The Lord seems to be speaking to me about time and chance. Mike Pink has been doing a serious of blogs about it, which I've enjoyed, but I've also been running into it as a theme everywhere.
I'll insert a blog post at the end, and I want to link to a couple TED talks that are awesome and speak to the topic, but I'll try to get some of my own thoughts out first.
I think this is one area that Christians really struggle with. We have the bible and we can read most of it for ourselves pretty effectively, but we tend to get a lot of help with reading it--both on the parts that we wouldn't understand without an expert and perhaps on the parts that we could have gotten for ourselves. We can call the collection of assisted interpretations incidental dogma. It's the kind of predisposition with which we read the bible that prevents a truly fresh reading. BUT there is remarkably little accurate dogma, whether incidental or deliberate, on the topic of Time and Chance.
Consider the children of Israel charging across the desert, having to wonder around for decades and finally entering the promised land where they are to kill EVERYTHING. And here is this Rehab lady who saves the spies, gets spared, and is in the bloodline of Christ. Think about that for a second. I mean there has got to be someone out there who's meshed this story with Ester saying "for such a time as this," and Jesus saying even the wicked serve the Lord. Someone has to have formulated an official statement, perhaps a crazy one, regarding how Time and Chance relate to an all knowing, all powerful, and eternal God.
I mean sure it might be one of the great mysteries we'll never understand, but that's never stopped us before. I've never really encountered a good opinion on this. I don't know what yet, but I know there is something there to be revealed.
From Mike Pink's Blog:
“I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding…; but time and chance happens to them all.” Ecclesiastes 9:11
“Now therefore let Pharaoh seek out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt… And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Since God has showed you all this, there is none so discreet and wise as you are… And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Gen 41
Here is Solomon telling us that men of understanding don’t necessarily end up with riches. He wants you and I to know there is a game changer that dramatically alter the outcomes in life: Time and chance.
Consider Joseph. The first time in the bible the word “biyn” (translated as “understanding” in Ecclesiastes 9:11) is used is in Gen 41 where it is translated as “discreet” when describing the wisdom Joseph had. Pharaoh was so impressed with Joseph’s understanding of his dreams and wisdom to know what to do, that he promoted Joseph and put him over all the land of Egypt.
But it wasn’t his understanding or wisdom that got him the job. While he wouldn’t have gotten the promotion without having great wisdom and understanding, it was “time and chance” that put him in position to be brought before Pharaoh. Time and chance were the big game changers here. And by the way, not all the “chance” occurrences leading up to that moment were particularly delightful.
Joseph was sold to a band of Ishmaelites who happened to be passing by when he was but a teenager. Chance. He was sold to Potipher. Chance. Potipher’s wife got him alone when her husband was gone. Bad timing. He resisted and ended up in jail. Bad break. Coincidently, his cell mates were some guy who was a butler for the king and the other was the king’s butler. Chance. The butler and baker both have dreams that Joseph rightly interprets and what they portended came to pass. What are the chances?
Finally after the butler is restored to his position with the king and promises to remember Joseph, he forgets. Ingrate! Finally, Pharaoh has a disturbing dream which no one can interpret. That chance event triggers the butler’s memory and Joseph is sent for to interpret the dream. He does. Great timing!
So get this, while Joseph was definitely a man of understanding who came into power and great wealth, was it his understanding or time and chance that made that happen? And before you answer that, consider what Joseph said several years later when reunited with his traitorous brothers who originally sold him to those slave traders who happened by that fateful day many years earlier. He said, “But as for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive.”
TED talks:
(A word about TED talks, I would like to point out that I don't agree with every sentiment uttered by TED presenters or even everything these particular videos convey, BUT I have found pieces of inspirations within these and others. In particular, I enjoy them when filtered through my understanding of God.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhjUJTw2i1M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLmzxmRcUTo
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
I Recent Revelation Revisited
Recently God gave me this lessen and when Rick sent me this quote it came rushing back.
"Beyond the very extreme of fatigue and distress, we may find amounts of ease and power we never dreamed ourselves to own, sources of strength never taxed at all because we never push through the obstruction."
William James, philosopher
That's a good one. Kinda goes along with the red sea revelation God gave me. That the way out is through the flesh. When trapped between the armies of Egypt (or hell) and you pray for them to leave but they don't, the answer lies in asking God if the physical barrier you are trapped against is really a barrier at all. If our prayer to end the oppression is not answered the only appropriate question is, "what new heights in Christ am I being pushed into?" There are several things God could be up to, but they revolve around learning who we are and what God is for us. Moses needed to stretch out his arm holding the staff of his authority and command the physical reality to get out of his way. God's stated motive was to gain glory over pharaoh (a false god), but the work in Moses was to stop seeing with physical eyes, start seeing with prophetic eyes, and practice acting in the full authority of his position (relationship) in God (God called him "my servant.")
I call it a sense of mandate. It's what Jonah didn't have until he'd spent 3 days in the belly of the whale. When God says, go here and do this, we don't ask how big the scary monsters are, we should be like Joshua and say, "let me at them."
We must crucify the hesitance. We must realize that what is holding us back isn't the obstacle our flesh perceives before us, but our false perception of it as an obstacle. We don't see the way out because we believe we are who we are, not who we are in relationship with Christ (or we don't trust God to come through for us.) Remember the kid in the Matrix, in the oracles living room bending spoons. he said the hard part was remembering that the none of it was real. The answer is remembering who we really are and who God is. Be they the physical laws of this planet or the metaphysical laws of the spirit realm, God sets them aside when He chooses. When we dare to go to the end of our humanity we learn the super humanity of Christ in us.
To update you on life:
Yesterday, I got a call from Jodi at Dare to Live. Mike is going to start reshooting, "Stop the Nightmare." I met with him today and we talked over what needs to happen and by when. It's the kind of aggressive schedule I like, and new helpers to make it happen (Misty is committed to editing for three hours a day.) So we should have a rewrite on the book by June 7, and a new script for the video by June 25. We start tomorrow. When I got home I had an email from iUniverse--my final proof is ready to review. I just finished the review and when I've posted this I'll go to the iUniverse site and approve the manuscript for production. That means before my 38th birthday I'll have a book out, and another one written. Even if these milestones don't come about I'm still a writer, nothing will change that. However, I'm still looking forward to being a writer that God has blessed.
"Beyond the very extreme of fatigue and distress, we may find amounts of ease and power we never dreamed ourselves to own, sources of strength never taxed at all because we never push through the obstruction."
William James, philosopher
That's a good one. Kinda goes along with the red sea revelation God gave me. That the way out is through the flesh. When trapped between the armies of Egypt (or hell) and you pray for them to leave but they don't, the answer lies in asking God if the physical barrier you are trapped against is really a barrier at all. If our prayer to end the oppression is not answered the only appropriate question is, "what new heights in Christ am I being pushed into?" There are several things God could be up to, but they revolve around learning who we are and what God is for us. Moses needed to stretch out his arm holding the staff of his authority and command the physical reality to get out of his way. God's stated motive was to gain glory over pharaoh (a false god), but the work in Moses was to stop seeing with physical eyes, start seeing with prophetic eyes, and practice acting in the full authority of his position (relationship) in God (God called him "my servant.")
I call it a sense of mandate. It's what Jonah didn't have until he'd spent 3 days in the belly of the whale. When God says, go here and do this, we don't ask how big the scary monsters are, we should be like Joshua and say, "let me at them."
We must crucify the hesitance. We must realize that what is holding us back isn't the obstacle our flesh perceives before us, but our false perception of it as an obstacle. We don't see the way out because we believe we are who we are, not who we are in relationship with Christ (or we don't trust God to come through for us.) Remember the kid in the Matrix, in the oracles living room bending spoons. he said the hard part was remembering that the none of it was real. The answer is remembering who we really are and who God is. Be they the physical laws of this planet or the metaphysical laws of the spirit realm, God sets them aside when He chooses. When we dare to go to the end of our humanity we learn the super humanity of Christ in us.
To update you on life:
Yesterday, I got a call from Jodi at Dare to Live. Mike is going to start reshooting, "Stop the Nightmare." I met with him today and we talked over what needs to happen and by when. It's the kind of aggressive schedule I like, and new helpers to make it happen (Misty is committed to editing for three hours a day.) So we should have a rewrite on the book by June 7, and a new script for the video by June 25. We start tomorrow. When I got home I had an email from iUniverse--my final proof is ready to review. I just finished the review and when I've posted this I'll go to the iUniverse site and approve the manuscript for production. That means before my 38th birthday I'll have a book out, and another one written. Even if these milestones don't come about I'm still a writer, nothing will change that. However, I'm still looking forward to being a writer that God has blessed.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Goals are over-rated!
It may take a couple installments to get my point out but bare with me.
What do I mean when I say goals are over-rated? Well, I'm not saying that they are detrimental. Some people have given the word "goal" a definition that included some value and then made huge progress by setting goals. I won't deny that. But I'm going to argue that I can rephrase the definition of the word "goal," to exclude those positive aspects. I think we can get those benefits elsewhere without the the negatives inherent to goal setting.
I've found most of the times I've set goals it turned into a list of things to fail at. I would write things like lose five pounds. Well why would I write that? I'm probably a good 50 pounds overweight. What I really want is to be healthy. So why not make that a goal? Well a goal needs to be quantifiable, and something I deem achievable. If the net effect of my life so far has been to teach me that I can't achieve things, or that I'm unworthy of getting the things I want, then it doesn't matter if I set a goal I won't get anywhere. The goal only works to track my next failed attempt. It can reinforce my feeling of being trapped.
Goal setting is limited to what I think I want. I know anorexics who achieve my five pound weight loss goal on a regular basis. And we are always swimming against the current because the nature of a goal is to take you from where (who) you are to where (who) you aren't.
Vision on the other hand, is far more sophisticated at helping us make positive change. Starting with an assessment of where we are, the good and the bad, you can begin to search inside for what you really want. As the picture of who you really are becomes more clear you can go about the work of ditching the things that aren't you.
If I can envision myself healthy, in vivid detail, I will continue to do the healthy things that will cause me to loose first the five pounds and later the rest of the weight. Clear vision also enables me to excite other people who care about me to help.
More late...
What do I mean when I say goals are over-rated? Well, I'm not saying that they are detrimental. Some people have given the word "goal" a definition that included some value and then made huge progress by setting goals. I won't deny that. But I'm going to argue that I can rephrase the definition of the word "goal," to exclude those positive aspects. I think we can get those benefits elsewhere without the the negatives inherent to goal setting.
I've found most of the times I've set goals it turned into a list of things to fail at. I would write things like lose five pounds. Well why would I write that? I'm probably a good 50 pounds overweight. What I really want is to be healthy. So why not make that a goal? Well a goal needs to be quantifiable, and something I deem achievable. If the net effect of my life so far has been to teach me that I can't achieve things, or that I'm unworthy of getting the things I want, then it doesn't matter if I set a goal I won't get anywhere. The goal only works to track my next failed attempt. It can reinforce my feeling of being trapped.
Goal setting is limited to what I think I want. I know anorexics who achieve my five pound weight loss goal on a regular basis. And we are always swimming against the current because the nature of a goal is to take you from where (who) you are to where (who) you aren't.
Vision on the other hand, is far more sophisticated at helping us make positive change. Starting with an assessment of where we are, the good and the bad, you can begin to search inside for what you really want. As the picture of who you really are becomes more clear you can go about the work of ditching the things that aren't you.
If I can envision myself healthy, in vivid detail, I will continue to do the healthy things that will cause me to loose first the five pounds and later the rest of the weight. Clear vision also enables me to excite other people who care about me to help.
More late...
Friday, May 22, 2009
A Nice Reword of a Famous Quote
I cut these excerpts from Mike Pinks newsletter because they speak to me.
One way quite frankly is to get mad. I know that doesn’t seem very spiritual, but it can be. Have you had enough yet? At the end of Isaac’s life he blessed Esau by saying… “By your sword you shall live and serve your brother, but the time will come when you will grow restive and break loose and take dominion, and tear his yoke off from your neck.” Have you grown restive yet? Are you mad yet? Have you had enough of barely making it?
Aye, fight and you may lose. Run, and you’ll survive… at least a while longer. But dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance to come back here and confront your fears and step into the battle and actually live out what you say you believe and put it all on the line?
You might lose your money, but you will never lose your reward. You might lose a battle here and there, but you will never again lose heart and more importantly, you will have found courage and honor and valor and love. Fear may have taken your past, but it will never again rob you of your future! It’s time to move into your destiny. Just don’t expect it to come without a battle and a few scars to show for it.
One way quite frankly is to get mad. I know that doesn’t seem very spiritual, but it can be. Have you had enough yet? At the end of Isaac’s life he blessed Esau by saying… “By your sword you shall live and serve your brother, but the time will come when you will grow restive and break loose and take dominion, and tear his yoke off from your neck.” Have you grown restive yet? Are you mad yet? Have you had enough of barely making it?
Aye, fight and you may lose. Run, and you’ll survive… at least a while longer. But dying in your beds, many years from now, would you be willing to trade ALL the days, from this day to that, for one chance, just one chance to come back here and confront your fears and step into the battle and actually live out what you say you believe and put it all on the line?
You might lose your money, but you will never lose your reward. You might lose a battle here and there, but you will never again lose heart and more importantly, you will have found courage and honor and valor and love. Fear may have taken your past, but it will never again rob you of your future! It’s time to move into your destiny. Just don’t expect it to come without a battle and a few scars to show for it.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
A Good Word
So at worship last Saturday a recent acquaintance and strong prophetic voice pulled me aside to say that she felt Isaiah 61: was important for me, that it was a now word. I love Isaiah 61 as it's Christ's mission statement and the real heart of the great commission. I think many Christians get lost when they say the great commission is to spread the gospel, there's nothing wrong with that, but it's more like a virus than a good word. It helps to think of the gospel in action as described by Christ in Luke 4 when Jesus reads Isaiah 61 in the synagogue. Anyway, this friend said verses 6-9 were especially important for me in starting here and now.
Isaiah 61:
6 And you will be called priests of the LORD,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.
7 Instead of their shame
my people will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
they will rejoice in their inheritance;
and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,
and everlasting joy will be theirs.
8 "For I, the LORD, love justice;
I hate robbery and iniquity.
In my faithfulness I will reward them
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the LORD has blessed."
So I'm definitely choosing to align myself with that one.
God Bless,
Andy
Isaiah 61:
6 And you will be called priests of the LORD,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.
7 Instead of their shame
my people will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
they will rejoice in their inheritance;
and so they will inherit a double portion in their land,
and everlasting joy will be theirs.
8 "For I, the LORD, love justice;
I hate robbery and iniquity.
In my faithfulness I will reward them
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the LORD has blessed."
So I'm definitely choosing to align myself with that one.
God Bless,
Andy
Monday, May 18, 2009
A tough weekend
Well, when the rubber hits the road as they say...I can't claim to have followed through on all my plans. This was a tough weekend--lots of falling short of my goals--but I'm still happier than I have been in a long time. I'm succeeding at more things than I would be if I hadn't tried.
Often when I have a particularly challenging time it means something big is coming about. I thought I might bother writing about the challenges, but I'm glad I didn't get time to because today I want to write about the developments.
God has been consistent in pronouncing two things over me since I got my heart back. 1) I'm a writer. 2) I'm an Archer. I have traditionally focused on the writing, and instantly ignored the Archery. I have been willing to entertain the notion that I was a good instructor and could be again as part of volunteering at youth camps and things. I never let myself dream about it though. I've become such a fan of dreaming and God has shown me so many things about dreaming that it's hypocritical of me not to dream about archery. Still I never did.
My parents never invested in my archery passion. They bought me a bow and set up hay bails for me, but there were no lessons, or clubs, or tournaments. Much like my writing it was discouraged as impractical.
Well in realizing that I want to be a life coach I've realized that I have bigger dreams for archery as well. I want to make a reputation for shooting and teaching archery, then vault from that into life coaching.
Often when I have a particularly challenging time it means something big is coming about. I thought I might bother writing about the challenges, but I'm glad I didn't get time to because today I want to write about the developments.
God has been consistent in pronouncing two things over me since I got my heart back. 1) I'm a writer. 2) I'm an Archer. I have traditionally focused on the writing, and instantly ignored the Archery. I have been willing to entertain the notion that I was a good instructor and could be again as part of volunteering at youth camps and things. I never let myself dream about it though. I've become such a fan of dreaming and God has shown me so many things about dreaming that it's hypocritical of me not to dream about archery. Still I never did.
My parents never invested in my archery passion. They bought me a bow and set up hay bails for me, but there were no lessons, or clubs, or tournaments. Much like my writing it was discouraged as impractical.
Well in realizing that I want to be a life coach I've realized that I have bigger dreams for archery as well. I want to make a reputation for shooting and teaching archery, then vault from that into life coaching.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Break Through
So, today, as I'm praying over the options before me (options of what to dream of not options that are physically presenting themselves) I listened to a webinar by Micheal Q. Pink about becoming a Rain Forest strategy Consultant and he pointed out the light starts it all off. We have to have a clear vision of what we want or we won't be able to go after the other things we need. I was reviewing the ideas of taking my book on the road to sign/sell, going to Phoenix U to finish a bachelors in business, and going to Panama to learn to be a business consultant in the Rain Forest Strategy. I felt as though these are disparate dreams, sort of all-good-but-in-each-others-way type of dream. Like when you ask a kid what he wants to be when he grows up and he answers, a fireman or a doctor. I felt as though I couldn't be passionate and have a clear vision about me doing all of the above--though they all feel equally appealing. God reminded me that He had promessed me clear vision. The Lord began to point to a place of intersection. Life Coaching.
I've always thought of life coaches as Russel Durritz (The Kid) kind of people. They can't possibly really have it all together so they must make the most of the part they do and fake the rest. But the obstacles in my life began to line up and make sense. I need to overcome in Christ, a weight problem, disorganization, lack of follow through issues, romantic relationship issues, and poverty. On the two book shelves closest to me are 72 books about success in these areas plus a tape series. I'm pertty sure I have more all over the house, actually I know I have two in the bathroom right now. I'm clearly passionate on this idea. Last time I tried to come up with a vision statement I got as far as "helping people make a small but significant improvement in their lives for a buck." And think of the Chrysalis project (all about managing change).
God calls me "Friend," that's my access point. That's the special nature between us that has immerged in the last couple years of asking, "who do I say God is for me in this season, and who does God say that I am?" I knew that I could be a friend and work as a plumber, so I didn't think it was very descriptive, but now I'm thinking friend/coach makes sense. Where does my great passion meet the need of the world? I've known I was annointed to be a counselor but again I didn't feel called to be a shrink exactly. My pioneer nature and my annointing to read the signs of the times also fit in to this vision.
I want to pioneer a new methods in life coaching and write a book about it. On the way there I want to learn and employ the methods of others, and make a living at it. Toward that end I do want to finish my business degree, become certified through the Rain Forest Institute among others, and tour behind my current book. I also intend to overcome the obsticles that are in my way that I may learn about them, and learn ways to defeat them.
Now that's some good clarity for my time of prayer and fasting. Now I need to go outside and enjoy the perfect afternoon that's out there.
I've always thought of life coaches as Russel Durritz (The Kid) kind of people. They can't possibly really have it all together so they must make the most of the part they do and fake the rest. But the obstacles in my life began to line up and make sense. I need to overcome in Christ, a weight problem, disorganization, lack of follow through issues, romantic relationship issues, and poverty. On the two book shelves closest to me are 72 books about success in these areas plus a tape series. I'm pertty sure I have more all over the house, actually I know I have two in the bathroom right now. I'm clearly passionate on this idea. Last time I tried to come up with a vision statement I got as far as "helping people make a small but significant improvement in their lives for a buck." And think of the Chrysalis project (all about managing change).
God calls me "Friend," that's my access point. That's the special nature between us that has immerged in the last couple years of asking, "who do I say God is for me in this season, and who does God say that I am?" I knew that I could be a friend and work as a plumber, so I didn't think it was very descriptive, but now I'm thinking friend/coach makes sense. Where does my great passion meet the need of the world? I've known I was annointed to be a counselor but again I didn't feel called to be a shrink exactly. My pioneer nature and my annointing to read the signs of the times also fit in to this vision.
I want to pioneer a new methods in life coaching and write a book about it. On the way there I want to learn and employ the methods of others, and make a living at it. Toward that end I do want to finish my business degree, become certified through the Rain Forest Institute among others, and tour behind my current book. I also intend to overcome the obsticles that are in my way that I may learn about them, and learn ways to defeat them.
Now that's some good clarity for my time of prayer and fasting. Now I need to go outside and enjoy the perfect afternoon that's out there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
