We were at Borderland last night discussing transformation - 16 pilgrims on a spiritual journey seeking to know the God who created us and loves us while also seeking to be more like His Son - all of this in the context of the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God has tranfixed me and it frustrates me. At times I feel like I have a grasp on it and then it melts away in the noise of my mind. If the Kingdom of God is where the will of God is done here on earth as it is in heaven - then there are questions I want to ask Him - questions about my life - questions like these - What is You Will for me right here and right now? What do You want me to do today? Whom I am to serve in Your name? Who do You want to help through me? What do You want to teach me today about Who You are?
I started an experiment 2 days ago to help me answer these questions - I actually started two experiments - the first is to read the Bible daily with a new purpose - asking God to reveal Himself and His will in every situation and then journaling (the hard part) what I discover. 3 days into it and I am still doing it - that's huge because I am not a person who journals. Today was especially helpful - I was able to get some things out there that I had been wrestling with and I gave them to God in written form.
The second experiment is one that I heard of last week. It was written about by Brother Lawrence and Frank Laubach (Practicing the Presence of God) It involves calling Christ to mind throughout the day in prayer - thought - Scripture- asking Him - "What is Your Will for me right now." I find that I can go long periods of time throughout the day without thinking directly of Him. I am learning to retrain my mind to think of Him more often - to drive with the radio off - to think of Him as often as I can. My first try at it changed my outlook for that day entirely. It was great. 3 days later - it was tough - I found myself missing periods of time - so I am still experimenting.
This blog will be a window into what I am experiencing through these experiments in renewing my mind on the journey of transformation. If you would like to travel this path with me I would love to hear how you are doing. Please contact me through this blog and record what you are learning from God and your experiences in becoming transformed to become more like Christ. Let us explore the Kingdom together.
About Me
- Patrick Norris
- I am the founding pastor of Bridges Church. Originally from Morehead City, NC - I lived 19 years in Southern California where I met my wife, Stacey, and where both of our sons were born Ethan & Micah.
10 comments:
To leave a comment just click on the word comment and leave your thoughts about what God is doing in your life. Hope to hear from you.
Becoming more like Christ, takes discipline. Just like wanting to become a better guitar player. I have to learn my scales, practice and play consistently and with others (fellowship).
My opinion....
Scripture reading & pray: a necessity
Journaling:optional.
There are many great ways to get closer to God, as long as He is first an foremost in our mind in all that we do. I would take music playing and listening a way/tool to bring me close to Him, to understand Him and to spill out my questions and doubts.
I'll be honest,I am filled with so many distractions, busyness, etc. So I'd be more on board with the second method. The intentional thoughts/conversations with God are becoming more and more of a necessity to me.
To become more like Christ in this culture is very tough! Focus...focus in everything I do...am I loving God? am I loving others?
Thank you God for all that you give me! For great people all around me that inspire me! THANK YOU!!!
I appreciate you, your heart and your words more than I can say.
J.
Kingdom Thoughts
I don’t journal. The way I process thoughts does not seem to fit the mold of a writer.
Today is a start; I will enter a blog for 4 purposes: 1) to see what God can teach me about this journaling process (at Borderland, it was suggested to be valuable). 2) offering myself an opportunity to discover more about the kingdom. 3) for the next little slice of time, my focus will be devoted to listening, and 4) I am the discussion leader for my small group tonight and I would like to crystallize my thoughts so I have something of value to share.
In Patrick’s blog, he shared how studying the Kingdom can be frustrating, how elusive these concepts are (and he’s been to seminary). For me, it is like exploring a dark building with flashlights. Someone’s flashlight beam will shine on something and it catches your attention and when you try to get your own light on it, you never really see it again.
I’ve had four such experiences since we’ve started the Chronicles of the Kingdom . I’ve had a glimpse of 4 kingdom principles but when I wanted to see them clearly, these ideas seem so hard to grasp.
First. Matthew 4:17
“From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
The trigger word for me is “repent”. Up until now, this was an admonition to change one’s behavior and/or be in remorse for previous behavior.
Patrick suggested that it is not behavior but the change must be in mindset – to change how one thinks. It is Jesus’ suggestion that everything one previously thought about the kingdom needs to change – you really don’t have a clue what the kingdom is all about.
Second Matthew 19: 27-29
. . . And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.
At the first Borderlands, this verse was discussed (yet I do not remember the context). The phrase that captured my attention was “will receive a hundred times as much”.
The consensus around our little table was that this verse was not to be taken literally – do not expect an exact ‘one dollar in equals 100 dollars out’. What you should expect is some return in a figurative sense; certainly not measurable nor in like kind. That’s the way I was taught; this was our tradition.
Then, for a brief moment, the flashlight beam lit up “why not?” Why are we so willing to abandon the literal meaning of the 100-fold return? Why would we expect some nearly equivalent (or not even remotely similar) return? Have we nullified the word of God for the sake of our traditions? (Matthew 15:16)
Third, Margaret and I were having a casual conversation and the concept of how disadvantaged immigrant families are when they do not know our language.
I presented the idea that despite being among us, they were still “trapped” in their own ghetto; their only change was geographical. Suddenly, I had the thought; “That is exactly how we are as it relates to the Kingdom.” Here we are, dwelling in the kingdom, yet mostly unaware of how it works or how to live as citizens of the kingdom, nor even knowing the rights we have as kids of the king.
Fourth; and the most elusive yet it seems to be shouting the loudest – the concept of looking at my life (and the examples of those around me) – “it’s not supposed to be like this.”
If I take these little glimpses from what the passing beam of a flashlight has briefly lighted, I begin to agree with what Jesus suggested “I haven’t a clue.”
Matthew 4:17 tells me kingdom living is not behavior but mindset.
Matthew 6:33 tells me kingdom living should be anxiety free and effortless.
Matthew 16:19 shows me the incredible authority given to me.
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Matthew 19:29 (“will receive a hundred times as much”) shows me the incredibly vast resources of kingdom living.
Despite these claims, If I do not understand them nor experience them. I, like the immigrants, feel trapped in the ghetto of sub-kingdom living. The shout grows even louder – “It’s not supposed to be like this!”
Matthew 13:19
“When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.”
To conclude, let’s consider this blog. I’ve invested about 2 hours to create it; did it accomplish the 4 goals I set for it? All told, I think not. My opening remark seems valid: “I don’t journal”.
very good thoughts, john, let me soak it all in....
John
You amaze me with your insight - don't give up- the kingdom is worth searching for - the flashlihg tis on - follow the light.
Patrick
Be different.
Make a difference.
Our Saturday morning Men’s Bible study presented the following question:
Roger Bannister broke a barrier some thought would never be broken – the four-minute mile. When he reflected on his titanic athletic achievement, he said:
"The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win."
Do you agree or disagree with what Bannister said?
My answer; an emphatic ‘disagree’.
It was different.
Conventional wisdom (and what seemed to be the consensus of the group) claims that winning requires effort. The greater the effort (bordering on pain), then, the greater the reward. This seems to be the lesson from childhood and from career.
My answer was based on my reflections on the kingdom; remember that little voice shouting “it’s not supposed to be like this!”
I had three concepts in mind when I disagreed with Bannister.
Romans 12:2
Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture [the ‘no pain – no gain’ mindset] that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you [with no painful effort on your part].
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
I may not have a full grasp of the meaning of this verse but it seems clear that letting Christ live through me does not require any painful effort.
Lastly – and I have no verses for back-up; is the grace vs. works argument.
If what Bannister said is true: "The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win", then the obvious conclusion would be that performance determines the outcome. This certainly contradicts grace and it is not the lessons from Matthew 5, 6 and 7.
Purpose and passion; being different and making a difference.
“Failure is not the antithesis of success, it is the acceptance of mediocrity.”
It would seem that I never had a clear sense of purpose and often, I’ve struggled over this. I’ve invested countless hours in self-help books and tapes, performed skills assessments, done Warren’s ’40 Days of Purpose’, prepared countless ‘mission statements’ and counseled with many godly men. I’ve done spiritual gifts inventories (giving and serving). Yet, nothing emerges; I still wonder “what do I want to be when I grow up?”
If asked, I could not list anything that I’m passionate about. I enjoy the stuff I do in my “spare time” but none is so consuming that I couldn’t walk away without regrets.
There’s the picture; no sense of purpose and no passions.
Several years ago (during a career change), this quest became serious. I came across Acts 20:24:
“. . ., I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.”
What instantly struck me was this is Paul’s capsulized statement of his passion and his purpose. I admired this. I wanted this. I condensed this to 6 words that I hoped would become MY mission statement:
My passion,
My purpose:
Proclaim grace.
The months have passed and despite my desire to become that mission statement, I remain that same guy wondering what I want to be when I grow up?
Then, consider that very question “what do I want to be when I grow up?” To me, there is a big distinction between “what I want to be” and “what I want to do”. I believe that when I become what I am supposed to “be”, then I will do what I am supposed to do. In the mean time, I have the feeling that I am doing a lot of stuff that really does not make a difference and this is very frustrating.
So, when we do stuff that fulfills “serve the world”, I sense this frustration. I receive the pats on the back and the re-assurance that I’ve ‘lit a candle’ and it really did make a difference. All the while, I know that even with the help we offered, ‘they’ will be hungry or poor again the next day. I am not satisfied with lighting a candle amongst the darkness when the voice within me is telling me to “step into the daylight”.
That is abundant life.
That is destroying the works of the devil.
That is ‘God’s will being done on earth as it is in heaven’.
That, and only that, is making a difference.
I desperately want to know how.
Times like this, when I read your insight, and the knowledge of what you are doing across the continent, when I miss you most. Keep up the insiriation Patrick. We all love you here in CA.
I recollect as I read John's reference
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Today, Patrick when you shared your heart about receiving the blood and body of Christ, atonement began again to whisper in my ear.
It was only right to spill the cup and blood pour out to cover me. I was an accident waiting to happen. God reminded me that he is ever current.
He is indeed in our every moment. We only need listen and watch. We cannot imagine what is next, nor does he want us to tame it and grasp for control.
As I left the service today I encountered a brother who has the unexpected awaiting him in medical diagnosis this week. I was reminded how the evil one would want to put our living testimony to destruction- but he cannot banish what God has begun. Indeed, Christ blood is poured over us. it was only right that I should "spill" mine. I pray now that he continues to "pour out".
It is God's grace that we at Bridges are an assembly of his demonstrated mercy. Amen.
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