GLENN'S PODCASTS!

P.R.'S p.r.

That our bro. Pat Robertson has what I've often had... and share with many a public speaker... and sadly, preachers. Foot-in-mouth disease. "There is a time to refrain from speaking".

Then again, hard, entrenched politics often bring us to say what we ought not, pray for what we ought not, and to simply reject biblical ethics, even core things such as 1 core. 13 and Gal. chapter 5 concepts such as love and kindness.

I was graced to share the Word in our Sunday service this a.m., and the message was all about kindness... and my lack of it, need to grow in it and the grace God gives for us to continue on the journey as believers.

I pray for that same grace for P.R. who has clearly had a p.r. blunder of some magnitude!

Further, pray for God to give grace in Venezuela as that which was predictable has happened- U.S. missionaries are being excluded from that field at this point.

Let's face it, it's pretty difficult to talk about the love of God with someone whom you've just publicly called out for annihilation.

God help us! If Christians -and I mean ME- refuse to be accountable for our mis-steps, we will find ourselves doing God, the church and even the Good News a dis-service. It is the kindness of God that leads us to repent. It is the kindness of God through us that often finally persuades people to follow Jesus Christ.

LIGHT

So I'm sitting in the kitchen of our guest house in the incredibly beautiful Faroe Islands, and I realizeI have the light on over the table.

I choose to sit with my back to the breath-taking view of eye-hurting lush green mountains sweeping up from the sea. Why? For me it is a distraction as I'm trying to read my Bible.

As I sit reading I recognize the bright sun over my shoulder. God has not only given us wonderful scenery but the light and clarity of mind to see it.

At that point I get up and turn off the artificial light. It's not needed anymore and is of course, a waste of energy.

Meditate on this a bit- it's analogous to many things in the Christian life...

"DRIVE-BY" LIVING

Living in Chicago we hear sad news stories quite a bit. Due to drugs and gang warfare "drive-by" shootings take place all too often.

This got me to thinking about how many of us experience much the same in terms of basic intimacy.

We cannot always stop and truly engage. At times we of course can and must. But the real issue I wish to tackle is the matter of common distance that we not only need, but in other points of life need to be rid of! Our deep need is God's love in koinonia.

This is the New Testament Greek word for "fellowship". How can Christians find spiritual, practical fellowship at a deeper level? How can we move beyond superficiality?

Many people are starving for a rich, biblical koinonia that has apparently escaped
them. I suggest that it's all about being physically present with one another, taking time, making the time to listen, talk, interact. All the while, all parties must also learn to truly interact with the Holy Spirit Who creates and moves us to a unity that is as needed as it is refreshing!

Let there be no doubt, getting up close and personal with ANY human being is risky business.

People hurt people and as sure as you've been hurt by others, you've hurt them as well.

I'm convinced that the fear of being hurt, wronged, or simply misunderstood are all reasons many avoid the whole process. But if we choose to walk alone and distance ourselves we are also choosing the very lack of significant relationships... exactly the sort of relatioships we're so starved for.

My mother was a beautiful but stubborn and insecure person. She wanted (and mostly lacked) a real sense of security throughout her life due to running from one man to the next. She eventually burned so many bridges- even with her female friends- that she had few if any friends left at the end of her life.

By God's grace she prayed with my wife to receive Jesus just before she died, but it was a sad life she had lived and had clearly chosen for herself. She often said Wendi and I were some of "the only one's" she had left.

There's little mystery why so many people- including sincere Christians- continue hungry and unfulfilled for a koinonia and depth of unity that seems "just out of reach". But it costs. It costs us our independance, time, getting our own way in all things, and it costs us our pride.

Admitting our sins, forgiving those who sin against us, all of this is an absolute must for the sort of depth of relationship I'm talking about.

This is the road God calls us to walk, to live on. There just isn't any other route! Further, it's worth the risk and sacrifice. Many -including this writer- can attest to that.

Don't keep driving by... stop! Continual refusal to do so is quite like pulling the trigger on yourself.

Drive-by relationships are not the solution to our deepest needs. Never were-never will be.