Learning to Dwell...

I am always amazed at how many times in the bibles references are made to dwellings and dwelling places. One of my favorite psalms, among many is Psalm 91.

"He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High will abide under that shadow of the almighty."

What does it mean to dwell? A quick search of definitions provides us with some interesting results.

Wordnet.princeton's definitions include:

• originate (in);
• inhabit or live in;

Also interesting are these definitions from industry:

The act of pausing during the process of making a cut with a power tool.

A pause in the applied pressure to a mold during the injection cycle just before the mold is completely closed. This dwell allows any gases formed or present to escape from the molding material.

What would it be like if we visioned dwelling in the secret place of the Most High as originating in those secret places? What if we saw our origins as part and parcel of god's original creation, as spoken from his mouth, as breathed from his lungs...our very beginnings as being of God? Would we think or act any differently? Would we believe any differently? I tend to think we would. I know I would.

If I lived my life as if my very beginnings were of God, rather than that it had begun once I received Christ and I made my decision...what would I do differently? What would you do differently?

Let's look at the definitions from industry. I love this idea of "pausing." A "pause during the process of making a cut" or "pause in applied pressure." Both of the processes include creation, but in midst of creation, there is a pause. What would it be like to vision simply pausing. Seeing the act of dwelling in the same way we see the act of pausing?

No answers here, just thoughts. Any responses?

Revision, Revival, Resurrection

Psalm 1:3 "He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."



I am struck by the fact that the call to resurrection often includes the need to revise and to revive. I am not speaking of changing God's word in anyway. I am speaking, however about the need for Christians, myself included, to revise "old ways" of thinking and being and to re-vision our lives and the way we live. "When I was a child I spoke as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things." I Cor. 13: 11 Revision is a natural function of maturity. Revision, like all practices of pruning, must be achieved by following some rules. As with a tree, revision or pruning does not take place at the trunk. It strives to achieve maximum production of fruit. In some cultures, it strive for balance and beauty.

Revision, or re-visioning has to begin with observation and evaluation. We must look both within and without. "Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith..." II Cor. 13:5 This examination must be done not with the "eyes" of the world but of God, since it is in God that we have our being. We must see ourselves worthy of God's forgiveness and the kind of forgiveness that allows us to live, not as sinful, but as redeemed. It is the acts of self-examination, of seeking and receiving forgiveness; and the next steps of living our lives as redeemed children of God that performs the revision or re-visioning.

A natural outgrowth of God-appointed revision, is revival. Freed from the weights of sin (Hebrews 12:1) and shame as defined as being condemned (Psalm 119:16) we can be revived and experience revival. Just as the dry bones of Exek: 37 are awakened so our "roots" draw nourishment from the word of God, our faith, prayer and praise and the communion of the spirit and body of Christ; revive the branches of our spiritual, physical and mental life. (Jer. 31:25)

After the revision and the resulting revival we can share in the resurrection. "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you." Romans 8:11

Be Thou My Vision

After a long hiatus, I had an epiphany (how appropriate given the season) concerning a hymn I am certain you are all familiar with. It is the hymn "Be Thou My Vision." While there are many points I could address regarding the lyrics, it is the title which gave me pause in my devotions this morning. What exactly does it me to have God/Christ as one's vision?

At first it seemed obvious that the word "vision" would refer to some fantastical dream. As in a "vision of loveliness." I could see life through not rose-colored glasses but through this lens of being heavenly bound. This is certainly good. I see the good in all things. I see God's purpose and hand in all things. This is certainly scriptural "what ever is pure, whateever is....

Maybe the vision is more like a goal or driving force, a raison d'etre that gets us up in the morning and steels us through hardships. "Without a vision the people perish.." So in having God through Christ as my vision my goals, objectives and ultimately the finished product is God-ordained.

This is where I have my epiphany. Perhaps this could also be taken literally. I though about how many vision problems there are. Having worn glasses since I was in the third grade and having misplaced my glasses recently I am keenly aware of the importance of having good or corrected eyesight. I think about those I know who stay in because they don't see very well at night and those I know who cannot distinguish certain colors one form another. What if this is also a part of having God as our vision. That it is through his lens that we perceive light. What a concept! This is how Christ and his works of grace are made know to us. It is through this lens that we receive and interpret stimuli. So, we see colors, shapes, distance, depth as with human vision, but with divine vision we can also see human need and human potential, God's ability to abundantly provide for needs, faults as well as gifts, opportunities to share love and wisdom; what's safe and what's dangerous, what's truth and what's false...I could go on, but I'd rather ask you to respond. How does having "divine vision" impact you?

'Tis the Season

...to be busy! As students and teachers return to school, annual programs begin anew and the general state of agitation begins in the Christian community as around the world we "gear up" for this season filled with holy day celebrations, it is good to meditate on this simple prayer by Peter Marshall.

"Father, I am beginning to know how much I miss when I fail to talk to thee in prayer, and through prayer to receive into my life the strength and the guidance which only thou canst give. Forgive me for the pride and the presumption that make me continue to struggle to manage my own affairs to the exhaustion of my body, the weariness of my mind, the trial of my faith.
In a moment like this I know that thou couldst have worked thy food in me with so little strain, with so little effort. And then to thee would have been given the praise and the glory. When I neglect to pray, mine is the loss Forgive me Lord, Amen."

There is almost always a human push towards "fixing things." I shudder to think how many times I rely on the "tried, true, researched and published" methods for reaching students; attempting to change their educational habits instead of considering for a moment, that maybe, I could pray for them; that I could pray that God grant me the wisdom to "see the need" they have albeit educationally and then the creativity to fill that need.

It is I am certain from my years in various church capacities also true with church work. We rely all to often on what humans have said about how "things should work," and spend so little time asking and receiving from God "strength and guidance." What is our fear? Are we afraid God may ask us to do something for which we feel unprepared? Are we so convinced that time taken out of the day to pray, is wasted time; especially given how many things we have accomplish in a day?

The beginning and the end of all things is the act of seeking God ("all these things shall be added onto you") It is in the seeking of God that our relationship is built with him. It is the one relationship around which everything must rotate. I wonder what Reformation, All Saints, Thanksgiving and Christmas would be like, if the goal of that period of time was to truly seek God, not just to plan, implement, or evaluate.

Is it possible to seek God in the midst of every action and thought?

I, for one, am going to give it try? How about you? Let's use this forum to share results, frustrations and joys.

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1 Thessalonians 5:21 "Prove all things. Hold fast to that which is good."

"So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth." Hosea 6:3

Statement of Faith

I have been uplifted lately by remembering and praying through this Statement of Faith which we usually use on Ash Wednesday. Hope it blesses you to remember it today!



We are not alone, we live in God's World.

We believe in God,

Who has created and is creating,

Who has come in Jesus, the Word made flesh,

to reconcile and make us new,

Who works in us and others by the Spirit.

We trust in God.

We are called to be the Church

To celebrate God's presence,

To love and serve others,

To seek justice and resist evil,

To proclaim Jesus, crucified and risen, our judge and our hope.

In life, in death, in life beyond death,

God is with us.

We are never alone.

Thanks be to God.

A Life Lived by Faith

In the past month, I have been really blessed by using the dictionary in my devotions. It sounds kind of weird, but God has shown me all sorts of new insights into scripture by expanding the definition of a word. I could write an entire blog on that (maybe I will sometime) but an example is the definition of the word Strength. I looked it up after reading "The joy of the Lord is our strength" -Nehemiah 8: 10. In Webster's dictionary, the word strong means (among many definitions): Capable of withstanding force or wear, not easily upset, having force of conviction, powerfully effective, in good or sound health (robust), capable of the effective exercise of authority. Thus, remaining in the joy of the Lord makes us capable of withstanding force or wear of discouragement/frustration/attack. Intentionally remaining in His joy increases our health, our conviction, and makes us powerfully effective as prayer warriors, friends, workers, and people. It gives a whole new meaning to "Be strong and courageous--be neither frightened nor dismayed for the Lord thy God is with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9, and it enhances "Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that my joy (your strength!) may be in you and that your joy (strength) may be complete."-John 15:9-11 (parentheses mine)
I could go on forever about word definitions. But what I wanted to share in this blog is that I recently learned that Noah Webster was a strong man of faith who lived to serve and follow Christ. To me, this is an amazing illustration of the unfathomable ways that God can use a life lived by faith. When Webster created the dictionary, he exercised God-given talent, passion for language, motivation, intellect, and perseverance. I'm sure when he researched the meaning of the word "strong," he wasn't specifically aiming to figure out how to add more meaning to those three Bible verses; he was simply following the vocation that God had given him and letting Christ guide his work. Webster died in 1843. In 2007, his work is inspiring me in faith and making me hungry for God's word and giving me insights in a whole new way. I doubt Webster specifically intended that, but it's amazing how God can use a faithful follower to further His glory in uncoventional ways--and even ways that are completely unintended by us.
In conversations lately, I have shared the impact that a professor, an elementary school teacher, and a co-worker have had on my life. All of them were/are men and women of faith who were not overtly trying to evangelize but did--through actions, investment, and expressing concern. God worked through them--in spite of them, with them--to impact my faith walk in moments where they were not specifically trying. They were just living their lives as followers of Christ and He shone through them.
So, live on, brothers and sisters! When we are men and women fully alive in Christ, there is no telling how He will use us to encourage, teach, or impact. The best part is, it's often done best when we are seeking His will and living in the overflow of abundance rather than "trying" to plot specific actions to spread the Gospel. The responsibility is to hold fast to God and live our lives grounded in and guided by our relationships with Him. By being who you are in Christ, He may be setting up a crucial and life-changing insight for a person living 150 years from now. By living in relationship with Him and being authentic about it, God may be ushering in the deliverance of a friend who won't even tell you that God used a phrase you just "happened to say" to create a break-through. Don't hold back from God's will for you, and your impact on His Kingdom will be unfathomable--not because you're trying, but because God's faithful. You may never know it, but the world would be at a loss without the specific ways that God can use YOU if you are living your life moment by moment in His will.
In our calling to be fully alive in Christ, there is great responsibility and great freedom. Responsibility to "throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith..."-Hebrews 12: 1-2. And freedom to trust that when we are living with full investment, He will work through us in ways that surpass our dreams, understanding, ability, and effort.
I'll end with two quotes come to mind ...
"If you are called to be a street sweeper, sweep streets even as Michelanglo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of Heaven and earth will pause to say 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.'"-Martin Luther King, Jr.
"I [God] will make you a blessing. Do not think you will take a blessing to someone, or hope that I will send a blessing. I will make you, as My ambassador, a sweet savor of life and grace. Through your peace and confidence others will seek me, and they shall find me even as you found me. You need only preserve your soul's integrity. This is enough to fully occupy your energies and attention. Leave the miracles to Me. You be and I will do."-Frances J. Roberts
God bless you!

"Via con Dios" to....

Kimberly Vaughn who returned to seminary last week
Paul Cannon who has completed his "volunteer stint" with us, perhaps returning as a worshipper in the Fall (?)