive this cross in the strong name of Jesus." Wearing the cross I stepped aside to our Spiritual Director, John Wassem. John placed communion in my outstretched hands with the familiar words, "Body of Christ, broken for you. Blood of Christ, shed for you."

A very good beginning to our pilgrimage.

God help me to walk with Jesus . . .

We're preparing to head to the airport. Our flight from Atlanta to Frankfurt will be nine hours. From Frankfurt we'll fly to Tel Aviv--another four hours. Once arriving in Tel Aviv we have a 3 hour bus ride into Galilee. Fairly grueling trip.

Over the past 48 hours we have experienced several times of extended prayer. It has been amazingly good.

God help me to walk with Jesus . . .

Pilgrimmage

I'm in Atlanta, Georgia, at an orientation meeting before flying to Israel tomorrow afternoon. 20 Pastors from across the country have gathered together to spend 17 days on a spiritual pilgrimmage. Nearly 8 months ago I applied for a grant to be part of this amazing trip . . . and now here I am.

I've never been overly enamored with the touristy side of the Holy Land. What I am interested in is gaining a deeper understanding of the culture and setting of the Bible narrative. I'm interested in walking where Jesus walked--literally.

This pilgrimmage is designed to give its participants time to simply be with God. For instance, the plan is that we'll be dropped off at the Mount of Olives. Our instructions are to take our Bible, our journal and we'll gather together after three hours of alone time--I like this plan.

I realize that this is an unprecedented opportunity for me. I also take the responsibility that comes with it very seriously.

Would you pray for me?

1. That God would speak boldly into my heart.

2. That I would be still enough to listen . . . to really hear.

3. That I would come home a renewed Pastor with much to share with the church God has entrusted me to lead.

4. For my wife Julie, daughter Tabitha and son Elijah--that they would be safe and worry free while I am away.