Prince of Peace

Yesterday I spoke about Isaiah 9.6

It says, that the Messiah would be known as a Prince of Peace. I asked the question, "if that is true, shouldn't we be able to see it?'

This video captures photos from some amazing photographers who have taken photographs in the world's darkest times, and darkest places.

CAN YOU SEE PEACE IN THEM?

A Promised Land

So those that were at DEEPER know that brian heasley was asking for a farm.....THEY GOT IT. Follow the link to hear how.... for those with means (aka $$$) you may want to be a part of making a safe place for prostitutes and addicts in Ibiza. follow the link to see how...

congrat's Brian

meditations

"I am too proud to ask,

too broke to eat

too weak to bow

too strong to bleed."

you hooked yet? me too.

"can you sing over me words of comfort?

can you undo me enough to heal me?"

k. so buy this album. better than that DO THIS! Sit down, put what it really means to love Jesus to words and music. Don't hold back. The worship circle cd's are raw, authentic... I haven't listened to worship cd's since changed by your glory and kevin p.'s save us oh god, because of these i might start listening again..

"you take the weight from my shoulders

my hands were clenched, now they are open,

i'll take your goodness poured from the sky

food from the ravens...water from the dry well."

like any great worship, my soul is bigger deeper, wider because of these songs. more than that the worship circle folks are generous with their copyrights, music, and everything.

advent ideas

So I have been searching for creative things about advent. ADVENT- You know that strange word for the 40 days before Christmas. It means, something....

In Latin, it actually means 'the coming' or 'before the coming'...it is the time we sit in darkness before....the BABY. (A little reminiscent of my life this year).

I actually like it just about as much as lent. I think it is probably the most important thing for us as Christians to remember and celebrate. Darkness, Longing, Hope, Despair, WAITING.....

Proost....a creative uk group has several things to engage churches. Including a snazzy litl' video I want to show at church.

Marshill has their congregation doing a community blog...

My personal favorites are still posts by Jonny Baker. Jonny just finished beer and carols....(man I can't believe I haven't met this guy). Search his links for advent...worship tricks 48-51

Jonny also lists some awesome ideas from Cheryl Lawrie, 'the pregnant pause' an idea that i stole.....with love. Cheryl has some advent services that are very creative and thoughtful.

If it takes all your faith to simply survive advent,join your prayer to those

throughout timeand throughout the worldwho despair at hope’s promise.
Take a baby,hold it in your hand
make your prayer of protestor your prayer for peace.

If you are looking for a video cause that is your thing, the church of england has put together a series of meditations you can watch every day......its called why we are waiting. It is also a great explanation of advent.

My Advent Addition: Last week I bought the youth candles. We had been talking about the word 'saved'. I made the connection between knowing you need something and WAITING. I told them to remember their need as they waited for a savior....in the dark....as they studied. Burn the little, fragile light and LONG FOR, and WAIT FOR IT.

Church Planting Thought #1

Now I have had a hard time distinguishing it is my pride, or my desire for progress that thinks things, especially churches should grow. I really like it when things grow. By growth I mean: numerically, in spiritual health-meaning broken people becoming healed, and in churches that plant churches. That seems healthy.

There are those that believe that what a church is-it is. If it is a church of 40 then that is it. I tend to think that there are reasons for it being a church of 40. Now let me be clear, a small church does not mean an unhealthy church. I am of the opinion the world needs more churches and different churches. BUT, the argument you often hear from small churches is.....well every church doesn't have to be a mega church. I tend to agree. Regardless, my observations would say, a church of 40 is unlikely to survive past 1 generation.

That means once the founding pastor resigns, that church will likely fold for a number of reasons. The leadership of a small church requires a greater burden on the pastor to be bivocational. A small church is not able to support a pastor. Secondly, a small church really gets built around the pastor and transitioning to a new leader is extremely difficult. Now a church closing, I have come to realize, is not the end of the world, but....

If a church wants to be around for successive generations needs to have a size of at least 100. Many say 150 is a 'critical mass'. Small churches if they are concerned about their community, about the people that depend on them, should be planning either grow, or be prepared to transition the community into a place where the long term care of the community can be provided aka. help them go elsewhere.

feel free to comment, this is about refining thoughts.

A little humour

If you have never checked out Dave Hayward, he is worth it both on the web and in life. I love this, it just reminds me that God is interested in presenting me perfect. Asking for His help is asking for my life to change.

All about a bailout?

Yes, more on politics...

Our politicians current move towards a coalition govenment has in part been prompted by the conservative governments..lack of stimulus package for the economy?

Jack Layton (leader of the NDP)would say we need, 'to stimulate the badly ailing auto industry.' There is no doubt that loosing the auto industry would be......DEVASTATING, but there is very little evidence that this is the current problem.







Let's see.... is a bailout a good idea?

Hardly.



It wasn't more than a couple weeks ago that the big three auto makers got turned down for a bailout. They couldn't convince congress. Many economists say, a bailout won't help. .



"I think bankruptcy may be the only viable option," said Michael E. Levine, professor at New York University School of Law, "Basically, what you'd be doing is putting the money in a failed business model..."

Republican Senator Spencer Bachus, "My constituents do not understand why their tax dollars should go to support what they consider less efficient businesses," said Bachus, adding that most of his constituents earn less money than the autoworkers whose jobs would be saved.



Not only could the conservatives, not offer a bailout without a complete North American package (ie. the US being involved). It is unclear that it would be in the long term best interest of the country....regardless of the devestation it would in the short term cause. It is clear, coalition government or not, this is not about an economic stimulus package. It is about something. The thing that amazes me is that in the blaze of media and spin, we overlook the meaning of the banter that goes on.

Look at the heart of the matter.

Everyday Smelly

So I started taking the bus this week because I am now the proud owner of 1 car. Working 20 minutes away (by car) I realize my life is now happily inconvenienced for the sake of the environment, the bottom line on my budget, and the walk that takes place at both ends of my journey. I have also proudly entered my neighbourhood, and community. I am now a participating member of my community, rubbing shoulders with the other happy bus travellers. I love it the people i meet, the things i hear.....BUT...

Wouldn't you know there are those inconviences, the kind of thing that make you second guess your decisions. Something happened that reminded me of why the convience of my own car seems much more like necessity. You see, there was a time when I remember being proud of sharing public computers in the library...I quickly outgrew this when I realized that most of my neighbours were simply playing online games, or looking at porn. So my first commute was in all respects interupted by the person next to me, who to my nose, quite simply smelled.

Having worked with numerous junior highs, I have to tell you smelling badly to them happens when you are an adult. It often shocks them that no it is actually something that happens and they need to try their best to coat themselves with any or all perfumes necessary prior to public meetings. As I overcame the discomfort of burying my nose in my jacket I realized something.....This person probably did not wake up thinking, I know, I am going to get on the bus smelly so that other people know that I am there.

Most people I realize don't know that they smell, they don't mean too. Then there are those who find their feet stink when they take off their shoes and it is awkwardly, and unfortunately too late to do something about it (i regularly fall into this category) . This also happens to me quite uncontrolably after eating chili. Very rarely are there people who just are dirty because there is nothing they can do about it. Smelling badly is a habit. After a while you get used to it, and you don't notice.

I remember a girl telling me that it was entirely possible to give up bathing with soap. The first few days without shampoo, she said were bad, but then your 'natural oils' take over and your hair is no longer greasy. In fact it doesn't smell at all,' she said. :) .......dare ya to try it.

Truth is if we give up bathing the only indication we stink is in people's reactions to us!! Smelling badly has simply become a habit that we are used to.

Now here is the point. This person beside me taught me something very valuable. I asked the question, Have I gotten used to my own smell? Do I realize I stink? Caught a little unaware by this thought, I realized how dependent upon the holy spirit I am to show me the things I cannot see, and smell. Like this woman, I go out in public not realizing my attitude, my spiritual life, the way I treat people....STINKS....and worst of all usually I didn't mean too, it is just a habit I have grown used to.

Deep Wisdom

So Kate and I had a quote competition. The synthesis of all the deep thinking what we have been having.

Rob, "Fear is the long shadow of a small enemy."

Kate, "Any donut shop that doesn't have toasted coconut donuts should not call itself a donut shop."

I as usual lose.....I should write about the time she brought up Veggie Tales in the middle of a theological debate at school and actually ended up with a higher mark than me.


She has a gift.

Preaching- a dying art? or just dying?

Remarkable preaching is something that should be common place. Not something that eventually squeaks out from an all too tight sphincter at Easter and Christmas. I remember a preaching prof saying to me, boring preaching is a sin. I tend to agree.

I went too a preaching seminar yesterday led by Haddon Robinson. Man he is an ooolllldddd goat. Going was like putting a notch on my belt. When my kids ask, 'did you ever see billy graham?' I can say 'yes.' and likewise Haddon was worth seeing just for novelty. The guy has written almost an encyclopedia on preaching.....but BOY can he preach. (Funny thing is...i always end up at a urinal with these guys at big conferences I don't know why, but that is another story.)

Haddon had a room full of pastors (and very few women) riveted to their seats for 1.5 hr. And the amazing thing is you would think that if you had to preach to practitioners you should have something amazing to say....some great and deep insight. Apparently not. What I found was a guy who was simply content, and completely believed all you needed was to tell a well timed joke in the midst of a simple story. Sermons don't have to contain deep mysteries, or be overly wise and in Haddon's case...they don't have to be overly fast. Sermons need to deliver a story.

Preaching has taken a hugely bad rap for being something that will go out with the modern era. In many charismatic services something that is simply a preamble to ministry time, or a hinderance to worship. But whether you need a flashy title, a video, or like Geez magazine put it 10 sermons you won't hear in church to help keep you awake-when a sermon is done well no one complains! I suspect as long as people read the bible (which could be the real problem with crappy preaching) people will want to talk about it and hear it explained. Uncle John would say, 'anyone with half a prayer life can preach'. Preaching is simply an audible prayer life about real people, real issues.

Haddon made the point that if you as a preacher have to tell theological truths in every sermon, drill home the message.....you may be one of those unfortunate people who never heard Jesus preach. Because Jesus only told stories. Many of which he never gave an answer too.

He who has ears let him hear.

24-7 Prayer

So i am spreading good words....here is brian heasley. Can't wait to meet him. He is part of a simple prayer movement called 24-7 and brian is one who is proving even clubbers pray. Maybe your friends do too.

Happy Chaos

So my wife is back working, my kids are kids, there are still renos, I can't sell my cars, I need cash, I'm supposed to be sleeping now so that i can do tomorrow's work, but I''m not, I'm writing, working now-why? Because I have chaos....Too much to do. The ends are everywhere the means....somewhere. There are so many things that are simply uncontrollable, things that can crush, and things that can have no answers and.....I am happy.

I of course know that I am not the only one who has been in this place. Reading Todd's blog I get comfort from the fact that minutes to opening an national political debate there was no audience.....stress! I read in Ken's blog that the the local church now has global pastors and I ponder the death of the local church. Hmmmmm. It makes me happy. why?

Because i have just been asked to follow. That is it. Even in my failures I know that God salvages things. I am constantly believing that out of ashes God can raise things to life.

So in the chaos, the stress, the total insanity.....Can you still hear His words......

Put it on God's Tab

So, don't you think living beyond your means is irresponsible? At what point to finances dictate the will of God? I am so far from a prosperity gospel having lived for so many years 'doing' ministry. Reality is you need money to survive and you need to feed your family. Or do you?

I have been contemplating this as i have been trying to sell either or both of my vehicles. Crazy thing is I have been spiritualizing my prayers to God saying....'well you know I need to so help me!' You would think that I having lived now for many years exceeding my income for the sake of ministry would teach me. Every year being a miraculous endevour. A few years ago we literally had cheques dropped by our door every day for 2 weeks. Should I at this point doubt that God can provide?.......k i'm slow.

I recently filled out a survey for one of 'those' financial advisors. One of the questions was, 'how long can you feel comfortable with a negative income? one day, one week, one month......' I realized suddenly that I had an entirely different perspective on the subject than most people. In fact I was happy when i realized that I might actually be one of those crazy's who would sell everything.

BUT HERE IS THE THING:

If there is no money.......shouldn't i get the hint?

If we have exhausted all our options, maybe God is interested in a life change!!

So often we spiritualize when times are good about 'what would you do for god.' Happy to go home to our big screen TV's and our....microwave ovens (give me a break it just came to me). WE also FEEL like we throw out our faith when times are lean- because we gotta get a job, gotta feed our family. I think feeding our families might be spiritual.

Trouble is where do how can we tell when we are being spiritual and when we are just concerned about our cash?

cheers

OVV

Sunday we are off to Ottawa Valley Vineyard. Should be great. It is a reunion in so many ways. It is great to preach in your hometown, it is great to share with family, it is also cool because churches gather people. People who love Jesus. Join the reunion.

http://www.ovv.ca/

I have ONE life to live....

Okay now here is a great organization. Adventure Junkies beware, all your playing around on a skateboard, fishing, cycling, kayaking could actually give purpose to your life. Here is an organization that takes adventure travel and uses your brawn, and adrenaline to raise money for charity.

http://www.ventureexpeditions.org/

I love that they have an online community that helps people join in, and share their story. This is the very heart of pilgrimage. Becoming Human! Creating avenues for anyone to join in the mystery of life through journeys.

One blogger quotes Jimmy Carter saying.....

"have one life and one chance to make it count for something . . . I'm free to choose what that something is, and the something I've chosen is my faith. Now, my faith goes beyond theology and religion and requires considerable work and effort. My faith demands -- this is not optional -- my faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.- Jimmy Carter

So, what are you planning....how do you want to impact the world.....JOIN IN! Last summer one of my favorite authors Donald Miller took the challenge to raise money for drinking water. He biked across the US to do it. read about it here...

Ventures motto is "Benefit the world....Discover your soul."

So....if you had one life to live, seemingly no extraordinary gifts to offer world poverty, just a bike, and a love of riding.....what would you do? How could you change the world.....


Awesome

Value Added

well I am back. and catching up with stuff....like blogging.

I have noticed something about blogs. The great ones have information you just can't track down. They are the genius behind the genius. A catalogue of thoughts and ideas. Some pimp their own products, books, thoughts....and why not!

Have you heard about the conference of the century? DEEPERYC.COM check it out! Oct. 10,11

But I am loving the blogs that also add something more. FREEBIES! BLING! and the great thing of VALUE ADDED!

Keep a look out for some awesome freebies....once i figure out how to add them.

School

Well it is now officially fall. Leaves have been turning colour, but as we all know the first sign of fall is children with backpacks. This year my own child has her backpack on. This is tragic! I can't believe my baby is going to school.

It has me thinking about influence. How am I to be an influence to her at school? How do I help her navigate the new things she is going to experience, the first bullies that she meets? Well I can't directly. I have now given up some of the parenting to others. A position I am not entirely happy with. I think some aspects of growing up are equally difficult for the parents as they are for the children.

So I am left, watching the packpack disappear into the school hoping,

and praying.

Bella

So last week I was having lunch in our storehouse. We feed about 100+ there are week. I was talking at one of the tables and a guy comes up and says, "Did you say abortion? I hate abortion!" I was actually talking about something very different. So I said, 'no I didn't.' He walked on.

It was strange and sometimes it occurs to me that this might be a God moment. A possibility if you think life might not be random. So, after lunch i walked up to the guy and i said, 'hey why do you hate abortion?'

He says to me, 'It's not right, I don't think mom's should be able to kill babies. You know they are babies!' Not a popular position especially amongst some of our street workers I am quite sure.

It occured to me that he like myself might have a problem with abortion because we have a deep, unconscious understanding that we were made to live and give life, to protect and nurture it. I was reminded of Bella perhaps the most redemptive movie I have ever seen. It helped me see my need to be a dad. You see it is about what happens when there aren't dads in the picture. The desperate aloneness that women have to face.

I said to the guy, 'I think God might have given you the gift to be a great dad and that is why you hate abortion.'

I wish there were more dads. Perhaps if there were more great dads there wouldn't be a need for abortions.

Stunned he simply said, 'thanks.'

my inspiration

This is my wife Kate, and her future CD cover. She is a writer, and a musician, and a great mom. She is through her second draft of her first novel-but she doesn't want me to talk about it. I love her.

DEEPER COMMETH

Well, I suppose it is great to know what life will bring. No need to have time travel, or a diviner for the future. All you really need is a daytimer and a seemingly endless supply of things to put in it.

I am very excited though about my future. We have successfully stolen Deeper. A conference from the East Coast Vineyards. It was so great we travelled 19 hrs to get there. Now....its here in Ontario.

October 10-12, youth and young adults from the four corners of the world, maybe just cambridge will come to worship and participate in this first time event.

look for it....watch for it.....pray for it.....cause i am already crappin my pants.


I'm stoked.

Ted.com

While I am at it, I might as well pass along another great link my friend told me about last week. Most of you will already know about it, since I am usually the most technologically backward.

It is a sight called TED.COM

this site brings interviews, short films and the worlds greatest minds together to share ideas. My buddy uses it as a launch pad for creative devotional discussions with his teenagers. Maybe it will work for you too.

cheers

Adding a new blog jonny baker

This guy is worth the link. I have been checking out his blog, and as every blog should it has not just an interesting person, but lots of freebies. Yes, I see the shortfall in my own blog- mental note add freebies.

JonnyBaker (UK) speaks a lot about emergent church....a lot. He must be obsessive, but fortunately he really thinks too. (I can't wait to meet him). Anyways, his freebies are great like series of worship 'tricks'. Here is his idea number 10.

worship tricks [first series]
no 10: pentecost flame throwing

pentecost madness. mark pierson from nz is always coming up with wonderfully creative ideas. he seems to have a particular penchant for crazy pentecost services that involve as much fire as possible! this is his latest (don't run it past the health and safety people first though or it will never happen)..... "Pentecost is my favourite festival. So many great images. We took the Spirit of God as Fire this year. 2 services with the themes The fire of God's Spirit enables... and reveals.... I set up the space with a campfire of tvs 2 high running fire vid loops, lots of red flood lights, mirror ball etc so the place was awash with red. After our usual (a tradition now) popping of the popcorn all over the floor while I talked about the potential God sees in each of us and how the Spirit enables that potential to be realised in a relationship with Christ, I moved to the centre piece. I had a large steel bowl (wok ) on top of a metre high black plinth, with candle burning beside it. In the wok was a pile of meths soaked pumice rocks (very porous). At the appropriate moment I pulled out an aerosol can of cooking oil and sprayed it across the top of the candle. It ignited like a flame thrower and lit the bowl of pumice beside it. Very cool effect! We also used a cross covered in magicians flash paper to ignite in the dark. Now next year...!"

FLAME THOWERS IN CHURCH>>>WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT!

Black Fridays

Well, if the government can find the balls to bann urban pesticides, I suppose it might be time for me to make a small contribution to the environment. It actually isn't that I haven't, I really am not that extravagant a foot printer, although I do drive a Jeep.

In any case, I have decided to start a movement called black fridays, why black, because that is what my house will be on fridays. No lights, no electricity, nothing, hopefully no transportation either-total blackout!

It is funny because I can't tell if it is an environmental move or a financial one. I would love to have 1/7 less in expenses. So.....why not!

dare ya..

Mine and Yours and the Open Source Threat

'Dang, where is that spatula?'

'Hon, Hon, Can you print me off another spatuala? I can't find any.'

Need a soother, or some other often misplaced object.....Print it. This is the next generation of 3D opportunity. I was listening to an interview on Spark the other day that rattled my brain.

I have been a huge fan (as much as a technofobe can be) of open source and things like wikipedia. Why? because they go against the grain of consumerism, materialism, privacy and ultimately of our deep sense of individualism because they share, colaborate, and freely give what most of us would naturally like to bottle, contain, protect....

So here is a product, a 3D printer that a professor (Adrian Boyer) has put on line all open source so.....in theory even his printer could be printed off, piece by piece. The entire technology that would allow you to create any household plastic object entirely free. Need a ball? a souther? a bottle? a tupperware? The entire plastic manufacturing industy could become obselete.

Now why hasn't he patented it, so that he can make mega money?....Because he is motivated to see how far this idea will go. He comments saying, "Protecting an idea is for people who want to make money to hire lawyers to fight patent laws...." Ultimately it is a way to have people with resources pay for something and keep it from the hands of the people who could often benefit from it the most.

WOW! Could it be that community (something we often spiritualize as a Christian idea) is actually something that is so human. That those that can see past the shallowness, of 'mine' and 'yours' actually long for something....shared, useful, accessible.

Check out the 3D printer interview from Spark.

Dreaming about Neverland

Reading through the book of John, I have been realizing how devoted to escapism I am. I pray to get results, I serve to build something, I work for a reward, I love hoping it is reciprocated. Yet, when I look at Jesus I realize his reward was being forgotten by the crowds, deserted by his friends, and allowing his own life to be consumed for the sake of obedience.

Whether we call it obedience, or worship laying our life down is so central and yet such an easy thing to overlook, to ignore. This makes Jesus such a great hero and huge challenge to me. It has gotten me thinking about my expectations of friends and community. Having grown up in a deliberate 'community', I am fully aware of the idealism we have associated with that word as Christians:

• i want to be with friends, I deserve friends, God wants me to have friends
• i need to love people I dislike because Jesus tells me to and it is good for me
• i need a mentor and if i don't have one something must be broken in my church

This is neverland. Always wanting to be kids, never adults. Always wanting play, never work. Always needing the thing I don't have. This is fantasy and unfortunately so consumes us because we are human and at some level don't believe that God can look after us in the midst of a broken and selfish world. I am so stoked about the sermon series that we are working on at Cambridge. We are taking Bonhoeffer's book life together to discuss REAL community, not what we fantasize about.

"You can love the dream, more than the community and therefore ignore and kill it."

Bonhoeffer, Life Together

Lent

Every year i lent (doing lent sounds so conquering) . anyways I came across some great resources I thought I would share.

http://jonnybaker.blogs.com/jonnybaker/lent/index.html

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10438551@N00/sets/72157594508507299/

http://blog.beliefnet.com/thedivinehoursoflent/

http://relevantmagazine.com/releblog/deeperwalk/lent-and-the-frogs-will-sing-again/

http://www.proost.co.uk/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=35&category_id=4&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26&vmcchk=1&Itemid=26

Heroes

Heroes, sure I got heroes. People who have influenced me, who have said, done and been things that made my jaw drop, my herometer soar. If there were real hero cards I would hunt for these guys and brag about them on the school yard. Trade them.....very unlikely.

who are they, well typically regular joes like you and me. living amongst us, doing ordinary things....for the most part.

why am i reminded of them? why do i write this blog now? Well because one just died, another is undergoing chemo treatment. These people have enriched me, fed my dreams, changed me without even realizing it. Let me give you a glimpse at some of them.

David Brett- an evangelist, a new zealander, the guy who bought a castle because God said so, the guy who shows up unannounced here and there, the guy who taught me to clean windows to make money for missions, and to sell a car to buy plane tickets, the guy who let's light shine in China- who travels there still today even though he is undergoing cancer treatment. If ever you have a friend that met jesus on a plane...ask if they met David.

John Hutchison- who recently passed away. The first Brit I ever met and the first minister I ever knew who loved to see people healed, a mentor of Benny Hinn, and as i remember one of the best, deepest laughs of any who've I have had dinner with.

Telma Cajas- a courageous woman who leads the underpriveleged women of Guatemala, by loving them, helping them, hugging them one person at a time. Her words linger with me forever, ' without Jesus, there is no development.'

I have some new heroes too......

They are friends who take crazy risks for Jesus and sometimes succeed and sometimes don't.

Check out Todd Cantelon- a risk taker, producer, film maker, a fantastic preacher and he a makes a mean breakfast

Check out Rick Bergen- an amazon loving, church planting fanatic who is the real! DEAL! Currently he is developing a new church, mission, and ministry just upriver somewhere from where he was.

When in Zambia listen for Barry and Frida Ilunga- the most sincere, humble, church planters I ever met. Where will you find them? on some bus, on the back of a truck or walking through some village planting a church, usually with one of their 10 kids.

Is it idol worship to participate in such praise of men? No, this is simply sharing the news of God's greatness. Like it says in the bible 'i have heard of your fame.' Great things are worth talking about. Men are just men, but their pursuit of God inspires me, fuels me, causes my mere mortality to shake for fear and my dreams to become large--Large enough to even suppose and even believe that God could use EVEN little ol' me.

city lights at night

I was reminded last night as I watched 'the Hour' on CBC of something I have been thinking about for a while. George ST., the host, was telling a story about how he was driving through the desert and about to run out of gas. He had no clue of where he was. His only choice was to follow the road ahead of him. The fear and sense of impending doom of being stranded in a desert with no gas became overwhelming and suddenly....he saw lights-dim lights in the distance . Having grown up in a Christian home he thought, perhaps it is a dream, perhaps I am going 'home'. He continued to head toward the light, but instead of finding Jesus as the source of the light-he found Las Vegas.

How long has it been since your last authentic, bonified spiritual experience? An experience so clear, and definitely the almighty that it stands out to you like a light along, your darkened desert path. If it has been a while you may be thinking, what have i done wrong, where did God go? I think as Christians we think that such experiences should be the norm. In fact, we talk candidly about God speaking to us, and say things like 'God told me.' We can string a line of great moments in life, together in such a way that we sound like we should be on a mega tour as an amazing spiritual giant, but in reality they probably have occur over years and years. There is for me always space, sometimes long spaces between experiences.

I need to remember that although God may speak and I may even see angels-the Christian life is not like heaven on earth. Christians do not have 24-7 Moses in the cloud experiences. The pursuit of such super spirituality may even be counter to God's purposes.

More often, I like George find myself on a road, running out of gas, in the dark with only the road ahead and a light in the distance. Just as cities in Europe have a lot of road between pilgrimage destinations and holy places, our lives may have a lot of space between definable spiritual experiences. The great thing is, no matter how long the interval between us and our next spiritual experience, there is both a light in the distance and an assurance that the road we are on will get us there.