A Stumbler's Walk | NAME CHANGE

But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit…

- Acts 13:9 

Are you willing to allow God to change your name? Maybe not literally; in our culture a name doesn't normally carry the same significance as in ancient times. But God does want to change our identity, our character.

Scripture records several instances when God changed a name. Abram became Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, Jacob to Israel, Simon to Peter, Saul to Paul. It seems minor, but each is significant. Of more importance is what the name-change signifies. A transforming touch of God has occurred, and the transformee has been changed.

It is as if God is saying, "You were _________, but now you are _________." For example: "Peter you were a failing fisherman, but now you are a rock, and a fisher of men. Israel, you were a contentious, conniving, deceiver, but now you are a prince of God."

So fill in your blanks…

"I was without hope, but now I have purpose."

"I was addicted, but now I am free."

"I was full of fear, but now I am an overcomer."
"I was flatlined inside, but now I have joy."
"I once was lost, but now I'm found."
"I was _______, but now I am ________."

This Saul… I mean Paul wrote, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

You may not see it. It is most likely subtle; even imperceptible. But God is working in you - making the changes he desires to complete your, "I was…, but now…" story.

Two more promises from the Apostle Paul: "…for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure," (Philippians 2:13). "…he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion…," (Phillipians 1:6).

God, thank you; I was..., but now...; please continue your work in me.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | HERE

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God…

- Acts 12:5

(Who is praying for you? You may know. You may never know. For whom are you praying? Make sure they know.)

The night is dark. Prison doors are bolted. Wrists are locked in shackles and chains. Sentries of bondage are stationed on either side.

Freedom is near. An angel is on the way.

I believe in angels (because the Bible does); the literal heavenly being, full of light, flaming sword variety. 

I also believe in flesh and blood angels. The word "angel" in our New Testament is a transliteration of the original, which simply means "messenger." The context of this passage makes it clear Luke is referring to the former - a heavenly being; as is the case with most biblical references to angels. However, the angels I've experienced have been of the flesh and blood variety. (Though who knows what is unseen.)

Prayers are offered up. A messenger is sent. A dungeon becomes the place of deliverance. The formula, I think, is often the same today: Prayer… messenger… deliverance. The settings change. The messengers change. The prisons and prisoners change. But God still delivers people who are in bondage. He delivers us. And he calls on us to be the prayers for, and the messengers of, deliverance to others.

In Isaiah six, God asks the question: "Whom shall I send, who will go for us?" Isaiah's response: "Here I am, send me."

Maybe your thought is: "But I'm the one in prison. I am the one in the dark place and my chains seem as real as the air I breathe."

Freedom is near. An angel is on the way.

And here is a mystically powerful truth: When we pray for others, and when we are angels to others, our chains begin to fall away.

God, here I am, send me.

For now...

D

A Stumbler's Walk | CHRIST(ian)

And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

- Acts 11: 26 

What does it mean to call ourselves "Christian?" A better question: "What does it mean to BE "Christian?" The first is much easier than the second. To say I am something, or that I believe (in) something, is really no challenge. To BE something requires life validation. To BE the thing we claim, we must deeply believe (in) that thing, with the requisite life-change and lifestyle.

Interestingly, it was not Christians that first called themselves "Christian." They were so designated by others. People in Antioch began to use the term for followers of Jesus; the far away prophet who had been killed and, the spreading stories reported, had been resurrected. The word literally means "followers of Christ." In the common vernacular it was derogatory, and carried a tongue-in-cheek sarcastic meaning of, "little Christs." Though the believers originally rejected the term, eventually the sense was, "'Followers of Jesus,' 'little Christs,' we can live with that." They were called Christian because they lived like Christians; because they were Christians.

"Christian" (the word) has lost much of its authenticity and power in our culture. We have "Christian music," "Christian restaurants," "Christian comedy," "Christian theme parks," ad infinitum. And that's all fine. But there is really no such thing as a Christian sandwich. There are only Christian people - followers of Jesus. The transformed (and transforming); those who have joined him in his mission. Jesus said the overarching distinguishing characteristic of his followers would be love for one another (John 13:35). The people of Antioch noticed it.

So the question: Is there anything distinguishing about me? Not some fake, "Look at me while I do religious stuff," kind of distinguishing. Is there authenticity, love, and to go back a couple chapters, grace and power?"

We need to self-evaluate. But we need not be self-critical. Remember we are all works-in-progress. That is the transformING part of being transformed. We need to see ourselves the way God sees us. And how is that? As Christians, little Christs. Those who have the Spirit of the living Jesus alive in us.

God, I want to BE Christian.

For now...

D

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