This goes out to all past World Racers, present
World Racers and World Racers to come.
World Racers and World Racers to come.
And also to you reading at home!
I pray that this blog opens a door for you to dive
into the Spirit… Not to test the waters, but to engulf yourself… So I pray,
Spirit FALL!
into the Spirit… Not to test the waters, but to engulf yourself… So I pray,
Spirit FALL!
I have been silent.
Vietnam seems like a blur.
I am currently smack dab in the middle of Malaysia
in this thing we call ministry (all man month).
in this thing we call ministry (all man month).
It is month seven.
Over the past months, I have embarked on a wild
journey of seeking out how to get more undignified.
journey of seeking out how to get more undignified.
It has been a journey of internalizing and being
more vulnerable then I have ever been.
more vulnerable then I have ever been.
It has been a journey of finding myself in this
thing we call community.
thing we call community.
It has been a journey of crying out in reckless
abandonment.
abandonment.
It has been a journey of crazy joy.
It has been a journey of walking through low
valleys.
valleys.
It has been a journey of moving my feet, shouting
at the top of my lungs and laughing uncontrollably.
at the top of my lungs and laughing uncontrollably.
The journey has been frustrating at times.
The journey has been rewarding at times.
I have spent time on my face.
I have spent time on my knees.
I have spent time stretching to the highest of
heights on my tippy toes, arms open wide and tears welling up in my eyes as a
smile stretches across my face.
heights on my tippy toes, arms open wide and tears welling up in my eyes as a
smile stretches across my face.
Simple sentences and complex ideas continue to run
through my brain.
through my brain.
Here is the point.
The World Race creates an environment in which you
crave more, sometimes you are not even sure what it is you are craving. Your expectations always seem
unattainable or maybe it is that they are unimportant. I expect therefore I set myself up for
mundane and narrow the limitations for the plans God has for me in this day.
crave more, sometimes you are not even sure what it is you are craving. Your expectations always seem
unattainable or maybe it is that they are unimportant. I expect therefore I set myself up for
mundane and narrow the limitations for the plans God has for me in this day.
Here is what I am figuring out. What I crave more then anything is to
enter into the presence of the Lord. Not just for a moment, but for the day… And not just for the day, but
for the week… And not just for the week, but for the month… And not just for
the month, but for the year… But what I am fighting for is the present. This second and now this one…
enter into the presence of the Lord. Not just for a moment, but for the day… And not just for the day, but
for the week… And not just for the week, but for the month… And not just for
the month, but for the year… But what I am fighting for is the present. This second and now this one…
I am selfish…
I am searching for the car keys that are in my
pocket or the hat that is on my head. And it has taken me a long time to find them.
pocket or the hat that is on my head. And it has taken me a long time to find them.
Becoming undignified is not something to be
attained. It is something that is
written into my DNA and yours. The
thing that I have been searching for is a lie. It is mysticism at most. When David said, “Watch, I will become more undignified then
this!” I know with all my heart
that he wasn’t stepping into or finding something new. It was not about what was to come; it wasn’t
even about who was watching. He
was simply referring to what was written into his very being.
attained. It is something that is
written into my DNA and yours. The
thing that I have been searching for is a lie. It is mysticism at most. When David said, “Watch, I will become more undignified then
this!” I know with all my heart
that he wasn’t stepping into or finding something new. It was not about what was to come; it wasn’t
even about who was watching. He
was simply referring to what was written into his very being.
I have been on a wild goose chase.
At this point you are thinking one of two things:
1) You are
thinking that I have lost it; it’s time that I am carted away to the looney
bin! (Maybe you’re right; I would
have to disagree of course!)
thinking that I have lost it; it’s time that I am carted away to the looney
bin! (Maybe you’re right; I would
have to disagree of course!)
2) I have
you hooked; you want to know more.
you hooked; you want to know more.
Towards the end of our time in Vietnam, along with
Banko, I found myself in a conversation with a man. He questioned us on all of our convictions and our
faith. What remains in my mind
were the answers we gave him. He
asked us about the Holy Spirit and how we know the Spirit is upon us or what it
feels like.
Banko, I found myself in a conversation with a man. He questioned us on all of our convictions and our
faith. What remains in my mind
were the answers we gave him. He
asked us about the Holy Spirit and how we know the Spirit is upon us or what it
feels like.
I sat puzzled for a few moments. Not even sure of what to say. I thought back to times when I knew the
Spirit was upon me. I thought of
intense prayers that I prayed and then couldn’t even remember the words that
left my lips, I thought of overpowering words that pinpointed people that I
didn’t know, I thought of overwhelming peace amidst sketchy situations and I
thought of the heavenly choruses of worship that overpower the air that I
breathe in a tiny room as everyone around cries out in their own praises. I cannot even begin to tell you how
crazy my life has become.
Spirit was upon me. I thought of
intense prayers that I prayed and then couldn’t even remember the words that
left my lips, I thought of overpowering words that pinpointed people that I
didn’t know, I thought of overwhelming peace amidst sketchy situations and I
thought of the heavenly choruses of worship that overpower the air that I
breathe in a tiny room as everyone around cries out in their own praises. I cannot even begin to tell you how
crazy my life has become.
I like to keep my bedroom cold back home,
especially when I sleep. It is my
territory, my domain. It is a
place that is of complete comfort to me. Things surround me that I like, things that are familiar to me. The Holy Spirit is like your favorite
blanket. I have a quilt back home
that I think of from time to time. The outside is patchwork and on the inside is silk. It is something that I value. When I am cold, I grab it and wrap it
around me! In an instance I am
lost. The only thing I can feel is
the warmth and comfort of that quilt. I choose to let it engulf me. I choose whether I want to be fully consumed by the blanket or whether I
only cover certain parts of myself. However, there always comes a time when I have to remove that quilt and
face what is outside. This is the
thing, I know where that blanket is, it has not left. It remains awaiting the next time I seek its shelter.
especially when I sleep. It is my
territory, my domain. It is a
place that is of complete comfort to me. Things surround me that I like, things that are familiar to me. The Holy Spirit is like your favorite
blanket. I have a quilt back home
that I think of from time to time. The outside is patchwork and on the inside is silk. It is something that I value. When I am cold, I grab it and wrap it
around me! In an instance I am
lost. The only thing I can feel is
the warmth and comfort of that quilt. I choose to let it engulf me. I choose whether I want to be fully consumed by the blanket or whether I
only cover certain parts of myself. However, there always comes a time when I have to remove that quilt and
face what is outside. This is the
thing, I know where that blanket is, it has not left. It remains awaiting the next time I seek its shelter.
The Holy Spirit is just like that quilt! It never leaves, it remains awaiting
the next time we need shelter! Somebody
better be hooping and a hollering right now! We cannot remain engulfed in the Holy Spirit because the
Spirit prepares us to go about our day. God speaks to us through the Spirit, but He does not remain on
replay. He speaks and He wants us
to act.
the next time we need shelter! Somebody
better be hooping and a hollering right now! We cannot remain engulfed in the Holy Spirit because the
Spirit prepares us to go about our day. God speaks to us through the Spirit, but He does not remain on
replay. He speaks and He wants us
to act.
I LOVE THE HOLY SPIRIT!
I love when it takes control.
I love feeling covered.
I feel undignified when it has a hold.
I crave that feeling.
I do not love the moment when it lifts.
I do not love feeling as if it is no longer there.
Are you starting to understand?
David was not referring to the attainment of
becoming undignified. He was
speaking of the posture of his worship. He was saying, “Listen, the King I serve deserves so much more then what
I have to offer, when I am covered even I do not know the limitations to which
I will be contained!” And even
when the quilt was removed, he remained obedient. Check out a little book called, Psalms. It might just rock your world.
becoming undignified. He was
speaking of the posture of his worship. He was saying, “Listen, the King I serve deserves so much more then what
I have to offer, when I am covered even I do not know the limitations to which
I will be contained!” And even
when the quilt was removed, he remained obedient. Check out a little book called, Psalms. It might just rock your world.
I am selfish!
I have been seeking to be covered. I am addicted to it. I have not remained obedient. I have craved to be atop a
mountain. I have missed the beauty
of the valley. I know that I will
make it to the mountaintop again, so I kill my time waiting. Waiting on something that remains
waiting on me to act.
mountain. I have missed the beauty
of the valley. I know that I will
make it to the mountaintop again, so I kill my time waiting. Waiting on something that remains
waiting on me to act.
Today is Resurrection Sunday. Tonight we worshiped. Tonight I was covered! Tonight we were all covered. Oh how I long for you to know this
feeling! Tonight was
unbelievable! Tonight walls fell
down and just like long ago an ancient presence stirred up souls!
feeling! Tonight was
unbelievable! Tonight walls fell
down and just like long ago an ancient presence stirred up souls!
Our present living condition is tricky. We are in a predominantly Islamic
community. Tourists are rare and
not necessarily welcomed. They
would like to stone us for preaching the Gospel. Therefore, we do not go around proclaiming Jesus with our
words. But we do live it out.
community. Tourists are rare and
not necessarily welcomed. They
would like to stone us for preaching the Gospel. Therefore, we do not go around proclaiming Jesus with our
words. But we do live it out.
I tell you that not that you worry but to tell you
a story.
a story.
Our contact, Kumar got up to preach after about an
hour of pouring our hearts out to God. He looked around the room; he smiled and began to speak. “This has never happened here
before. What happens next is that
a river is going to wash out through this town and it is going to invite people
to dive into it. In it is the
sweetest water. Usually we pray
quietly, but tonight was right for this. I should have just given you guys some 2×4’s (to swing about).”
hour of pouring our hearts out to God. He looked around the room; he smiled and began to speak. “This has never happened here
before. What happens next is that
a river is going to wash out through this town and it is going to invite people
to dive into it. In it is the
sweetest water. Usually we pray
quietly, but tonight was right for this. I should have just given you guys some 2×4’s (to swing about).”
I had this vision of us taking 2×4’s and wildly
swinging them about beating on the walls that we had just painted. Singing, dancing, shouting! Inviting in a community of hardened
hearts.
swinging them about beating on the walls that we had just painted. Singing, dancing, shouting! Inviting in a community of hardened
hearts.
This got my heart stirring and stories began to
flood my mind. Stories like that
of the walls of Jericho crumbling to the ground, entire armies being defeated
by a few men, Jesus telling people that He will destroy the temple and rebuild
it in three days, the curtain in the temple tearing, Paul being knocked off his
high horse and many other.
flood my mind. Stories like that
of the walls of Jericho crumbling to the ground, entire armies being defeated
by a few men, Jesus telling people that He will destroy the temple and rebuild
it in three days, the curtain in the temple tearing, Paul being knocked off his
high horse and many other.
You see I am starting to realize that a 2×4 is
necessary to get things moving. The Lord works in a way of giving us tools to cause a beautiful
catastrophe. Almost a reminder
that the things here are temporary, but the temple is the treasure. It is what we need when we are in the
valleys.
necessary to get things moving. The Lord works in a way of giving us tools to cause a beautiful
catastrophe. Almost a reminder
that the things here are temporary, but the temple is the treasure. It is what we need when we are in the
valleys.
Maybe it has been a lesson I have been learning
this whole time.
this whole time.
I crave to be covered.
I crave to be undignified.
I crave to be in the Presence of the Lord.
I am on a new journey.
I am on a journey searching for a new 2×4 everyday.
I am going to take that 2×4.
And I am going to cause a beautiful catastrophe.
Who will join?
It is never too late to lay down your desires.
It is never too late to be covered.
It is never too late to radically be changed.
It is never too late to make His heart your heart!
But prepare yourself for an experience that will
leave its wake.
leave its wake.
I AM UNDIGNIFIED!
I ALWAYS HAVE BEEN!
I ALWAYS WILL BE!
Take up a challenge! Find a new way to worship everyday for the next week. Ask to be burned up and overtaken by
the Spirit!
the Spirit!
Psalm 105: 3-4
Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who
seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the
Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the
Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!
