YGT: The Inconvenient Truth

I wish the Lord would speak to me during commercials… 


Or maybe in a text message. Then I could take a couple minutes and quickly respond to what I hear in my spirit. This last year of blogging has shown me an important truth about great thoughts - they come at the most inconvenient times. Driving to work, during an exam, at 2:00 in the morning, great thoughts have no etiquette. 


The venerable Rev. Dr. William Turner at Duke Divinity School said there’s a difference between things that TAKE time and things that MAKE time. Things that are truly important in your life MAKE time to happen. Funny how we don’t TAKE time for eating, sleeping, or social networking… we MAKE time for these things because they are important (well, the social networking one is debatable). The same could be said for any number of goals you have. As the new year rolls on, what things in your life TAKE time and what things MAKE time?  (i.e. scripture reading or TMZ.com, Butterfingers or exercise, budgeting or shopping?)


In all honesty, I worry about 2013 – will I be able to keep posting with regularity? Or will God graciously answer my prayers and speak when it’s convenient? We all know the truth to that. If it’s important (which it is), I will write. And when it’s convenient (which it never is), God will speak.


The last year has given me the opportunity to attempt to note God’s movements in my spirit. What I really learned is that hearing God isn’t optional, it’s critical. And things that are critical MAKE time. Looking forward to more great thoughts in 2013 and beyond!!!





Lord, thank You for the witness of blogging. Thank You for the last year and allowing me to note what I hear and see. Please give me a sensitive spirit, one that can sense the winds blowing. I desire to be more faithful and effective. Help me to divide things that take time from those that make time. I love You and live to serve You. In Christ’s name, Amen.




Making time,
j.a.g.

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Psalm 62:5

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

YGT: Bottom 5 Posts of 2012 (so far)

This year, I started out on a journey to chronicle great thoughts that were the source of great sermons.  That led to a weekly post with the thought for that week.  Here's the bottom five posts* for the first half of the year from January 1 to June 1:

1. The First Earth Day (and Night)
2. Wading In
3. Summer Reading Club
4. Glowing in the Dark
5. Jesus to His Followers - Be Co0l

Check them out if you'd like.  Here's the Top 5 posts!

Lord, thank You for the opportunity to document my random thoughts.  I love that You love me and call me Your own.  In Christ's name, Amen.

Blessings,

j.a.g.

*by numbers of times they've been viewed

YGT: Top 5 Posts of 2012 (so far)

This year, I started out on a journey to chronicle great thoughts that were the source of great sermons.  That led to a weekly post with the thought for that week.  Here's the top five posts* that currently DON'T appear in popular posts on the right of the page.  These posts were taken from January 1 - June 1: 

1. Thank You, Dr. Watson
2. What's more Disgusting than a Wet Willy?
3. The Chronicles of Naptime
4. The Problem with Romney's Taxes
5. Christianity > USA

Check them out if you'd like.  Here's the Bottom 5!

Lord, thank You for the opportunity to document my random thoughts.  I love that You love me and call me Your own.  In Christ's name, Amen.

Blessings,

j.a.g.

*by numbers of times they've been viewed

YGT: Wading In

When beginning to consider the first post in this year of great thoughts (YGT), I stopped.  Or maybe I was stopped...

If we are seeking after great thoughts, for the great treasures of the Spirit, we must wade into deep waters.  This journey is like the difference between a pool and a beach.  There are pools where you can simply dive directly into deep waters.  However, in order to get to the deep waters at a beach, you must cross over the warm sand, enter into the chilly waters, and walk as the waters continue to rise around you; first to your ankles, then your knees, then your waist and chest, until finally, your feet leave the ground.

This idea of wading reminded me of the words Duke Divinity School Chaplain Sally Bates.  During a spiritual retreat, she explained that getting to a place of intimacy with God is not like flipping on a switch, but it requires deliberate and patient waiting.  While we know God can act immediately, God also reveals Himself through times of reflection, consecration, and prayer (interesting how the "suddenly" of Acts 2, occurs after the constant prayer of Acts 1; see below).  Let's not rush into greatness, but instead take time to wade into the deep.  Have a blessed week!

*Prayer below adapted from Howard Thurman's The Inward Journey:

While we wait in Thy Presence, search our spirits and grant to our minds  the guidance and the wisdom that will teach us the way to take.  Without You there can be no peace and no confidence anywhere.  Please teach us how to put at Your disposal the fruits of our hands, the products of our minds, the wealth of our land, and the resources of our spirit.  Lord, we desire You grant unto us the courage to follow the illumination of this hour to the end.  This is the simple desire of our hearts which we ask in quiet confidence.  Amen.

Chilly,

j.a.g.

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Acts 1:13-14

¹³ When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴ They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Acts 2:1-4

¹ When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

On What Makes a Good Sermon (Ideas Wanted)

What makes a good sermon?  Of course, we need to hear about Jesus.  But how Jesus is delivered is a delicate, daunting, and even mysterious process (I Corinthians 4:1 below).  Depending on who you ask, there are several factors to take into account when crafting a sermon (audience, occasion, delivery, etc.).  However, one ingredient is critical - a great idea.  Renowned pastor, theologian, and civil rights leader Rev. Otis Moss II describes this in the video below.  Please listen to his opening insights on the making of a great sermon (you probably won't want to stop there).

This year, I'm challenging myself - and all who will join me - to a year of great ideas.  Rather than preaching great sermons or teaching great lessons, let's focus on "grappling with great ideas".  What ideas can be born from "the great teachings of scripture, connected with all of life's experiences and the great conversations in human history"?


Each week, I will post a new idea.  I invite you to let your imagination loose and send in your own thoughts.  This year, let's ponder powerfully.  We don't have to answer every mystery - we won't - but let's attempt to discover the spiritual gems that have eluded us.  Just maybe, the sermon of our life will be better for it.




Lord, thank You for a new year.  Thank you for the wisdom, sacrifice, and courage of forerunners.  Father, please give us the strength to address the difficult and big ideas of our day.  Remind us that Your Word and Spirit is always relevant.  Teach us throughout this year to reach to the top shelf of our minds and search for great ideas.  In Christ's name, Amen.




Making resolutions,
j.a.g.










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I Corinthians 4:1
Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.