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Being face to face (F2F) is much more enjoyable than long distance calling and even such modern conveniences such as Skyping.

These past few days I spent with Cynthia, my fiance, in town.  We sat in on a ministerial discussion, attended a hockey game, had meals with others and even went to a floral shop.  In between we spent a little time with each other.  We would have liked more, but the day is only so long!!

Wedding planning was one of the things on the agenda.  My first marriage was a whirlwind of planning – mostly done by Jill.  I have officiated a number of weddings so I have seen the terror and the joy of wedding preparation.

Now, its my turn to see things from a whole new perspective.  Listing of attendees, flowers, decor, meals, accommodations – the list seems endless.  We will get through it all – the day will come and go – memories will be implanted and vows exchanged.

Then comes the true opportunity that life affords.  Sharing life together.  One day can initiate, but many days create life.

These last few days of F2F have been enjoyable.  I look forward to many more days to come in the future!!

If I had met Jesus in the second decade of my life, and had the opportunity to be his friend for the rest of my life, what would that look like? 

Quite literally, what would that look like?

Or more accurately what does that look like?  In many ways this blog is just that experience!

As the church calendar goes, Lent is that space where Jesus’ life is lived between childhood and the week before he dies (OK, this is a generalization, but a good way to look at it).

We have asked our church family and friends to write two to three paragraphs on Life Lessons Learned Living with Jesus.  The easiest way is to zero in on one life lesson you have learned.  Only 2 – 3 paragraphs.  One life lesson (OK, some are able to squeeze in a few more lessons in just a few short paragraphs!).  Something that has stuck.

We’ll publish (make public) these lessons over the Lenten season (which begins on February 13th).  I’ve seen a few of the short thoughts arrive in the church office.  I am amazed and excited to see this collection.

What would you put in your paragraphs? 

Continuing to read in McManus – Chasing Daylight

[Henry Blackaby’s] insight that we should look for what God is doing and then get in on it has moved us to greater obedience.  Yet I think it’s important to add that while God has been working in human history since He breathed life into Adam, there are many things yet to be done, and beyond this, many things yet to be begun. 

There may be another question that needs to be asked beyond “What is God doing?” and that is this this:  “What is God dreaming?”  Is there something that God wants initiated and He’s waiting for someone to volunteer?  In Isaiah the Lord said to His people, “Open your eyes! I am doing a new thing.  Will you even be aware of it?”  (Is. 42:19)

In every movement, no matter how big or small, someone went first.  Isn’t the essence of spiritual leadership someone who is willing to follow God first and closest?   (p. 53)

I am reading Erwin McManus’ book called Chasing Daylight:  Seize the Power of Every Moment. 

He begins the book by calling us to chose to live.  “Somehow we all know that to play it safe is to lose the game.”  The emphasis is on opening our lives up to God through Jesus, and in so doing we can live our lives wide open.   Lives wide open one moment at a time.  Don’t get stuck in a moment, live beyond a moment and make this moment a choice.

Be like Caleb from the Bible, who in a moment of truth for his life says (Joshua 14:10-12):

Today I am eighty-five years old. ¹¹ I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. ¹² So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said.”

In the second chapter, we hit the thought of initiative.  Don’t be passive, but be passionate.  Don’t live in neutral.

This is the point at which I sat up (actually I was riding my exercise bike!), as McManus made the point:  “To put it crassly, when you are madly in love with God, you can do whatever you want.  I am convinced this may be the best contemporary translation of Psalm 37:4” (p. 50).

“There is a direct relationship between passion and initiative.  The more passionate you are, the more proactive you will tend to be. . . Here’s where the dilemma lies:  this can actually be paralyzing for a sincere follower of Jesus Christ.  You don’t want to passionately do the wrong thing.  You desperately want to do what’s on God’s heart, not just on your heart.  Here’s the liberating reality:  when you are passionate about God, you can trust your passions.   God uses our passions as a compass to guide us.” (p. 50)

Now, I can hardly wait to read the rest of the book!!