To Exile And Be Exiled

One of things I hate the most is when a preacher starts breaking down the Old Testament stories into "stages" and says "this is what every Christian goes through. These are the stages of our Spiritual journey!" The truth is that there is a measure of truth to what these preachers say. I do not think, however, that it is as cut and dry as many make it out to be and I often think they take it to the extreme, but there is truth nonetheless.

Israel was lead into a time of exile. 40 years in a desert just wandering around in circles before God took them into the promised land. It is important to remember that this is the history of a nation of people and not about individuals. It is not the rule that God leads His people in deserts, and to look at this passage and say "well this is a physical example of what God does spiritually for us now by leading us through spiritual deserts" might be a bit of stretch, and even a misuse of the text. It is, however, showing us that God is willing to lead us into times of great struggle and pain: a concept not very often talked about in prosperity-gospel churches.

We also learn from their exile that God is faithful to provide, just as he did with King Nebuchadnezzar that He sent into exile to be as a wild animal for 7 years and with Adam and Eve after the Fall. God leads us into periods of exile for the purpose of our growth and purging of sin.

Jacob went into exile for the sake of protecting himself from his brother whom he robbed of the birthright, and God met him there in his exile and changed him. When the time was right he was restored to his brother and peace was made.

Elijah too threw himself into exile to escape the wrath of an evil queen, in which God never rebuked, but instead provided him with the strength to travel to where He would reveal Himself to Elijah and ask "Why are you here?" God, knowing all, asked Elijah why he was there, gave him the opportunity to engage with Him, and to experience Him in an incredible way. From there God led him on to anoint those who would take his place and then took him up into heaven.

Exile often is painful, but it is also the tool by which God mends our hearts, changes our desires, and grants protection. It is the tool that keeps us safe from broken and destructive family situations until such time as reconciliation can be achieved.

Sometimes exile is necessary, even if it isn't exactly desirable or even causes one to sacrifice something precious to him or her. There are times where God exiles us, we exile others, and we exile ourselves for the sake of holiness, healing, or even love. It's rarely ever an enjoyable venture, but is more often required than we are willing to admit.

The question becomes, if exile becomes necessary, will we follow the Spirit's leading by going into exile or by commissioning another to exile? Or will we resist Him until He forces it upon us?

Grace and Peace,

Stephen

Where Dusk Meets the Dawn

Some days I think I got stuff figured out; that I've discovered the attitude and mindset that one should bear to experience fullness of growth and live most submitted to the will of God. In my defense, I've never claimed to be without pride haha. Every time I get to the point where I think "Oh man, I think I got it this time!" God is like "NOPE! Good try though!", and then I'm back at the drawing board.

Today is one of those days where I am struck with the realization that I definitely don't know everything, and also a day where I realize that I haven't quite dealt with some stuff that I thought I had! It's subtle experiences and revelations that keep life interesting. They slip in and the world changes!

Today I am filled with awe as I meditate on my relationship with God. I recognize a dissonance in my heart toward the cliche word "relationship". Partially because the word is incredibly overused, but another is that it seems so...limiting. The word cannot grasp the depth of what it is to know God and be known by God. At least, it doesn't seem to.

I have come to the conclusion that the question "how is your relationship with God?" is a very poor one to ask. I have found that a better question would be "how are you doing spiritually?" or "What has spiritual discipline been looking like for you lately?" These are questions that more accurately portray what is being asked and provides better insight into one's interaction with God and much more informative of the soul's formation.

To describe one's relationship with God is so difficult compared to a relationship with another human being. It is the colors of daytime mixed with the solitude and peace of the country. It is the ocean waves crashing against the sand; the wind rushing over grassy plains. It is where city meets country. It is dawn and dusk all in one. It is a divine dance of romance; of joy and of sorrow. To be in a "relationship" with the great, eternal Being that created everything, who loves perfectly and is perfectly trustworthy...it is an incredibly one sided relationship indeed.

I cannot describe God, so why would I think that I can capture what it is to be loved by Him or to live life alongside Him? I can't even begin to understand why He causes or allows certain events and circumstances to occur, so why do I believe I can define it or create a formula for spirituality?

I used to believe that the heart of God was found in Israel, in a certain biological and political grouping of humanity and Christians were an add on. I was wrong, the heart of God is humanity as a whole! It's in the individual person and in the gathering of people. His heart is us. Is delight is in us! In our broken, marred, and disgusting state He loves and delights in us! He craves and pursues humanity, allowing us to experience His glory and love, though we deserve annihilation.

How great and magnificent is our God above all other gods?! How pure and loving and majestic is He who sacrificed Himself to Himself to pay a debt that was not His and to bring forth reconciliation on our behalf when we were found incapable of doing so ourselves!

Perhaps you are going through a time of sorrow and it is difficult to see God in the midst of the shadows of life. Even the darkness whispers of the love of God. I find that this is often the case for me as well, but I have found that God has never left me and it is in the shadows that He reveals His healing light. Do not fear the darkness for Christ is with you. Do not fret the valley for it does not last forever, and when you breach the mist and walk out of the the crevice of death you will find Him there and He will give you peace.

Grace and Peace,

Stephen

What's in a Name?

I have been working at Dillard's Inc. for nearly 6 months now, and about two months ago I received my name tag! (No, you're right, I was supposed to receive it sooner than that). After receiving the the name tag, I noticed very little change. People still asked if I worked there, but people ask me that even when I'm dressed way down and off the clock...and even when I'm in Krogger's! This past weekend, however, I have noticed a bizarre change in my customers. They have nearly all begun to thank me by name!

This might not seem significant in passing thought, but I noticed a change in my reception of the typical "thanks" given as I wish the customers farewell. There is something that hits me when I hear my name spoken. Why? The brain is a marvelous device of processing and thought, and perhaps it is my brain picking up on the unusual stating of my name and the attempt to process this is what stirs that feeling in my stomach.

Let's take that a step further. Not only is it unusual for me to hear customers state my name, but in doing so that have exerted additional effort to make their thanks more personal. They took the time to search for my name and then state it, knowing good and well that in doing so that were making a relational, personal move in their expressing gratitude. That means something. What caught me even more off guard was when customers came back and called my name from afar, thereby showing more effort to remember my name rather than simply state it in one brief moment.

A name is personal, meaningful, and identifying. It separates one from another, is used to make social ques or state relationship. For example, one who has deeper relationship with another might take the extra time to say their first name, while another with a more shallow relationship (perhaps one strictly based around sports) will use the last name. Nicknames also serve this function of bearing identity, or of hiding identity.

I have often thought about changing my name, and the only reason I did not was to avoid offending my parents. I did not want my parents to take my name change as a slap in the face, and being a 2nd makes that even more prominent. What I have noticed through this weekend's experience is that I cherish my name. I hold it dear to me because I am recognized by it. When my friends us it they are honoring me and saying "I recognize you as an individual. You are you and I am I; I realize your separateness and value it."

What do you think of your name or nickname? Do you wish you could change your name? If so, why? How do names affect your world and what would life be like without them?

Peace be with you,

Stephen