a l i v e & a w a k e

There is no time like ‘now’. Now you can change, now is the only time to make a difference. Now is the most you can see God/Christ. Bek and I have been doing read out loud’s lately of a book called ‘A New Earth’ by Eckhart Tolle. His concept is that God said He will make a new heaven and a new earth—we should live like the people of the new earth. People of the new earth are very present at all times.

I am recalling the moment that God introduces Himself to Moses; “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” Notice that God didn’t say, I was, I am and I will be. The very term ‘I AM’ is a very present ‘here and now’ term. Jesus also gets Himself into big trouble when He threw around the same term with the Jews. Jesus modeled the best ‘I Am-ness’ (being present) when He did things in response to the working of the Father and joining Him (John 5:17, 19,20). That was being in the moment and that lifestyle is what we are to live as well  --our ‘I Am-ness’

So today I am trying to figure what being ‘present’ means. It does mean to stop and contemplate. It means listening and highlighting who Jesus is in this moment, in my typing of this, my children running around right now, and even how I am breathing. All are ways of capturing the living truth and life (good, worthy of praise, excellent, etc-Phil 4:8).

Life abundant is not just ‘someday’ because it is mostly in this moment now.

I have always loved going out into nature and being alone with God. Especially in times when my life seems to be bland, falling apart, and numb. I remember a time when I had just suffered a burnout period in my work and I needed time away from everyone. I took a solid week to hike every day on a lookout in Bancroft called the Eagle’s Nest. There are many trails and reflection point to sit, think, smoke a pipe and journal. It was in the fall and so I was visually inundated with the exploding colours across the horizon.

I had only one question that I went into that time with for myself and God, “What I am I to do?" Taking my first day I hike, I sat and I pleaded in a mantra type fashion “God, What do you want me to do?”, over and over again.

I felt no answer.

My legs were sore, my mind was blank, I was no better off and I got worried because I at least expected a conversation to start in that time. The next morning I went to the same place and chanted over and over my same mantra and than I heard a small voice. It was not the answer to my question but it was a short statement that threw me, “You’re asking the wrong question.”

I spent the rest of the day figuring out what is the ‘right’ question. Nothing came.

I went home feeling happy that a discussion was starting but more depressed because I was way behind in my search and the week would be over before I knew it.

Day 3- it dawned on me that my initial search had to do with external change and tasks. I really like tasks and there is something inside me that feels good when I can process the day with a check list and say I accomplished ‘all’ this today. What I do doesn’t hit the real heart issues though. It may be more important to know who I am and let that inform what I do. So I began that day with hope asking God “Who am I?”. This mantra by the end of the day left me with thoughts but nothing that was resonating with me. I felt really depressed as I walked home because I had come up with my best question and it still left me lacking. I was preparing myself for the rest of the week to have this despondent feeling and head back to work with no new revelation. The next day I woke up to ready to fight God.

I wanted to plead, beg, yell do what ever but not continue with this hollow feeling. I knew a bit more of who I was but I still lacked. Than He hit me, “Joe you are asking the wrong question?” By now my frustration moved to brokenness and I was ready for anything. What possible could God be wanting me to ask? 

Maybe it was like the small voice on a breeze the same as Elijah on the mountain (kind of the surroundings I was in), but I heard very clearly, “Joe you should be asking ‘God, Who are you?’”  At first I stumbled on that because I was raised in a church that made me memorize a bunch of verses and the attributes and names of God. I thought, “I know you God. Why do I need to know you more?”

Lessons from the Blind man in John 9

Jesus encounters a blind man that His disciples have pointed out to Him. They want to talk about the origin of the blind man’s sin but Jesus wants to do something else.  So He says

Lesson

Walking away from Christ is what brought revelation-sight. Walking in obedience in a desert situation brought healing. How much time elapsed in this event?

Where was the pool of Siloam in relation to where this happened?

The Desert of the Blind man

Desert defined as the place or state that offers you nothing but your true authentic self and your God.

The Desert Fathers would go, learn and be in the desert –physically so that spiritually they would realize who they were and more importantly who God is.

I see the desert moments for the blind man being;

This desert seems to be much of his life. His place in life is to beg. He probably knows he doesn’t fit into the norm of society and that he is pitied and talked about. He is blind, but he could hear and perceive. The disciples don’t help the situation when they show up and make him a topical game show of ‘who sinned.’

His desert is the disconnect from the rest of the world. Nothing, if little is offered to him for some circumstances that were out of his control.

Jesus, the one who can help has come. He is the one the blind man has heard of who can heal. He’s healed lame people, demon possessed people were relieved and there was some interesting water/wine tricks. This is the man and possibly the moment.

What do you think it was like for him to have Jesus so close to him he could here his words, maybe even His breathing. Internally he may have thought,

“What do you think He will say? Will it be a booming voice yelling in deep manly tones “BE HEALED!” Will it be a hand touching his forehead and a radiant pulsating warm will intensely heal the old eyes? “No wait, He’s doing something! I can hear something. This is it! He is…, He is… spitting?”

“He’s not just spitting a little but a lot. Does He have a cold? Is He a smoker? What is going on? Sounds like some rubbing in the dirt and ……What!!!. I think he just wiped some of that spit mixed with mud on my face!”

Than Jesus tells him to get up and wash this off his face in a pool some distance away. There was no help as far as we can see from the text to get to the pool of Siloam (sent). Can you imagine your self in the place of that man in this instance?  He is now seemingly worse off now that he has been all his life. He’s stumbled before and fallen in a crowd where people laughed, but this….mud on his face. What comments do you think people may have been whispering as he bumped and scraped through town? “Did some pigeons fly over and nail this guy?”

This is the second desert moment. Walking further and further away from the guy who everyone has said can heal him and now probably he is so far away that he could scream out his name “JESUS!” and would not be heard. Yet the journey continues.

Now it is because this blind man took this journey away from Jesus, into His desert, true sight came to him. Is it possible that sometimes we need to walk away from the very obvious presence of Jesus to dark, uncertain places that offer us nothing but ourselves, broken and blind?  It is in these places revelation can come –revelation that can come no other way but by being sent (Siloam).

What do we do when these moments come to us from circumstance or conviction (desert)? What do we do when we are vulnerable and our true authentic selves are revealed to us in hard, dry and barren places?

I sometimes, cover up my raw emotions.  I try to ‘Tylenol’ the situation like a headache. I hide, I become numb or get real busy so I am unaware. I will even find a comfortable(negative sense, true definition of comfort is French for “to strengthen much”), place to reside. Sometimes I crap on myself for being so weak and useless and just tell myself to give up. But that is not what the desert is about.

-Journey to Siloam-discipline to contemplate, obey in each blind step

Being sent is key in our growth to places that may take time or be hard to go. In this moment, like the blind man, we need to be aware of our surroundings as we feel your way through this. Our feelings are heightened which allow our other senses to be very active and alive. In the humiliation I’m sure that walk for him became a little more alive as he walked a walk that could possible change his life. There may have been a par of him that thought, “What if this works?” We may feel this seems worse off but spiritually we are walking into a new aspect of Jesus’ person, character and healing. It wasn’t until the washing happened and the journey and assignment was fulfilled that he saw. That may be the truth for us.

We may not see the revelation of God for our lives until we walk a ‘desert’ walk of sorts. It needs to be done in obedience and not just finding a desert experience for the sake of finding deserts. Only then can we have the new revelation of who Jesus is. That is the point of the blind man was to know Jesus, and physically seeing was the bonus.

-joe

I am recounting all the amazing things God has included me in with 2007 moving on and feeling pretty privileged and mostly humbled. I realize I don’t have the ‘right answers all the time, I can’t communicate a vision and a strategy as well as I thought (let alone a blog), and there are less people following me than I would like to hope and not many people have been healed of a sickness, converted or the dead hasn’t been raised. It doesn’t change my downright feeling ‘favored by God’ moment for all He has done for me. That’s really it, -what He has done and continues to do. I get to be the celebrator, observer, facilitator and cultivator of Him which really is His preferred way of partnering with me. All that said, I have some inventory –God moments, that I want to celebrate more but lack of time can be the killer of celebration.
If you’re like me you can be too busy to do this and miss out on the pattern that God is consistently unfolding towards life decisions in the near and long term future. The God moments are everywhere and sometimes we can come face to face with Christ and still be doubtful –like John the Baptist.
John the Baptist had some time on his hands once he was thrown in jail by Herod. During that time I’m sure he was evaluating the work he has done, the lives he encountered and the future he may have. During that time his thoughts came to Jesus. Who was this man? Was He the one? So much was his thoughts that he sends out his followers to ask “Are you the one or should we expect another?” Matt 11:1-6.
My feelings are that John knew that the ‘one’ was more than just a man showing up on earth, but it was God Himself personified and implementing a whole new way for the Kingdom to be experienced and seen. The ‘Christ’ was not Jesus’ last name but an identity that reveals God’s intention to partner with humanity, to bring about peace (shalom), to bring about an anointing of miracles, wonders and people seeing with a heart of flesh into the divine. My feelings are that John knew the Christ would be a movement of many empowered not just the actions of one that did something for everyone. I think that is why Jesus answered John’s disciples the way He did.
“Tell John the blind see, the sick are healed and the lame walk, the poor are seeing the gospel, etc.” That answer was not yes, but it was more than yes. It was more of revealing the activity of God’s heart and character on the world. It was the beginning of more humans who would personify and take on the very same work. That work is the best way to qualify ‘life to the fullest’ (John 10:10).
We are not told if John hears that answer and says “great, we are now beginning a movement of anointing that will dynamically change the way God works and communicates and transforms this world”—but I think he did. I know the fullness of what that anointed movement looked like back then must not have been grasped , but then again do we today with so much history get it?
Why is it that I have such a hard time understanding my role on a daily basis as a Christ follower? Why is it that I sometimes don’t see the living reality of this movement around me in such tangible way? My biggest problem is my lens is still a little foggy and I can let feelings change my perspective on reality from one moment to the next. I need to realize the chemicals in my body a less real than the work of Christ around me. I have also to change my view on the very miracles that happen so frequently without someone to really highlight and celebrate them. Miracles that aren’t as ‘radical’ huge and attention getting as physical healings (seem to be less and less amazing in western society today anyways).
There are miracles of goodness, truth, love, compassion, community, assistance, a little more patience, a smile or an encouraging word that are too numerous to count, usually are put into categories of ‘common sense’ or ‘normal behavior’ . Are they still not the attributes and characteristics and evidence of the movement of God? Do they deserve less praise because they are more familiar?
The opposite could be true as far as a value system goes that God doesn’t regard little familiar sins any different from the big dramatic ones, so why do we think that is different for the life characteristics of God? Can’t a moment of acknowledging ‘life’ (I am breathing and my heart is beating) be a miracle captured? It takes too much time to capture them all.
For me lately I would see the greater areas of my life and the culture I am surrounded by, needs to highlight more the many miracles that are directly against the biggest enemies of the ‘Christ’ movement like : consumerism, capitalism, apathy, separation, busyness, indifference (western society).
We may be like John the Baptist who is asking “Is this it? Is this the Christ movement being actualized today? Or do we need to wait for someone or something else?” and Jesus needs to answer us through many ways:
“The consumer gives, the capitalist partners, the apathetic are awakened, the separate find community, the indifferent are compassionate, the aimless have purpose and mission, busy people slow down and prioritize and reflect, the angry disjointed and anxious are agents of peace, the cold person smiles,,,
…the next breath you are taking is making you very aware of Me because you know you don’t get it any other way except that I, the Christ, exists. Now what will you do with all these numerous miracles?”

At the heart of every evangelist, disciple, pastor, giver and follower of Christ, we have to know it is crucial to practice listening and highlighting (seek, see, celebrate) the face of Christ in every day. Otherwise we miss Him.

Whatsoever things are pure, excellent, worthy of praise, true, noble, ….Meditate, dwell, focus and cultivate those things—Phil 4:8

So it is the new year and I use this time to reflect. I really don’t make ‘resolutions’ usually because  I hope I am able to make a change in my life as needed as opposed to ‘someday’ to make a change. So I am sitting inside on a snowy day (New Years Day) and taking time to celebrate all that this last year has been for me. I try to take inventory on a regular basis of all the good decisions and encounters of miracles God has provided this last year.

I usually am faulted for being such an ‘eternal optimist’ to the point that people think I am ‘unaware’, ‘on another planet’, unrealistic’, ‘too ideal’, etc (you get the picture). I wasn’t always that way. I use to focus on al that was negative, wrong and celebrate all the failings of others—especially the failing in myself. To the point I felt suicide wasn’t that bad of an idea (another story someday). What happened in my life back then was I catered so much to the ‘problems’ of life that I habitually sought out and looked for wrong.  I was not equipped for life. I have heard though we have been hard wired to function best when we seek the positive

The make up of our brain (scientifically) is built for change. In fact the more we change it the better it grows. So when we build a certain pattern of negative thoughts (creating a familiar channel in our brain tissue for information to travel on) we will be less prone to grow our brains and be less adaptable to life. Seeking out new solutions in a positive way, creates a new channel for our brain –in essence we grow.  Einstien said something to the effect of “the problems we face today cannot be solved by the same type of thinking that formed them’. This gets me to my thought for the new year.

I need to not only be one who can positively seek an opportunity in a difficult situation, but I need to be positively seeking out new solutions (good for my brain and my situation). Plus I need to be engaging in a more celebratory position every day, moment  by moment.

In Short - 1 When faced with a problem, embrace it as opportunity. 2 Seek positive solutions 3 Live a life that captures celebration moments

It becomes a practical way to live Phil 4:8. Note this process, if done right is uncomfortable, takes lots of energy and can leave you at first uncertain, confused and fearful. But take heart you get past that.

To close –do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your MIND.

Since written, Dad passed away 6:20am Dec 2.

The man happens to be my father, my father of 34 yrs. He was diagnosed with a terminal cancer in his brain stem and we are not sure how long this 'terminal' has. He has been sick for quite sometime and now we know what is happening. This last few months have been watching, sitting, waiting and wondering. We’ve had time to talk, and in times like this it seems we listen a little more. Some of the thoughts coming from dad has been especially encouraging and challenging. Here are a few:
-one of the words that kept repeating during the times when he was getting worse in September was ‘unable’ (to eat as well, to walk as well, talk as well, etc). This was at first pretty hard to dad as one who enjoys doing little things for others. We would try to keep engaging dad at his strongest point, his mind with books, quotes and our struggles. In one of those conversations we talked about the church and it’s overall failings in realizing the great mission God has called us in. During that time dad said “Wow, this is really challenging” and with tears and broken voice he further added “I am ABLE to BE church right here in this hospital!” It is not the typical understanding of effective church, but I see it doesn’t mean ‘unable means do nothing’.

The picture for me was profound and somewhat prophetic. Here is a broken man who understands that it is the working of Christ in and through him that makes a difference wherever He is. I would say he was a living testimony in that bed just being funny (as much as dad can), helpful, and still thinking of us and others needs and concerns.
The prophetic part for me was almost a picture of where the church is at, broken, incapacitated to some degree, yet is slowly realizing and desiring to BE the living Christ on this earth. We have retreated so far and we have left all the missional work to a very few people in other countries and a spiritual atrophy has set in. I was challenged again to see myself as the living Christ on my street, in my city and not just what happens on a Sunday morning when I stand up in front of a crowd. I am able and
-In the last week or so I have felt so helpless and useless to the condition of my dad and to the aid of my mom. We have been looking to little things like call, pass on messages and drive her around. For dad though, it is hours of sitting with a man who can no longer interact (ability and energy).
I am a guy who really likes to feel proficient and significant especially to people around me. I really felt with dad that I could not do any of my ‘great’ theological thoughts, physical help with a task, or even sitting and making a good meal where we drink great wine and laugh. This gets quite hard once you know you show up to just BE. Deep down I am uncomfortable with that. So as I came to ‘minister to my dad’, Christ ministered to me.
It was dad who gave me a place to be just my unadorned, vulnerable (can’t hide behind abilities), and authentic self. I was accepted and loved. I watched him in his few moments smile, say hi and just kept reassuring me I was ok. He also modeled what it meant to be the same vulnerable man to the nurses, to the visitors and friends. Such dependence looks so weak and distasteful in our society of independence and efficiency. But here dad was letting people care for him, and tell him what he needs to do. He embraced that. It’s another picture of the type of reliance Jesus asks for in us.
We are to depend on Jesus that way. Only when we can let ourselves be truly authentic to God and others, do we find the harmony, serenity and the solid foundation of love.

-One analogy that dad was so hit by in his fight was a story about an experiment of two mice (John Maxwell’s relationship 101). The experiment was to put two different mice in bucket of water that would drown them. The buckets were covered with a lid. One had a pin prick hole in the lid and the other total darkness. The mouse in darkness swam for about 4 mins and then drowned. The mouse with the pin prick hole swam and looked up to the little bit of light that filtered through into the bucket and finally died after 39 hours. That hope of a little light gave so much to live for and fight. Dad was struck by this in his situation.
It was not only hope for him to see the little bit of light was told he had since being diagnosed with terminal cancer (very rare to survive, but possible). The little light analogy brings him optimism, a positive outlook and the fight is not for survival of the body as much as His living days with family and friends.


I am the dying man as well. I am dying to the concept of ‘unable means do nothing’. I am dying to preserving myself and having my identity wrapped up in my significance a little more. I am dying to the negativity that makes my drown in 4 minutes when situations come up. In this dying, it like a seed that falls on the ground and dies so that the life inside can come out. Dying has never been so hard but yet felt so good.

My name is Joe. What is the depth and meaning to my name? Does that sound that vocalizes my name inform my being? Is it just a symbol to help me be identified or is the symbol my identity?  I respond to it, but do I live for my name or does it serve a purpose to help my being and essence be recognized? Now I appreciate names (read about my daughter Liv). My question is, "Aren't names just symbols?"

Maybe my name is not as important as others. Some others had names they lived up to, like ‘Joshua’ (which doesn’t it mean in Hebrew what ‘Jesus’ means in Greek –Savior?). He actually lived this name of ‘saving’ and was a symbol to the Israel nation.  He became the one who all looked up to making the work of the Creator come true on this physical planet. But his name is still not the total sum of his essence, his being. There is still missing the life he lives outside of the job description of his name. Joshua’s life continued even though Israel was in the promise land.

Let me dare to talk about a name that may not be the total sum of His being ---Jesus Christ.  There are many people who give a special power to the name of Jesus. Does that name have power or does the person behind it have that power? For instance if I named my child Jesus, would there be certain anointed power given to my child? History has shown no (Jesus Jones, etc). So really the name means nothing unless it is point to a being or person. Jesus is the most familiar way to refer to the being who came to earth as the second part of God, lived a dynamic Kingdom life, spoke the message of abundant life, raised up disciples, died, rose again and empowered a body of people to be like Himself.

He has a name for us as a reference point to this being, but is that so important to the heavenlies and God?  The name means deliverer (Jesus) and anointed one (Christ). Those concepts are important but are not all encompassing. Even Jesus when asked by the rulers of the day he replied “I am”.   If we want to get more accurate it may be we need to go back to terms like ‘Messiah’ and ‘Emmanuel’. The word Messiah is more the term Jesus confirmed Himself to be rather than Jesus Christ. Looking at the word Messiah we can see this starts to open new insight on this being. I have lately heard about the Samaritan definition of Messiah.

Messiah to the Samaritans meant ‘Taleb” (there is an accent over the ‘a’ of some sort). That  word means ‘revealer and restorer’. This is different from the word Messiah in Hebrew terms meaning ‘victor’. Looking to the interaction of the woman at the well in John 4, the dialogue Jesus and the woman had was in Aramaic. It was translated to Greek and than to our English eyes. Let’s look to the passage.

The term ‘Taleb’

The word Messiah is used the same every time. So let’s look at maybe what this conversation looked like dropping the titles.

The woman said “I know the revealer and restorer will come, --the one who is called the ‘Anointed One’.  The revealer will explain everything to us.

Jesus told her “I am the revealer and restorer” (He uses her term not the typical Jewish term).

The woman goes back and says “Come meet the man who knows all I have done and has revealed it to me. Could He be the revealer and restorer?”

That concept of being the revealer is fascinating enough to me, but I want to drive home the significance of a name. Jesus doesn’t seemed to correct her or clarify any specific name, in fact He embraces her name and terminology.

My last name is Tenthorey. Now how would you say that? Most people pronounce the ‘th’ in the middle so it sounds like ‘ten- thor- ree’ when really the ‘h’ is silent sounding like ‘ten- tor-ee’.  My one mentor of eleven years still introduces me pronouncing the ‘h’. That doesn’t threaten me or my identity though, because I know he is referring to me and cares about me.  I think the same could be true of Jesus.

Jesus uses many terms to help us understand His being, not His name. The names I have seen are;

-the two Messiahs (Hebrew victor/chosen and Greek revealer/restorer)

-Son of God (John 10:36)

-Son of Man (

-Holy One (John 10:36)

-Christ

-King of the Jews (Mark 15:2)

-Son of the Blessed One (Mark 14:62)

-I Am (Mark 14:62)

-many more like ‘life’, ‘way’, ‘truth’, ‘door’, ‘vine’, etc.

Is Jesus trying to be confusing or is He painting a big picture with a mosaic of many name to give greater understanding of His total being? That term “I Am” should be ringing some familiar bells, especially because it ticked off the religious rulers He told it to. They were really upset because this term “I Am” was how God introduced Himself to Moses in Exodus 3. ‘I Am’ is a very open ended, vague term. This may have been purposeful on Jesus’ part just as it was purposeful on God’s part in the time of Moses. Before I drive home a practical implication of this for our world I want to go back to God’s use for a name.

The word ‘God’ is a man made term for identifying this being the Israelite nation was encountering. YHWH or Yahweh or Jehovah, is the most correct term of God’s name that the Jews didn’t even say. Apart from that title (because it still isn’t His name), this being is explained as;

-Jehovah Jireh

-My Banner

-El shaddi

-Lord

etc. (too many for the purposes of this read, but you get the point, there is maybe 50 different terms used)

God did not seem threatened by the names given to Him by His people. In fact we benefit from those names because it paints a greater picture of Who this God is. The main point of all His names was to relationally involve His people in His work and have them understand His character. So what does this mean today?

The Name Jesus seems to be (unfortunately) tainted and misrepresented. The true being of Jesus is what the world wants and craves for they just cringe when this name is said. Why is that? I have heard that the name Jesus is offensive because of the conviction that name brings to people, but I am not sure that is really it. Awful and evil things have been done and said in the name of Jesus throughout the history of Christianity. There are many terms that are in the same boat as being social ‘swear words’ like; church, bible, Christian, God, etc.

So what do we do, make a mission to redeem these names or change the title to fit the needs of people who need the work of Jesus and a greater understanding of His character? It may be we are more looking for people who display the character and work of God just as much as those who can say the ‘proper’ terms of God, Jesus and church. Sometimes those who know the right terms display less of Jesus’ work and character than those who cringe when they hear that title. More and more I believe if we are to ‘reach this world’ we are to saturate ourselves in the work and character of God/Jesus in the world measured by the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23), and the ‘one another’s’ (like love, forgive, encourage, exhort, bear burdens, confess to, etc. -31 in all).

Jesus even gives a test for Himself,

There are many people who do not know the right words or the right terminology for God and Jesus, but they display His character more accurately than those who do know the right terminology. Why are we so hung up on names than? Do a study some time into the dark history of the church and a group called the "Cathars" in France. This story now from our view point is horrific as far as what people do in the 'name' of Jesus. The well know phrase "Kill em all and let God sort em out." comes from that time period.

-joe

Just was hit with news today about a guy -Jermaine Malcolm who was stabbed to death at my old work area in Meadowvale. I had built a relationship with Jermaine in the drop-in days and the last I saw him, he was aspiring to make a difference in the music world by being a positive role model.

Seek – To pursue, eagerly watch for in a progressive and intentional way

Seeking and dissatisfaction have a lot in common in my mind. Before the fall I believe Adam sought after deeper knowledge of God. Since the fall the ability to seek has not decreased or increased but has sought out other things than God. Again this is my belief but it makes sense.

It makes sense because how else can we explain the growth, development, and evolution of humanity. Some call this ‘seeking’, dissatisfaction. If that title sticks better with you, than I think it is one of the greatest gifts God ever gave us than. If we weren’t dissatisfied/seeking than there would be no way we would ever have a relationship with God.  The ability to seek is God given. In fact it is the work of the Holy Spirit for us to seek. Even if people are seeking out the things that are not of God, they are better off than those who wouldn’t even seek (apathetic).

When someone is seeking after the riches of this world, substances, fame, relationships or whatever they may be drawn to, they may not appear to be seeking God but they really are, they just have been distracted in their search for the seemingly more fulfilling answer. That search will exhaust and another will replace it until it comes solely back to Jesus. Those who aren’t even seeking have no chance to encounter God (or maybe they don’t show evidence of His work drawing depending on your bent of predestination).

Do a study sometime on the word ‘seek’ in the Bible. There are numerous references. It is littered with the concept that one of the most significant aspects to spiritual growth in humanity is seeking. The next time you find yourself desiring or dissatisfied or seeking, thank God for His work in you. Ask what you should be seeking for in Him.

See- to visually absorb and discern, to gaze upon something unveiled, to observe, witness or understand and acknowledge.

For those who can we take for granted our ability to see. Seeing spiritually is no different. When we see an act of God; a moment of truth, someone assisting someone else, an encouraging spoken word, etc we minimize that goodness to common sense or normal. By doing that we blind ourselves to seeing that those moments are nothing short of a miracle from God who is revealing Himself or character. The ability to see is similar to seeking –it is from God and God only.

It is possible to seek and seek and never clearly see. Sight was not given to every blind man Jesus encountered although it would be safe to say all blind wanted and sought after sight. We may seek and we may even see, but pass over the moment like we deserved it or say it’s normal. We miss out because we don’t really see- not only have our eyes receive input but for our consciousness to acknowledge the moment of God’s character.

The truth is God is working everywhere from strip houses to picturesque nature scenes, God is present and waiting to be seen. We have lost the art of seeing and being in places or consciousness to see Him. This is a constant feeding to our souls present in every waking moment of our lives. Just waiting for us to say “Ah, I see you God!, or Thank you God for revealing yourself to me!”

That is the role of Christ followers is to be the ones who cultivate the presence of God in any given moment- to celebrate.

Celebrate –with reverence, with mouth, with a responding life. To respond with enthusiasm, reverence and acknowledgement to the act or circumstance given. To honor and bring glory to someone or something with body, mind, and soul.

Let’s face it, we are built to celebrate. Most people think of times of celebration reserved for an event that involves, planning, a guest list, the right party gear and/ or an occasion that has significance of anniversaries, birthdays or achievement markers. I would say those types of celebration are a small part of the celebration we are built for. I would say we are to have a lifestyle of celebration. Everyday and every moment contains a celebration potential. Whether we see it or not does not change that potential. It’s a perspective of anticipation, understanding the ever presence of God and the enjoyment of life for all it’s good and bad. This is what I think it means when Jesus says He came to give ‘life to the fullest’ –John 10:10.     We do not have the discipline or the clear spiritual receptor to understand this ongoing miracle all the time. We only catch glimpses of the moment.

So what does that look like? Praise and celebration is done with your mouth, your heart and your actions. Each scenario is different. It could be saying ‘thank you’ or responding through giving something (offering) or serving because you become actively involved in the thing that your worship.

Let me try to bring all three into practical situations;

You are sitting in a service on Sunday desiring and praying to hear from God in a current issue that you need answers to (Seek). The pastor says a verse from the Bible that applies to you and you see that was the act of God hearing your prayer (See). You bow your head saying a prayer of thanks and say ‘Amen’ to the pastor (Celebrate).

Or

You have committed your day to look for the character of God in your day (Seek). A man opens a door for you as you are carrying something while he was busy doing something else and you recognize that gesture is very much like the character of God (See). You say “Thank you for watching out for me and making my day easier” (Celebrate).

Or

I have asked God to show me His face in a bar that my friends have asked me to go for a drink (Seek). In the crowded bar as I was waiting a guy who is semi drunk approaches me and says things like “Hey, can I buy you a beer?”, “I’m a regular here and I see this is new to you, what would you like to know?” and “What do your friends look like so I can help you find them?” I saw that he was displaying the character of God that was saying to me “Joe, I love you and I just want to welcome you into this place. You have asked to see me and I will show you my work and presence is already here and I’m glad you are here to celebrate me working, -not many do.” (See).  So I than thanked the guy and praised him for bringing such hospitality to me that I rarely experience (like the church especially). I also encourage that skill of welcoming and serving in him so that he will become the most of what God has already gifted him in (Celebrate).

The last scenario maybe the hardest, but I will guarantee it will be the most rewarding and the places that have been not inhabited and frequented by Christ followers need to have the seekers, seers and celebrators of His work and Character.

To begin a lifestyle of seek, see, celebrate here are some things that keep me on mission.

-Be in the community close to people in your normal sphere of living.

-spend time knowing and seeking who Jesus is

-begin a habit of writing down the ways you see the work of Jesus

Once I consistently work this muscle of seeking and seeing, I find the response (celebration) becomes natural, right and life giving to myself and others. Reason being is that Jesus’ mission is to give life to the fullest when we are in Him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YaXbkD1sgs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVjlZfPsD2k

You may disagree with me at first, but I don’t believe they will be the popular leaders of our day - the wealthy, the politically astute, or the influential.  They will be … the poors.  

Pay close attention to How people think rather than What people think

Respond by offering your compassionate presence and look for ways to cultivate others.