Don't Look At Me

"I don't want my life to be explainable without the Holy Spirit. I want people to look at my life and know I couldn't be doing this without by my own power. I want to live in such a way that I am desperate for Him to come through. That if He doesn't come through, I am screwed. (I probably shouldn't write that word here, but that is truly how I feel about it.)"

-Francis Chan, pg. 142

Francis is ahead of most every Christian I have ever known in this to the point of our shrugging and telling ourselves that he's a freak.

We don't pray to be that way.

Is that because we think God isn't capable or because we are acutely aware of our sins?

Or is it something else?

Have we been worn down after years of just getting by in our relationship with God to the point that our settled life has become the new normal, and anything above that level causes us to recoil in terror?

Francis isn't a freak. He's a fully actuated follower of Jesus.

From heaven's point of view, we're the freaks.

Think about it.

Our "Forgotten God" Journey Begins

"The light of the American church is flickering and nearly extinguished, having largely sold out to the kingdoms and values of this world….We are not all we were made to be when everything in our lives and churches can be explained apart from the work and presence of the Spirit of God….shouldn’t there be a huge difference between the person who has the Spirit of God living inside of him or her and the person who does not?” - Francis Chan, "The Forgotten God"

We met Sunday night here in our home, a not so small - small group of people who want to know more of God - more of the Holy Spirit's power and influence over our lives. I was blown away by the turn-out and the spirit we shared together. There's something happening among us -among Christians all over the world - a Holy Discontent with how things are and what our part in maintaining the status quo has led us to.

We're at the point a little child in a department store arrives at when in looking at this or that from display to display, amazed and intrigued by what we are seeing, we suddenly awaken to the shocking and frightening realization that our parents are nowhere to be seen. Our confident adventure the moment before has become a dangerous stray away from where we belong and with Who we belong.

So I am praying each and every day for the people who came seeking Sunday night. Praying that God will find us ready - not as cocksure of ourselves and our present condition as we were. Somewhat unsettled at where we have arrived. Hungry for more of God that we have ever had before. Willing to run to God.

The journey begins.

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Finished the book over a 24 hour period and started reading it again immediately for greater comprehension. That doesn't mean that it is "thick", like say "Mere Christianity", where the reader would benefit greatly from a slow read spaced by reflection.

It means I want every last drop of insight.

There are some books that start out slow and you have to be patient until the author hits his stride. The Shack was like that.

Crazy Love begins with a serious look at the theology that provides foundation for Chan's life. As such, if you aren't careful, you might write the book off as another dry doctrinal treatise.

Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Read this book.

It will open you to how God works in the lives of people who are obsessed with pleasing Him.

It will dangle the prospect that you too might be His instrument for Kingdom change.

If you are already at work along that trail, it will remind you why and give you a cool drink of encouragement.

And for some, and I'd count myself in this group, it will serve as confirmation that those goals, passions, and deepest desires that God has laid on your heart are not hallucinations. Others like Francis Chan are on the same journey, following the same tracks our Master has left for us.

It's a good crazy - this Crazy Love.