Quote
I found this quote when I was preparing for my “Spiritual Formation” group presentation (we got an A, thank you very much! I’m sure my cookies were the deciding factor). We were a little long-winded, so I had to cut this quote out. I want to make sure to comment on it in my journal for the class:
“Biblical Christianity is not a business. It is medicine for people sick unto death. It is healing by the Great Physician. Too often we want people to think in the narrow categories of American, Aristotelian, linear logic — we want to chart Jesus on a graph. We can’t do that. He won’t let us.” ~ Patrick Morley
That’s me! I know I have experienced God in many ways that I cannot explain or understand. I know from the Scriptures – especially the OT that God can be unpredictable at times (actually quite a bit). That doesn’t stop me from trying to categorize and predict what He will do, or where He will lead.
When I enrolled in Milligan, I laughed at the idea of pursuing a full-time vocational ministry…
After graduating, I scoffed at the idea of ever pursuing a Masters degree, especially if it involved returning to the Tri-Cities region…
In my youth ministry days, I said there was nothing else I would be doing the rest of my life; I would ESPECIALLY resist the idea of preaching on a regular basis…
I was wrong on all counts!
Shows what I know.
That’s why when I tell people about my dream (vision?) of reaching the west side of Evansville, I am always hesitant to expand upon it, because I don’t know where God is leading this yet! My ego and my pride tell me that I should be the one to move my family back to Evansville and start the church. I’ve even come up with names…either River City Chrisitan (or Community) Church, or Lamasco Christian (or Community) Church – if you don’t know what Lamasco is, you have to look on a map of the Evansville area from, like, 1860, or something like that. Believe me, it’s important to West-siders!
I look at all these plans and ideas that I have, and then remember what my experience is – God’s plans are not necessarily my plans. Why else would I be at Emmanuel School of Religion? I definitely need to sit back and wait on God’s leading and His design before trekking out and doing what I think should be done. I do know that God put this passion to reach the west-side of Evansville within me for a reason. What that reason is, I’m not entirely sure.
It’s time to buckle up and enjoy the ride. I’m sure God is going to take me places I hadn’t even dreamed!
I hope I don’t get motion sickness.
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