Thoughts and Questions
Another Day Along the Way
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Another day,
A few weeks ago our college President, Mike Stewart, told us how 15 seconds can change everything.
Since I read the popular and controversial book, The Shack, I have enjoyed more personal conversations with three people who are actually one - Father, Son, Spirit.
Last week I dreamed about a friend God placed in my life many years ago. The thoughts while asleep reminded me to email him when awake. Years and miles have not damaged our friendship.
I've read a variety of Paul's epistles lately. Try reading a different one each day for two months. See what the Word's words might do to your mind, to your life.
This morning we heard a variety of stories in our Convocation, all revealing how this truth becomes a personal reality:
John 7:37-39 (NIV)
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
What substitutes have we chosen for the Living Water?
How will we let the next 15 seconds change us?
How will we change the world in the next 15 days? Or in the next 15 years?
What is God the Father saying to us in the next 15 seconds?
How is God the Son praying for us in the next 15 seconds?
What is God the Spirit doing through us on this planet?
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: I have no magic wand to wave over you and make it all better. Life takes a bit of time and a lot of relationship.
(The Shack, William P. Young, Windblown Media, 2007)
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Another day,
A few weeks ago our college President, Mike Stewart, told us how 15 seconds can change everything.
Since I read the popular and controversial book, The Shack, I have enjoyed more personal conversations with three people who are actually one - Father, Son, Spirit.
Last week I dreamed about a friend God placed in my life many years ago. The thoughts while asleep reminded me to email him when awake. Years and miles have not damaged our friendship.
I've read a variety of Paul's epistles lately. Try reading a different one each day for two months. See what the Word's words might do to your mind, to your life.
This morning we heard a variety of stories in our Convocation, all revealing how this truth becomes a personal reality:
John 7:37-39 (NIV)
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
What substitutes have we chosen for the Living Water?
How will we let the next 15 seconds change us?
How will we change the world in the next 15 days? Or in the next 15 years?
What is God the Father saying to us in the next 15 seconds?
How is God the Son praying for us in the next 15 seconds?
What is God the Spirit doing through us on this planet?
Along the way,
Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: I have no magic wand to wave over you and make it all better. Life takes a bit of time and a lot of relationship.
(The Shack, William P. Young, Windblown Media, 2007)
13 Comments:
Thanks Chris Max. One friend told me that book was good and another friend didn't care too much for it. I need to read it for myself, I guess. I loved what you wrote about 15 seconds. See you one day, I guess
Five people have told me to read that book. I guess I have to now.
tc
Hi Chris, I see your speaking engagement schedule takes you to Orlando Mar 1-2 see you then!
Thanks Chris for encouraging me to read The Shack. I read it and while some of it is a bit unsettling, my whole perception of God has changed. I was drinking from 'bottled' water that the traditional church had served me. Now I choose to drink of the Living Water that God freely gives me.
Yep, life does take time, doesn't it? Tell me a little more about that book.
Several of you emailed me and asked for more info about the book. Here is an email I sent to a few friends last week...
All of you know I'm a reading addict. I try not to recommended all the books I read and review. But, since this book is so unique and addresses in creative ways many of the topics today's audiences are trying to explain, I want you to read The Shack by William P. Young. A friend passed the news on to me and now I'm passing it along to you.
Young has turned personal pain and doctrinal questions into an amazing novel. I like so much about the book. He doesn't follow all the rules of good writing/editing (count the adjectives!) and his book was rejected by publishers. He is honest. He feels anger toward God. He mentions several of my favorite authors and song writers (Bruce Cockburn, David Wilcox, etc). But I like the book most because it questions/reveals/confronts our views of God -- Father, Son, Spirit -- and ourselves, our pain, our world, our hopes. He covers theology/doctrine in a way we rarely see. I want to write more about the popularity and controversies regarding The Shack, but I'll let you walk into the shack for yourself.
http://windrumors.com/
So, let me know what you think when you read it.
c
Always good to read your spiritual thinking. From a friend down in Orlando, FL.
oh brother Chris;
the words I just read after my 1000 mile trio to the new nuerologist, truly touched me since I had so much going on in my life before my 2 near death's I gave to god what I could. Now all- I mean ALL my time is devoted to Him and ministry. Your words are always a blessing to
(brother) Greg Parker in Hobbs, New Mexico
they tick away before we know it. 15 seconds turns to 60 seconds, to 60 minutes, to days, weeks, months, years...thanks for the reminder.
Thanks for passing on all those great nuggets, Chris. You have helped me to be more God-conscious than ever. God bless you and your family always.
I could not believe how much theology is in the novel. Some is questionable but I know what you're saying. He did an excellent job of letting the story take us places.
C.D.
Great post. It is hard to believe how much one can accomplish in 15 seconds -- like posting to a blog!
Thanks Chris. Hurry up and get YOUR next book written. We are ready for a new one.
S
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