WILD GOOSE CHASE

I am really looking forward to Mark Batterson's visit to Central at the Prayer Conference. I am reading one of his books and I continue to pick up tidbits of teaching and wisdom from his writings. As usual, some of his points are things I have heard many times. Sometimes timing and willigness play a role in how I receive the truth.

Here is something I read today.....Satan wants to remind you of your greatest failures over and over again. Why? Because if you focus all of your energy on past failures, you'll have no energy left over to dream kingdom dreams or pursue kingdom purposes.

I do not have Biblical references to this thought, but I have always thought that Hell is a land of continual regrets. "If only; Why did I; Just one more time;...etc

So many times I read in Facebook posts by people of Grace, people living that second chance, staff and members alike, who still are so caught up in their guilt. So despondant about their failures, so sorry about underacheiving. It is so sad.

Depending on God, chasing the Holy Spirit(Wild Goose, read the book), following Jesus is an adventure. We are slaves to Christ. To some that still has a negative connotation. I am proud to be a bond servant for Christ and, boy, do I have fun.

MORE THOUGHTS AFTER READING THE FORGOTTEN GOD

i do not claim to be a book reviewer. i guess you would need to read more than the Sport's page every day in order to be taken seriously. But here are a couple more thoughts I have after reading Francis Chan's FORGOTTEN GOD....
I need to copy something he wrote. I cant do justice to it. It goes along with the current verse the church i attend uses as a basis for growth.
"Taking up my cross" has become a euphemism for getting through life's typical burdens with semi-good attitude. Yetlife's typical burdens, busy schedules, bills, illness, job loss, hard decisions, losingthe family dog, etc are felt by every one, whether or not they follow the Way or not.

It is actually giving up the life I know as comfortable and totally trust the Holy Spirit to lead me. I so need to givein to that concept.

Francis Chan's FORGOTTEN GOD

I am a little slow on the uptake when it comes to important books to read. I do not stay up on the "next best" author or what all the cool church leaders are reading today. When a book finds me, I try to pick it up and go through it. I try to take in what God wants me to learn from the book.

I have found that Francis Chan writes in a way that peaks my interest. It is almost as he is writing with a sense of urgency. Like he has found something and really wants to share it with me because he believes it can help me as much as it helped him. He does not so much as writes a "How To" book but this is what God has taught me book.

As I am going through this book, I came across something he asked, "Is your church big or powerful?" Is the Holy Spirit leading this church, or what, who?

Here is something that really hit me. If I have a manifestation of the Holy Spirit to edify the church I am part of, would they miss me, and more importantly that gift if I were to leave? Oh my. I wonder if I am missed at all the churches I have left in my life.

If all the Christians acted exactly as I act, would we be making a difference for Christ?

Read on Greg, there is more for you learn. Thank you, Francis Chan