Author: Fred Shope

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Hearing From God

When I was growing up, we were taught that the only way God spoke to us today was through the Bible. Most of the time that meant the Bible as interpreted and explained by the man preaching from the pulpit up front. There were numerous Bible study aids and approved teachers that could further explain anything anything we needed to know. God may have spoken to the saints in the Bible, but that ended when the canon of Scripture was complete. Folks who claimed that God spoke to them were out there on the fringe.

Over the past few years, my views on the subject have changed. As I have been exposed to the wider variety of people and ideas in the Body of Christ, I come to accept that God does speak to his people today. I realize that the One who created the universe can speak to anybody he pleases, in any way he chooses. Up until the last couple of months however, I wondered if, and how, God would ever speak to me.
While reading Walking With God by John Eldridge, it was suggested to me that I try an exercise that is in the book. The exercise was to ask God how I felt I was doing, and then to ask him how he saw me. So, I decided to give it a try. I asked what I thought about myself, what I really felt deep down. I was thinking something along the lines of “okay,” “could be better,” or something along those lines. While I was asking, the word, “failure” came to me. I immediately recognized it because I knew that was exactly how I saw myself. Not that I was a total, abject failure, but that I just never quite measured up, that whatever I did just wasn’t quite good enough. Needless to say, that threw me for quite a loop.
The next part of the exercise was to ask God what he thought. So, I asked, and waited for the answer. And waited. And waited. All night I asked God what he thought. I began to wonder if maybe I was right, and that God agreed with me. On my way to work the next morning, I continued to pray. As I did the words “clay jar” came to mind. I realized that God was speaking to me. Not in an audible voice, but through my heart. God was telling me that I was not a failure, but that I was a clay jar for him to fill. Over the next few weeks, God continued to expand on that idea, and I am learning to listen and recognize the voice of my Shepherd. I am learning that that voice can come any number of ways, from a song on the radio to something I read, from a prompting deep in my heart to a friend’s words to me. God still speaks through Scripture, but now I firmly believe that we cannot limit how God chooses to communicate.
By the way, try the exercise. You may be surprised.
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Weekend Wanderings

We had some storms roll through the area this week. There were a lot of trees knocked down, and some folks have been without power for five days. Thankfully, there was not the damage or loss of life that some have seen in the past few weeks. We have also been invaded by a plague of cicadas. I think they are the 17 year variety. They are pretty much just on our side of town where there are more old trees and not as many new neighborhoods.

Here is some of what I’ve been reading this week:
Dan Edelen on internet anger.
Donald Miller on the Fall and feelings.
Wow! (HT: Scot McKnight)
Ronnie McBrayer on finishing.
Jared Wilson on hyper-spirituality.
Chaplain Mike on expecting too much.
Dan Allen is writing a novel. An excerpt is here.
Matt on why he stopped praying.
Alan Knox on following Christ.
Have a great week.
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Stay Thirsty?

A church near us has a sign that reads, “Stay thirsty, my friends – for the Living Water.” Now, aside from the fact that the sign is a blatant ripoff of the Dos Equis commercials, I have a bit of an issue with the message. I think I understand what the church is trying to say, but I don’t think it’s the best way to say it.

In the Gospels, Jesus speaks about thirst a few times. When he does, he doesn’t tell his audience to stay thirsty. In fact, he says the opposite. In Matthew 5:6, Jesus states that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. In John’s gospel, Jesus invites those who are thirsty to come to him and never thirst again (John 7:37 and 6:35). In John 4:14 he says that those who come to him will not only never thirst again, but that this living water will pour out from them. Doesn’t sound like Jesus expects those who come to him to stay thirsty.
I believe those who put the sign up meant well. There is a sense in which we need to remember that only Jesus can quench our thirst, because there are times we forget and look for other things to satisfy us. Maybe they meant that we must keep coming to Jesus, and not think that a one time experience is enough. If that’s the case, I can agree with that.
Although I still cringe at churches that rip off culture on their signs. 🙂

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Weekend Wanderings

Today is Kentucky Derby Day, one of the three days a year when I watch horse racing on TV. I don’t think there is a favorite to win the Triple Crown this year, but you never know. It’s been awhile, so maybe it’s time. Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. To all the moms out there, I hope you have a good one. For those of you who are able, let your mother know how important she is and how much you love her.

Here are the links:
Bob thinks his daughter is a pretty good mom.
Rich asks who your neighbor is.
Check out the Rally to Restore Unity. There’s a lot of good people who took part.
Scot McKnight asks what Jesus would cut.
Alan Knox on heresy.
Dan Allen on promoting unity.
Jared Wilson on sand (sort of).
Have a great weekend!
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500 Posts

I realized sometime in the past few days that I reached the magical (?) 500 post milestone. When I started this blog back in 2007, I had no idea how long I would be doing this. I enjoy writing, but I didn’t know if I could think of things to write about. It seems that I’ve been able to think of a few things over the years. Whether those things have been worth writing about is left for history to judge (Boy, that sounds pretentious, doesn’t it?).

Over the three and a half years that I’ve been writing this blog, I’ve met a lot of good people on-line, and read an awful lot of good material from other bloggers. I’ve been encouraged by many readers, and challenged by others. Many of my ideas have been shaped and crystallized both by those I read, and by those who leave comments.
I plan on continuing to write, for awhile anyway. There’s still a lot of stuff rolling around in my head. Some of it is actual thoughts. As those thoughts form, I’ll put them into words and put them on here for all to see. Hopefully some of you will be encouraged, some of you will be challenged. Some of you may even be angered, but I’m going to try and not worry about that. My writing comes from the heart, and from the point of view of someone who sees what has happened to the movement that Jesus started and doesn’t like much of what he sees. Thanks to all of you have read, comment, or have ever read or commented. Your encouragement is a huge blessing to me.
As the journey continues, I’ll keep you posted on the twists and turns of the road.

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Resurrection and Unity

Rachel Held Evans is the force behind the Rally to Restore Unity. I am not really worthy to be in the company of some of the bloggers that are adding their voices to the effort this week, but I am chipping in my two cents anyway. As part of this, there is a a fundraising campaign going on for Charity: Water. Even if you think I’m full of hot air (or something worse) :), consider helping out this worthy charity.

Alan Knox wrote this post in April concerning the failure of the disciples to believe in the Resurrection until they had actually encountered the risen Christ. I immediately thought about the folks who came to faith during the first century. They also came to believe in the Resurrection because they encountered the risen Christ. Not in literal bodily form, but in the followers of Jesus they encountered in the day-to-day. It was the presence of Jesus in the “Christians” (little Christs) that cause those people to put their faith in Christ. Those early Christians lived a Resurrection life. They could not have done what they did had the Resurrection not have really happened.
Today, the world looks at the Church and sees a fractured, disunited body. They see us divided into camps based on anything from translations of Scripture to what styles of music. They see a group of people that are known more for what we are against than what we are for, and if we’re not busy fighting the culture war we are fighting each other over how to interpret prophecy or who is a “real Christian.” Is it any wonder the world doesn’t believe in the Resurrection when they don’t encounter the risen Christ? We celebrate Easter and put on a big show, but do we live in the power of that resurrection the other 364 days of the year?
The Resurrection of Jesus changed everything. It still does, if we realize that the same power that raised Jesus is now in us. Life as a follower of Jesus is not an easy one, especially when it comes to living in unity with those we disagree with. Our tendency is to hang out with those who we agree with. That extends to our gatherings as the church. We want to be comfortable and accepted, and I don’t believe there is anything wrong with wanting to be accepted. What we fail to remember is that because of the Resurrection, we are accepted by God. Because of the Resurrection, we are part of God’s family.
Because of the Resurrection, we have the power to live as brothers and sisters, as friends, as members of one another in the Body. We have the power to look past the differences, the disagreements, even the passionate (ahem) “discussions.” Because of the Resurrection, we can have Jesus’ prayer that we be one as he and the Father are one answered in and through us. When that happens, the world around us will be like the ancient Romans who said, “Behold how these Christians love one another.”
Then they will encounter the risen Christ. Then, maybe we’ll turn the world upside down.
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Weekend Wanderings

This has been an interesting week. Terrible storms devastated large parts of the Southeast, particularly Alabama. It is heart breaking to see the destruction and loss of life, and it also good to see the Church moving in to help. Here in this part of the sunny South, it has been cooler than normal, but we have been spared the worst of the recent weather.

It was interesting to see the fascination that we Americans have with what goes on across the Atlantic when it concerns the royal family. I saw bits and pieces of The Wedding, and it is interesting to see the tradition and history involved.
On to the good stuff:
Dan Edelen writes about the forgotten prayer of Jesus.
Richard Wagner writes about coconut.
Part 1 of a series on living as Easter people.
For those who believe that China is granting more “religious freedom,” comes this news (HT: iMonk).
David Sehat writes about church and state (HT: Scot McKnight).
John Armstrong writes about a clash of worldviews.
Dr. Terry Dorsett writes about rudeness.
David B. Hart writes about Ayn Rand.
Jeremy Myers writes about activities that are not church sponsored.
Jon Acuff writes about 9 words.
Enjoy your week. Continue to live in the Resurrection!
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Why Easter?

Easter is one of the most important days of the year in some church traditions. In others, it’s a day when more folks come to church and fill the seats, providing a boost in the overall attendance figures. Some churches merely give the day a passing nod and go on about their regular business.

N.T. Wright, quoted here in this post on the internet monk site, states that we should celebrate Easter with enough wild abandon that the watching world wonders what in the world we are celebrating in such a manner. When I stop and think about what Easter really means, I’m inclined to agree with him.
The resurrection of Christ from the dead is his triumph over death. Jesus died for us, really died. He entered into something that has plagued humans since the Fall. What makes the difference is that Jesus DID NOT stay dead. He entered into death, took names and kicked butt. Death thought that Jesus had been stopped, that death had once again triumphed. By rising from the grave Christ took the teeth out of death. As the Apostle Paul writes, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” Death cannot touch us now. Oh, we may experience physical death, but it has no power over us. Because Christ is risen, we also shall rise and never die. Paul also says, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” If death has been put to death, then its sting, sin has been put to death as well, as well as the law. That means we are free from death, free from sin, and free from the law.
Sometimes this journey following Jesus gets tough. There are obstacles all along the path, and sometimes things get so dark that we can’t even see the way ahead. At those times we can look back to the Resurrection and realize that because we can look back to that event, we can also look forward to the promise of our own resurrection and victory over death. The Resurrection gives us the strength to carry on.
The Resurrection also gives us the motivation to love others as we love ourselves. Because there has been a Resurrection, there will be a resurrection. Because their will be a resurrection, every person matters, and every thing we do matters. We don’t know what any one person will be resurrected to, so we are moved to treat everyone with dignity, love and compassion. The Resurrection also guarantees that all of us who follow Jesus will be with him for eternity. This moves us to see all who claim Christ as our brothers and sisters, and fellow members of Christ’s Body. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that enables us to love one another when we tend to act in an unloving manner.
The Resurrection is the opening move in the ongoing and final restoration of all of God’s creation. It is truly death working backwards. That moves us to see creation as something that is being restored, rather than as a goddess or a thing to simply be exploited. We are invited to participate in the restoration that is happening now while looking ahead to that which is to come.
The Resurrection changes everything. It was, and still is, a world altering event. So celebrate! Throw Easter parties. Some traditions celebrate Easter for more than just one day. That’s a great idea. Let those around see us go far beyond the chocolate bunnies, the new clothes, the ham dinners. Let them see how much we value what has happened, and let them wonder.