The view from here....

God has been showing me lately how my view of Him, is shaped by my view of myself and others. And how my view of others, is shaped by my view of God and of myself. And how my view of myself.....well....you get the picture.

In other words, it’s all inter-related.

Pastor/Author, Rob Bell, shares that however we view God is how we rationalize how we treat others. For example, if I don’t view God as a generous God, then I don’t need to be generous to others. After all, even God isn’t generous.

You probably don't, but sometimes after a long day at work I'm too tired to go shoot hoops when my kids ask. So then I find myself asking God for something and I just know He's up there going; "I'll take a pass this time." even as "Cats in the Cradle" play in the background of heaven.

I’m that way, so God must be that way. Whatever “that way” is.

But it’s not “that way”….or at least it shouldn’t be.

I’m flawed. So are you. When you and I interact with each other, we’re bound to do so in a flawed manner at some point. But I can’t attribute those flaws to God.

So I started a “God is” list. God is….patient….loving….wanting to give good gifts to His children. That sort of thing. And then I started writing everything where I experience God demonstrating those attributes in my life personally.

I also caught myself lying to my kids at dinner the other night. We were out celebrating as a family how generous God has been to us lately. We went out to eat at a restaurant we can’t usually afford. Appetizers? Sure….we’re celebrating! Big meals, even without coupons? Why not….I told you…we’re celebrating! And on the way out of the restaurant we were sharing how we’re going to start sponsoring a child from Africa thru World Vision and I started to say;

“God blesses us when we are generous like this.” (That’s the lie. Okay….half-truth….because I think you’ve got a good case from scripture of what-goes-around-comes-around.)

But I stopped. Just before those words came out of my mouth. And instead I said….“God is generous because He wants us to pass along that generosity to others.”

And that’s STILL not the real truth. I realized later…..what I wish I would have said was; “God is generous.”

Period. End of sentence. The whole truth and nothing but the truth. God is generous…….wait for it……BECAUSE….God is a generous God!

He can’t help Himself. He’s just…..that….way. Wow. He's not that way because I am. He's not not that way because you aren't. God is. Or as God says; "I AM".....regardless of whether or not we am.....or aren't...amn't.

So, I’m trying not to let my view of myself or of others reflect poorly on God…..and I’m hoping that this truer view of God helps me reflect……well….you get the picture.

Snowflakes....

So....getting back to Wonder.

Ever find yourself looking up at the stars on a clear night and realize what a small part of the universe you are? Or on a bright summer day catch yourself looking up at the clouds amazed at how they just float there? Or become captivated by a feather gliding effortlessly in the wind?

Yeah....me neither. Sounds corny doesn't it? Who has the time anyway?

My kids do. Kids in general actually.

Kids seem to have a limitless imagination. I used to...I would pretend I was a spy decoding enemy plans. When I was a kid.

Kids are captivated by the simple. I used to be....I would play for hours in the tree fort in our back yard. When I was a kid.

When I was a kid.

I'm not a kid anymore and I'm afraid I've lost my wonder.

My wonder for God that is. Actually, I'm not afraid I've lost it....I know I've lost it (to some extent anyway).....and that makes me afraid.

I used to be "that guy".

The guy who attributed everything around me to God being at work. I still believe that. But it used to AMAZE me.

When did I lose it? How did I lose it? It's a Whisper God's had me chasing for a while. The best I can figure is that I lost it because of Life and Church.

Life....happened. My dad's death...our daughter Taylor's health issues.....happened. And it kind of jaded me. Made me cyncial about how God works (or when He takes a day off or a coffee break right when I want Him working on a project).

See...there it is.

I still love God. Still trust God. But walking thru Life happenings, I saw that sometimes the outcome can't be affected by our faith, our prayers, or positive mental attitude. No matter how much we fast, pray, lay hands on, anoint with oil, cry out to God, have others intercede for us - God's going to do what God's going to do. People still die and healing is reserved for ladies who sneak thru crowds to touch Jesus' cloak.

I know....sounds ugly doesn't it?

And then Church happened. I realized that at some point after I became pastor, I began feeling like I have to be able to explain or rationalize God to others (especially those who are jaded, cynical, or skeptical). But honestly? I'm tired of trying to....and I'm tired of feeling like I have to....explain God. Rationalize Him. Do you know how irrational that sounds?

Know what else I'm tired of?

Lost wonder for the divine and supernatural.

I don't want to be cynical anymore.

I don't want to be jaded or mad at God when Life or Church happens.

I want to be amazed by God again.

Not bored.

I want to be that crazy guy others laugh at because something simple stops me in my tracks with wonder and amazement.

I know the Bible says.....When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. The problem is....we took that to mean stop being a kid. And even when Jesus told us to start being a kid again if we want to follow Him....many of us didn't listen. We like grown-up-faith better.

Not me.

Not anymore.

I want my childlike wonder back.

That's why I've been intrigued with snowflakes lately.

I read about William Bentley (The Snowflake Man), who was the first person to photograph, study, and record snowflakes (over 5,000 of them).

What he found is that no two snowflakes are alike. They are each unique. When you get a chance, check out some of his pictures: http://snowflakebentley.com/

You know what else I realized while studying snowflakes? They are formed in a cloud. They are uniquely shaped....as they pass thru a cloud.

See to me, the first thought of a cloud is a bad thing. It's a cloudy and rainy day. I know there are clouds on sunny days too...but that's not the first picture I get with clouds. And a cloud is where this magnificent....uniquely shaped.....spectacle of God's creation (aka...the snowflake) is designed. And no two are alike. When that snowflake is gone....the world is without a little piece of uniqueness.

WOW!

So....I can't look now at a picture of a snowflake without being totally amazed with wonder. How did it get shaped like that? What path was specifically designed to get it to this very spot? It's magnificently and articulately made.....and will be gone within moments of landing on my coat sleeve.

And it was uniquely shaped.....by God.

It makes me wonder.

Right now...I'm on the lookout for All Things Wonder.....all things practically.....all things spiritually.....hoping they keep wonder alive in my life.

Thanks God for snowflakes.

Hmmmmmmmmm

Back in my day, there was a talk show host named Arsenio Hall who had a segment on his show called, "Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm."

Before I post this week, I'd like to know what you've been hmmmng about since my post last week about Wonder.

Was the randomness intentional? Yep.

Is there more to the process....even now? Yep.

But I'd like to know what (if anything) last week made you hmmmm about.

So if you wouldn't mind, drop your hmmmm's, as random as they may be, in the comment section of Chasing The Whisper......Wonder.

It will help me process too.