I like this word ("provoked").  It can have a lot of shades and inflections.  For me, it implies that I am being pressed to respond to something.  I still get to choose if, when, and how to respond but it is the invitation to respond.

I have been provoked quite a bit lately.  It isn't a bad thing.  In fact, I am rather enjoying most of the "provokings".  It is one in particular that I want to journal and share.  I believe this to be the first of a series of entries.  That remains to be seen.  I welcome your interaction and probably need it.

Question:  Why is it so difficult to live "error free" or a holy life?  Why do I (we) seem to live in a "yo-yo" state of behaving consistently with our beliefs or probably better consistently with God's Word?

This is a foundational question for me.  I want to leave it for a moment to ask another question (also foundational)...

Question:  What does the Bible really say?  As if hearing it for the first time, from God himself, before all the "intepretations of men".  If in understanding the Bible, as if from God, I find myself in contradiction with what I have previously learned (and/or been taught), what do I do with than?  How do I test it?  Validate it?  Am I willing to act on it?

So, with this foundation,  we begin...

I have been a fan of Joseph Girzone's writing.  I encourage you to read his "Joshua" series.  They are fictional and Joshua is a character, who is Mr. Girzone's understanding of who Jesus is, being acted out in more contemporary settings and what I assume to be Mr. Girzone's (and sometimes my) "dilemas" of faith.   I think I have read the entire series.  Good and insightful reads.  Not authoritative in the same sense as scripture, just insightful.

Mr. Girzone wrote an autobiographical book entitled, "My Struggle With Faith".  In it he chronicles his losing and path to finding faith as he went into, through, and out of seminary as a Catholic priest.  I say this to give you Mr. Girzone's slant on things theological.

In Mr. Girzone's writing, he speaks about the Apostle, Peter.  In particular two passages.  The first is in Matthew 16 where Peter declares Jesus to be the Messiah and Jesus assigns Peter as the foundation for the church, the keeper of the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, with authority to forbid and allow on Earth and in Heaven.  The second, is Peter's encounter with Jesus (post resurrection), recorded in John 21.  Jesus asks Peter three times if he loves him and each time, after Peter's responses, calls Peter to feed or tend His (Jesus') sheep.

Mr. Girzone goes on to explain about his questioning (or at least my interpretaion that he questioned) the role of the Papacy, Priesthood, confession, repentance, and penance.  He explains how and where he found his answers.

From the 2 passages above, Mr. Girzone went to some early church writings (not in the Bible).  The one that proved provocative to me was by a gentleman named Irenaeus.  Seems he was purported to be a student of Polycarp who was a student under the Apostle John... the same Apostle who penned the account referenced above.  In Irenaeus's writing, Mr. Girzone found the establishment of the role of Bishop (see 1 Timothy 3:1-7 - same word) and consequently establishment, in Mr. Girzone's mind of the preisthood (as the Catholic church practices it).  He (Mr. Girzone) also finds in Peter (the passages above) the establishment for the Papacy.

This is where I became provoked.

More questions...
- What influence do we give/should we give to extra-Biblical sources in our understanding of ourselves, our relationship with God, as disciples of Jesus, and as the church?

- If Extra-Biblical sources have influence, to which should we assign influence?  Should those closest to Jesus have the most influence?

- Is there an inheritable aspect to the functioning of the church... a tradition?  Does that apply to our discipleship?

- If the Apostle John passed on to Polycarp an understanding and Polycarp passed on to Irenaeus an understanding....what influence should that have for me (us)?

- If the Apostle John conferred authority (as an Apostle) to Polycarp who in turn conferred that authority to Irenaeus, who in turn conferred... etc,etc...  What impact does that have on me (us) in terms of authority within the church today?

- What is Peter's unique role/place in the church?  What is the role of Bishop?  Who can appoint Bishops?  Who can be a Bishop?


I am looking forward to this journey and to sharing it.  Consider yourself provoked.   

What if...  Our government really doesn't want to fix the economy but wants to weaken it to the point we have to (or feel we have to) turn to them and just sign over our pay checks to them?  What will change and how does it affect us? 

What if... the rapture doesn't happen before the tribulation? Am I ready to face persecution of Biblical proportions?  Am I spiritually "out of shape" for a fight?  To whose advantage is it to promote a rapture before the tribulation?  Which way makes us better disciples today?

What if... we didn't sign our kids up for every program, activity they want to participate in but made them pick one a season?  How would they be diminished?  How would our functioning as a family be changed?

What if.... I was content materially?  What if I had all I wanted or better yet what if all I have is what I want and am willing to be content with?  Would it change what I do and how I do it?  How would my life be different?

What if... I believed that not everyone I interact with cares as much about me as they care about themselves?  Would I interpret their actions as personal toward me?  Would I realize they really aren't reacting to me as much as how things affect them?

What if... I really believed God was God and that He loved me?
What if... I believed He created everything and that everything was subject to Him?
What if... I believed life was eternal and my time here on earth was temporary?

What if.... I was held accountable for the answers my life gives to the questions above versus my giving the "right answers"?

What if...

We (Journey Church) just concluded a study of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12).  It ends with "blessed are you when you are persecuted...".  As I was studying for our House Church meeting this week, I read Hebrews 10-12 and was convicted and challenged.  I was reading to answer the question "How do we endure persecution?".  Here is what I learned (Hebrews 10:32-12:29)...

1.  Stand your ground.  Like you did when you were first convinced Jesus was Lord!
2.  Be confident.  Let your confidence be found in Christ.
3.  Do God's will.
4.  Live by faith.
5.  Believe!
6.  Throw off everything that hinders and all sin.
7.  Run with perseverance the race that is before you.  Not someone elses race.  Not wishing for a different race to run.  Your race.  The one God created you to run.
8.  Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
9.  Remind yourself of what He (Jesus) endured and how He persevered.
10. Endure hardship.  Treat it as discipline from God.
11. Be thankful.
12. Worship God.

In case I get to feeling sorry for myself, God gave me a list of people to refer to (Hebrews 11):  Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jospeh, Moses' parents, Moses, the Hebrew people, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets. 

So when I complain and feel sorry for myself because I am over weight as a result of my overeating and now have to diet and exercise, I can compare that to being sawn in two, beaten, starved, chased, killed, tortured.  What the heck do I have to complain about?  What priviledge, what excess God has lavished on me.  How can I complain about a little discomfort when I talk about my faith (and I use that term loosely in light of the company God has asked me to keep)?

I have more than I need.  More than I can consume.  What is preventing me from being the disciple of Jesus Christ I am called to be.  Shame on me!  Shame on my immaturity!  Shame on my lack of discipline!  Shame on my puny faith!  To paraphrase Hebrews 12:12 (with Job 38:2-3 in my rearview mirror)... Stand up like a man!  Act like a disciple of Jesus Christ!  You are the son of the King.  A member of the Kingdom of Heaven.   God is God.  He loves me.  Act like it!

So, bring it on.  Whatever it is, bring it on.  Let all Hell loose.  It doesn't matter.  GOD IS GOD!  I am his adopted son.  God is for me.  What can separate me from His love? (Romans 8:31-39)  NOTHING!  Now get out there and live the Kingdom!

I have to thank my friend John Snook for this post.  He opened my eyes to a passage I had read a number of times in Proverbs.  But first...

How do you steer a stationary object?

When I was a kid, I used to sit in the car and turn the steering wheel.  I pretended I was going somewhere.  I'd turn to the wheel to the left and make a screeching noise.  I'd turn it to the right and pretend I was sliding.  All of course in my mind because the car was sitting in the garage and going no where.

Take a moment to read Proverbs 3:6.  "In all your ways acknowledge God and He will direct your path."

In order for God to "steer" or direct you, you must be on your way somewhere.  It is as we are on our way that we can choose to acknowledge God's control, God's plans, God's priorities, God's agenda in the where and the why of our going.  When we do that, God promises to direct us.

In James 2 (verses 14-26), faith and action are linked together.  It is in the doing that we prove (to ourselves and those watching) what we have faith in.

Do you love Jesus?  John tells us obedience is the evidence.
Do you believe you can't out give God?  Your giving to the church and others will be the evidence.
Do you believe God's Word is the road map for your life?  Your frequent reference to it will be the evidence.
Do you believe prayer changes things?  Your turning to it as a first resort with be the evidence.
Is Jesus Lord of your life?  Our acting out his command to love one another will be proof.

Do you want to know God's will for your life?  Start doing something He would approve of.  Try something you think God would ask you to do.  Act out what you find in His Word.  It is in our "way", our going, our doing, our course of living life that God is able to move and use us as well as our being visible to those around us.   Praying for God's direction and will without getting out and going is like steering a car in the garage.  You can pretend, but you are going no where.

On Sunday, February 21st, I was introduced to Journey Church as the latest member of the Pastoral staff.  I am honored and excited to serve in this capacity.  I have no qualifications (externally) for this position but take hope in three things...

1.  God can speak through Rocks and Donkeys, He can probably use me.
In Numbers 22 (v.21-33 - v28), God opens the mouth of a donkey to communicate with a hard headed man.  In Luke 19, Jesus tells the religious leaders that the stone would cry out if people were told to hold their tongue.  If God can use donkeys and rocks, I may be usable as well.

2.  He is the Shepherd.  I just have be smart enough to be an obedient "sheep dog".  He says "go", I go.

Pray I am as good and as usable as rocks, donkeys, and sheep dogs in God's hands and thanks to Denny and Journey for the opportunity to be used.