That’s me whistling a tune…I’m just sitting here wigglin’ my thumbs and contemplating what’s next in my life. I’ve got the lurkings of a novel and another play in my mind. That gives me some sense of the direction my life’s about to take. I love playwrighting and it all but consumes me, so that’s exciting.
Anywho, seems that my inconsistency has left you checking only periodically. Well, that’s about the best I can do right now. Things are crazy, like mad crazy. I wouldn’t even know where to begin. It seems like Murphy’s Law tried to land in my lap, but thank God for Jesus. “There Is A Name”-Byron Cage, gotta love the name.
So I ride around with a copy of The Purpose Driven Life in my car, and I”ve never finished it. But what on earth am I here for? That’s a good question. And few of you could probably answer it, so I don’t feel bad that my answer is constantly shifting with time. Many times we confuse our roles–parent, son-daughter, employee, friend, spouse, etc.–with our purpose. I’m starting to think that our roles have little to do with our purpose but perhaps how we perform them does. Really.
I heard this life changing message today by an Indian preacher who ministers in India. He holds four degrees, three of which are Master’s level, and he was really profound. India is largely Hindu and is surrounded my countries with large Muslim populations. This man has a tv ministry that reaches his country and many of those around. He really came to believe in Jesus after witnessing a miracle in his home at the age of 9. His father was paralyzed and unable to move from one spot due to pain for forty days. His parents prayed in the name of Jesus and believed in faith, and by the time he got home from school his father could sit up, swing his legs over the bed, and walk a few steps. That’s almost medically impossible when your muscles haven’t been moved or worked in a long time. And I should know as beneficiary of a few miracles of my own.
That testimony was nice, but it was not the profound thing that he said. He took it back to Genesis to the miracle that God performed for Abraham and Sarah where God asked if there was anything to hard for Him. Over 2000 years later, the answer is still “No.” I know many are skeptical and don’t believe. That’s just not me. And here’s the profound thing: “I might as well be a Hindu and not call myself a Christian if me and the non-Christian next to me in the doctor’s office have to deal with the same thing. If this Jesus is not for real, not who He says He is, I might as well be something else.” (That’s quoted to the best of my memory, but that’s the gist.)
He made a whole lot of sense. I attend a church with an international population, at least 60 countries I think give or take a few. From what I hear of them and other international ministers who share there is that they experience far more miracles than I think may be typical in the states, perhaps because they have far less to lose than those who are concerned with their status and what their friends or family might say of their “talking crazy talk.” For real, if God isn’t the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, don’t make excuses for living outside of the promises He’s given, go call yourself something else other than Christian. I wouldn’t serve a God who couldn’t do anything for me and then claim that He could. I know I’m going over a few heads, but some of you will understand. God is not logical. He defies logic, if you will.
So, I digress. This man goes into many areas where talk of Jesus is not welcome and people believe. I’m just amazed, though really not, at how much more we in this country have, how extremely blessed we are, and how much more skeptical we’ve become. Many of the people in my congregation have come to know Jesus by way of a miracle, and I’m not sure what that means. But what I know is that for me and my purpose, I seem to be in the right place at the right time, called, impelled, summoned, to be more than I thought I could be and to live my life to higher standards than I even did on yesterday or the day before or the day before.
So in this age of growing and analytically compelling skepticism, I believe. I believe in Jesus. If that makes me dull, boring, stupid, seemingly foolish, brainwashed, unlearned, uneducated, naive, or just plain not to your liking, then so be it. After all, I could just go be something else, but so far, I haven’t felt or found any power in any other name. I haven’t found another God whose name causes anything–sickness, disease, people, cicrumstances—to tremble or dissipate.
Gotta love the name. And if you are in need of a miracle and aren’t too ashamed, afraid, or skeptical, contact me and I’ll pray with you. I’m not God, but at least I believe.
NLC
Sharing some thoughts.