A Stumbler's Walk | CLEAN

What God has made clean, do not call common.

- Acts 10:15 

We tend to build a fence between the secular and the sacred. No such distinction exists. We cannot say, "This is my spiritual life, and this is my regular life." For the believer, everything is spiritual.

In Acts 10 God shows Peter that his preconceived notions about what is spiritual and what is not need to go. Specifically, Peter has a vision of "unclean" animals - by Jewish dietary law - and God tells him to enjoy some bacon, rock-badger and lobster. (Ok that last part was my interpretation, but it's not far off; read Leviticus 11). Peter refuses, saying he has never eaten anything unclean. To which a voice from the sky responds, "What God has made clean, do not call common."

All this had little to do with Sunday brunch. The point was that the message of Good News was to be spread among those who were, religiously speaking, unclean… subpar… less than desirable. And in a rooftop vision with a sheet full of nasty animals, God made the point that no one is beyond the reach of grace. Neither is any person entitled to grace. If they were, it wouldn't be grace. Grace is given out of God's heart. An undeserved gift given to the unclean… the subpar… the less than desirable.

Us.

Grace infiltrates. It impacts and influences everything within. In the life of the believer, grace makes everything spiritual. Tuesday afternoon is no less a spiritual time than Sunday morning. Don't dare call the office, classroom, gym, etc. "common." God graces his children with his Spirit.

Where we go, he goes.

Even more, don't ever call another person "common." God's grace is extended to them. Even, even, more (does that work?), don't ever call yourself common. God's incredible grace has transformed you, is transforming you, and will transform you.

God, help me to see all things as spiritual.

For now...
D

Kinetic Life | ONE DAY

This morning I found myself reading Zig Ziglar quotes. It's not really a habit of mine, but after getting a couple work things wrapped up, I went looking for some inspiration. The first I saw was this:

"Make today worth remembering."

At first blush, I thought absolutely, I'm on board. Make it count! Then it struck me. Wow, that's a lot of pressure. How do I make it count? How do I know if it counted? And what is the alternative? An easily forgettable, possibly mundane day. Well, I don't want that either (frankly, I've had too many). So, trying to find peace and inspiration... I got stressed. Now I have another thing to add to my To Do List... MAKE TODAY WORTH REMEMBERING!

I began to think about today. Not necessarily this day in history or on the calendar; but this ONE DAY. This one day of mine. This one day is mine. This one day is all I have.

I'm not promised tomorrow - we all have stories that prove it, right? I can't retrieve or relive yesterday; whether yesterday was the best ever or sucked. And tomorrow isn't here yet. By the way - and this is free - one of the greatest hindrances to living in the One Day, is the inability to escape yesterday and tomorrow.

On that front, may I offer words of wisdom from a couple of the greatest motivational speakers of all time? (Personal opinion, but Maxwell, Covey and Robbins, as much as I like them, don't hold a candle):

On escaping yesterday: "Forgetting what lies behind and straining toward what lies ahead, 

I press on toward the goal..." -The Apostle Paul

On escaping tomorrow: "Don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. today's trouble is enough for today." Now when you think about it, that could be really discouraging; unless you know what he said just before: "Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." -Jesus.

I'm still mulling these concepts over. The following are some random - and rambling - thoughts.

• One day is enough for a dream to bloom, for an idea to take hold.
• A decision can be made in one day... the habits necessary to put the decision into effect are built through practice over time.  

Another Zigism:

"Motivation gets you going and habit gets you there." 

• In one day a destiny can be determined... by setting out in a direction... based on a decision.
• Trust can be broken in one day... trust takes time to build (and forever to rebuild).
• A heart can be broken in one day... yours or someone else's. 
• A life can be changed in one day... for better or worse. 

There are many, many more that can be written. I came across the following preview of a film entitled Life In a Day. It reminds me that ultimately, the only way to really, I mean truly, make this ONE DAY worth remembering is by being intertwined with others. (Click the link below the picture).

https://www.youtube.com/user/lifeinaday

So here is my list. It's a work in progress. I'm purposefully going to keep it short for now. I will build on it and I'd appreciate help. In a long-ago post I wrote that there are two types of PURSUIT Cycling; the Individual Pursuit and the Team Pursuit (see PURSUIT). Let's make this one a Team Pursuit event. Let's pursue this concept of ONE DAY together. If you are up for it, how about leaving a comment (below), or on Facebook, or by sharing the post; Just one line describing a way you will LIVE THIS ONE DAY.

(I'll start)

• Make someone else happy; a family member, a stranger, a co-worker... it doesn't matter. 
• Practice a new skill to put into my vocational arsenal. 
• Love (verb) someone today in a way that they know they were loved.
• Radically refuse to accept busyness as a viable alternative to purpose. 
• Give my heart away without fear
• Do not dwell in guilt from yesterday.
• Do not borrow trouble from tomorrow
• Stop to recognize the God who made me for this ONE DAY.

Don't fall into the trap of saying, "One day, I'll this..," or "One day, I'll that..." That one day will never come.

THIS IS YOUR ONE DAY!

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | LOOK

But he… gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God…

- Acts 7:55

The glory of God is all around us. We can see it if we look. We see it in the morning sky and in the setting sun. We see his glory in the mountains and across a golden prairie. It is in the rolling ocean and the night stars. 

The Psalmist wrote:

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. - Psalm 19:1

Most prominently, yet at times least obviously, we see God’s glory in people.

It is easy to miss; especially when we don’t care to look. Stephen’s face shone “…like the face of an angel.” I’d call that glory. Yet, those with vengeance in their hearts and blood in their eyes overlooked it; and killed him. We often overlook the glory of God that is present in others, and in us. Make no mistake; it is his glory, his majesty and power. It is not ours. But God shines brightly into all he has touched.

I used to listen to a radio preacher who closed every broadcast with these words (as you read them, put on your most elegant British accent), “You are who you are because of the Master Artist who has put you together.”

Take time today; make an effort… look for God’s glory. Will you see his glory in the creation? Yes. Will you see it in the face of another? Yes. Will you see his glory in the most unlikely of places – the mirror? Yes.

Look.

God, open my eyes to your glory.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | GRACE AND POWER

And Stephen, full of grace and power...

- Acts 6:8 

There is no power for living without grace first. (That was a negative way to start off, so I'll turn it around)... Power to live a purposeful life comes as a result of grace. 

We must come to the understanding that every good and perfect gift comes from above," (James 1:17), and that God has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

There is a flow to the life of faith: Seek... Open up... Receive... Live.

Our job is not to act so that we receive. We are to receive so that we can act. Power to live the spiritual life is not in proving to God our faith and fortitude. Power for living is a gift of God to be received and acted upon - even when we don't "feel" like we've received. And that's the rub. Faith is …the confidence in what we hope for, the assurance about what we do not see (Hebrews 11:1).

Powerful grace doesn't come in a Price is Right sized package with candy-striped wrapping paper and neon bow. It is quiet; nearly silent. It is in the whisper of God as we spend time with him and join him in his mission. It is filling us; infusing every part of our soul and mind and heart.
…EVERYTHING pertaining to life and godliness.

We can't live looking backwards (though many try… and stumble). However, it is good time-to-time, to stop and take a look down the path we've walked. What we notice, is that when we thought we could not take one more step; we did. When we thought our circumstance was the final straw; it wasn't. There was power for life. There was grace.

God, fill me with your grace and power. I will act, even if I'm unsure.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | REJOICE

…rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name.

- Acts 5:41 

Where is the line in the sand drawn? What is acceptable sacrifice? For you… for me?

Peter and the Apostles (sounds like a 60's one-hit-wonder pop group) were arrested for teaching in the name of Jesus. They were doing what was right, fulfilling their commission from Jesus. 

They were arrested by those who were wrong; wrong motives, wrong hearts. Where is the justice?

During the night in jail an angel shows up, opens the door to the cell and tells the men to go back to what they were doing. Justice! (I love how Luke almost makes it a side note that an angel shows up... and that the men weren't shocked!)

Peter and the Apostles go back to their mission. Once again they are detained. (Note that they go willingly.) Peter unapologetically lays out the message of Jesus to the leaders, who are enraged by it, and him. But what can they do to someone with no fear? Someone who is willing to sacrifice?

The leaders threaten the Apostles… no good. They've seen angels and walked with a living dead man. In another seeming side note, Luke writes, "They (the officials) beat them and…" Wait! What? Broken noses, split lips, bruised and cut… Where is the justice? And what is the response of these men? Anger? Revenge? Whining? No, these guys REJOICED they could suffer for Jesus!

The message of TV Christianity is not one of sacrifice and surrender. It is instead, self-focused; "What can God do for me?" It is an extreme divergence from the call to, "Take up your cross and follow me." True faith is not clean and comfortable. It is messy (because we are all a mess) and seldom comfortable. Peaceful, yes. Comfortable, no.

I believe with all my heart there is joy in the journey. I believe God gives us incredible gifts and he takes care of his children. I believe he empowers us for life. But he also calls us to sacrifice; daily and thankfully, usually in small ways.

"Rejoicing…" I challenge you to do a search for the word "rejoice" in scripture. It is a perspective changer. Rejoicing is not a reaction. It is a CHOICE based on a relationship with the God who loves us.

God, help me to rejoice… in you… no matter the circumstance.

For now…
D

A Stumbler's Walk | WITH

And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.  - Acts 4:13 

What is it others notice about us? What do they see in us? 

Jesus often pointed out the ugliness and futility of outward displays of religion that missed the target of inward authenticity. However, true inner transformation always works it's way to the surface. It is noticeable.

There were those in established positions who opposed this new movement (the church). It threatened comfort and status quo because it was carrying on what Jesus had begun. And in this story, the old guard didn't know how to handle Peter and John. Though they had no formal training, and they weren't from the right families, schools, clubs, etc., there was something noticeable about these two. 

They had been with Jesus.

Bottom line: when we spend time with Jesus things change. Attitudes, behaviors, habits, character, purpose; things change. Because we change… from the inside out. 

Our goal is to carry out Jesus' mission. Whether we "fit in" or not is secondary. (By the way, when NOT "fitting in" becomes the goal, we've missed the bulls-eye every bit as much).

When we purposefully spend time with Jesus, through the scriptures, worship, the community of faith, and performing acts of mercy and justice, he transforms us. 

It is authentic. It is powerful. It is noticeable.

God, transform me from the inside out.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | NEED

"…I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give to you."

- Acts 3:6 

God doesn't ask of us what we don't have. It might be more accurate to say he doesn't require from us what he has not already given to us. And in an mysteriously incredible and divine way, he matches our gifts, talents and resources specifically to meet the needs of someone else.

On the other side of the equation, we often don't know what we really need. God has a way of sorting past our wants and addressing the deep need.

Two disciples are going about their day when they come across a man who had never walked a step in his life. The man asked them for money; as he did everyone on the way to the temple. It was what he knew. It was his life. It was what he thought he needed. 

He had a deeper need.

Peter and John didn't have any money that morning. What they had however, was what the man needed. "…in the name of Jesus… rise up and walk!"

He did.

Today, you and I will find ourselves on both sides of this equation. We will have the opportunity to be the touch of God to someone. It may require our looking past the surface. And we have needs that God will meet today, through the touch of someone else. It may require allowing them to look past our surface.

God will not ask of us what we don't have. But he will ask everything of us.

God, help me to meet a need today... God, I need…

For now...

D