Opportunities Part 2: Chris

I had this friend named Chris.  Chris was shorter and had a goatee.

It was funny, Chris and I didn't meet until college but we had a past.  He went on a date with a girl the night after I took her to prom.  Guess I wasn't exactly what she was looking for.  Well enough of that.

Chris would hang out with my other friend Shaun and I all the time.  In class, he would talk to much and get us all in trouble.  Out of class we would goof around on campus while hanging out in the student lounge. He would watch as Shaun and I played ping-pong like Forest Gump.  Ok so maybe not that good.  Close though.

We would talk to Chris about Jesus.  I had just really began my journey with God only months before.  He didn't mind talking about it, but he kept it at that.  You know, like when someone picks up interest in a TV show or sport or whatever but they never really pursue it.  They just talk and leave it at that.  That was Chris, cool with the Jesus thing, but no interest in pursuing what it was all about.  Kinda like looking in the mirror and seeing you missed a spot shaving, and not really caring.

So anyways life goes on right?  After our couple years of adveture together, we all headed our spereate directions.  I foolishly followed this cute girl I had a crush on over to Central Michigan.  Chris moved from Manistee to Traverse City. 

It wasn't until I was graduated and moved back to Scottville years later when I saw him again.  Of all the places our meeting happened in the wonderful Family Video rental.  Like most people who haven't seen each other in years, we exchanged the typical words like "hey" and "I've been up to..."  I told him I was married to that cute girl I followed to Central.  He told me I was out of my mind.  Different life desires I guess. 

We exchanged cell phone numbers and each went our own way.

It was about a week or so later that God started to speak to me.  He said simply,  "Call Chris."
Being newly married and working tons of hours, I told God I didn't have the time.  Too busy.  I have a wife to please.  I've got stuff to do.  I like time. 

Wait, wait.  I like my time.

But it kept coming for a couple days, "Call Chris.  Call Chris."

And then it was gone.

The goat. 

Chris. 

Opportunities.

Opportunities Part 1: The Goat

True story.
So here I am, sitting on a boulder at 12,000 feet above see level in the Colorado Rockies.  I'm reading my Bible and praying quietly to God.  You can't get much better than this.  Mountains take capture most of my view accept the green valley that lays out before me.
And then there it was. 

The Goat.

This thing had been around our camp ever since we arrived.  Right now it was about 200 yards out from my perch on top of a ten foot high boulder.

Now this isn't an ordinary farm goat.  No, it's a mountain goat.  Big. White. Strong.

As I watch it, I whisper up a prayer to God.  I say, "If You want, God You could send that thing right over here and climb the boulder and have it stand right next to me.  If you do that God, I'll pet it."  When those last words left my lips, I'm not joking, the goat looked up at me and started walking in my direction.  Remember this puppy is 200 yards away.  But instead turning, it keeps coming.

My amusement starts to turn towards wonder.  This thing is starting to get close.

Then it happens.  It's reached the boulder and disappears for just a moment.  I'm standing now.  It's hooves cluck of the boulder as it climbs.  I can barely breath as it tops the leadge of what I thought was a ten foot shear wall. 

Now it's standing right next to me.

I always new it was a big goat, but not this big.  It's back stands higher than my waits.  Horns.  Big foot long horns.

"Man killed from trying to pet wild mountain goat!" Is the picture of tomorrow's front page going through my mind.

It's funny isn't it?  Here I am minding my own business and God shows up.  And then this.  This opportunity.  I know what I'm supposed to do.  But at this moment, it seems kinda crazy.  Of course this goat standing here next to me when only moments ago it was 200 yards away minding its own business. 

I've found God gives us opportunities all the time.  The question is do we faithfully take them.  Over the next few blogs, we'll jump into this more.  Until then, we're standing next to the goat.

Beyond Myself

These last couple weeks have been hard.  My brother's wonderful wife passed away unexpectedly from cancer, I had to put my seven year old dog to sleep.  I stepped down from my youth ministry position that was more of a lifestyle than a job for the last eight years.  We sold our camper and our minivan.  And I've experienced some of the worst spiritual warfare that I've ever had in my life.

Among all the decisions, emotions, trials, and frustrations, I've also had to somehow find time to begin a church, continue to raise support so my family can pay the bills, prepare to work construction, work on my studies, buy a car, and preach about God's heart at churches and youth groups to people who have no clue the stuff I'm going through.  Oh yeah....I'm a dad and husband too.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for pity.  Just writing down my feelings.
I believe all of us at some point will run into such times.  Many have been through much, much worse than I have yet experienced.  May God bless them.

No, what I'm trying to convey here is simple.  I have found there is a point I get to where I can't go beyond myself.  It becomes quite impossible for me to take the next step.  I don't even want to take the next step.

But maybe this is where God desires to come in.

Somehow, someway he whispers deep into my soul "I am with you."

I find in life when it's thick with junk, and I can't move, I'm forced to sit and wait.  It's really all I want to do. 
 And in this "waiting on God" I find peace.  I find comfort.  I find strength.

I find God.

And with His Spirit I am able to go beyond myself.

Isaiah 40:30-31
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
   and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
   they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
   they shall walk and not faint.

No Escape

Sometimes I just want to run.  You know?  Get away from everything.  Get away from work.  Get away from phones.  Get away from deadlines and expectations.  Get away from people.

Sometimes I even feel like I want to get away from God.

Don't ask me why.  I don't know.  I just...do. 

We all have our places don't we?  Private, public, secluded or busy it doesn't matter.  I've even found myself retreating into my thoughts.  Physically I'm there, mentally I'm gone.  Ok now stop laughing.  But you know what I meant right?  There are places in our own thoughts that we escape from everything.  Places we hide when we're scared or sad or just tired.

Here's one thing I have found though....

I can't escape God.

It seems like everywhere I go, He's there waiting.  He's even in the places that I try to go to get away from Him.  A poet-king once asked the question "Where can I go from your Spirit?  Or where can I flee from your presence?" 

His answer was "nowhere."

Even in the darkest recesses in our thoughts, souls and minds we can't hide from Him.  He is a God who searches us and knows us.   Why?  Because He is emphatically in love with us.  He made us.  And it's often in the times that we are absolutely trying to hide from Him that are the most important times for Him to be there.  He's just waiting for you to look to Him.

If you feel like God can't reach you where you're at, check out Psalm 139 sometime.