Extraordinary! Ch3 Storing Up Treasure

So I am saved by grace and not by works so that I may not boast… Eph 2:8-9

Okay I get that, can’t earn your way to heaven. For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive what is due to him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Cor 5:9-10

Why? If I am already saved why the judgment? What possible consequence could there be that a judgment necessitates?

I don’t know about you but for well over ten years I have wondered about these questions and frankly no one has adequately answered them.

Well I found an eloquent answer in the pages of Extraordinary Chapter 3. Amazing to me that John continues to hit homeruns, dealing with and helping me through core issues, areas of struggle in my faith life. I read through chapter 3 wondering where John would go now that he had already rocked my perspective on God’s love.

When we die we will go before Christ who will act as our advocate telling the father this one is mine and we will be saved on our way to heaven. But there are several peculiar scriptures that talk about that same judgment in different ways and other scriptures that encourage us to store up treasures in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy. Why?

For that matter what about the Christians that struggle mightily with last minute converts to the faith. The mass murderer who repents seconds before execution. Will they share in the same eternity as us?

Well that last one is a big ole can of worms but all these arguments and issues relate to the same core issue. What happens at the judgment?

John cunningly uses multiple scripture to support the argument that each will be judged and afforded heavenly treasure as it relates to our acts once saved. If we lead an ordinary life not living up to God’s unique plan for our life, we can expect little treasure. Lead an extraordinary life and watch the treasure be heaped up on us.

Now I have no idea what you need treasure for in eternity but sounds pretty cool to be well rewarded in heaven. In fact as I reflected on this possibility it gave me great joy to think that I could do kingdom work and get rewarded for it. Not that I do so expecting reward, not at all. My purpose in serving had always been to say to God, here is an offering of love for you, I do this because I love you.

So you see as I contemplated this chapter I found myself in a new place. A place where a deep fundamental question had been answered and joy came welling up. Joy that I serve the creator of the universe and he wants to reward me for doing so. That is cool!

As I prayed at the end of the chapter content in what had been revealed, another thought came...

Don't read any more of this book for at least four days. Take the time to reflect on the challenge at the end.

• In your life now how are you pleasing God? How might you please him more?
• What do you believe is God's special plan for you?

More on this later

Father thank you

Thank you for allowing me to serve you

Thank you for revealing the meaning f your word

Sharing with me the reward of living for you, loving you

Amen

EXTRAORDINARY! Ch1-2 Gods Love

It was a cool fall day in so Cal, a day that stands out as there are few October days that stay below 70 degrees. This is the type of day I love; grey overcast and cool, threat of rain, it kind of reminded me of the steely grey days of Canada in my youth.

This day was special I had a new book to read.

I should say that I am an avid reader. It is not uncommon for me to read over 100 books a year. Yet in the past 6 months I could not even pick up a book. They simply held no interest to me. I had wondered why for months but allowed my time to be consumed with thee many other demands of my life. NOT today! Today I would crack open John Bevere's new book Extraordinary. Before I did so I earnestly asked God to reveal to me his wisdom as I read every word.

As I read this book implore me to read sequentially cover to cover I shrugged. I do that with every book I read, odd though for an author to ask for that behavior. When I got into the argument of God's love I understood why. This book builds on a firm foundation that must be built to gain the most value.

I read the chapter on God's love for us checking every scripture as I read and contemplating on each. What a powerful exercise. I ended the chapter reading John's challenge. Three points

• Do you believe God loves you unconditionally?

• If you do not is it based on feelings or what God has spoken?

• Make a decision to believe Gods word.

Well as I reflected on these questions, sitting at a local park I like to frequent, God spoke to me.

You see on question 1 the answer came quickly

I don't know that He loves me unconditionally...

Heck I am not even sure He loves me.

How could He love me? How could He even know me? If He knew me surely He would be ashamed of me.

I worked through this emotion and with His help came to an interesting place. Yes He loves me, He just doesn't like my behavior much lately.

Clearly my opinion regarding His love was based on my feelings which I know to be deceptive.

The final challenge was extremely powerful for me. I believe in the gospel hence I believe in His word. He says He loves me. I heard a thought to read all the verses demonstrating God's love in the bible. I did so later that day and was surrounded by a sense of peace and comfort as I did so.

You know He does love me and He loves you to. Do you know His love.

PRAISE YOUR HOLY NAME FATHER.

Thank you for loving me

Thank you for not giving up on me

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

John 3:16

Amen

EXTRORDINARY!

Well long time no write...

I have spent some time out in the dark fighting demons and other characters of satan's creation. Mostly I have been fighting myself...for months. It has been a dark time with moments of bright light. Enough light to not lose hope but more darkness than I ever wanted to experience ever. Despite being lost I soldiered on fighting, winning some battles, losing others, caring for Gods people, falling into pits of selfishness. Will the battle ever abate Father? Will you help me? Will you deliver me from this swamp of despair? His answer was certainly unexpected.

I discovered with clarity God's love for me, my desire to please him and my desire to serve him.

This discovery came from the most unlikely source. A book.

This past weekend a new dear friend Pastor Gary Hornsby of The Rivers Edge hosted a leadership conference at my church. The keynote speaker at the conference was a guy named John Bevere. I knew of John because my small group is studying one of his curriculum on Drawing Near to God. Funny though I fall asleep during every video segment of this study. ATTACK ATTACK the darkness not wanting me to see something, I should have known.

I struggled through the first several hours of the conference feeling I had little right, desire, motivation, whatever to be there. Despite this a voice in the back of my head reminded me of the need to fight through where I was and worship the Lord anyway. I did and spent the entire time of worship in repentance. Alternating between worship and despair. God won.

After some preliminaries John began to speak. I have to admit my expectations were low after all I could not stay awake during video segments of this guy, how would I do with him live for two hours after an intense 60 hour work week. Man was I wrong. John talked about his new book Extraordinary: The Life You're Meant to Live . By the time he was done for the evening I was hooked.

The following afternoon John retook the stage and continued to explain how we as Christians are not called to mediocrity but to the Extraordinary. So I bought his book and decided to read it with new eyes, remember the old post? I want to read this book with the eyes of my heart.

So in this series of posts I will chronicle chapter by chapter what my journey through this book is. You see I am only a few chapters in and already I can see that God desperately wanted me to read this book. My journey need not be so dark, he has offered me a light to guide my path and I want to share the journey with you.

'The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Zep 3:17

PRAISE BE HIS HOLY NAME

AMEN

Limping Out: Requiem Well Almost #1

Yesterday was exactly 4 months to the day since I about killed myself hiking.

 

I would like to say I am fully healed and that all is normal. Spiritually speaking I have been fully healed since that day. As I said before the presence of God was so clear in the hours following my accident that I knew I was healed. Funny thing though my ankle did not get the memo. The first six weeks were difficult to say the least. Somewhere around 10 weeks I realized I was “almost” normal again. This despite all my wise friends and colleagues saying it might never heal fully. Yeah thanks I would say.  I started working out in week 10 and have been doing so now for 6 weeks. I feel alive and strong. Energy levels climbing by the day. Still though my ankle did not get the memo. A missed placed step and a dull shooting pain was my reward. A stretch of a joint that just won’t go as far as it used to…

 

Throughout this ordeal I wanted to live the wisdom “if you fall get right back up and try again”. I desperately wanted to go back up the mountain and thank God for my deliverance. I wanted to run the dirt and rock through my hand in the spot I fell. I wanted to see the blood stains in the ground where I came to rest. I wanted to retrace my steps as God carried me out of that place. The desire to return was overwhelming. Only thing is I knew that I could not too early, I had to be fit and strong.

 

My wife and friends wanted me to take a friend, they wanted me to play it safe. Common sense sure, wise advice certainly, but is that the way of a real man? How could I go back into Gods country with a safety net?! No this was a journey I had to take alone.

 

I decided to ride my mountain bike up there this time. I had always wanted to do so in the past but was not fit enough for the cardio beating it took to do so. I have no friends capable of this ride and only a few acquaintances who could and they just would not get the significance of the ride so I rode it alone.

 

I got to within half a mile before I had to walk. Travelling off-road up a mountain trail for over five miles will wear you down like no other workout I know, it just never ends. As I approached the mound I was stunned. You see I had secretly begun to think I has exaggerated its size. No it could not have been over 40 feet high. It was higher, at least 60! It was not that steep, yes it was. I climbed that thing?!

 

I stared at it awestruck at how blessed I was to have been delivered from this. Even though I had returned to the spot I had fallen I felt this strange urge upward. Should I? You must, a voice inside me responded, closure awaits. So I climbed back up the slope I ran down just four months earlier. I got to the top and praised God for my deliverance, thanked him for his grace. Then I began to climb down.. again…

Father thank you

there are no words to describe the depth of my gratitude for what you did for me that day

Thank You

Honored in another Blog

You know its funny. I write this blog for just a few reasons.

 

1.       It is a chance to journal the remarkable things that our heavenly father does in my life

2.       It hopefully provides some encouragement for others who are searching for God

3.       It acts as a reminder for me when I am struggling with sin

4.       It teaches me to be courageous and provides me a small activity in living the great commission

 

That’s it, that’s why “Least of my brothers” exists. I have never publicized the blog. I have never tried any search engine optimization. In fact the only time I have ever shared its existence is with a hurting brother or sister a story it contains believing it will help them.

 

So imagine my surprise when I received an email from someone representing www.christiancolleges.com telling me that my blog had been listed in their 100 enlightening bible study blogs. I can only hope that such publicity and recognition will lead to other brothers and sisters being encouraged by reading this blog.

So check it out here.

Ron 

Limping Out: Final

the journey back to normalcy was almost as fascinating as the exodus from the mountains. A week after the event still limping badly I attended worship for the first time. Raising my arms in praise was a new sensation. My chest stung as I did so. My heart leapt for joy. Tears streamed down my face as I realized what God had done for me anew.

Two weeks after in my small group we worshiped again. This time as I sang the words of Mercy Me "We all fall down" No I am not making this up. As we sang this song the words came alive. This was true worship. The stinging of my chest was a gentle reminder of my ordeal while the words echoed in the hills. God spoke to me in this moment. 

I was with you always you did not need to hear from me. I am with you always. I walked you out.

I was stunned. In an instant the whole journey made perfect sense. All the times he spoke to me. All the guidance, the protection, the laughter, it was all him. I was stunned. 

Please do not think I got all this the day of the accident I had no clue. It took two weeks and time in worship for it to be revealed.

Throughout this time I believed I was already healed. Nothing broken, just bruises. Through these stripes God wanted me to learn a lesson. My ribs did not crack, my ankle did not break, ligaments intact. How could this have happened? 

Did you catch the psalm?

Praise be to the LORD, 
       for he has heard my cry for mercy.

 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; 
       my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. 
       My heart leaps for joy 
       and I will give thanks to him in song.

I love it when I get to see a part of God's plan come together.

Praise be to the father the son and the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Limping Out: Part 3

Through necessity I did this day. You see the ankle sprain I had sustained was so severe that when eventually examined it was thought to be 100% certainly broken. The rib and chest pain I described, that was a collapsed lung and bruised chest. Every breathe was a labor to survive. I was told had I not come in to urgent care I would not have been able to breathe by the end of the day. Remember my post on reaching the end of your breath as the start of God’s?!!! THIS WAS THAT DAY. I had no hope of making it out unless God walked at my side carrying me along the way. There was no crutch, no walking stick, no rescue, only a rugged uneven loose rocky terrain of the San Gabriel mountain range. Did I mention this is the home of mountain lions, Coyotes, and other wild creatures. Not a good situation. So I got up and began to walk out, limp out with God.

 

Along the way I was reminded of the prayers I had said that very morning. Prayers of protection, prayers where I claimed the healing power of Christ, prayers where I claimed the power of the Holy Spirit in casting out evil. Amazingly powerful prayer. Each step was a labor, not too much pressure on the left foot not too much compensation on the right chest. Shooting pain on a foot for an incorrect step, blazing fire in my chest when I breathed too deep or compensated for my ankle. It was a no win situation. Three miles to go, 2.75 miles to go, 2.5 miles to go. A mountain biker, a hard core guy, my kind of rider labored up to me issuing a faint greeting of beautiful day isn’t it?! Fantastic I countered, have a great ride. It was all I could muster more words would have been like fire in my chest.

 

But why didn’t you ask him for help?!!!

 

I had already decided that this was God’s turn. He would save me from this place. He would be my deliverer. This was my Egypt, he is my King. No, some mountain biker would do me no good on this journey. 

2.25 miles 

Pain seemed to envelop me, panic was lurking in the shadows. This was not going to be easy could we make it I wondered more than once. Could this battered body make it out even with God as its guide? 

2.0 miles: 

Passing by places from happier hikes time with God in prayer, time with wind whipping through my hair times of promise, times of joy. Today was a labor today was dependence.

1.75 miles: 

There were steps where I swear my ankle stopped hurting. My mind said pick up the pace this is a bad dream. Was this the edge of shock and delirium? No this was God. Remember the serenity prayer and the story of how two sets of prints became one? God was carrying me out in this time. This was not of me. 

1.5 miles: 

How can this be God? Why did this happen? I protected you, remember the psalm? He asked. Why does it hurt so much Lord I can’t take it . Remember my son? What was his pain like for you? I am with you even now. 

1.25 miles:

I can see the end of the trail it is a long way off but I can see it for the first time. Can we make it God? I trust you. Will my ankle get that far? 

1.0 miles: 

Father why am I not angry that this happened? Why does this seem like only an inconvenience? Why the range of emotion? Why the JOY?!!! 

0.75 Miles: 

Oh the biker again. Laughter He still can’t help me. Have a great ride! Have a great hike he responds. If only he knew! This was the hike of lifetime. Limping out with God. 

0.5 miles: 

What! You have got to be kidding me a JEEP!? Man too late no way we finish what we started God and man (injured man) How’s it going guys, enjoy your ride. 

0.25 miles: 

Time for the cell phone not much battery left but enough to make the call. Kim (my wife) please come get me now! Are you okay? A voice of genuine concern she can hear the labor and pain in my voice. Just come get me I will tell you when you arrive. 

0.0 miles:

Relief God has carried me out of the wilderness. Praise his holy and faithful name.

 

Only joy remained in my soul as my wife pulled up and I carefully managed to get into her car. Yes the human emotions wreaked havoc on my mind. In less than 4 hours I would travel the entire grief cycle while waiting for and between medical care. Urgent care confirmed the extent of my injuries and marveled at how I was able to get out of the mountains. Not me I knew how, it was a God thing. I ended up travelling by ambulance to the local hospital where after many pain killing drugs a chest tube was inserted to address my collapsed lung. It is funny to consider that despite the vicadin, adavan and morphine and whatever else was in the cocktail they gave me I had once and for all experienced the peace that surpasses all understanding. I was joyful, I was content.  

 

Amazingly this was not the end of the story...

Limping Out: Part 2

I chose the latter…

 

Before I knew it I went from a careful slow walk to a careening reckless freight train heading into a rock face. With every step my pace quickened. Could this be happening I asked. Slow down on the flat I reasoned. You’re going kind of fast I cautioned. There was no slowing down every step became more and more a sprint toward the hard packed dirt and rock ground of my mountain playground. I fought to keep in control ever accelerating. 5 feet from the bottom I was at full sprint. The thought of slowing down now seemed impossible. My body knew what was coming. 2 feet: Thoughts of I can make it, slow down on the flat , were engulfed by how the heck did we get this much speed up. You better be able to stop this could be bad. 1 foot: This is going to hurt, aw crap! My left ankle rolled under the unbearable pounding of velocity and change in direction. My body continued its relentless downward journey until hard earth smacked into it. THWACK! Roll after roll to a dusty dazed stop in the dirt.

 

With a scream of anguish I yelled. It did not hurt yet, this was a scream of frustration, stupidity, and the slow rising blood of pain. This was bad. I am 3  miles from ANYWHERE. What will I do.

 

Then a thought came over me. God this is NOT what I had in mind when I said I wanted to hear from you. Laughter. I laughed until it hurt. I laughed with God, I laughed at myself until it hurt. Unfortunately that did not take much.

 

I did a body inventory as I have always done when I fall. Check the joints (oh left ankle bad I can feel the blood rushing there even now) legs fine, head fortunately fine clear thinking no blood phew! Arms ouch right elbow stinging and the cool sensation of blood hitting the cool mountain air. Otherwise arms good. Chest: why does it hurt to breathe? Oh this is bad cracked some ribs for sure, deep stabbing pain on each breathe with my whole right chest erupting in fire with every touch. That can’t be good.

 

Again survey the situation. 3 miles from and possible means of rescue, in the middle of the wilderness late morning. Know anyone with a 4 by that can come get you? No would take too long anyway. Want to call 911 and wait for med-evac? NO that would cost a fortune although it would be cool to do the MASH 4077 helicopter ride. NO GET UP AND WALK OUT. Was it my voice or God’s? In my pain fogged state I had no idea.

 

Have you ever depended so completely on God that you gave yourself no room to be on your own?

to be continued...

Limping Out: Part 1

A few weeks back I had the most profound experience

 

I had gone hiking in the mountains to hear from God and while I had a great experience, wonderful solitude, a clear sense of awe and dependence on God, yet I did not sense an answer to my earnest desire to hear from God.

 

I thought and prayed about it some more and decided to go hiking again 4 days later. Only this time the outcome was different.

 

It was a beautiful day. January 3^rd should be so beautiful in the rest of the world low 60’s, overcast and breezy. It was like walking in Heaven without actually being there. The day started in prayer and was filled with many moments of praise as I discovered the rugged beauty of another section of this magnificent mountain range. About an hour and a half in I decided to stop and spend some serious time in prayer. So far I had not gotten the clear sense that God was talking to me and I knew that through prayer and petition perhaps I would be answered.

 

I found a small mound alongside the trail I was hiking and decided to climb it to pray. Now I should say that small is a relative term when you are hiking at the feet of 7000 foot mountains. This mound was 40 feet tall and had a slope of about 60 degrees. As I climbed up more than once I placed my hands on the ground in front of me to steady my balance. Only thing is on a 60 degree slope you do not have to bend over to touch the ground. (this should have been a clue!)

 

On top of the mound there was a flat boulder and I sat upon it to pray. I came prepared with my bible and decided to read from the psalms.27 I think I like that one seems appropriate given all the current adversity in my life. As I approached this favorite psalm I was drawn to psalm 28. In fact it was as if a voice was yelling in my head READ THIS ONE! 

To you I call, O LORD my Rock; 
       do not turn a deaf ear to me. 
       For if you remain silent, 
       I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.

 2 Hear my cry for mercy 
       as I call to you for help, 
       as I lift up my hands 
       toward your Most Holy Place.

 3 Do not drag me away with the wicked, 
       with those who do evil, 
       who speak cordially with their neighbors 
       but harbor malice in their hearts.

 4 Repay them for their deeds 
       and for their evil work; 
       repay them for what their hands have done 
       and bring back upon them what they deserve.

 5 Since they show no regard for the works of the LORD 
       and what his hands have done, 
       he will tear them down 
       and never build them up again.

 6 Praise be to the LORD, 
       for he has heard my cry for mercy.

 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; 
       my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. 
       My heart leaps for joy 
       and I will give thanks to him in song.

 8 The LORD is the strength of his people, 
       a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

 9 Save your people and bless your inheritance; 
       be their shepherd and carry them forever.

So I did. Now of course at the time I had no idea that this was God telling me to read this psalm, I just read it. Upon finishing I continued to pray for so many things. Finally when I was done I got up and planned to continue my hike. A little further north then back to home I thought. That was the plan anyway. Funny thing about steep slope mounds, they go both ways. I carefully started to walk back down the mound taking extremely careful and small steps. About ten feet into my decent it happened, my right foot slipped…

 

You know there are moments that seem to stretch into eternity while others seem to be so short they cannot be recalled. I had a choice to make. I could fall on my backside and slide down the remaining 30 feet and have a sore scratched up butt or I could regain my balance.

to be continued...