We live in a world that is asleep spiritually. One of things I love about CS Lewis stories is that he often recognizes and paints a picture of our sleepy dream. If you have ever read Prince Caspian you know what I mean. People can be asleep even though we appear awake. It is the nature of the deception and the Deceiver. If he can paint a false picture that mirrors truly being awake, then he is close to engineering slumber that can last a life-time…and an eternity. Kind of like our own matrix of reality.

Today we are reviewing one of the most direct passages in the God Story concerning the sleepy dream. While Ephesians 5:14 is our home base: “For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you,” we also expand our search to include the context in which the Christ-Follower Paul passed on his ideas about remaining awake.

If the idea of spiritual awakening intrigues you, the stuff below will help.

Enjoy, our wide awake friend!

The Sleepy Dream/Ephesians 5:14

Waking Up

Extended video teaching on Awakening

Awakening Prayer

An Awakening Song

We live in a world that is asleep spiritually. One of things I love about CS Lewis stories is that he often recognizes and paints a picture of our sleepy dream. If you have ever read Prince Caspian you know what I mean. People can be asleep even though we appear awake. It is the nature of the deception and the Deceiver. If he can paint a false picture that mirrors truly being awake, then he is close to engineering slumber that can last a life-time…and an eternity. Kind of like our own matrix of reality.

Today we are reviewing one of the most direct passages in the God Story concerning the sleepy dream. While Ephesians 5:14 is our home base: “For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you,” we also expand our search to include the context in which the Christ-Follower Paul passed on his ideas about remaining awake.

If the idea of spiritual awakening intrigues you, the stuff below will help.

Enjoy, our wide awake friend!

The Sleepy Dream/Ephesians 5:14

Waking Up

Extended video teaching on Awakening

Awakening Prayer

An Awakening Song

Being outside of time would bring unique perspective to your life, would it not? This is one of the realities in which God moves. It is part of our Creator being “unbound.” We see everything through a time prism. While God created time He lives uninfluenced by time – apart from the choices He has made to create and use time for His purposes.

We, on the other hand, “live and move and exist” within God’s reality, not the other way around (Acts 17 is great on this). This is one aspect of the achilles of mankind: we want our gods to serve us. But the Living God “is not served by human hands” so as to be validated OR diminished by mankind. This is part of what it means to be God.

Today we are visiting the macro – how big and great is the Lord God of the heavens and the earth? God’s interaction with Job in chapters 38-40 is breathtaking. This conversation occurs after many words have been spoken by Job and his friends. One of the cool things about Job is that he either pre-dates or was a contemporary of Abraham. Hence – he lived before the Hebrews even existed. Along with Genesis 1 and 2 and the book of Revelation, Job gives us some of our best insight into God and Time.

Definitely something worth contemplating for the welfare of your soul!

Enjoy, our soul-searching friend. The video below is pretty short but worth it.  

We don’t select our parents. That part of our story is out of our hands. Nor do we have any control over how our life launches. Circumstances, health, genes – things are well under way by the time our own choices begin to emerge and dominate.

God is interested in generations. He blesses homes, families and even nations – especially those who embrace His Kingship. And for the Christ-Follower, it is cool how our own spouses, kids and grandkids can be a part of our “work” – and that almost every possible human relationship can provide windows into spiritual opportunity.

Today we dive into Titus 2:1-8 and talk about how generations are launched and impacted for the sake of the Kingdom. Family is important for sure, but seeing the Kingdom grow in and around us can be exhilarating in our quest for a satisfied mind. Friends, co-workers, and neighbors are all part of the opportunities of life. Wherever we can provide shelter there is opportunity for Kingdom generations!

Titus Kingdom Worksheet

Men & Women of God and the Kingdom

A Kingdom Song

We don’t select our parents. That part of our story is out of our hands. Nor do we have any control over how our life launches. Circumstances, health, genes – things are well under way by the time our own choices begin to emerge and dominate.

God is interested in generations. He blesses homes, families and even nations – especially those who embrace His Kingship. And for the Christ-Follower, it is cool how our own spouses, kids and grandkids can be a part of our “work” – and that almost every possible human relationship can provide windows into spiritual opportunity.

Today we dive into Titus 2:1-8 and talk about how generations are launched and impacted for the sake of the Kingdom. Family is important for sure, but seeing the Kingdom grow in and around us can be exhilarating in our quest for a satisfied mind. Friends, co-workers, and neighbors are all part of the opportunities of life. Wherever we can provide shelter there is opportunity for Kingdom generations!

Titus Kingdom Worksheet

Men & Women of God and the Kingdom

A Kingdom Song

Living in Iowa it is always enjoyably interesting to watch the crop process as the magical year-long calendar unfolds. The cultivating. The planting. The tending. The waiting on God for rain. And then the harvest.

This is one of the GodStory’s teaching metaphors because it is hard to escape our ultimate connection to the soil. Jesus taught it. Israel lived it. And the disciples embraced it. God is the ultimate Grower, and we are His harvest helpers – if we choose to be!

Today we are talking about 1 Peter 3 where we learn about some of the conditions surrounding the harvest of souls God is accomplishing on the surface of the earth. You can find some good notes under the New Ground link below. When we are living and breathing God into our part of the world it is not merely about the task of evangelism – it is about our connection into the world in which God has placed us.

You may also find the Snapshot except from the book Curious Journey helpful as you consider your own picture of “giving an answer for the hope that is within you.” And if you want to really dive in, I have included a study guide to the book of Acts, where you can see the Kingdom unfold in beautiful power.

1 Corinthians 3.9

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

John 4.35

“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’?

Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.”

Revelation 14.16

Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.

Snapshot

Reaching Out

New Ground

Deeper in the Book of Acts

A Good Harvest Song

Living in Iowa it is always enjoyably interesting to watch the crop process as the magical year-long calendar unfolds. The cultivating. The planting. The tending. The waiting on God for rain. And then the harvest.

This is one of the GodStory’s teaching metaphors because it is hard to escape our ultimate connection to the soil. Jesus taught it. Israel lived it. And the disciples embraced it. God is the ultimate Grower, and we are His harvest helpers – if we choose to be!

Today we are talking about 1 Peter 3 where we learn about some of the conditions surrounding the harvest of souls God is accomplishing on the surface of the earth. You can find some good notes under the New Ground link below. When we are living and breathing God into our part of the world it is not merely about the task of evangelism – it is about our connection into the world in which God has placed us.

You may also find the Snapshot except from the book Curious Journey helpful as you consider your own picture of “giving an answer for the hope that is within you.” And if you want to really dive in, I have included a study guide to the book of Acts, where you can see the Kingdom unfold in beautiful power.

1 Corinthians 3.9

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

John 4.35

“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’?

Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.”

Revelation 14.16

Then He who sat on the cloud swung His sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.

It feels great to be included among your friends or with the people at work, doesn’t it? Especially when someone acknowledges you or invites your contribution. When you feel included you feel you matter. When we are excluded (intentionally or unintentionally) it makes us fight the mind games of disappointment and speculation.

God the Father is the “ultimate includer.” He has designed everything to draw us in and to set us free. This seems counter to what we see in the world around us, but God has set the parameters of trouble and deliverance – and that is what Paul’s declaration in Athens was all about (Acts 17). He stands before some very self-important leaders and addresses their philosophies with the kind, pure truth of the Gospel. As you read Acts 17 (below) search for principles of “how” Paul shared truth in this incredible God-situation!

Here are some great inclusion questions upon which you can ruminate:

– Why did God establish such a risky environment for mankind?

– What about your story, your life, makes you feel special?

– What is the value of eternal life to your soul?

– In what ways do you feel included? Excluded?

Enjoy, my Aeropagalean friend!

More on Ultimate Inclusion (Acts 17:22-31)

The Perfections of God

A God is Great Chorus

 

It feels great to be included among your friends or with the people at work, doesn’t it? Especially when someone acknowledges you or invites your contribution. When you feel included you feel you matter. When we are excluded (intentionally or unintentionally) it makes us fight the mind games of disappointment and speculation.

God the Father is the “ultimate includer.” He has designed everything to draw us in and to set us free. This seems counter to what we see in the world around us, but God has set the parameters of trouble and deliverance – and that is what Paul’s declaration in Athens was all about (Acts 17). He stands before some very self-important leaders and addresses their philosophies with the kind, pure truth of the Gospel. As you read Acts 17 (below) search for principles of “how” Paul shared truth in this incredible God-situation!

Here are some great inclusion questions upon which you can ruminate:

– Why did God establish such a risky environment for mankind?

– What about your story, your life, makes you feel special?

– What is the value of eternal life to your soul?

– In what ways do you feel included? Excluded?

Enjoy, my Aeropagalean friend!

More on Ultimate Inclusion (Acts 17:22-31)

The Perfections of God

A God is Great Chorus

 

How do you feel about your overall strength? Physically? Emotionally? In character? In being a person of your word?

While God is committed to our ultimate destination, process is a big deal to Him. It is why Jesus incarnated as a human. It is why He learned as we do – and experienced all aspects of humanity. It was the process that honored His Father – as well as the things Jesus accomplished as He walked the earth.

If we are to experience spiritual maturity it will involve certain elements which cause solid growth. While it is simple to state these: learning to be sustained from God’s Word (Hebrews 5:7), cultivating our connection with Him through prayer, and hanging with others who also wish to hear well-done from our Master (1 Timothy 5:1-2) – it is quite another to design and execute such a faithful life.

Paul’s letters to Timothy are filled with encouraging truth to help us along the path of solid growth. They call Timothy (and us) to pay close attention to the way we live our lives. Our choices. Our commitments. The energy of our hearts. Paul understood too well the distractions facing a young man

Jesus Prayed = Strength

Strength in the Story

Studies in Timothy

A Growing Strong Song

How do you feel about your overall strength? Physically? Emotionally? In character? In being a person of your word?

While God is committed to our ultimate destination, process is a big deal to Him. It is why Jesus incarnated as a human. It is why He learned as we do – and experienced all aspects of humanity. It was the process that honored His Father – as well as the things Jesus accomplished as He walked the earth.

If we are to experience spiritual maturity it will involve certain elements which cause solid growth. While it is simple to state these: learning to be sustained from God’s Word (Hebrews 5:7), cultivating our connection with Him through prayer, and hanging with others who also wish to hear well-done from our Master (1 Timothy 5:1-2) – it is quite another to design and execute such a faithful life.

Paul’s letters to Timothy are filled with encouraging truth to help us along the path of solid growth. They call Timothy (and us) to pay close attention to the way we live our lives. Our choices. Our commitments. The energy of our hearts. Paul understood too well the distractions facing a young man

Jesus Prayed = Strength

Strength in the Story

Studies in Timothy

A Growing Strong Song

Not everyone chooses to grow up. Physically it is inevitable. Emotionally – it can be tricky. Spiritually it is the exception rather than the rule. Sadly.

To choose maturity is to willingly submit my will to God’s will. We were meant to be reborn AND to grow strong. To grow up – to the “measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13)

This involves the hard work of being an intentional follower of Christ. In many senses this is the purpose of the arena of faith. It is where we wage war. Where we love. Where we learn hope.

This is what Christ’s Kingdom is all about. Growing strong even though we are opposed on every side.

Did you know that church is mentioned only a few times in the Gospels, but the Kingdom is mentioned over 100 times?

Enjoy, our Journeying friend!

Dave & Burnadette

Philippians 3:7-11

Embracing Maturity

Kingdom Phases

A song about growing

Not everyone chooses to grow up. Physically it is inevitable. Emotionally – it can be tricky. Spiritually it is the exception rather than the rule. Sadly.

To choose maturity is to willingly submit my will to God’s will. We were meant to be reborn AND to grow strong. To grow up – to the “measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:13)

This involves the hard work of being an intentional follower of Christ. In many senses this is the purpose of the arena of faith. It is where we wage war. Where we love. Where we learn hope.

This is what Christ’s Kingdom is all about. Growing strong even though we are opposed on every side.

Did you know that church is mentioned only a few times in the Gospels, but the Kingdom is mentioned over 100 times?

Enjoy, our Journeying friend!

Dave & Burnadette

Philippians 3:7-11

Embracing Maturity

Kingdom Phases

A song about growing

There are tons of books and audio about successful leadership. Most of these focus principles to produce earthly outcomes. One striking difference in Jesus’ teaching about Kingdom leadership is that organic leadership springs from Kingdom seeds – “the smallest of all seeds.” It is not about being recognized by men – in fact – it appears quite the opposite. (Matthew 6:5). The Kingdom’s goal is to shelter. We can get great insight into the depth of our lives as we think through the ways we shelter others.

The Kingdom has many unique attributes, not the least of which are its supernatural qualities (Matthew 19:26). Jesus was a huge disappointment to the Jewish leaders AND to the nation who had earthly hopes and expectations. There is the people way of doing things, and in stark contrast, there is the Jesus way (John 6:27).

So, our challenge is to pursue a paradigm shift from merely visible to invisible. If we allow our imaginations to only be captured by what is visible, we will likely miss the depths of what the Kingdom brings to our lives. God orchestrates the Kingdom. He alone determines value – and His value is of a forever nature!

Check out Matthew 9:9-13. The religious leaders were too blind to see that following Jesus meant entering through the door of humility. They were too self-awesome. This is why pure faith is so simple – yet so complicated to put into practice! (Matthew 18:3).

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Enjoy thinking it through!

Jesus’ Words on Leading

God’s Kingdom Leader

A Good Following Song

There are tons of books and audio about successful leadership. Most of these focus principles to produce earthly outcomes. One striking difference in Jesus’ teaching about Kingdom leadership is that organic leadership springs from Kingdom seeds – “the smallest of all seeds.” It is not about being recognized by men – in fact – it appears quite the opposite. (Matthew 6:5). The Kingdom’s goal is to shelter. We can get great insight into the depth of our lives as we think through the ways we shelter others.

The Kingdom has many unique attributes, not the least of which are its supernatural qualities (Matthew 19:26). Jesus was a huge disappointment to the Jewish leaders AND to the nation who had earthly hopes and expectations. There is the people way of doing things, and in stark contrast, there is the Jesus way (John 6:27).

So, our challenge is to pursue a paradigm shift from merely visible to invisible. If we allow our imaginations to only be captured by what is visible, we will likely miss the depths of what the Kingdom brings to our lives. God orchestrates the Kingdom. He alone determines value – and His value is of a forever nature!

Check out Matthew 9:9-13. The religious leaders were too blind to see that following Jesus meant entering through the door of humility. They were too self-awesome. This is why pure faith is so simple – yet so complicated to put into practice! (Matthew 18:3).

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Enjoy thinking it through!

Jesus’ Words on Leading

God’s Kingdom Leader

A Good Following Song

One of the “how big is God” questions ponders whether or not God is powerful enough to create me personally into a one-of-a-kind Kingdom person. Has He worked despite the circumstances and ups and downs of my life by giving me my own recipe of experiences and gifts to accomplish is perfect Kingdom purpose for my life? Am I a cosmic mistake or depersonalized accident or a possession of God who is “fearfully and wonderfully made?

According to the GodStory in Ephesians 4, when Jesus was resurrected He imparted gifts to His Kingdom followers. “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, ‘When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.”

This leads me to turn off my pressure to perform. I can respond to and take personal responsibility for who I am fitted and gifted to be. I can reason through my life with spiritual eyes rather than merely human constructs.

1 Corinthians 3:10-17 paints an incredible picture of what it means to live a gifted life in harmony with both God’s Kingdom and His design for me.

Enjoy thinking about the Why and What of you

It is really cool how God distributes His own special ingredients for who we are. Our life circumstances, our personalities and experiences (good and bad), our personal qualities and skills, and in Christ our unique blends of spiritual gifting all combine to empower us for building the Kingdom.

What in your story has made you who you are? What are the ups? The downs? The uniquenesses?

How have your choices (so far) impacted how you view your life as an agent for eternal value?

What is your level of familiarity with your own recipe? Your own spiritual gifts?

These are all key questions we will focus in this post. But first, here are some incredibly important verses about gifting. What do you see in these verses (after all – Peter saw these first hand) that mirrors your desire to be a Kingdom influencer?

“The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 

As each one has received a special gift, employ (activate) it in serving one another as good stewards (managers) of the many-colored grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the eloquent words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”    – 1 Peter 4:7-11

Spiritual Gifts

Kingdom Usefulness

Peter’s Letters

A Song About Gifts

It is really cool how God distributes His own special ingredients for who we are. Our life circumstances, our personalities and experiences (good and bad), our personal qualities and skills, and in Christ our unique blends of spiritual gifting all combine to empower us for building the Kingdom.

What in your story has made you who you are? What are the ups? The downs? The uniquenesses?

How have your choices (so far) impacted how you view your life as an agent for eternal value?

What is your level of familiarity with your own recipe? Your own spiritual gifts?

These are all key questions we will focus in this post. But first, here are some incredibly important verses about gifting. What do you see in these verses (after all – Peter saw these first hand) that mirrors your desire to be a Kingdom influencer?

“The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. 

As each one has received a special gift, employ (activate) it in serving one another as good stewards (managers) of the many-colored grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the eloquent words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”    – 1 Peter 4:7-11

Spiritual Gifts

Kingdom Usefulness

Peter’s Letters