So....it's been a while....again!!!

I don't know what has been up with me lately. Every time I sit to journal…I am interrupted. Admittedly, most of it is self interrupted. It’s like I don’t want to write…like I’m scared to write…I don’t get it. So, this morning…just for a second…I’m going to walk in to this stupid fear and write…just to get back on track a little.

Last week we started the “Restoration Discipleship Challenges” at Southwest. If you don’t know what this is, go here, www.southwest.org, click on challenge, and check it out. I don’t care if you are a member of Southwest or not…this is a fantastic thing for any disciple of Jesus to be doing. The challenge is just this:

1. Read….read the gospels over the next 3 months. Read solely for the purpose of knowing Jesus more. (not for knowing more about him…but for knowing him!)
2. Listen…spend thirty minutes a week in “silence” listening to God. More on this later.
3. Look…look to those around you who are more like Christ. Talk to them and ask them how they did it!

Real hard huh!!! Real stinkin hard! SEEK JESUS!! That’s all we are doing here. What is so difficult about this.

What is difficult about this is…

1. It is very hard for me to read scripture for myself. What I mean by this is that I am constantly reading scripture for others…to teach others…to prove others wrong…to have a good scripture that “fits” in our worship service. Father, help me read your word to know the Word who became flesh. Give me ears to hear YOU. I want to know more about who Your Son is. I want to be more like my brother Jesus. God…I want to know You more.
2. It is very hard for me to be quiet. I am constantly “interrupted”, mostly by myself, with….things I need to be doing, ideas for later, songs, tiredness, etc. By the way….Rob Bell has some GREAT teaching on this!! Why is it so hard to be silent before God? I think I figured some more of that out this morning. I was reading Scott Simpson’s blog. (http://facenorth.blogspot.com) He was talking about weeds. Read it if you want to….here is what I figured out. I don’t like listening because I WANT TO BE IN CONTROL. Just like my kids. If they don’t want to do I what I am telling them to, it’s simple, they don’t listen. Then, I can’t get mad at them because, “they didn’t hear me!!” So, my problem with listening is not a ADD problem or a finding enough time problem…it is simply a control issue. Father, I offer myself to You. Take control. I surrender. I open my hands to you. Take control. God, you know me, I will take control back…correct me when I do. You know me, I will ignore your voice…silence me when I do. Lord, be my lord.
3. Look. This one may be the easiest for me. God has surrounded me with Christ-like people. He has put me in close community with them. Now it is my job, my pleasure to learn from them. Not learn more scripture or cool ways to do cool stuff…learn more about being like Christ. Last night was one of those. Brian called me at about 9:30 (I was in bed…I’m old!!) and said, “I need you to go with me on a trip.” Long story short, there was this guy who had stolen something from the church, and Brian wanted me to go with him to see him. Not to scold him, not to tell him what he was doing wrong..but to heap blessing on him (he was going to give him money). Ended up we didn’t get to see the guy…but Brian still taught me a little more about being like Jesus. Father, give me more of these opportunities. Let me be You to the world TODAY!! Show me Jesus in the people around me.

Ok, gotta run. I get to go lead 800 or so people in worship to our Creator!!! What a great life!!!

DOyle