Yesterday a good friend of mine pointed me to a Cnn.com article about Mr. Chan’s departure.  I found it very odd that this article mentioned several times that there was no impropriety in his leaving.  It was almost like the assumption would be that is someone stepped out of a ‘famous’ position there had to be some sort of badness behind the scenes, and that the motivation for such a move would be more about covering up darkness then exposing the light.

Take a read, and add Mr. Chan to the cloud of witnesses that are pushing you towards good works.  I hope you find some encouragement in the way Mr. Chan has kept his focus and that it will help you in your own personal decisions and directions.

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 (New International Version, ©2010)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LA_uwWPE6lQ

So I have been thinking about taking risks.  I don’t mean bungee jumping off the New River Bridge, or necessarily backing up and moving to the Sudan.  I am thinking about things closer to home that will force me out of what can become the comfort zone of life.  I am not sure what this means yet, but I think it may lead to a good thing. With those thoughts, I have two things to share today.  One is a video that I shared a few years ago with several of you from Francis Chan.  If you can’t see this on your work computer, as I know YouTube is blocked a lot, make sure you check this out at home.

The second is this guy named Ananias from the book of Acts.  God told him to go and see this bad dude named Saul who was persecuted those who followed the Christ, and he after a little bit of hesitation, went.  He took a risk and great things happened

¹⁰In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.

¹¹The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. ¹²In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

¹³“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

¹⁵But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. ¹⁶I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

¹⁷Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, ¹⁹and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Acts 9:10-18

What risks are sitting in front of you that you are hesitant to take.  Trust in God and see where he leads you.  Great things are ahead, if we dare!

And since today is Daniel Boone Day, I think its even more appropriate.  Just think about Mr. Boone, heading off into the Transylvania wilderness (that is what he wanted to call Kentucky) way before the Interstate Highway System was even a sparkle in someone’s eye.  That took some faith!

So to honor ol’ Daniel,  lets get that good time pioneering feeling going today and step out there on faith.  Don’t be held back by the fear of the unknown, and the thought of what might happen.  But your faith in the creator of the universe to help you and get to it.

^1-2The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. (Hebrews 11:1-2, The Message)

^1-3Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls! (Hebrews 12:1-2, The Message)

This is really a thought provoking way of looking at the day.  So that’s really it today.  Can you look at today and say, God, how do you want me to serve you today?  How do you want me to glorify you.. with the next customer, the next conference call, the next problem ,the next child, the next class….?

Approach you day and realize he is with you.

⁹Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10New International Version (NIV)

I concur with Annie Dillard, who once said, “How we live our day is…. how we live our lives.”  We each need to discover for ourselves how to live this day in faithful surrender to God as we “continue to work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling”(Philippians 2:12).

I agree as well.  And that’s why its important to focus on your days, for they comprise your life.  And that’s also why I think vacations are good.  They allow you to step away from your day and evaluate if they are adding up to the life you want.  Next week I will be doing that, and there may be some guest bloggers keeping the buffetting going.

¹³But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:13 (New International Version))

I have still been thinking about those shepherds and magi, and the faith it took for them to go to Bethlehem to find this new born king.  So that on top of the fact that I am slowly going through Crazy Love by Francis Chan. ( I say slowly because the book is so challenging I have to stop and think and process after a few pages, but its a great read.  I recommend it for Christmas).

Anyway, I have been thinking about faith.  The shepherd’s faith and my own faith.  Mr Chan asks this question in the his book “What are you doing right now that requires faith?”  Its a really really tough question.  How much faith does it take for me to go to work?  To type this blog?  To do each of my conference calls?  Recently, I ate lunch with a family who a few years ago, packed up, took their 4 children out of an exception private school, and went to China to live and teach for a year.  I sit in awe when I think about the faith it takes to do that!  I am not saying lets all head to China ( or maybe I am), but I am suggesting as you visit the new born king over the next few days, examine yourself.

Examine yourself, your faith, ask yourself – what are you doing right now that requires faith?  I don’t think this is a flippant question.  Its a hard question.  but its one that we all should examine.  So when you are sitting around at night, think about these shepherds,  think about these Magi.  Think about your faith, and then go visit the new born king, and see what that does to your answer to this question!

Hebrews 11:6

New International Version (NIV)

⁶And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

And then check the whole of Isaiah 58.

oh by the way, I still am finding myself singing

Glória in excélsis Deo