 THE ONE WHO TIED MY SHOES AND ZIPPED MY BRITCHES!Never did I fully understand the impact that a single person could have on my life until I met my Kindergarten teacher. She was the epitome of Grace and it’s work in the lives of those who lack understanding on matters of navigating life. You know… like tying your shoes and zip’n your pants. I truly would have stumbled around or exposed myself much worse in life, had it not been for the teacher of grace that she was in my formative years. She in my kindergarten year was the object of my affection and in my eyes the most beautiful person on the planet. She had a way at putting me at ease when it came to learning my letters and how to spell my last name. You see, I had come to the conclusion that life as I new it would be insufferable and difficult for me. I would never make it into the first grade with a last name like Fairrington. My buddy had been blessed with the good name of Cox. Three letters to my Eleven!!! He could sign his name to his papers and be done with his work while I was still writing out my last name. In a world that seemed so unfair, there was only one thing that would get me through to the next grade. It was Grace! Grace that would teach me, Grace that was slow to anger, Grace that would teach me how to keep from stumbling, grace that covered me when I was exposed and feeling unworthy. Yes, it was Grace! Teaching me then and it is Grace that teaches us all how to walk in Godliness.
Titus 2:11-14 (KJV) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Grace is what brings Holiness. It does not demand anything from us. Its work is done for us. I thought it would be something more along the lines of me proving to you that its work is present in my life. I thought it was based on an evaluation of my performance by others. I thought that it could only be substantiated by the recognition, evidence and validation of those who have been wounded by me before I could move on. Now some would say that this is just another way to embrace sloppy grace and continue in sin but look at what the verse says. “Grace teaches us to be Holy”, “Grace teaches us how to say no to sin” More than the Law, More than Religion, More than my self-righteousness, More than my commitments, covenants, piety, or performance, more than anything else Grace is teaching me to be Holy. It is teaching me how to not stumble! This is why we forgive one another, This is why we love each other through the ugliness of life. When I really grasp that God is gracious and slow to anger in my heart, it doesn’t cause or encourage me to sin more, it causes me to sin less. So my understanding of grace is that it is provided not because of sin and not so we can continue in sin, but it teaches us so that we can know how to say no to sin. When you finally realize you are kindergartner and in the most unqualified state for God’s favor and yet have received the teacher of grace anyway, now all you want is to rest and to walk in the ways of God because His grace is the teacher and she is beautiful, and loves you, and makes you feel as if you are the most important kid in the room! The Holiest thing you can do is to rest in the finished work of the cross of Christ. You cannot add to Jesus’ work. When we rest from our own works in order to merit Gods favor and blessings, we are honoring Jesus for a job well done! No more effort on my part. Its all Him, all Jesus. Never let anyone make you feel guilty for resting in His Grace. It is teaching us to be Holy!
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Shepherding Spiritual Growth and Leadership in the Body of Christ.VOL #1 IN THE PATH OF DISCIPLESHIP SERIES • The Invitation to Navigate Spiritual Growth.
Journey with me on the Path of Jesus as I personally discover spiritual formation in my own life! We are each called to lead others to Jesus. We are also told to go and make disciples. In your personal life, or perhaps, leadership role as a pastor, elder, counselor, group leader, supervisor, or parent, are you leading in the way of our culture or the way of Jesus? This is the starting point of my own journey to become a true apprentice of Jesus Christ. I invite you to join me on what I believe will be epic adventure in becoming stronger in our faith, intentional in our walk, and on mission with Jesus. Active vs Passive Christianity For me personally... This journey started through a sense of urgency that the Lord has been laying on my heart. He has placed in me an overwhelming desire to bring the kind of pastoral care, and challenge, to Leaders and followers of Jesus that will catapult our daily living to the next level. There has never been a more important time or culture where the need for passionate leaders to engage Christianity with the calling to be disciples and followers of Jesus. There is no question that we in churchianity have coined the phrase “Follower of Jesus” as the branding for our constituency but, have we been all to passive as a people and as ministers of the Gospel to make disciples who truly understand what it means to embark on the journey and life pursuit of following Him? It would seem to me that often the designation of “disciple” has been diluted to a passive identification of “church goer.” Unfortunately, It is leadership who responsible for this cultural idiom and it is our responsibility to cultivate spiritual formation and discipleship in the Body of Christ. (I am taking responsibility for my part in this!) So, let’s answer the first question. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? Put simply, it means you re-organize your life around three pursuits: Being with Jesus, Becoming like Jesus, and doing what Jesus did! That’s really all there is to it! But we must shift in a way that it becomes our devotion and entire life's pursuit. It is not just an event on a Sunday, but a “way” of life in community around the teachings of Jesus. To live this way means we need to be transformed, from the inside out. Is this kind of deep, authentic radical change of character possible? Really? Even in the chaos of the modern, culture? The answer is: absolutely yes. Through teaching, practice, community, and the Holy Spirit, we can recover our calling, our mission, and the intent of Christ for our lives as we truly follow Him. The overwhelming voice of the Holy Spirit’s heart for me and for this new season is to become engaged, active and vibrant in a lost and dying culture. No longer passive in our service and devotion to Him and our mission to “GO” making disciples. 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, The question of 'What does is mean to become a disciple; is one that has lately been imprinted on my heart and it has been stirring new direction for my personal life and ministry! So, as I embark on the journey of what I call “Shepherding Discipleship” and “Spiritual Growth,” I would like to contrast "cultural discipleship" with "Jesus style Discipleship" and spiritual growth. The Cultural Way vs The Jesus Way. The way of our culture is to take charge, push to get ahead, and strive to get what you want. Following this path can appear to produce results, but it takes a heavy toll on me and everyone around me. ~ It will inevitably leave you feeling exhausted, alone, and burnt out. The way of Jesus is to abandon outcomes to God. The Great Servant of All - Jesus shows us what submission to his Father looks like in leadership by releasing the results of relationships and circumstances to his Fathers foresight and intervention, His care and wisdom. Over and over he said, "I only do what I see the Father doing" (John 5:19, paraphrased). Jesus shows us a leader who is gentle and humble in heart, yoked to God’s leadership (Matthew 11:28-30). He put first priority on intimacy with the Father and he kept submitting himself to the Father’s lead so that his life and leadership flowed in the currents of the Father’s love and wisdom. Again... As stated earlier, Jesus spent time in the presence of the Father. Then being like the Father, and then doing what His Father would do. It has at times been my personal experience and an observation of Cultural Leaders that bring us to a point where we will eventually throw in the Towel and start over. It becomes a reboot to start our system again in hopes that new changes will spark better productivity in building the church and so as leaders it has become all too easy to throw the towel in the ring. However... Spiritual Leaders Pick Up a Towel and Wash Feet! The way of our culture is to hurry. The phrase “Git’er Done!” Has been all too frequently used and neglects true Discipleship! We hurry to get more done. We hurry to get where we want to go. We are often driven by a relationship to performance, but when we hurry, we lose touch with God, Step out of His flow, and we neglect to care for the people around us. The way of Jesus is an unhurried presence. His Labor is to enter into Rest! When Jesus picked up a towel to wash his disciples’ feet at the Last Supper, he wasn’t doing something religious. He was being present with them and serving them by simply doing what needed to be done and cleaning their dirty feet (John 13:1-17). It was a model for how we could operate from the total rest and refreshing that comes from Him. Is it any wonder that the disciple whom Jesus loved was relaxed enough to lay his head on the breast of Jesus? This kind of restful, refreshing, unhurried kindness, exemplifies how Jesus lived his whole life. Being unhurried and at rest in the Father helped Jesus to care for the people around him. Practice Rest & Learn His Tempo, to Disciple others! My personal challenge has always been entering into the restful state that Jesus modeled. To follow the way of Jesus in your leadership role requires resisting the hurried, "make it happen" mentality of our culture. Instead, we’re to be caring shepherds, not seeking selfish gain, but humbly submitting to God and serving others. This is the way of our Good Shepherd (1 Peter 5:1-5). Hebrews 4:9-12 “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow; and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Practical Application for Shepherding Others. The first priority is to slow your role, learn His tempo! Ask yourself, “Does my Labor to rest lack intention?” Does my Prayer life lack devotion and intention? In conversations with your connections, (Those He has given you). Do I practice waiting on God in prayer before an important decision. Before a conversation. To begin a staff meeting, small group, or family gathering. Even just a few minutes meditating on Scripture and waiting on God in prayer — whether you are alone or with a group, These are the one’s the Lord has given you to lead! The challenge for each of us becomes… Will we lead like Jesus? Shepherding Discipleship & Spiritual Growth, Becoming Intentional in our relationship with Jesus and others, and walking the Path of Jesus is becoming the central focus behind everything we do. We hope you will join us on this journey! In His Grip! Pastor John 
Forgiveness! Bearing the marks of Jesus in our body.Galatians 6:1-2 KJV [1] Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. [2] Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. I think there is more to bearing one another's burdens then has traditionally met the eye! Would you be free from the burden of sin? We sing it In our churches regularly. Is there a link though? Is there a part for us to play in the bearing of the burdens of one another? We all know that the provisions for the forgiveness of sins is only accomplished through the work of Christ Jesus on the Cross and the power in His blood but was the model we were given through this glorious work intended to be lived out practically through us? Was the example by Christ set so that we would forgive, bear, forget, restore, and do life with one another without the expectation of any consequences that could come culturally on the chance that we were to forgive the wrong person? (Can that even happen?) Did it include bearing the burdens of the sins of those who have wounded us! Finally, does this fulfill the law of Christ? I would venture to say that we all believe that the list of our sins, shortcomings, and stupidity are blotted out in totality by the blood of the Son of God. But I also think that many Christians aren’t healthy because they fail to understand this foundational and profoundly simple truth in its totality. For example, many know they’re forgiven—but they have a hard time believing the one who hurt them is. “You can’t ignore the abuse, the trauma, and the anxiety that has been inflicted upon you,” they are told. “It must be dealt with.” But wait a minute! It has been dealt with by Jesus’ blood on the Cross. He hung on the Cross of Calvary dying for the very sin that bugs us in others. To say that an all knowing God forgot my sins to some would diminish the very nature of God. So let's properly define what "Your sins are remembered no more" means. The intent of scripture is to say that our all knowing God no longer holds our sins against us. Now that would be a biblical truth that would provide actual results in the healing process. If we are to be honest, I think that all of us identify that a certain amount of risk comes when we say "I forgive" because it means that we are willing to bear in our body's the marks of Jesus, the memories of sin and hurt, for the sake of His amazing work of Grace. Otherwise we diminish the full work that Christ did on Calvary. Make sure that the work that was done for all does not become selective in scope. We all hurt Him, and we all have offended Him! He cried, “It is finished,” It’s done! It’s paid for. He no longer holds the sin against us. That means for those of us who are offenders and also for those who have been offended. So be forgiven and forgive one another. Bear the burdens and memories that are evidence of God's amazing Grace to heal us and not hold anything against us. The facts show that you and I were both in the wrong, we all sinned, and He bore the burden of our sin and it left scars on His body. He did it without any regret, no longer holding an account against us, or even saying Ooops! Galatians 6:17-18 From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen. Is this too dangerous to teach in today’s church? I know it may sound risky to some but to me, there is only one question of any importance and that is... Did Christ take that kind of risk on me? Did He take upon Himself the scars that were the result of my sin, memories of His amazing grace? If the answer for you is yes then, it may just radically reform your perspectives on grace therefore fulfilling the Law of Christ. Food for thought! When we are under the load and the heavy burden of sin, my prayer is that as believers we would carry one another though, bearing the marks of Christ in our body, even when we’ve been hurt, even when it is an inconvenience, or an imposition. Even when our reputation is at risk, or those around us think it abuses the some law of grace. With grace the laws have been done away with! By bearing one another’s burdens in this way we fulfill the law of Christ. Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. So many Questions to ask ourselves... How and in what fashion did the Lord forgive you? Was it complete, were you justified, were you restored to a state of righteousness? Did Christ change the record on your past sins to show not guilty? Were you the one who hurt Him like so many of us, all of us have? Do I forgive others in the way it was modeled through Christ? Do I keep a record of my sins and the sins of others without confession and repentance? Am I willing to die to my selfishness, selectivity, spiritual pride, dogma, and religiosity, in order to bear the burdens of those who sinned against me? Do I practice selectively in matters of forgiveness and bearing someone's burdens? Is it easier to forgive someone who confessed their sins to you than it is to forgive someone who has sinned against you personally? There is no difference in the Christ model! I'm just saying! I know these are hard questions but, I have been contemplating them and I think they are all important to ask if I am to see the law of Christ fulfilled in the way it was intended for me. Let this challenge our thinking and root out any signs of religion, legalism, or hurts that we place on one another. And more than anything else may it change the way we respond to one another, causing us to see each other through the lens of Jesus who lavished us with His love and compassion while we were the biggest risk He could have ever taken. Food for thought! 
Redeem Your StoryHere are some helpful thoughts and a resource for Getting you story straight, your life back, and living out the story of God on the Path of Jesus. Foundational thoughts on Story. • Stories are found throughout history. • God is writing stories with you each step of your life. He knew you before you were born. (Jeremiah 1:5) He created you wonderfully. (Psalm 139:14) He has wonderful plans for your life. (Jeremiah 29:11) He has good works for you to accomplish. (Ephesians 2:10) He is with you every step of your journey. (Matthew 28:20) • Your story is unique and special because you were created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27) That means you reflect God uniquely and that you were hardwired with a purpose. • Your personal story has shaped your life and your relationships: How you experience love. How you relate to others. Bottom line, stories enable us to relate well with others. • We are called to enter into the stories of others. We can help others learn from their own stories. We can teach others about the great story of God. Entering the stories of others is our vital mission. (Matthew 28:18-20) When you enter the stories of others, you are on sacred ground. Walk carefully and listen well. It is important to not judge but reflect their story back to them so they know you are truly listening. • Good Stories come from a revelation and knowledge of who God is, and in relationship with Him. My story is important not because it is mine, but because God knows it, He is the Author of it, and if I can tell it right, the chances are you will recognize that in many ways it is also your story… It is precisely through these stories in all their particularity that God makes Himself known to each of us most powerfully and personally. If this is true, it means that to lose track of our stories is to be profoundly impoverished not only humanly but also spiritually. Meet the Author, Get a Life, Get a Story God often orchestrates our lives so that we will intersect with people in ways that allow us to interact with their stories. These are what I believe are supernatural appointments that happen in the most natural ways. They are opportunities to become Living Stones and have the potential to encourage, correct, what motivates us. For instance; When I finaly submitted to the Author and Finisher of my faith, my story was no longer motivated by spiritual pride and prowess. I ceased seeing myself as the fixer of everyone else and allowed Him to finally fix me. My story is important not because it is mine, better, right, wrong, or more interesting. It is important because if I am willing to understand it, live it, and tell it. the chances are you will recognize that in many ways it is also yours … It is precisely through these stories in all their particularity that God makes Himself known to each of us most powerfully and personally. If this is true, it means that to lose track of our stories is to be profoundly impoverished not only humanly but also spiritually. To get us on the way to really knowing who God is and to understand the difference between the Narrative of this world vs the Narrative of God Let’s take a look at what Narrative really is. About Narrative In todays culture A narrative is thought of as a paradox, because it seeks to convey truth by hiding it. A storyteller arranges the items of knowledge in such a way that they are revealed gradually, which implies initially obscuring the truth behind what is told. Authors are deliberate in making things unclear because it creates a sense of mystery or tension, with the purpose of creating a desire in the listener to find out what is happening in the story and why. In this sense, a narrative is effectively the opposite of an account or a report. This can be problematic in terms of our relationships because narratives can also be subject to misinterpretation by the hearer of a story and can produce negative and reactionary responses if not properly discerned with through the lens of the Holy Spirit. Not so, with the Narrative of God, The Great Mystery was revealed in Christ. The Author of our story sent the Truth into the world so that we might know His story and see it played out in our personal journey without ever wondering how things were going to turn out. That is the beauty of knowing the truth and indeed being set free to live a victorious life, epic story in absolute truth. The Lord has provided ample opportunities for each of us to be a part of developing a caring community where the work of the Word, Spirit, and Discipleship happens. To experience momentum toward either of these goals, we must look back at the story God is writing in our own life and become familiar with the story He is writing in the others that He has placed in our lives. Sharing our stories will build our faith, bring honor to God, and accelerate the development of relational trust in our relationships in the Body of Christ and with our families. God is the master storyteller – His self revelation is captured in a sweeping narrative and then given to us in a Book that grips our heart, a Map that guides our paths, and a Story that captures our soul. He creates a story within each person’s life, a story we are meant to tell. And since we are called to tell our story, we are also called to listen to the stories of others. God is calling us to fully explore, to fully enjoy, and to fully capture the power of the Great Story, the Gospel. And we are to invite others to immerse themselves in that Great Story. One way we do this is by listening to the stories that we have put in the closet, allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us and correct us, and then by sharing God’s ultimate plans for us with others.” Why is this important? God acts in history and in your and my brief histories not as a puppeteer who sets the scene and pulls our strings but rather as the great director who no matter what role fate casts us in conveys to us in supernaturally natural ways that if we have our eyes, ears, hearts open and sometimes even if we don’t, how we can play those roles in a way to enrich and enable and make holy the whole vast drama of life including our own small but crucial parts in it. Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact. Robert McKee~ “Your story has power in your life, and it has power and meaning to bring to others. I want your story to stir me, draw me to tears, compel me to ask hard questions. I want to enter your heartache and join you in the hope of redemption. But your story can’t do these things if you can’t tell it. You can’t tell your story until you know it. And you can’t truly know it without owning your part in writing it. And you won’t write a really glorious story until you’ve wrestled with the Author (God) who has already written long chapters of your life, some of them not to your liking.” Dan Allender~ Be yourself, everyone else is already taken. Oscar Wilde~ “When I study and understand my life story, then I can join God as Coauthor. I don’t have to settle for merely being a reader of my life; God calls me to be a writer of my future. He asks me to take the only life I will ever be given and shape it in the direction he outlines for me. I am to keep writing, moving forward into the plot that God has woven into the sinews of my soul”. So… What do I do with the tragic parts of my story? Look into them asking for God’s perspective, and being alert to His shepherding. A tragic circumstance can define and anchor you – holding you back from your calling and destiny, OR it can pull back the curtain to reveal the power of God to bring beauty from ashes, and transformation through pain. We all have both spectrums in our personal stories so don’t ignore it but walk back into it, with God beside you and ask him to show you what he wants you to do, think, feel or address. As you share these parts of your story don’t be surprised by God’s presence and ministry to and through others. For instance, as I listen to someone else’s story what do I do or say? It is of most importance to first listen and allow your eyes to see from the storyteller’s perspective and that of the Creator / Author. Honor the person with your focused attention. Pray for the storyteller(s) after the meeting and write down what God puts on your heart. Ask the Lord if you are to share anything with them, and if so when and how. Your role is not to co-author another person’s story, but God may lead you to come alongside as a cheerleader, a challenger, an advocate, or a loving friend who shares the journey. How should I organize my story, and what should I include? Prayerfully ask for God’s help and direction, in order to discern what’s most important to share now, and how best to communicate it. Often our stories may take a seasonal flow for instance, we may highlight our journey and the people, and situations that have shaped us by seasons of life. OR you may prefer a more thematic approach. The following categories may be helpful in reflecting on and organizing how you will share. Include how God has interacted in your story, and about your relationship with Him. • Where you are from / Family of Origin • Defining moments, • High points, successes, obstacles overcome • Low points, failures, lessons learned • What shaped your view of and relationship with God? • If you have trusted Christ... tell when, how, that took place, and what has changed in your life. • Where and how have you experienced God since that time? • Heroes or key people who have shaped your life. As a co-author with God, only the 2 of you know your story and what is meant to be shared with those around you now. There is no way to fail if you are faithful to pray and prepare. How should I communicate my story? Just relax and share the highlights. There is no way to lose. You know your story better than any other person. It would be helpful to organize your thoughts on paper, possibly in outline or bullet form. It would also be helpful to have copies of your outline or bullets to share with the group so they can remember and follow along. It would also be helpful to include some prayer request themes, so that folks around you become acustomed to praying with and for you. Have fun. Listen to each other’s story with curiosity and with an alertness to see what God has already been doing, and how he may be calling you to come alongside with encouragement! This way of sharing story is the best way to keep Christ at the center of all of our conversations and relationships. When Jesus and the His work on the Cross become the only focus in our stories It becomes very difficult for someone else to misunderstand, misinterpret, or change the narrative that our Author has written into our life and story. 
Photo by John Fairrington
Do you know your daddy as well as He knows you?1 John 3:1-20 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. We have a father that knows our hearts and doesn’t condemn us. This article in the London Herald many years ago, reads as follows. Girl saved after first hospital condemned her to die by first doctors SURGEONS HAVE saved the life of a three-year-old girl 18 months after her parents were told by cardiologists at another hospital her heart condition was inoperable and that she would die. Doctors at Leeds General Infirmary told Hannah Harkness's parents in January last year that she was too weak to withstand heart surgery and had three months to live. The couple refused to accept the prognosis, sought a second opinion and the child was referred to the cardiology unit at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, where she was cleared for surgery in May last year. After two operations, she has now been given a clean bill of health. Karen and Colin Harkness, from Selby, North Yorkshire, who have eight children, are planning legal action against the Leeds hospital which, they claim, could have saved her. Mr Harkness, 36, a security alarms engineer, said parents should realize that they "don't need to take a consultant or doctor's word as the be all and end all". He said: "It makes you wonder how many children have died in the past. We want parents who may be in our situation to be aware that they should not just give up. We were made to suffer terribly and we just want the hospital to know how much hurt they caused. We just felt they wrote her life off. We believe they were negligent and incompetent and we feel that had we not gone for a second opinion Hannah would now be dead." Hannah was seven days old when doctors at the Leeds hospital's cardiology unit diagnosed a rare chromosome disorder, a deficient immune system and congenital heart disease. Her development and speech were also found to be slow. Tests showed she had two holes in her heart and an open duct that required surgery. At first, the unit decided that Hannah did not need treatment and that she did not need to return to the hospital for another year. But in August she was struck down with a viral infection and became seriously ill. Her condition continued to deteriorate over the next months, and in January last year her parents were called to the hospital for a meeting with doctors. They expected to be told that surgeons would operate, but were advised instead that the heart was irreparable, a transplant was out of the question and there was no hope. Mrs Harkness, 33, said: "We took Hannah home that weekend and none of us spoke for two days. We just sat and hugged our little girl. They didn't say it, but they were sending her home to die." The couple spoke to cardiologists and support groups before making contact with the Freeman Hospital, where the two holes in Hannah's heart were repaired and the open duct plugged. Last week, a further hole in Hannah's heart was treated, and she is now recovering at home. In a statement, the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said the functioning of Hannah's heart was "very poor" in January and the decision not to operate was taken between a consultant cardiologist and a cardiac surgeon. "It was felt the risks associated with the surgery were too high," said the statement. "We haven't been informed officially but we are aware the family is planning legal action." Mrs Harkness said: "We thought long and hard and I determined I knew my childs heart better than anyone else did. As a Father I was not able to condemn her to death so easily! So I assured her everything was going to be allright and we began the process of doing evrything we could. Now we have a healthy happy daughter. "We decided we have to show doctors that the decisions they make are so important to people's lives. They should have at least offered us a second opinion." Turns out the opinion of a father was much more important. No more heart disease. No more condemnation! Now this is a great story about the condition and circumstances surrounding the physical heart. But how much more glorious it is to be free from condemnation in the spiritual heart, for you see, when our heart is free from condemnation spiritually, we have confidence toward God. If, on the other hand, you don’t have confidence with God because your heart condemns you, John has good news for you as well. “God is greater than our heart,” he says, “and He knows all things.” What does God know? He knows a lot.… Psalm 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. When my heart reminds me that I’m not doing what I could be and that I’m not as loving as I should be, God reminds me that He knows I’m only made of dust. 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. Immediately after a mother penguin lays her egg, she heads out to sea for a three-month eating binge, leaving Dad on the ice flow to stand on the egg and keep it warm until she returns. Then it’s Dad’s turn to take to sea and grab a bite to eat. By the time he returns, the egg has hatched. Yet, although there are millions of penguins on the ice flow dressed exactly alike, and although he has never even seen his offspring, he’ll go directly to his own baby. So, too, God says, “I know those who are Mine.” If you’ve ever been to Yellowstone or watched the Bison in a times of confusion and commotion, or when they are under attack they will huddle up and gather the calve into their protection. You’ve seen parents act the same way as they immediately, instinctively, intuitively gather their kids around them. They don’t say, “You’re on your own.” No, when there’s danger, disaster, or difficulty, a parent gathers every one of his kids around him. This is the amazing thing about our heavenly Father. He gathers them all. Even though your heart may condemn you, God knows you are His, and He will gather you as well. John 2:23–25 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, and needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. Jesus was in Jerusalem at Passover and many believed in His name when they saw the miracles He did. But Jesus did not commit Himself unto them because He knew they wouldn’t be able to keep their commitment to Him. Although they were impressed with His miracles, although they were amazed by His presence and power, knowing they didn’t understand what was asked of them, He didn’t hold them to their commitment. You see this is why I know that My Heavenly Father is just as much or even more so into promise breakers as he is in to promise keepers. Psalm 139:1–6 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. The Lord knows my ups and downs, my failings, vulnerabilities, and shortcomings. He knows all about me. And He knows everything about you, for He put you together. He knows how you are, what you are, who you are. Did you know that If you are of average weight and height, here is what you will go through in an average twenty-four-hour period: Your heart will beat 103,689 times. Your blood will travel 168 million miles as your heart pumps approximately 4 ounces per beat. You will breathe 23,040 times, inhaling 438 cubic feet of air. Your stomach will take in three and a half pounds of food and 2.9 quarts of liquid. You will lose seven eighths of a pound of waste. If you are a man, you will speak 4,800 words, and if you are a woman, you will speak close to 7,000 words. You will move 750 muscles and exercise 7 million brain cells. I can’t understand it! My finite, little, pee brain can’t perceive how He holds every thing together and keeps it all working. It is too wonderful for me to perceive how His hand is upon me. Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Here are some random “Please excuse my child from school” notes I think dads might find interesting. These are real absence excuses sent to a school from the Fathers who should have never been allowed to have kids. They go along way to demonstrate our fickleness as Fathers and the thoughts we think toward our children. By the way it would seem most Fathers couldn’t spell. • Dear school please accuse John from being absent on January 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and also 33. • Please excuse Dianne from being absent yesterday. She was in bed with gramps. • I had to keep Billie home because she had to go Christmas shopping because I didn't know what size she ware. • Please excuse Johnny for being. It was his Mother's fault. • Mary could not come to school because she was bothered by very close veins. • Chris will not be in school cuz he has an acre in his side. • John has been absent because he had two teeth taken off his face. • Excuse Gloria. She has been under the doctor. • Lillie was absent from school yesterday because she had a going over. • My son is under the doctor's care and should not take fizaca ed. Please execute him. • Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football. He was hurt in the growing part. • My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired. She spent this weekend with the Marines. • Please excuse Joyce from P.E. for a few days. Yesterday she fell off a tree and misplaced her hip. • Please excuse Ray Friday from school. He has very loose vowels. • Maryann was absent December 11-16 because she had a fever, sore throat, headache, and upset stomack. Her sister was also sick, fever and sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. I wasn't the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be the flu going around, her father even got hot last night. • George was absent yesterday because he had a stomach. • Ralph was absent yesterday because he had a sore trout. • Please excuse Wayne for being out yeaterday, because he had the fuel. • Please excuse Sarah for being absent. She was sick and I had her shot. Now back to our verse Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. When did God say this? It was when His people were headed into captivity. For seventy years, the Jewish people would go through difficult days and tough times in Babylon. Yet the Lord said, “I know what I’m doing. It might look brutal and bleak to you—but it’s all to bring you to a glorious end.” And that is the beauty of being in the care of the Heavenly Father because; the same is true for you and me. When our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts. He knows all things. He knows we are made of dust, that we make promises we can’t keep, and that we are bound to fall and fail. He knows we're just trying to do our best sometimes and it doesn’t work out the way we like. He knows we sometimes feel like failures. He knows we hate trying to write out absence excuses. Yet He also knows that we are His and that He has a glorious plan for our lives. What a Miracle! The One who knows us best loves us most. So do you really know your Daddy as well as He knows you? You owe it to yourself to ask Him the question, "Who are You?" And, see what happens next! 
Story is how we figure things out in life.It’s how we make sense of things as we align, compare, and correlate them with the story of God. God is not interested in what you think you should be or feel. He is not interested in the narrative you have constructed for yourself, or what others have constructed for you - or even the one's that religious institution's may have fashioned for you. Your story may be chucked full of ruts and potholes, crashes and do-overs! The Lord may even be using all these things to deconstruct some small stories and narratives to ultimately bring them into alignment with His story, a big story, a glorious story, a story of redemption and restoration, the story of God. I believe He does this on our behalf so that we don’t have to be burdened by what someone else’s expectations of us or, what others think your story should look like. When it comes right down to it, the big picture and story of God is the only thing that matters!
He loves us so much that He is interested in you and me. Those of us who go through suffering. Those of us who inflict suffering on others. Those of us (you and me) who hide. Those who have bad days (and good ones). And God meets us where we are in our story. There is not one person on the planet who is hardwired to live in isolation. Scripture tells us that we are Living Epistles and that means that the Author and Finisher of our faith wants us to live out the story He is writing for us so... Understand that Jesus is not the man at the top of the stairs—he is the man at the bottom. The friend of sinners. The Savior of those in need of one. He is the lover of of those who are un-lovable! Which is all of us—all of the time! Let that sink for a moment! 
I share this picture of my friend Jim Moore because we have shared a lot of life story together on rides, we have both suffered set backs and victories, and our stories certainly haven't turned out the way we thought or even hoped! It may not have even met the expectations of others. What I do know is this... God has been the author and finisher of our stories the whole time and His story of love and redemption is what is so evident in both of our epic novels! 
THE LONG SHOTS AND THE BAD BETS. I’ve always been a long-shot. For most of my life I have tried to be a leader and the Hero of my story but for the most part, I always felt like I might be the guy who was the last one to be picked on the playground so I would always seek to promote my own character or abilities. I was a man with many gifting’s but trapped like a prisoner in my own self fashioned perspectives of self. Spiritual pride first puffed me up, then it subtly lied to me, and then it left me spiritually bankrupt. I had become stuck there in my own story, un-touchable, un-reachable by the walls that I had erected through spiritual prowess, while devoid of an understanding of my own depravity and need for Jesus to be the Lord of all in my story. I had become a Villain! What could the Lord possibly do with a man like that? As someone who had become so centered on themselves, I had lost hope, living in fear of the exposure that would ensue if the depth of my depravity were discovered. I was now convinced that I was alone and that everything that I had strived for would soon be lost. There on the edge of my bed, influenced by lies, depression and medication for chronic pain, I had decided that it wasn’t worth it so, with a gun in my hand and in what could have been the last few minutes of my story, I cried out… “Why can’t You pick me for once?” I will never forget the immediate answer — “I did.” “What are you waiting for?” As if being awakened from a childhood dream of playing Red-Rover on the playground, it was if the Lord was standing directly across from me yelling “Send Johnny on over!” Motioning me to run with everything I could muster, I sat my pistol in the dirt of that playground story and dream, but I had no strength to move or stand beyond that. When I looked up, the Heavenly Father had ran across that gap with open arms and with a warm embrace that instantly brought justification. Not self-justification but His Justification. He had not only elected to have me but He had come the full distance that was seemingly so impossible for me to make and was inadequate to travel. He did a work at my core that day and I have not been the same since! Pick Me, pick Me!!! 1 Peter 1:2… …Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father… To often we worry more about being the Elect of the people around us than we do being the Elect of God. We perpetually strive for the “People's Choice Award” rather than resting in the knowledge that we are already chosen as God’s glorified one’s! You see, because God elected us before the world began, He sees us as already glorified. People often look at us and they say, “Glorified? Them?” The Father, however, knows better than those around you! Suppose you could suddenly travel back in time and you wind up in a place where you realize that you haven’t made any of the mistakes of your past yet. There you are and nobody has seen you mess up or make the mistakes that will eventually become part of your story. So, you think to yourself; “Hey, my approval rating is much better now with folks than it will ever be in the future. So with the new found members of your incredible posse and a new approval rating, you find a bookie, and against unbelievably high odds, and even the marvelous expectations that your peeps have for you in life, you place a bet that you are going to have some major shortcomings and that you will fail along the way. Or, maybe you bet against yourself, that you’re going to get beat in some way. Now stay with me!Because, you would walk away rich from your winnings because you would have made these bets with foreknowledge. You would have put your money down not as a gamble, but with certainty because you would have known the outcome despite the fact that you failed, despite the fact that it looked like a bad bet! Here is the kicker! You see, the Father knows a good bet even before it looks like a bad bet. He sees the end from the beginning. He understands what no other person can comprehend. He knows we are going to struggle and mess up but He also knows that we’re going to make it. As bad a bet as we might seem to ourselves or to others, as steep as the odds against us may be, He calls us already glorified. Therefore, we can approach Him boldly. We can enjoy Him intimately. We can ask of Him expectantly because we have been elected eternally. Our Father takes an incredible chance on us even when people don’t, even when other christians, family, friends and the crowd around us won’t. Quit seeing yourselves as the good bet, gone bad and start seeing yourself as the bad bet, gone good! So what, if you are a long shot! The word of God is chucked full of stories about the Long-Shot. Jesus Himself was viewed by His own disciples as a long-shot. This next part of A Rogue Story takes a brief look at the bad bets, the long-shot, and the real characters, who were all heroes and villains alike! Be sure and comment below! 
Story through the lens of Jesus.Dedicated to those who at one time were stuck in their story! This is an except from a book I wrote called "A Rogue Story." Perhaps it can help you understand how to see your personal story and the narrative of others around you through the proper lens. The Author, The Hero, The Ghost, and The Villain! All good stories begin with someone who who plays the ultimate character or hero. In developing an understanding of our own story we must first go directly to the author. Now I know this may sound odd because most of us (If you are anything like me) feel like we have been the authors of our own confusion, loss, and failures. Our stories read like a book pre-judged by it’s cover, or one tossed away for some other more practical use like starting a fire in the wood stove. This is the result of a mis-understanding of who the real author really is and what His purpose is for you. You wouldn’t toss aside a novel by Hemingway or Tolkien. You see, we like to think that we are the hero in our own story, but if we take the time to search the roots or ancestry of our stories, we can better understand why things unfold the way they have and ultimately free ourselves from having to be the Author, the Hero, or the Villain! How is this possible you may ask? It is because our Author has experienced every role there is to play and He in fact knew me before I was formed in the Womb.. Jeremiah 1:5 (KJV) Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Hebrews 12:2 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. It takes very little understanding about our Author to come to the conclusion that He not only knows our story but is orchestrating each roll that plays out in our lives with perfect execution. Every scene is played out perfectly with all of His nature, personalities, and attributes being directed by and in the fulness of the Godhead. When we come to grips with the understanding that the author really knows what He is doing then we must change our perspectives about His plan and purpose for us while accepting that our story has been written by Him. This is the point that can transform our understanding of our story because it is here that we become free to see ourselves through the creative lens of Jesus. So, how do we view our lives, our story? Is it possible that some of our stories have been hijacked throughout our lifetime? How do we view others around us, our family, our friends, most importantly those who have gone through difficulty whether it is adversity or the consequences of sin. How do we view others who have different life experiences and persuasions? Is it our part to distance ourselves from those who have a different theological perspective? Should we allow ourselves to see others through the lens of past failures or mistrust? Should the view of myself be substantiated by the report of others who have not walked with me, but who know about my past? Or, does Jesus model a whole different perspective for us to follow where none of these questions come into play? These are all important questions to ask as we approach them through the simplistic lens of Jesus, giving us the right view of our story. Relational Theology Through the lens of Jesus and because I have spent time getting to know the Author, something wonderful has happened in my own story. I have fallen in love with the author of my story and I am certain that on my behalf, Jesus comes to me and He is only motivated by His love for me. It is this passionate attraction for me that is packaged in such a way that it demonstrates itself by being relational with me, speaking with me, and lavishing me with the full provisions of His mercy and grace. He never puts me in a time out; He does not withdraw Himself from me, analyze my actions, and prequalify whether or not I am worthy of love. The Good News is that He is your Author too! Jesus said... “If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.” This story and lens of Jesus corrects our theology and understanding of the story of God, It makes it relational and not religious! I like how the Story of Christ and seeing things through the lens of Christ drastically impacted the lives of guys like Peter and Paul in the most profound but simplistic ways. Peter gives me the hope and ability to see that those who are religious in their theological perspectives can, not only be used by the Lord but, that they can change their perspectives radically. You remember the story when Peter had to go with a bunch of Gentiles to the house of Cornelius. He must have been totally freaked out! Good religious Jews especially Apostles didn’t roll with Gentiles. They were considered to be fodder for the fires of hell. (I have been on both ends of this perspective. I have felt that way about others because of my own religious pride and I have also been on the receiving end of those who are non relational and religious in their theology). Needless to say, Peter is placed in a position where if he is going to develop into the simplistic model of how Jesus showed us to live, then there is going to have to be a change in how he views others and it can only happen through the loving lens of Jesus. Read the story in Acts 10 to see how the Lord lovingly does this as Peter moves along through what could be considered as a very uncomfortable journey into the world of the Gentiles. In the story, Peter becomes what we call a relational theologian, not an academic theologian. I believe that God wants all of us to be relational theologians because they are the best kind of theologians. Why? A relational theologian tracks everything in scripture through the nature and Heart of God. The goal of God is to make all of us into His image. That is why Jesus was so relational In fact that is why we can so easily identify that His attraction was for the sinner and not the religious who thought that they were without sin. One of the first things that God reveals to peter is… Acts 10:15 where Is this instruction. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. I used to think that I was a commoner! Now I believe that I am not so common. God has captivated my heart, cleansed me from my sin and pride and filled me with His Holy Spirit. It was a process and a part of my story! Some will be skeptical of my story, others will hear it and relate, and my heart is that they be restored in their relationship with Christ and those around them. The great news is that all of this happens in people prone to fail in their own stories, people who do horrible things like lopping of ears, freaking out over little girls who call them out around burn barrels, those who deny over and over again that they ever knew Him or that He even exists. That is the Story line that Jesus, The Author and Finisher of our faith likes to use. Those are the folks that He makes relational but, not so common! All that being said, our theology must be relational and in line with His primary purpose if we are truly to become living epistles. Note however that if you are like Peter, this position may get you a reputation of being unlearned but, it might also help the religious folk and sinners alike, identify that you have actually been with Jesus as was the case of Peter. Peter spoke from a level of relationship that the religious leaders never had. Systematic Theology One of the reasons I don’t get systematic theology is because there is no pathway through the heart and nature of God and it mostly ends up as rules somewhere. When we study the Bible, we are studying the one who wrote it. If all you are doing is studying the principles of scripture then you are missing the heart of love that Jesus had for us while we were yet sinners. The Bible is a love story that causes us to fall in love with the author. When we believe on Him and embrace the simple faithfulness of Jesus towards us, He puts His Spirit in us and hides us in Him. Then begins the glorious process of sanctification where we go from glory to greater glory in His presence! Saul who later was transformed to be called Paul through this lens of Jesus started out as an academic theologian. He had no understanding of the presence, He had totally missed the visitation of Jesus, and was convinced that he was serving the purposes of God in persecuting the church while breathing death threats to the disciples in the name of Jesus until one day, Jesus loved this religious man so much that He lifted the scales from pauls eyes and allowed Him to see His story through the lens of Jesus. This is what he said about himself… Philippians 3 I was educated under Gamaliel, strictly according to the laws of our fathers. I’m a Pharisee and the son of a Pharisee, Circumcised on the eighth day, of Isreal, of the tribe of Benjamin, as to Law a Pharisee, as to zeal, a persecutor of the church, as to legalism, blameless. I lived according to the strictest sect of our religion. Here is the cool thing about the model of Jesus and seeing things through the lens of God. Christ will reveal Himself and love even the most religious! Act 9:3 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? There is Hope for the religious who say “Who are you Lord”? It’s sad to have all that pedigree, all of that learning, to have followed all of the principles and procedures without having an encounter with Jesus in the development of your theology. The Good news is that Jesus loves the religious and the sinner alike! He sacrificed Himself for all of us. The sinner, the hypocrite, the religious, and the broken hearted alike. Paul exhibited all of these attributes and Jesus identifies Himself to him and shows His love and forgiveness to him, radically opening Paul's’ eyes to what relational theology has the ability to do. If he can do it in train wrecks like Peter, persecutors like Paul, and guys like me who have been on both ends of the spectrum, then He is able to show himself, and lavish us with His love no matter who you are. Just ask Him, Who are You? So Who is Who? One central character with the ability to assume multiple roles in any story is at the very nature of who God is. We were created for His pleasure and nothing gives him more pleasure than a story that glorifies Him. In order to break our stories down to a very simplistic understanding of the plot behind them, we must also have a simple understanding of what comprises the very make up of who God is. In order to do that, let’s look briefly at the Trinity or the sum total of who God is. I like to wrap my brain around this Idea by viewing the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as… Me, Myself, and I. These are the three distinct person’s of the Trinity where Jesus is depicted as eternally, The One True God. It's not mathematically understood if your equation isn't correct! For instance, It is never 1+1+1=3. It is always 1x1x1=The ONE true God! John 1:1 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. Whenever the beginning was, wherever it was, whatever it might have been, Jesus—the Word—was already there. He had no beginning and He has no end. He is eternally God. Jesus is also equally God. …and the Word was with God… Jesus, the Word, was with God—equal to the Father and the Spirit. Now, I know what you might be thinking… “I thought there was only one God?” There is. “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord,” Deuteronomy 6:4 says. But the word used for “one” is the word echad, which refers to a compound unity, like one people, or one cluster of grapes. And so, God is a synthesis, a “tri-unity.” One plus one plus one does not equal one. But one times one, times one, equals one! And that is the mystery of the Trinity. Allow me to introduce myself! Author, “I Am.” “My name is I AM,” answered the Lord (Exodus 3:14). In this particular story, Moses must have scratching his head in confusion and thought, You are… what You see, not realizing that what God really is would only be fully and completely revealed when Jesus Christ came on the scene. At the end of His ministry, Jesus could say, “I have manifested Thy name unto the men which Thou hast given Me. (John 17:6). Because of this, He filled in the blank completely and perfectly. Jesus in His great “Ego-Eimi” statements showed us how that He was fully God and the Author of our Story. He doesn’t tell us the way. He is the Way. “Whom seek ye?” He asked of the soldiers who had come to arrest Him. “Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “Ego Eimi,” said Jesus. “I AM.” And the soldiers—most likely several hundred in number—fell over backward (John 18:4–6), knocked down not by anything Jesus did, but by the sheer power of who He is. So, too, once you grab this, once you see it’s not something Jesus gives to you, but who He is for you, you’ll be knocked out. You’ll say, “Lord, I’ve been asking for clarity in my story and looking for the answers to my plot. But in reality it’s all wrapped up in You personally. And if I rest in Your arms, My story will have the right ending. If I stay close to You, I’ll be protected. If I cling to You, I’ll feel whole. If I allow You into my life, I’ll feel satisfied at last?” “That’s right,” Jesus answers. “I am the Way. I am the Door. I am the Vine. I am the Bread.” The Story starts with Him and ends with Him! But there is even more to this Jesus, fully God in the flesh, who has come to be the central figure of our story! One person plays multiple parts! Colossians 1 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. The Super Hero Colossians 1 reads like the identification of the Super Hero, Jesus Christ: Creator of the speeding bullet, His Spirit more powerful than dynamite, not just a leaper over problems but a fixer of any problem. Born a carpenter’s son, Jesus learned his father’s trade and, more than likely, he was good at it. His expertise in the art of carpentry isn’t what makes him memorable; it’s his unique knowledge of intimate details related to God. Jesus demonstrated that he was God by performing miracles, resisting great temptations, and teaching life-changing lessons despite his age or lack of education. His business practices are legendary, using ordinary people to do extraordinary things. So attractive is the story of Jesus that the multitudes were drawn to Him and if you introduce Jesus as the real hero of your story, He becomes one who is simple for everyone to believe in and look up to. That’s because Jesus is God. Because of who he is, he has the ultimate power. Not only is He the One True God, and our Hero, He is the Ghost! The Ghost Story As a child, while on camping excursions, we would take turns conjuring up ghost stories to pass the time late into the twilight hours, around campfires or huddled in our sleeping bags, usually with the comfort of a flashlight in hand to shed light on the fears that were now becoming our realities. The Holy Ghost Story here is much different than the spook tales of old. His work is explosive and His presence is comforting. He goes about His business drawing no attention to Himself perpetually leading, guiding, comforting and revealing the central character of our story. Let’s let the Word of God Speak for itself! John 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 1 Corinthians 2:9-13 (KJV) 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty. John 14:17 [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Romans 8:1 [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure [unto him]. Matthew 10:20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. John 4:24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth. Philippians 1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, This is one Ghost Story that is vital to having a great story of our own! The Villain Not only is He the Author and Finisher, the Hero, Comforter, and the Ghost in the Story but He is the Villain too! John 3:14-16 (KJV) 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus Christ became the Villain, or the Snake if you will in the story! How, you may ask did He do that? Simple! He who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21) in order that the wrath of the Father over the sin of the world would be appeased. Instead of smashing a world that is full of snake’s and villain’s, He turned to His innocent Son and laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. Not only did Jesus know what this meant going into it, He did it anyway, all while knowing that I was the worst villain of them all. I can only assume that this is why in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed with such intensity, and sweat drops of blood. “Father, if possible, don’t let Me drink of this cup” (Matthew 26:39). But, it wasn’t physical death Jesus feared; it was the wrath of His Father that caused Him to break out in a bloody sweat (Luke 22:44). Jesus knew what it meant to be the total satisfaction of my debt, the appeasement of Gods wrath that I had alone deserved. God Himself became a Man, His name was Jesus. Jesus being fully God, absorbed the wrath of His own indignation. He died, arose again to be seated at the right hand of the Father and sent His Spirit to guide and Comfort me. It is The mystery of the Trinity, the mystery of Jesus covering me, It is the Story of God as my Author, Finisher, Hero, Comforter, Ghost, Snake and Villain who was able to be all of this for me while wielding all of the wrath that I deserved upon Himself. The Ultimate Story! Hopefully by now, You're beginning to understand why Jesus is not only the best Author of our story but that He is the perfect Finisher of our story! I Like Action Adventure Stories. You ever feel like you thought you had a character figured out in a story only to find out that there was another side to them. That is the beauty of having Jesus as the main Character of our story! It makes for a great Adventure! When I hear the Story of God, when I understand my roots, and believe in His plan for my story, My outlook on the plot changes. There is hope! Life becomes an adventure and the thought of exploring the storybook of my life now becomes one of interest. It as if I have just landed the supporting role in a good Action/Adventure movie and the movies director has just yelled… Action! Simplifying the Plot of Your Story Now that we understand Jesus’ part and role in our story, we can warm up to the idea that in order to really live and tell a good story, it all boils down to Jesus being lived out in and through our story! Hebrews 1:9 says, Jesus was anointed with the oil of gladness “more than any of His fellows.” That is, He had a gladness about Him that was unparalleled in any other person. Truly, whoever looks at the Lord cannot help but be impressed with Him. One would think however, that the secret to such attractiveness, effectiveness, and joy would be very complex. One would think that Jesus must have understood esoteric mysteries and implemented difficult methodology. But such is not the case, for throughout the scriptures, we see the simplicity of the secret Jesus understood that produced in Him the life that was so successful and so beautiful. What was this secret? The very foundational principle that governed His entire life was His relationship with His Father. If I were to question you about the defining principle of your life, you might say, “It’s my ministry,” or “It’s my family,” or, “It’s this vision,” or, “It’s this attempt to see the kingdom grow.” You might on the other hand, define your story as one that is full of tragedy, fear, rejection, failure, and disappointment. Regardless of your personal triumph or despair and as valid as those things might be, they are insignificant in comparison to your relationship with the Father. That’s all there is—no other agenda, no other failure, no other ministry, no other disappointment, no other vision, no other attempts to right all of the wrongs, and no other priority. By comparison to what had at one time been my own personal tendencies, Jesus was so focused on His relationship with His Father that nothing else mattered. As a result, everything else fell into place beautifully. His life was fruitful. His relationships were special. His ministry was bountiful, and His Story is amazing! A simple walk of faith in Him is the only thing that will get your story moving in the right direction! It is my hope to share His story, how it has impacted my story, and how every story, every path you are on, has been ransomed through Christ! The chapters that follow in "A Rogue Story" are all about characters in the bible, characters in my story, a rogue sense of adventure, and how we can go about living out the story of Jesus in in our own lives. 
It’s a beautiful day to have problems! WHY? YOU ASK. Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. This verse is not only applicable prophetically but also presently, for in this world, Jesus said we would have tribulations. Our Christian life is a race to be run (Hebrews 12:1). And that race, dear people, is not a one hundred-meter sprint. It’s a marathon according to - Matthew 24:13. The Greek word translated “saved” in this verse is sozo, a word that refers to the full orb of God’s blessing. In other words, according to Matthew 24:13, those who endure the marathon will experience the blessing of God upon themselves, their families, their ministries, their finances, and their vocations. They will experience the full orb of God’s blessing in every area of their lives while they are experiencing big perpetual problems! The salvation, blessings, stretching and growth that comes from a problematic life is indicative of those who experience the adventurous path of Jesus and they see the beauty in it! You have been designed to endure! In the fifth chapter of his book, James picks up on the theme of enduring to the end… James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful [compassionate], and of tender mercy. This passage brings a question to our minds: “Lord, if You truly are merciful and compassionate, then why do You allow troubles to come against us and problems to plague us? Why don’t You do something, Lord?” James says, “Remember Job. Remember the heroes of the Old Testament. Don’t lose sight of their example.” There was one prophet who felt exceedingly weary. His name was Jeremiah. Jeremiah’s problems were mounting on all sides, and he was about to throw in the towel as far as ministry was concerned. “Jeremiah,” the Lord said to him, “you have run against the footmen and if you faint in running against the footmen, how will you run against the horses? You’ve been engaged in some battles. But if you’re fainting now, what will you do when the horses come, when the big problems hit you?” (see Jeremiah 12:5). The Lord went on to tell him that the Babylonians were coming to carry the Jews out of their homeland. It’s as if God said, “You think it’s tough now, Jeremiah, but I see what’s coming, and I am preparing you by allowing you to go through these difficulties and trials. I’m allowing you to go through hard times to prepare you for what I know lies ahead.” Now… If God used hard times to prepare Jeremiah for the Babylonians, why didn’t He save Himself and Jeremiah a lot of trouble and just destroy the Babylonians in the first place? For the same reason He doesn’t destroy the problems in our lives: because this world has rejected His rule. Ever since the Garden of Eden, mankind has thumbed his nose at God and demanded liberation, saying, “We’re gonna do what we want.” In fact… It is because all of humanity throughout all of history has rebelled against God that we have disease and death, pollution and war, troubles and problems. Not only in the world generally, but in our own worlds personally, whenever you and I rebel against the way of God, we reap devastation, destruction, and sadness. The Father does not promise to keep us from problems, but to be with us in them. Since He sees what is coming years down the road, He says, “I see what’s ahead and I’m going to work with you right now to get you ready. I’m going to have you race against the footmen so that when the horses come stampeding through, you’ll be able to endure.” Do you feel like you are perpetually getting your legs kicked out from underneath you? The beauty of getting kicked when you’re down! I think of a Mama giraffe. When she gives birth, she does so from a standing position. This means when Baby giraffe is born, he immediately falls on his head ten feet to the ground. Mama then does something that absolutely intrigues me. After quickly stretching her neck down to check Baby’s condition, she stands upright once again, swings her front leg, and kicks him. Baby then tries to stand up, wobbles, and falls to the ground in exhaustion. No sooner does Baby collapse than Mama winds up her leg and kicks him once more. This happens, three, four, or five times until Baby finally musters up enough strength—the adrenaline flowing and terror filling his heart—to stand up. Once Baby gets up on all fours, Mama again swings her leg and kicks his legs out from under him. And the process is repeated two, three, or four more times. The result? Within the first hour of his life, Baby learns how to get up quickly and to move away from Mama readily. Why does Mama giraffe do this? She’s not trying to be mean, but she instinctively understands that leopards, lions, hyenas, and jackals were watching the birth of her baby. Because giraffes are defenseless if they cannot move together in a pack, Baby must learn quickly how to stand up and get moving—even if it means getting mad at Mama and not understanding what she’s doing. Maybe you can relate. “What are you doing, God?” you might be asking. “I just barely get up and BAM! I’m down again. I just get going and BOOM! I’m flat on my face once more. What’s happening?” The Lord is teaching you something. He loves you and me enough that even though we misunderstand Him, shake our fist at Him, or turn our back on Him, He says, “I know this is needed in your life in order that you might stand and be established, in order that you might be able to run with the horses, in order that you might endure.” The secret to enduring problems is the right company! God is with us. Hebrews 11:24–26 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. Having grown up in Pharaoh’s court, Moses was in line to ascend the very throne of Pharaoh. Yet he chose instead to take on the reproach of Christ, for it was a greater treasure than the best Egypt had to offer. I like that! Sure, we go through suffering and reproach, tribulations and difficulties. But even they are better than the best the world has to offer us, with its heartache, disappointment, and disillusionment. At forty years of age, Moses said, “I would rather be with God’s people and suffer than remain in this place where the pleasures of sin are for but a season.” And he split the scene. Then he began to lead the people out of Egypt. For forty years, he led them through the wilderness. It wasn’t easy. It was hot and dry. You think you’re going through dry times? Think of Moses! You think people don’t like you? Scripture says three million Jews rose up as a single man with rocks in hand, ready to stone him (Exodus 17:4). How did Moses make it? How did he endure the rejection, dry times, and constant troubles from within and without? Look at verse 27: “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.” In other words, Moses saw God’s hand in every situation. Ya see folks, you have a choice to make right now in whatever you’re going through. You can either shrivel up and fade away like the shallow seed in Mark 4, or you can endure, seeing that God is not only with you, but God’s hand is in everything and everything is in His hand. He is the God who has been intervening on our behalf from the very beginning. Look at God’s hand, and what will you see? A nail print. The invisible God became a visible Man in Christ Jesus. And as I see His nail-scarred hand, I have no choice but to say, “If You loved me enough to be pinned to the Cross for me and to plunge into hell for me, I will trust You, even though I may not understand what’s happening presently.” What is faith? According to Hebrews 11, it is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. There is no such thing as “blind faith.” On the contrary, faith sees more than unbelief ever will because it sees into an entirely different dimension. “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (see Hebrews 11:3). The Hebrew word for create is bara, which means “to make something out of that which does not exist previously.” In other words, God made everything from nothing. It wasn’t that He refashioned material that already existed, but rather that He started “from scratch” when He spoke the worlds into existence. So, too, the world in which you live personally—your children, your job, your ministry, your marriage, and your finances—is presently being framed. You are framing your world, even as God framed this world by speaking the Word. Think of a carpenter framing a house. The house is formed by how it’s framed. Maybe you have framed your world with unbelief and griping, complaining and doubting, saying, “Why me? How come? Where’s God?” Maybe you don’t like the Path you are on because things have obstructed your way, the road has been up hill all of the way, you’ve wandered off course or have felt lost and alone altogether. It seems to be a miserable place to live. Don’t blame God. You built it. You framed it with complaints, cynicism and faltering faith. We have another option. We can say, “By faith I will light my path and my world with the Word of God. I will study the Scriptures. I will claim the promises and speak them in faith.” Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Today, right now, you and I can get on the path of trusting God, seeing Him who is invisible, and believing His promises—or I can murmur to my wife when I get home. God judged the nation of Israel because they murmured in their tents. In (Deuteronomy 1:27). Husbands and wives got together, spoke words of complaint and unbelief to each other, and a great plague struck the land. This reminder is for us to speak the promises of God to each other. Go on record. Build a world and walk a path that is in accordance with the Word of God as revealed in Scripture. Speak words of faith, and you’ll endure, Note also, as you speak these words to others so will they. I am finding this to be so very true and impacting in those individuals who I really care for and love deeply. As I share the Truth and promises of the Lord with them they just continue to be strengthened and I just get more head over heels excited about them. Winston Churchill, 248 pounds of solid inspiration, saw England through Germany’s blitzkrieg. As the Third Reich dropped thousands of bombs on London, Hitler felt, as did other international observers, that England would fall easily. But this bulldog of a man, Winston Churchill, went on the air time and time again, calling his nation to hang on and to believe. And England didn’t go down. Years later, one of his alma maters, an exclusive prep school, asked him to speak at graduation. When he accepted the invitation, the headmaster of the school was elated. For weeks he told the student body, “Soon Winston Churchill is coming. The most powerful orator in history is going to speak here. When he comes, bring your pencils and paper and take note of every word he says.” Finally the day came. The graduation service began. The students, sitting behind the speakers’ podium, had pencils and paper poised. The parents and guests settled in for a long, inspirational speech. After many flowery introductions, Churchill finally arose from his chair, took the podium, and turned around to address the young men behind him. “Gentlemen,” he said, “Never give up. Never give up. Never, never, never, never, give up.” Then he sat down. The students were stunned. The audience was amazed. And none of them ever, ever, ever forgot it. That’s what Jesus says to us. Never give up. He that endures to the end shall be saved. So when the Father seems to be kicking your wobbly legs out from under you or when you seem to be running hard against the footmen, know this: It’s all working for your ultimate salvation. Endure, folks, by seeing the invisible. Endure by framing your world with faith. And never give up. You can run with the horses If you recognize the beauty of a problematic path then you have discovered that this is what an adventure on the path of Jesus looks like! The Map of Sonship It started in the garden when the Father said Let us Make them in our image. • We receive our treasure at the beginning of the journey. • Jesus gives us the provisions for the journey. • We get to travel light. • And the map always leads to Jesus. He is the beginning and the end.  Jesus The Geocache • Beginning & EndTo walk in Christ and the Sonship that He has provided is to know the Way, to navigate in the Way, and with the Way, because Jesus is the Way. But Jesus also blew big holes in the religious perspectives that hindered a proper view of His restorative work so that we could enjoy the life of His Sonship. If you are unwilling to look through those holes you’ll never see the beauty of His work. Have you ever asked yourself the question, “What is Christianity supposed to do to a person? How should it effect me? In the story of John 7, Jesus has just healed a man on the Sabbath; those who were in religious leadership wanted to kill him for it and Jesus then publicly rebukes them for it: Now, any time Jesus publicly goes to the point of public rebuke it is important to take note so that christianity does not suffer the abuse of religion and mis out on the opportunity of restoration. John 7:15-24 KJV 15 And the Jews marveled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? 16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. 18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. 19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me? 20 The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee? 21 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. 22 Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. 23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? 24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. In a nutshell Jesus says “You circumcise a child on the Sabbath.” “So, Why is it that if a child can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses won’t be broken, why are you angry with me for restoring this person and making him whole on the Sabbath? Stop making assessments that are not in tune with what God is doing. Stop making false judgments to change the narrative, based on mere appearances, rather make right judgments that will provide restoration instead of religion. I think Jesus was intentional and did this all on purpose; He purposefully waited until the Sabbath to restore this man, because he was trying to pierce the heart of the issue: What does God want from us? What does God want for us? His answer is clear: the healing and restoration of the whole man so that we could walk in His Sonship. God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. (Romans 8:29 King James Version 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.) Notice that it requires restoration. “The Son of God, Jesus stood first in the line of humanity taking on Himself the sin of all mankind and then was received again to the right hand of the Father being fully restored. Here God provides Himself for the healing of the whole man so that we who love Him can be made wholly restored. That’s the purpose of Christianity. “Salvation” means much more than “heaven when you die.” It also includes your restoration as a human being and as a man or woman because we are in Christ. What you believe about the restorative work of Christ will shape your approach to everything else in your story. It will drastically effect how you interpret His work in the narrative He has written for you, and it will determine how you navigate the Word of God what we are calling the Map of Sonship. It will determine if you partner with him in your story, It will change you from victim to victor, and will free you from all of the religious hacking in your story. How do we cooperate with God in our restoration? What are the things we need to do in order to seek it, to receive it more deeply? It is as simple as accepting the treasure at the beginning of your journey, receiving His adoption of you as a son, letting Him make you whole and receiving total restoration. I can assure you that the results are beautiful. Look for His restoration and receive it for yourself today. Because if you have been trying to add anything else to it then Christianity just becomes… religion. Ephesians 1:15-18. 15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, The Map to Sonship It started in the garden when the Father said Let us Make them in our image. We receive our treasure at the beginning of the journey. Jesus gives us the provisions for the journey We get to travel light. And the map always leads to Jesus. He is the beginning and the end.  About the Author
God Justifies the Ungodly! Romans 3:20-4:5 God justifies the ungodly who trust in him. God acquits the guilty! While I have frequently stumbled in life, God has been gracious! The ‘Map of Sonship is crucial to the success of folks who desire to walk closely with the Lord and are wanting to enjoy the freedom to be who God created them to be. This is for those who struggle with the navigation of Christianity, defeat, depression, isolation, their own sins, hearing from the Lord, and moving past the mistakes of their past. It is a small part of my personal walk with the Lord in as Jesus has invited me to walk with Him in full on Sonship! |
John FairringtonJohn is Pastor at The Redeemed Adventure Project and Author of various Adventure Journals, Fireside Challenges, and Blogs excerpts from books he written over the last 12 years. Archives
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