10/30/10
Just this last month I have had the opportunity to listen to a 2009 DVD which featured Paul Young the author of the book THE SHACK. The DVD had been loaned to us about a year ago asking us to listen to it and then send it on to other friends. Yesterday I received permission to start the DVD on its long delayed journey back home. I need to pass the DVD to others and to extract vital quotations for my own life.
Wilma and I had read the book at least a year ago and essentially set it aside. Lots of questions about the book at first, all the different images etc. and then we forgot about the book and hurried along into our routines. Our fiends came into town a month ago and while having dinner asked if we could return the DVD. First, I had to find it!
The ironic part of all of this is that October 2009 it is exactly 60 years since I began my "journey" with Jesus Christ. Now, 61 years later I hear the story of why THE SHACK was written. One of Paul Young's comments was, " the shack is a metaphor for the heart....".
This morning as I was pondering some Paul's comments it occurred to me that I too have my "shack" - different than Paul's shack, for sure, but it is still a shack, my shack! What saved my life was an obscure verse that I had not even memorized -- "even though our hearts condemn us, Jesus is greater than our hearts." That morning, many many years ago now, I was able to step back from my "cliff", a hole in the ice of a very deep lake. On the drive home from that retreat, broken and all alone, Jesus spoke to my heart and told me that I had needed to see my "shack" but that he still had a ministry for me.
Sixty one years later, I understand now, even more, how deeply Jesus loves me, how much comfort there is in that love, and how much freedom comes from opening the door to the shacks that we create.
When I get the DVD back I'll try to filter out some of the quotations that were used to give me a glimpse of this wonderful journey in Jesus Christ, including the many bumps in the road!
Bill
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Friday, October 29, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
continuation of previous blog
10/27/10
While driving home from the group this morning I placed a call to the person who invited Tom to call me, "Pete" will be his name.
We had a short conversation about Tom and his response to our hour long telephone talk last week --- apparently really good -- I then asked Pete how things were going with him, with his job, with his marriage etc. There was a little discussion of his personal issues, then I asked if he is still praying "Jesus what you are dreaming about for my marriage would you make that become my reality?" His response was, "I'm trying to!"
In Jeremiah 29:11.12 the Bible states, "I know the thoughts I think towards you says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.Then you will come to Me and I will listen to you....." Pete, Jesus is thinking about you and dreaming about you and your marriage and your life ----- ask Jesus to make his thoughts and dreams to become your reality - "on earth even as it is in heaven." I this not what is meant when we say in the Lord's prayer - thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven? How often have we said that prayer and never really asked that Jesus make his thinking and dreaming to become our reality - even now?
Pete and I will get back together next week, via telephone --- I really look forward to the next conversation.
Bill
While driving home from the group this morning I placed a call to the person who invited Tom to call me, "Pete" will be his name.
We had a short conversation about Tom and his response to our hour long telephone talk last week --- apparently really good -- I then asked Pete how things were going with him, with his job, with his marriage etc. There was a little discussion of his personal issues, then I asked if he is still praying "Jesus what you are dreaming about for my marriage would you make that become my reality?" His response was, "I'm trying to!"
In Jeremiah 29:11.12 the Bible states, "I know the thoughts I think towards you says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.Then you will come to Me and I will listen to you....." Pete, Jesus is thinking about you and dreaming about you and your marriage and your life ----- ask Jesus to make his thoughts and dreams to become your reality - "on earth even as it is in heaven." I this not what is meant when we say in the Lord's prayer - thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven? How often have we said that prayer and never really asked that Jesus make his thinking and dreaming to become our reality - even now?
Pete and I will get back together next week, via telephone --- I really look forward to the next conversation.
Bill
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
latest telephone calls
In the past two weeks I've received telephone calls that have required an explanation of the "released friend" concept. I think a short review of the call will be helpful..
The first call was to introduce the person who would make the second call. Both calls were from young men who have small families, attend the same church and have a budding relationship in a small group and live in a university community - not in Michigan. I'll give the name Tom to the second caller.
Tom has recently moved to that university to serve in a ministry to a segment of the student population. He has moved with his wife and 3 small boys from a major city. One requirement for the move was that he would have to raise his own support. With a little more that 60% of the financial needs for the ministry and the family Tom was seeking some advice.
In the hour long conversation I shared how the "released friend" concept came to me. Tom's response was "How can I become a released friend?" We then did a quick study of Paul and Barnabas out of Acts where the church in Antioch sent them on their first missionary journey. I asked Tom, "Who beside you and your wife wants you to be in ministry?" His response was so typical, "I don't know!" When Wilma and I left Washington D.C. to move to the Midwest we were given our monthly salary for 6 months with a stipulation that that amount would be reduced on a monthly basis so that we would be on our own after 11 months. If our efforts in ministry did not provide for us then I was committed to get a job and serve in the mission on a volunteer bases. Wilma and I have now served over 40 years on that commitment. We have been "released friends" because the people have wanted us to be free to "serve God and people". Maybe this year I will have to get a job!
To be continued!
Bill
The first call was to introduce the person who would make the second call. Both calls were from young men who have small families, attend the same church and have a budding relationship in a small group and live in a university community - not in Michigan. I'll give the name Tom to the second caller.
Tom has recently moved to that university to serve in a ministry to a segment of the student population. He has moved with his wife and 3 small boys from a major city. One requirement for the move was that he would have to raise his own support. With a little more that 60% of the financial needs for the ministry and the family Tom was seeking some advice.
In the hour long conversation I shared how the "released friend" concept came to me. Tom's response was "How can I become a released friend?" We then did a quick study of Paul and Barnabas out of Acts where the church in Antioch sent them on their first missionary journey. I asked Tom, "Who beside you and your wife wants you to be in ministry?" His response was so typical, "I don't know!" When Wilma and I left Washington D.C. to move to the Midwest we were given our monthly salary for 6 months with a stipulation that that amount would be reduced on a monthly basis so that we would be on our own after 11 months. If our efforts in ministry did not provide for us then I was committed to get a job and serve in the mission on a volunteer bases. Wilma and I have now served over 40 years on that commitment. We have been "released friends" because the people have wanted us to be free to "serve God and people". Maybe this year I will have to get a job!
To be continued!
Bill
Saturday, October 16, 2010
This is new for me
This blog is a new attempt to communicate - at least for me! In the days ahead I hope to share some thoughts that will be worth reading and will become a trigger for response. The "released friend" concept was given to me several years ago when a man wanted to find out what I do. After sharing how I have worked with men in small groups, he said, "I know exactly what you do. What church do you l think I belong to?" His church is the Quaker Church i.e. The Society of Friends. In their fellowship they have the concept of releasing a person to "Serve God and man". Those people are then given the title of "Released Friend".He then told me, "That is what you are!" Though I am not a part of the Quaker Church, this concept is one of the best ways to describe what I actually do.
Since that conversation I have tried to live out that concept in every part of me life. For over 40 years now I have been "released" to serve people in the name of and through Jesus the Messiah. This blog will become, I hope, a part of serving people. Please join me in this journey!
Bill
Since that conversation I have tried to live out that concept in every part of me life. For over 40 years now I have been "released" to serve people in the name of and through Jesus the Messiah. This blog will become, I hope, a part of serving people. Please join me in this journey!
Bill
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