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Down the Rabbit Hole

If you find grammatical errors, do not point them out lest you become cursed with "the fever"...and DIE!  

You have been warned!

“So Ken, you still serving the Devil and laying out of church?”

Well, I haven’t exactly joined the dark side or anything, but yeah, I’m still kicking it with the slackers.

In fact, it’s been almost five years since I walked away from the institution many call “church” and believe it or not, I feel fine.  Still it hasn’t been all roses and sunshine, not by a long shot!  In fact, there have been more than a few moments that I felt as if I had somehow really screwed up!

Honestly, when I first made the decision to “walk away” I was scared, really scared.  I definitely remember feeling a little like Alice in Wonderland.  “Down the rabbit hole” I went, into the unknown with a heck of a lot more questions than answers.

The first year was pretty easy, I spent a lot of time searching for a better way, of “doing church”.  After all, it only made since (at least to me) that God obviously had brought me out of the chaos in order to find a fix.  Yes, I would somehow chart a new course for God’s children, I would find a “magical” new way of doing things, and this time…it would work splendidly!  I read books, listened to endless “on the edge” podcasts, and prayed spectacular prayers in which I assured God I knew exactly what I was doing.  All of this only to end up with a boat load of frustration and anger.  Back to square one and back down the rabbit hole I slid!

Yes, feel free to laugh, because despite my grandiose visions of grandeur, “fixing” church was obviously not God’s plan for me. 

Round 2

When I finally came to terms with the fact that God was probably not calling me to be a new and improved version of Moses, I decided maybe my calling was to wickedly bash and with a little luck, destroy the institution of church.  If I couldn’t fix the mess, I would work hard to indoctrinate others with my “church sucks and here’s why” message.  “Oh Yes”, I thought.  That would do nicely.  DESTROY church!  What a fantastic idea! (sarcasm).  Of course, we all know how edifying to one’s soul it can be when bitterness and slander are allowed to saturate the human heart…(more sarcasm).  Oh yes indeed…more pain…more sorrow.  By the way, before you pick up the nearest stone to let me have it for this treachery, consider this:  Wounded people sometimes do crazy stuff in an attempt to ease their pain.  Just a thought.

Don’t die of surprise here, but I soon found out that few people if any actually gave a rip about my “let’s burn all the churches” message, and for the most part, I was nothing more than a sad annoyance to be pitied and disregarded. 

Many of my former “church friends” declared me “bitter” and “backslidden”.  I was branded a turncoat traitor by some and a blasphemous heretic by others.  All in all, it was a really good time for me (again…sarcasm).  At the end of my little stint as the Devil’s wingman, I again found myself full of hurt, anger, and confusion.  Truly I was ready to throw in the towel with this God who claimed to love me, and yet for some unknown reason, decided to drop me off in the desert without a drop to drink.  I was tired.  I was weary, and I was worn out with this messy thing called Christianity…and before I knew what was happening, I felt that old familiar feeling, back to my old digs.  You guessed it…”the rabbit hole”…joy!

So there I sat, and sat, and sat some more.  I’m not quite sure when it hit me, but at some point I started to consider this question:  What if God, the God who made me, the God who knows me better than I know myself, what if this God who called me to be His kid knows what He’s doing, and actually wants me in “the rabbit hole”.  Maybe like Martha, I needed to slow down a minute and just….b-r-e-a-t-h-e.

Now I’m not going to lie here.  It’s not like the sun broke through the clouds or anything and angels began to sing, but slowly, I started to get it…at least a little.

Today, I have come to terms (well...at least most days) with the whole idea that God is in charge and He alone plots our course in this life.  Sometimes we’re walking on the mountain top, sometimes we’re “chillin” in a “rabbit hole”.  Either way, “Daddy God” (religious people get ticked when you talk about God that way) always gets to decide when and where we’ll stop the car to pee and there’s not a whole lot a kid can do from the backseat….but that’s okay.  “Just enjoy the ride son”, oh yes, I can hear Him say it even now.

My focus?  Folks, I’m just trying to relax in the greater joy of simply trusting that the Father has a plan and I don’t have to understand it.  Of course I do get frustrated at times, but more and more I am beginning to accept the idea that being clueless is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if the one calling the shots likes you a lot.

With that, I wanted to share 5 quick insights with you regarding what one can expect if and when God calls you out into the wild lands of the unknown (aka. walking away from church).

1.        If you quit going to “church”, the Church will probably not get it.  In fact, some may accuse you of many wonderful things such as being overcome with anger, bitterness, or just wanting a free pass to sin your little heart out.  Everything you say will be refuted, so do not waste your time trying to explain your position…they won’t get it…but that’s okay.  Your Father does.  All that matters is that you are sure God has called you out, and if that’s so, you can rest in the knowledge that He has a plan for you.  So, let ‘em talk all they want!  Like Abraham, sometimes you just have to follow God into the unknown regardless of the naysayers!

2.       Once you leave, do not expect to get a lot of phone calls or letters of encouragement.  Bottom line:  You left, you obviously have problems, and nobody has time to fool with…a fool, or at the very least a heretic.  “Get your crap together, repent, and then you can come back!”  Otherwise, prepare to snuggle up with Mr. Lonely for a while you dirty, dirty sinner.  Sound bad?  Not so much.  The good news is that God will lead you to people who will really love and care for you regardless of where you may be in your journey.  That may take a little time, but that’s okay.  Besides, those folks you used to warm pews with probably never really liked you much anyway, so no worries!

3.       Don’t freak out if things get really, really quiet.  The fact of the matter is this; the process of “dechurchification” (my term…and I love it!) can take quite a while.  It might feel incredibly strange to all of the sudden have zero to do, but God knows what He’s doing.  One of the problems with the whole “let’s stay busy for the glory of God” spill is that it leaves you with little time to just sit, soak, and listen.  If you have spent any time at all in the old “church spin cycle”, you know, run till you die, it will likely take the Holy Spirit some time to untangle the mess.  So, learn to chill out and know that God is working amidst the silence!

4.       This one is a tough, especially if you’ve been hurt by “church” and or “church” people.  DO NOT HIT BACK!  I know, many of you may view this very posting as kind of a shot across the church bow, but honestly it’s not.  The reason you likely see it that way is you are seeing it from a different perspective than those who have chosen to step away from what you view as being super awesome, i.e., church.  Now don’t get me wrong, I am not a fan of the programs, committees, meetings, counsels, boards, services, and other nonsense that goes on in some “churches”, but those of “the Church” that choose to engage in this stuff are still family, and we gotta love the family.  So, if they say you’re a nut…or worse, don’t hit back.  If God called you out and you know that deep in your heart, that is enough.  If there’s any “tail whippin” to be done (Yep...I’m Southern), He can handle it.  Again, let ‘em talk!

5.         I could go one, but I’ll stop with this.  If God has indeed called you to leave “church”, you’ll likely feel some degree of fear, so remember this.  If the God of the universe who made you, me, and every tree (hey…that rhymes!) was capable of calling you into a relationship with Him when you were a lost jerk head, He is more than capable to sustain a vibrant and living relationship with you regardless of where you are on the journey.  Bottom line:  He will not abandon you, nor do you have to fear losing even a smidgen of His love and grace just because you are now traveling a different path.  There were times I feared that very much.  “What if all this is indeed just me being difficult?”  “What if I lose my way?”  Questions like that assaulted my mind for a long time, but then I realized He is faithful.  If He said it, He will do it.  If He spoke it, He will bring it to pass.  At the end of the day friend, this journey, your journey, is really His journey.  Do not be afraid.  The one who called you is your Father and He knows the way…

Even if that takes you…“down the rabbit hole”.

Turn or Burn You Dirty Sinner!

If you want to keep a guy from jumping off a bridge, please don’t try to stop him by just telling him it will hurt if he jumps.  Also, I doubt saying, “Go ahead and jump, but you’ll die a HORRIBLE death sucker” is going to help much either!  In other words, stating the obvious, especially in a rather mean spirited manner isn’t much of a deterrent to a desperate soul who is likely just seeking help.  Wouldn’t it make more sense to convince the jumper of all the incredible reasons he has to live?  Speak life…not death!

I’m not going to drone on and on about the subject I have chosen to speak on today, but know this:  Jesus loves people and expects His kids to show love to others.  I do not recall the Lord ever saying,

“Do all you can to shame those sorry, dirty sinners into repentance.  If that doesn’t work, just scare the bejeebers out of them with some mean-spirited clichés slapped across your church signs”

Two times this week, I’ve driven by local Dalton churches that somehow decided it was a great idea to share the following message on their sign:

“How do you like your eternity?  Smoking or non-smoking?”

Honestly, I felt like throwing up! Are you kidding me?  I find it to be incredibly nauseating knowing that any group of believers would stoop to that level of manipulation and so mindlessly paint such a villainous picture of “the Church” and Christianity.

I can hear people now, “Yeah Ken, but that’s true!  If they don’t turn…they’re gonna burn!”

I will not deny it.  That is true, BUT good grief people, is that the “good news” message of the Gospel Jesus called us all to share?

“Hey guys, listen up.  I’ve got some good news for you.  If you don’t turn from your rotten sin, you’re going to Hell and will burn forever!”

THAT…is NOT good news.  THAT, is only part of the story, and NOT the best part at all!   

The problem with the “Hell’s waiting for you sucker” message conveyed on these signs is it only speaks of the end result of dying in one’s sin, and NOTHING of God’s grace, love, or His amazing remedy for our sin condition through His son.  Not only that, it absolutely gives off a “We Christians are good, but you suck” attitude.

Jesus came to set the captives free!  His coming was nothing less than a rescue mission put into motion by a merciful Father that wants no one to perish!  In fact, let’s just look at one of the fundamental scriptures used throughout history in conveying the “good news” of the Gospel to the world.

Jesus said it this way in the book of John, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life”

Now THAT is good news!  Thank God indeed that Jesus didn’t approach the lost with the same insensitivity that we do!  Read the book folks!  The lost loved the guy!  He was awesome and they wanted to be around him!  These sinners knew He cared.  They felt a genuine sense of love and compassion emanating from him and THAT SINCERITY OPENS DOORS EVERY TIME!

And what about our, “Hey buddy, go ahead and jump cause no one cares” message?

All I can say is this:

One day we will all give an account for our words, attitudes, and actions.  My fear is that many of us will be shocked to find out much of what we considered to be “evangelistic” was in reality nothing more than. . . .

Pride

Discipleship: Hey, How The Heck Does This Thing Work?

A man wanders off into the desert and soon becomes lost.  For days, he travels in the direction he is sure will lead him back home.  Unfortunately, each additional step only brings about the certainty that he is hopelessly lost with no clue of how to escape his dilemma. 

The outlook is grim.  No water, no food, no shelter, and no idea what to do next.  A terrible sense of despair begins to consume the man as he realizes without help, he will likely succumb to this harsh environment in the not too distant future.

Just when all hope seems to be lost, a figure appears in the distance.  The figure is walking in his direction.  Could it be?  Are his eyes playing tricks on him?  Eventually the person makes his way to the man and announces he has come to help.  Overjoyed, the man grabs hold of the ragged figure and hugs him tight.  Finally, rescue has come.  Soon the man will be home with his family again.

“So, which way do we go to get out of this horrible desert”, the man asks. 

The stranger replies, “Oh no dear friend, you must discover that for yourself”.

The man, now very confused responds, “But, I thought you were here to help?”

“Oh I am, indeed help is what I bring”.  Slowly the stranger pulls out a small bag.  “Inside this bag is a machine that will give you everything you need to survive in this desert.” 

“But why can’t I just follow you out of this desert?” The man replies. 

“Oh, I have no time for such things.  I must be on my way.  More lost souls, more machines to give out”.  The stranger hands the man the bag and before he can utter a single word in objection, the stranger disappears.

“Well, at least I have this wondrous machine” declares the man.  Slowly he pulls the strange looking device from the bag.  Immediately he realizes he has no clue how the machine works.  The man peers into the bag, but to his dismay, it is empty.  No instructions, no guide, nothing.

For several hours, the man works feverishly, trying to discern how the machine functions.  He pushes buttons, turns levers, and flips switches.  Over and over again, the man tries every possible idea he can think of, but to no avail.  Frustrated and completely defeated, the man throws the machine to the ground and cries out in a loud voice, “WHY?  WHY EVEN BOTHER GIVING ME THIS GIFT IF I CAN’T GET IT TO WORK?  WHY?”

Days turn into weeks, and weeks become months. 

In time, a ragged figure appears in the desert.  And there by a pile of sand worn bones he finds…a machine. 

“Pitiful fool, if only had used the machine”.  The stranger quietly walks away wondering how many others failed to use his miraculous gift.

Matthew 28:19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"

Teach and man to fish and he’ll eat a lifetime.  Give the man a pole, tackle, and then walk away.

He’ll likely starve...or something like that.

Want to Teach? Hope You Have Big Feet!

If you’re a teacher, you’ll get this.  If you’re the parent of a student, you need to know the facts. 

Question:  If you moved to another country as a young child, and did not speak the language, what chance would you have of passing a standardized test in that country, even if you could understand the basics of that language?  You sit in class all year, the teacher works hard to help you, but he/she has a room full of students that must be taught "the standards".  You're intelligent, you do your best to pay attention, but the language barrier is just overwhelming and as you’d probably expect, you fail.

 

Surprised?  Of course not.  Not many educated adults could achieve success in this type of setting.

 

Now, pretend you are teacher here in America.  Let's say you have several students in your class that struggle with English.  Most can get by conversationally, but all struggle with context and meaning at some level.  Even though these barriers exist, these students are expected to achieve the same level of success as your native English speaking students using the exact same writing and content standards.  If they do not, you dear teacher have somehow failed.  Your "scores" prove your failure and may be used to make "decisions" regarding you and your school.  Not only did you fail, your school risks being judged as not being "adequate". 

Now slip back into the shoes of a child that does not completely grasp the language being used to instruct students in class.  Do you deem it to be reasonable or fair that you are being held to the exact same standards and expectations as your classmates? 

Do you believe your teacher is somehow to blame because you did not achieve success? 

Is it possible for a teacher with 30 students to overcome the hurdles of broken homes, poverty, language barriers, special needs, and still somehow ensure each and every student is able to meet "standards" that are one size fits all?  No problem…if you’re Jesus.  I’m afraid the rest of us have feet that are far too small to fill those enormous shoes!

Bottom line:  I am an educated man.  I "get" most things presented to me, but if you put me in a classroom  where everything is being presented in French, Spanish, German, or any language other than English, I can guarantee you I would fail miserably regardless of what the teacher does to help me. 

Houston, we have a problem.  It is not a local problem, nor can it be “fixed” at the local level.  If it was, you can bet we could and would fix it.  The problem finds its root at the state and more importantly federal level.  Our educational system in this country is wounded and bleeding and the Feds are handing out Band-Aids to deal with cut arteries.  The state takes the Band-Aids because they want the goodies that come with the Band-Aids, you know money.  And what about local school systems you ask? Ah yes, well they are handed the Band-Aids (with less and less of "the money") and told "make this work and by the way, good luck"!

I've illustrated only one of the many challenges local school systems and educators face in this country.  A country where legislators are hell bent on standardizing every aspect of our educational system under a national umbrella that is held in the iron tight grip of…the federal government.  Surprise, Surprise!

Over the next few weeks, I will be addressing the results of what this nationalistic approach to education is doing “to” and “for” the students of this country.

So, hang on tight…it’s going to be a bumpy ride!  

Top 10 Good Things Obama Has Done For This Country

1.     ..................................never mind.

Question: Should I listen to Joel Osteen? Better Question: Should I Listen to You?

A friend of mine recently posted a comment about his change of heart regarding the validity of the ministry of Joel Osteen. I have to say that find it fascinating even amazing that so many believers are so very enamored with the words of men. Honestly, there are occasions in which I do enjoy messages from various “professional guys” who teach and preach from the bible, but I have come to recognize they are only men. Are their words inspired? Do they indeed speak on behalf of God? Maybe…maybe not.


Here is my response to my friend (plus a wee bit more):

At the end of the day, all men who choose to speak publically on behalf of God are just normal people. They are no better or worse than the average Joe believer working 9 to 5. They may exhibit great eloquence when speaking or seem to somehow be "elevated" spiritually, but they are only men. The greatest men I have ever known or had the pleasure of receiving wisdom from were common men. Not pastors, not evangelists, not "professional ministers" of any shape or form. They were all just average guys who all shared one common trait...humility. True humility. The kind of humility that caused them to pause before declaring anything on behalf of our Lord.

I’d take the time to name them, but you’d likely have no clue who they are. The list includes an accountant, a business man, a mill worker, and a sharecropper. Some would be considered more “successful” than others in the eyes of this world, but all had one thing in common, serious humility. In fact, most had no clue they were being used by God to shape my life. Yes some were successful, most not so much, yet to me, they were all giants.

If you think about it, Jesus was an average Joe. If fact, most of the folks around him missed out on much of what he had to say because he wasn’t a “somebody”. You often find the Pharisees and teachers of the law asking, “Who is this fellow?” Why? Jesus wasn’t a “big name” at the time. He was just Jesus, the carpenter’s son.

Can’t you hear the people? “Yeah he says good stuff and even seems to have power, but he’s just a normal guy, a carpenter. Who cares what a carpenter has to say? The “big name religious guys” say we need to crucify him…better stick with them. After all, we know they speak for God”.

Be careful who you give an ear to, but also be willing to recognize that all men have potential for good and bad. I'd dare say that most men, regardless of their “position” in this life, would not want you prowling around in the closets of their lives. You might not like what you find, but of course, we all have our own "closets" don't we?

So, should anyone listen to Joel Osteen? Well, if you care to, why not? I figure he’s no worse or better than the other guys that choose to speak.

Still, we might do well to remember what Elijah came to understand. God generally speaks in a still, small voice.

Anything beyond that might just be noise.



PS – If you saw this as some type of attack against “professional ministers”, you are likely one of the many who are mindlessly enamored with said individuals.

AND, you missed the point of this post…entirely!

Praying For God’s Help? Remember This Equation: Jesus - You = More Than Enough

Disclaimer:  Before you read this, please know that I am on a journey.  I have not arrived, nor have I fully grasped all that I’m about to share.  Honestly, this is all new territory for this “seasoned” child of God…and it’s scary.  If you somehow perceive from my ramblings that I feel as if I’ve “figured” it all out…figure again!  The following is simply my own reflections about what I feel God is trying to teach me.  If it somehow encourages or helps you…bondiggity!

 Lately, I’ve been reading a devotional by Steve McVey called “The Grace Walk”.  So far, it has really been great!  Yesterday, Steve talked about how Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promises in each and every situation we face in life.  He writes,

“You don’t have to “make” anything happen. You don’t have an end to hold up.  So, just rest in what He has done and give a loud and hearty “Amen!” to Jesus.  That and that alone is what brings the highest glory to God.”

He goes on to talk about how legalism tells us we must “do our part” to get our prayers answered, but in God’s economy, we have no “part” in the matter.  Every promise we seek to be fulfilled and every answered prayer is found in the sufficiency of Christ and what He did for us on the cross.

I’ve been a Christian for over 20 years.  I’ve heard hundreds (probably thousands) of messages, read books, prayed prayers, but this message of grace plus nothing has really never gotten through my thick skull…or my frail heart.

This is especially evident when trials come.  Each and every time I immediately begin to search out where I’m “missing it”.  Somehow, somewhere along the way, my sin must have tipped the scale and God now has to step in with discipline and straighten my fanny out.  In other words, when bad things happen in life, it is a sure sign I have failed God and now He must kick my rear…in love.  This is usually followed by an endless succession of prayers of repentance.  If confession and repentance doesn’t seem to “fix” the problem, I then begin the process of begging God to show me where I went wrong and what “I” must do to make Him “okay” with me again.  Like I said, if you’re going through a rough patch it must certainly mean you did, said, or thought something that didn’t quit jive with God and it’s off to the woodshed until you learn your lesson.  By the way, it’s true that our sin can lead to “icky” consequences and there are times God will discipline, but many times it’s just life being lived out in a sick and broken world.

There are so many problems with the kind of thinking that believes we must fix ourselves and our problems, yet I ALWAYS play that game…ALWAYS!  Let’s look at some of the flaws of that kind of mindset.

1.     When the “fix” finally comes (answered prayer the way I want it), I never know which of my prayers did the trick.  I’m glad the mess is over, but I’m clueless how “I” broke through to God.

2.     If I can fix the problem, I must be able to control God or at the very least there must be some magical way for us to get what we want from Him.  Of course, I never really know what that is.

3.     This thinking negates much of what the New Testament teaches us about our position in Christ and God’s sovereignty over every aspect of our existence.  I cause all my bad stuff to happen and I must find a way to get God to fix it.  (Problem:  Not in the bible)

4.     If I must play a role in fixing the bad stuff, then I’m part of the solution.  In essence, it’s on me to “flip the switch” to “get the lights back on”.

I could go on, but you can probably think of greater flaws than I’m listing here. 

The idea that Jesus accomplished everything on the cross is huge.  The fact that we have NO and I mean NO, ZERO, NOTTA part to play in any of this, our ONLY role is to receive is even more mind-boggling.  He does EVERYTHING because Jesus has done everything.  We receive…end of story.  This my friends, is a big pill to swallow and goes against every bit of pride within me.  I say pride; because it is my pride that causes me to actually believe I must somehow help or motivate God.  Which by the way…is ridiculous!

Please get what I’m saying here.  I’m not saying that this means every prayer works out the way we think it should, or even every promise is a done deal.  I am saying I don’t have to “try” to “make” something happen here.  It’s ALL in His hands and it’s ALL because of Christ.  You and I can add nothing.

I was thinking about Steve’s line that says, “That and that alone is what brings Him the highest glory”.  For me, it means that embracing Jesus as the only basis for answered prayer means that I bring Him glory by seeing Jesus as my one and only hope.  No plan B whatsoever.  My effort plays no part.  If it does (my effort), I have found a formula for manipulating God…and IT WORKED, and that means I “helped” God.  Well, we know very well scripture teaches us that we cannot help ourselves and we certainly could never help God do anything, nor would He allow it.  He alone gets the glory and it will not be shared with little specks of dust riding through the universe on a big speck of dust.

The good news is this:  He loves each and every little speck, so much in fact that He was willing to die for us.  This also means that great love He has for me is what “fixes” the bad stuff.  Again, not my performance or lack thereof, just Jesus. 

So what’s the big lesson in this for you Ken?  Well, I think it is that while I am called to pray, and those prayers matter to God, I can rest in the sufficiency of Christ and trust that He is enough.  I don’t have to talk God into anything when Christ has paid for everything.  The pressure's off!  I have no clue how anything will work out, but I can quit looking for the right "God button" to push.  That means I can go back to enjoying Jesus and quit trying to "fix" problems.  My problems became His on the cross. 

The bible says in Psalm 34, “Many are the troubles of the righteous man, but the Lord delivers him from them all”.  Jesus said we would have trouble in this world, but “take heart, I have overcome this word”.  Notice He said “I”…not you…or me for that matter.

So what now?  What about all the “poop” (my special word for trouble) happening in your life Ken?  Well, all I know is this:  I will pray, but I will not pray thinking I’ve got to motivate God somehow to help me.  Jesus has opened every door and I can rest in that.  Every prayer has been heard and God knows, cares, and is always listening.  His motivation is and will always be His own love for me through Jesus…and that is more than anything I could ever bring to the table. 

Will my problems be “fixed”?  Good question.  All I know is that it is in His hands.  I cannot “make” anything happen.  Jesus has done it all.  My hope is in Him and Him alone.

No plan B.