Let's Stay Together

Let's Stay TogetherAl Green(Al Green - Willie Mitchell - Al Jackson)

I, I'm so in love with you

Whatever you want to do

Is all right with me

'Cause you make me feel so brand new

And I want to spend my life with you

Since, since we've been together

Loving you forever

Is what I need

Let me be the one you come running to

I'll never be untrue

Let's, let's stay together

Lovin' you whether, whether

Times are good or bad, happy or sad

Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad

Why, why some people break up

Then turn around and make up

I just can't see

You'd never do that to me (would you, baby)

Staying around you is all I see

(Here's what I want us to do)

Let's, we oughta stay together

Loving you whether, whether

Times are good or bad, happy or sad

I love the classic Motown sounds. Since my days as a young white teen-age boy living in a housing project community where my skin color was among the minority, my taste in music regardless of genre has been influenced through what I loved about the soulful sounds of people like Al Green, Smokey Robinson, Wilson Pickett, Gladys Knight, and Aretha Franklin. It was all I listened to back then. Green went on to have other hits, I can't take my eyes off of you You ought to be with me Still in love with you I can't get next to you and Take me to the River, but none bigger than his number one hit Let's Stay Together. Just another of the many benefits of having wonderful friends from other races and cultures. I appreciate that era more today, for what I gained from it, than ever before in my life. But don't worry, this isn't another journal item about those experiences.

My neighbors, Ruth and Earl must be at least in their 70's yet, they still work everyday as if they are in their 30's. Well before I roll my lazy butt out of bed they're busy doing whatever they have planned for the day. Today they mostly farm. They farm, grow stuff, and then sell it at the local farmer's market. Don't know yet what they do in the winter months, haven't been here long enough to say. I'm convinced they'll be working on something daylight to dark and beyond. If this is retirement, not sure I want any.

I do know this about them, they grow some of the best tomatoes you ever tasted in your life. Yes Alice, there is a difference in tomato flavors. We must have gone through six bushels this summer. Though I'm not sure how much a bushel is. It sounded like a lot when I wrote it, so it helps me get my point across.

Ruth is about four foot something (the perfect height for farming I suppose) and roundly shaped. "Squatty" is what I've always called it. And, Earl is tall and lanky. Probably taller years ago, but all that farming has taken it's toll and he's a bit stooped these days What I like about Ruth and Earl more than their tomatoes, and watermelons is that they are always together. Even though Dale and I both agree we don't want to be working sixteen hours a day when we're their age, we would love to be able to spend every minute of every day together. Now you gotta remember though, we've only been married since April so when I write something like that it may be slightly influenced by the newness of our relationship. I love her more than words can explain, and hope and pray that we'll always be singinging to each other "let's stay together."

But on the other hand, it won't surprise me none if Dale gets tired of being around me, and she starts drifting from those thoughts of us being attached at the hip for all eternity. It's not because I doubt the sincerity of Dale's love for me, but I know ME. I can wear on a person, and I know that! All you have to do is to look at my track record with relationships and you'll see a trail of people that simply grew tired of me to one degree or another. I reckon' I need to get busy workin' on that someday. Ruth and Earl I guess came to grips with who they are long ago and they figured out a way to spend all their time together without pinching each other's head off. I like that! I want some of that kind of Let's Stay Together relationship. Actually, I believe Dale and I have that as well.

This morning, in one of our daily devotional items the writer reminded me of something I hadn't thought about in awhile. He basically said ,but not in these words, that God is trying to fix us. He's shaping us and molding us - not that we can become better citizens here on earth, but in order that He can stand being around us throughout eternity. In other words before we spend too much time dreaming about jumping up in Big Papa's lap (as Wm. P. Young calls him in his book The Shack) to hear him sing in that same silky smooth voice he gave Rev. Al "let's stay together" we had better get some of our issues straighten out.

Now, I can hear some of you already saying, that's a bunch of &*@%+$ (same stuff Ruth and Earl put around their tomatoes plants) because the Word says He accepts us just as we are. Yes, this is true when we come to the cross for the first time, that's why it's called God's grace, rather than God's acceptance. But there's also a transfiguration process that occurs when we accept His forgiveness, and that's what I'm referring to here. The Apostle Paul described it as a transformation process God takes us through as we "work out our salvation."

Let me ask, how many of us can not truthfully admit God has been working on us ever since the day we accepted Him as our Lord and Saviour? I hope we all can say He has! Being "saved" didn't somehow make us perfect, but rather it should have opened our eyes to our short comings, and our sinful ways -something we really don't like talking about. If He isn't changing you, fixing you, teaching you a better way to live on a regularly basis you might want to make sure you're totally committed to becoming more "Christ-like" - which is the core definition of a Christian. I think we all probably need to be wearing tee-shirts that say, "Pardon the mess, still under construction!" don't we?

For me personally, I'm glad He's working on the enormous number of issues I have, and Dale would no doubt agree with that as well. Heck, let's be honest here, I can't stand being around myself some days, so I can just imagine how hard it is for her.

When you stop and think about it, to simply know that you know God is singing let's stay together and not just to you, me - but to all man-kind, helps us to realize even more so what an amazing love He has for us. You talk about chart toppers! I can hear Casey Kasem on the radio every Saturday throughout eternity (as he was in my youth) saying in that weird kind of voice everyone tried to mimic, "We still have the same No. 1 song we've had the last 1200 years, but the other 39 have changed a bit, so stay tuned to American's Top 40 Show." I believe God's version of Let's Stay Together wins out every time, especially over whatever the latest and greatest Jay-Z, or Beyonce' tune is.

Ruth and Earl - out there everyday picking tomatoes, watermelons, and okra, wearing themselves out, all the while singing to each other "let's stay together." What a beautiful view I have from my window when I choose to see God through it.

As I was searching on-line for the song lyrics for this journal item, I glanced at some of the feedback posted on the site I chose. Comments from people that for whatever reason feel they should share with the world every thought that crosses their mind, (which is so unlike me of course). Here are a couple that stuck out.

this is da best song yo me and my girl made this our song so it has a special place in my hart and so does she - Cheech 831 - 8/12/2004

Cheech's message is right on, but I guess Spell-Check really has no place in the world of instant messaging does it! It should come as no surprise, some folks write exactly as they speak. Self included! Here's the kind of comments I find truly enlightening coming from someone wanting to be known simply as Brotha_of_Soul.

Even Al Green's most gossamer pop songs hearken back to his gospel roots, so it makes perfect sense that 1971's "Let's Stay Together" — though for all intents and purposes a simple call for romantic reconciliation — resonates most deeply as a spiritual appeal, a Memphis soul sermon for a nation ripped apart by assassinations, riots, and betrayals. Green's lone number one hit, "Let's Stay Together" radiates compassion and understanding — there are no accusations, no finger-pointing, just tolerance and love with no strings attached. There are also no specifics — racial, political, or otherwise (Al Green actually said this was written as a "political" song, not a "love" song)— just the heartfelt plea not to give up, "whether times are good or bad, happy or sad." Willie Mitchell's lush production is subtly insistent, enhancing the immediacy of the song's message with staccato horns and a galloping beat while tempering its passion with cotton-candy strings and a silky guitar lead; he and Green made a lot of great records together, but none quite so perfect as this.

Now that's great information about the story behind the song, although I can't guarantee it's all exact. For whatever reason I tend to believe that Brotha_of_Soul knows what he's talking about here! I also find his take on the song acts as a great reminder for me in that the really "big picture" is so often a lot bigger than what's in my daily vision.

It's not just about me and Dale, Ruth and Earl, Ken and Jane, Barb and Al, Randy and Kim, Eddie and Debbie - it's about God and His creation. Its about us learning to get along with the same folks here on earth that we may be spending eternity side-by-side with. Jesus said it's easy to love those that love us - but to love our enemies, to love those that are different, difficult, ugly, mean - now that takes a true kind of Christian love. To stand in the choir loft and sing, let's stay together with those folks is a whole 'nother version of that song, isn't it.

It's about Him molding us, shaping us, fixing us in order that we can become the person He wants to be standing eye to eye and holding hands with, as He sings (in a voice Barry White can only dream of having) Staying around you is all I see - Here's what I want us to do - Let's, we oughta stay together - Loving you whether, - whether times are good or bad, happy or sad - Let's stay, let's stay together.

And what is it He wants us to do? Simply sing along with Him for starters. Go ahead, try these lines out and see how it sounds.

I'm so in love with you - Whatever you want to do is all right with me - Cause you make me feel brand new - And I want to spend my life with you - Since we been together - Loving you forever - Is what I need - Let me be the one you come running to - I'll never be untrue - Let's stay together - Lovin' you whether, whether - times are good or bad, happy or sad.

Next He calls us to live out this song. Go ahead, try those same lines out again, see how.....

doug, Brotha_of_Yours


Click here to see/hear an Al Green video of this song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVzYxqG9N1c

shattered

One night last week my wife asked me to give her a hand with dinner. Even though I was already in the middle of a very important project (watching the History channel) I agreed, or rather I did as I was told. She was in the process of making a couple of home-made pizzas to take over to her son's house. The important role she gave me was to cut the Italian sausage, (which was already in the skillet and on the stove) into smaller pieces. Seeing this as an opportunity to do something productive while sitting down, I moved the skillet over to the cutting-board, sat down on the stool, and began dissecting the meat.

Re-reading that first paragraph just reminded me of the old business adage, no one wants to see how the sausage is made, they just want to eat it. Same with mindless ramblings in a journal item as well I suppose.

Anyway, just as I finished my chore I turned to make sure I had a clear path back to the stove with a semi-hot skillet and that's when I noticed she had sat a glass, rectangular casserole dish on top of the eye which was still turned on medium. She'll be the first to admit she's done a lot of silly little things like that over, and over during her life span. Sometimes it's like living in a modern day version of the old I Love Lucy show, yet I wouldn't want to be anywhere else since I love her greatly! Suspecting correctly that she had not tuned the eye off, I sat the skillet back down as I knew I needed to get the glass dish off of the hot stove before the heat shattered it. In the span of a second or two as this raced through my mind the casserole dish exploded.

Now, when I say it exploded, I mean it EXPLODED! Fortunately, I had turned away from the stove, and Dale was somewhat protected by all the "stuff" at the end of the counter where she was rolling out the dough for the crust. There easily could've been major injuries to one or both of us if not for God's grace. Fragments of glass sprayed throughout the kitchen and living room with the force of a load of buckshot being fired from a 12 gauge. Just to explain, we have this huge open area with only a counter space separating our kitchen, dining area, and living room dark lavender colored glass went flying everywhere. Later on I picked up pieces of jagged glass nearly twenty-five feet from the stove. What a mess!

Long story shortened just a bit, we cleaned up the mess as best we could (although again today I found another piece of glass with my bare feet) and went about the business of finishing up the pizzas. We took them over to my step-son and his wife's new home, and we ate until our bellies were full. Mine as usual was more than full, which is a story for another time.

I mention "new home" because for Jennifer and Luke this is their new home. Though it was actually built three years ago, it's new to them. It is a gorgeous home I might add. Let me give you a quick background as to how they got here though. One Sunday night back in April, just as Dale and I had finally made it to bed we received a phone call alerting us to the fact that the kid's home had been hit by a tornado. We immediately jumped from the bed, and while still putting on rain gear got in the pickup and raced into the stormy night. Due to downed trees and power lines we had to hike in total darkness (thanks to the weak batteries in our flashlight) the last part of the journey. What we could see of the severely damaged home was startling.

There were missing porches, roof, and large sections of the home itself. There were boats, trucks, storage buildings, trailers, dogs, horses, and a swimming pool all moved, turned upside down, missing or destroyed. Trees, big trees uprooted and laying on the ground everywhere. The entire property they owned looked like, and indeed was a disaster area. The good news was Luke and Jennifer were alive and unharmed despite being in the home when the storm caused the house to explode. I remember looking up from the base of the stairs which led to the upper level of the home, and seeing hundreds of stars that filled the sky once the storm clouds had passed. Everything they had worked hard to accumulate had been shattered within a matter of minutes that night, and there wasn't a thing they could do about it. What a mess!

Now, six long months later they're starting over in this larger, and much more beautiful home (with it's built-in storm shelter). To celebrate we brought pizza. Though only being step dad, and step dad-in-law for six months I love them dearly and I'm so glad they're still in my life today. The storm took stuff, but it didn't take them and I'm so blessed by this. Especially if that good-for-nothing Luke keeps his promise and finally takes me on that fishing trip we've talked about all summer. Hopefully his mom will forward him a copy of this and he'll see how upset I am about this. Just kidding, he's a great guy and I love him dearly - fishing trip or not.

This past Sunday afternoon I drove to Birmingham to attend the grand opening ceremony of a new 150 bed men's center at a long-standing branch of God's love for the outcast, hurting and homeless in this area. I half-way suspected it was going to be one of those times when politicians and community workers gather together to pat themselves on the back for their service to the needy. Boy, was I ever wrong! What a great facility and group of wonderful people, yes including some of the politicians that attended. Tony Cooper, the Executive Director and his family are keeping alive today the dream of long ago shared by Jimmie and Jessie Hale. They simply wanted to have a meaningful impact on the lives of those in desperate need of love, food, and shelter in their community. Their dream has become a reality I suspect even more than they imagined possible.

As I've said before, I love hanging out with folks who actually live out a Christian life as opposed to those that merely talk in theory as to what it should look like. On this day I found that the people at Jimmie Hale Mission are the real deal. You should check them out yourself!

While there, I was blessed to be led on a personal tour of the men's dormitory area by a fellow named Stephen. He gave me detail after detail about the facility and the many on-going programs. You see, the reason I chose him (from among the many others offering to assist) was simple. Stephen doesn't work at the Jimmie Hale Mission, he's a "guest" as the Cooper's call them. I wanted to know what the programs and facility were really like from someone on the receiving end, rather than from the ones on the giving, teaching, and serving end. I wanted a full-flavored taste of what this ministry was all about, and I got exactly what I was looking for!

For over the next hour or so I heard about the many programs that make this place much more than a homeless shelter. I heard several stories about the people, the love, the quality of the food, and even the expectations placed upon the guests. Never a word of complaint, only compliments and gratefulness. I found it to be a very sincere and thought-out version of what this place is really all about. I left there very much impressed!

As I found out during my tour with Stephen, this is his second time around at the Mission despite being a college graduate and coming from a financially solid family. Stephen I would guess is in his late thirties, or early forties. He also admitted to being a long-time alcoholic as well. He recently returned to JHM after a brief stint in Dallas. With all of his past employment experience (since his early days in college) coming from the hotel and resturant industry he finds it much easier to get a job in that line of work, especially in a tough economy as we all know how scarce jobs are. He stayed "clean" long enough to get a good paying job in a resturant within a large hotel in Dallas. The only catch was that he had to tend bar every now and then. You guessed it, soon he began drinking again and before long there went the job. Stephen was very open about all of this. He made no excuses, no pitiful cries for help. In a relatively short period of time I found him to be very much a realist and a sincere person. He's a self-admitted alcoholic, but never the less he's what I would call a "good guy."

Here's how all of this fits together. As one of the speakers at the ceremonial event reminded us that day; people are not like glass. We may not be able to do much about a shattered Pyrex dish, but God specializes in putting shattered people back together.

Stephen is one of those folks that has had his life shattered (mostly by his own doings) several times over. I left him that day thinking that he's probably just too embarrassed to go crawling back home. I took it that he's too proud to beg and doesn't want to burden anyone. You see what I found out that day is at the JHM the "guests" have lots of expectations placed upon them. One of these is that they must be willing to help maintain and run the facility. I figure the Coopers probably don't have a big pile of money stashed away in a room for paid staffers and overhead allowances. At least I didn't get to tour that area if they do. Everyone seems to be needed. They're expected to help out any way they can, guest included. I also found that folks like Stephen can find a purpose there. They can find joy in doing what they may be good at. Stephen works in the kitchen cooking meals (some 14,000 per month) and he's good at it. I could tell as he shared this with me that he takes a great deal of pride in what he does. He sees himself as more than a "shattered" person at the Jimmie Hale Mission. He's believes he's part of a family there.

Even though he's on his second stint, I consider him to be one of the many "success" stories to come out of a ministry that's been around for more than a half-century now. You may be asking yourself; how can I rightfully call a man, an admitted alcoholic, who's living in a homeless shelter a "success" story? Good question! Let me tell you where I find the justification for my observation.

I found it in the answer he gave me to a question during my tour. I simply asked, why did he travel all the way from Dallas back to Birmingham when he realized that his life was "shattered" once again? No family here,no job waiting for him and with Dallas having many more programs and homeless shelters than Birmingham. Why come back here? The answer he gave me clearly and without hesitation was that he knew at Jimmie Hale he could find people willing to love him and accept him just as he was. He knew he these people truly cared about him and would give him an opportunity to have a bit of self-esteem - even if would come from the depths of the kitchen at a homeless shelter.

It was at that moment I realized for the Stephens of the world (and there are so, so many out there) the distance between Dallas and Birmingham doesn't seem too far to travel in order to receive something as valuable as love, and acceptance. We all know as mere humans we don't have the ability to put "shattered" lives back together no more than we can a shattered casserole dish. Yet, we read in His word that through God all things are possible. I love Dale's home-made pizza more than almost anything, but I love spending time with folks like Stephen and those that serve him even more so. Among the shattered it's hard to pretend to be perfect, or even to simply say "I'm okay." Among the shattered it's alright to say I'm an alcoholic, a drug addict, a sinner, a mess. Among the shattered God does his finest work. It's no wonder His son spent most of his time living, ministering, and fellowshipping with the shattered.

I long to be more Christ-like everyday, yet I continuously fall short, as we all do to some extent. I long to be found worthy of a love deep and sincere enough that someone would travel from Dallas, Knoxville or wherever just to be with me. Just to be loved by me, and accepted by me. In a week or so my son is moving down here for exactly that. I simply ask that you please pray that Dale and I give him all that he needs in order to truly see God's amazing ability to put shattered lives back together. How bout you? When's the last time someone hitched a ride across town more less half way across the country just to hear you say it's okay to be shattered, we love you anyway? If it's been awhile, or maybe never (as with me) it can be a scary thing to ask yourself the hard question. Why not? Why doesn't someone in need see the love I have to share? Maybe some changes are needed in our priorities, or in our life as a whole.

As Luke and Jennifer found with their shattered home, if you're willing to let go of what you've been very comfortable with for so long, you might find that God has something much better in His plans for you. I'm coming to realize more and more the importance of mimicking the life of Christ by becoming a human shelter for the hurting, the hungry, and the poor in spirit? I pray that God continues to show each of us that seek out His will that there are still yet better ways we can demonstrate His love to the "shattered" of this world. doug

Chasing, once again....

One day last week, on the way back to my nook I ran into a severe storm. The rain got so thick I could barely see to drive. You know the kind! Being the dummy that I am, I slowed way down but kept moving forward - despite not being able to see past the frontend of my van. As I topped a hill some five miles or so from home the sun began to light up the sky above the rain clouds. It was still raining like crazy, yet now my visibility was also hampered by this overwhelming glare of sunlight. Then suddenly it appeared. The rain had barely let up a bit, yet there was this awesome looking rainbow right there in front of me. Not in the distance ahead, or off to one side or the other, it totally engulfed me and my soccer-mom van. At first I thought it was merely an oily film on my windshield that the rain and sunshine was reflecting off of, but then I rolled down my window and I could see that the entire four-lane highway around me was covered with this beautiful array of colours. I was literally at the end of a rainbow.

Here's a few things I learned immediately: First and foremost, there wasn't a pot of gold anywhere in sight. Stinking Irish folklore! And secondly, rainbows move. They do to! I always thought God planted rainbows in one place, then arched it way over to wherever, and it stayed put to remind everyone of His promise to Noah and the rest of us. Just as I was told as a kid. Not so fast says the Maker of rainbows, to this stunned and shallow thinking human-being. Rainbows also come in the mobile variety, or maybe they all move I don't know yet. Regardless, I found myself not only at the end of the rainbow, but I was also traveling along with it. Apparently I was driving at or about the same speed the rainbow was traveling. And not just me. I looked to my left as a couple passed me in a car where the lady was sitting in the passenger seat, leaning on the dashboard, taking pictures with her cell phone. Our eyes met for a split second and I could see her look of amazement, as I'm sure she could mine. This went on for nearly a mile or so, not me looking at the car next to me, but riding along inside the rainbow. No lie! What an overwhelming number of thoughts and questions crossed my mind during that time. As the great prophet of old, Bart Simpson would say, It was awesome, dude!

I slowed down as I reached into my briefcase for my digital camera. Struggling to get it out of the carrying case while keeping the car in my lane so I pulled over to the shoulder. As quickly as I could I turned the camera on and began taking pictures. The problem became obvious though, for as soon as I stopped the car I got out of pace with the rainbow as it continued to move on, heading straight toward the city. I tried chasing after it, but gained no ground. The somewhat flooded highway, and the continuous downpour created a situation far too dangerous for fast driving. Now that I think about it, maybe I really am getting old, for there was a time... Anyway, I finally concluded the chase was futile as the rainbow sped through town much faster than the speed limits would allow me to. Although I was able to get a few distant shots with my camera I missed out on the opportunity to capture the beauty of it as it surrounded me and my van. You'll just have to believe me, it really did happen. Maybe it's happened to you as well I don't know, but for this fifty-one year old man it was a first.
____________________

Last Sunday I heard a couple of people speak about God's chosen prophet, Elijah and his big show down on the mountaintop with the prophets of Baal - which is well known scripture from the 1st. Book of Kings. As typically is the case when this story is retold the focus is always on the main event of the story. You know, when God sends fire down to set ablaze the water-soaked wood Elijah had placed upon the altar. So many seem to easily find the obvious lessons of faith, and God's power in these few verses, yet I rarely hear sermons or comments about that event without thinking about the whole story. You see, for whatever reason no one ever wants to talk about what happens next. What happens after Elijah does his victory lap around the mountainside of Carmel and has all of Baal's men killed. What happens after he sends his servant out seven times to the mountain's edge to get an updated weather report before the rain clouds finally formed. What happens after he tucks his robe in his belt and chases down, and then outruns Ahab's chariot all the way to Jezreel. What happens next and why, is it rarely ever talked about?

If you really look at the characteristics of Elijah you'll find he wasn't the most humble of all God's servants. As a matter of fact he was a little "full of himself" at times, for which he became known as the "trouble maker of Israel." The whole fire raining down on the altar contest wasn't something he simply gave into. No it was his idea. And when he couldn't get the fish (Baal's boys) to bite immediately, he taunted them until they finally gave in save face. That's one of the reasons he made sure all the people of Israel was present for the big show down. He boastfully reminded anyone that would listen, over and over that it was him, (a mere Army of One), versus four hundred-fifty of Baal's finest, though he wasn't afraid. He, himself came up with the contest rules, and then pushed them into going first, as if to say "Come on boys, give me your best shot." Oh no, Elijah wasn't humble at all. He was more like a traveling pool hustler arriving in town to take some easy money from the local boys that have no clue as to what's fixin' to happen. He taunts and bullies his opponents to no end, not unlike many today that proudly declare to have God on their side. (Please excuse the side-bar commentary, I can't seem to help myself sometimes.)

But here's the real lesson in the story - at least for me anyway. It isn't about how great God is, I already know that. It isn't about Elijah's running skills or his masterful salesmanship, for what's that to me anyway. It isn't about how God can choose to use even the somewhat foolish ones for His purpose, for I surely know this one first hand. Yet, for me it's really all about what happens with Elijah after his public encounter with God. I know you probably remember this, but it's worth repeating; When Ahab gets to Jezreel he runs over to Jezebel's house of ill-repute and updates her to the events back at Mount Carmel. She, in turn sends word to Elijah that by the same time the next day she'll have him killed, or let God strike her down also. (Oh my, we have a threat of violence here, it's getting interesting). In one corner we have the mildly feared, demon possessed harlot of the south, and in the other corner stands the undefeated and most powerful heavyweight champion that God himself has chosen. It's The Rumble in Jazreel or something like that. Where's Don King when you need him? By any account it should be a pretty good contest - the fight of the century, right?

So what does the bold, speedy and powerful prophet of the Lord, just coming off his enormous upset victory in front of a packed out mountaintop stadium do? My Bible puts it fairly simply: Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. What? Even after experiencing all that he had, seeing first-hand how mighty God truly is, he chooses to run off like a scared chicken because Jezebel threatens him. Wow! Where's his audacious faith in God now? Where's all his boasting, and oneupmanship? He could face down 450 men a few days earlier, but not a single woman? (No offense intended women!) But, come on you big sissy, at least stay and fight it out. You're supposed to be "representin" God dude!

Here's what's at the heart of this story for me. Maybe some of us don't like talking about the full version of this story, because it looks a whole lot like our lives? One minute were living the life of a conquerer, smoking big cigars and buying the crowd drinks, and next we're hiding beneath a rock, or in the belly of a fish. Though God's power is absolute, yet for some of us our faith may be much more fragile than we would ever want others to know. We can be bold enough to overturn tables and chase merchants from the temple one day, and then be seen running scared for our lives the next. Maybe it's that we're so much like Elijah, Jonah, Peter, Sarai, Thomas, Zacchaeus, Adam, Eve, Cain, and Paul, etc. that it shames us to admit it. We can be found full of faith at times, and then running on empty the next day.

Just like Elijah, some of us can be found almost everyday chasing after God or running from some person or some situation in our life. Full of energy to give chase to the Almighty one moment, yet too afraid to step out of the boat the next. Sometimes the situations that can scare us from the chase can be simply what we know to be God's Will for our lives. Or the ministry He has called us into. Or, staying put in the place He has put us. Or maybe, just maybe we can be found running from God, himself. I believe there's a reason the Bible is chocked full of stories of the same weak people with character flaw issues as we see in our world today. I believe it's because He knows that in our weaknesses His strength can be seen so much more clearly by those that need to see Him. I find His strength to be in is His love, His grace, His mercy, and His sovereignty. In the perfect world His strength is all that is needed. Yet, we all know how much more beautiful it is when it's told through the tales of our struggles and failures in this imperfect world we actually live in.

I openly admit, I too am an Elijah! Lately I've stopped chasing after God, and started running scared of what might happen in my future, or I've been too busy chasing after rainbows instead. Thus, you haven't seen any journal items from me for the past couple of months.
_______________

Most of you, no doubt have read Tommy Tenney's "God Chasers" book as I have. I love that Tenney had the boldness to declare in it that he was sick and tired of reading about where God had been in the past, and instead hungered to be where God was in the right now. I believe he received a lot of unfair criticism for that statement, yet in my opinion he's right on the money. I'm just like many others, such as Tenney in that don't want to spend anymore time gazing at pictures of rainbows. Instead I want to be riding along with one. In other words, I don't want to be huddled up in church any longer, singing and praying the same ol - same ol. I've grown tired of only reading and hearing stories of how the folks of old experienced an encounter with God - I want to experience God first-hand today myself! I want Him to come crashing in with a bang loud enough to wake the dead, as well as the unconscious and lifeless people our churches are so full of today.

In my heart I still want to chase after God until my feet give out. I want to run as far and as long as I need to until I have one close encounter, and then another. I heard someone recently declare that their church service on Sunday morning wasn't a visit to a rest stop. It was more like pulling up to a gas pump. Yeah, now that's what I'm talking about! Filling up the tank and getting back to the chase. For I think if we only seek to find an encounter with God between 10 - 12 on Sunday mornings before heading out for the shortest buffet line then we're giving up a whole lot of other opportunities during the week to experience the greatness of His presence. I don't know about you, but I want Him right now, today, and then again all day tomorrow. I don't want to wait and hope that a preacher or worship leader can lead me to Him on Sunday morning, or on Wednesday night. I'm chasing after what He promised me - Him! Seek and ye shall find - knock and it shall be opened - ask and it shall be given. It doesn't get much simiplar than that.

I recently loaned my wife's copy of Francis Chan's book "Crazy Love" to Pastor Bobby, a friend of mine. Before handing it to him, I told him that since he was already preaching the same message as Chan he might as well read his book. He read it alright, as well as did his wife Carolyn. Then they went out and bought as many copies as they could find, and gave them away. You see, Pastor Bobby, isn't just preaching about the possibilities of living a life controlled by a crazy love for Christ, he's living it. So much so, that the denomination he has been associated with for almost of his entire life, (and he's quite a few years older than I am) is asking him to conform back to their way or churching, or get out. You gotta absolutely love religiosity don't you - not!

At this point in his life he's choosing to chase after God as opposed to following the "guidelines" of a denomination, and it doesn't seem to be a very hard choice either, and his congregation agrees. I'm very proud to call this man my friend.
___________________

I wish I could say to you that last week while engulfed in that rainbow, I felt God's overwhelming presence amidst the beauty of the moment. That as I was covered with the colours of such an unusual meteorological event I also felt a mighty and moving experience through the Holy Spirit. I wish I could say truthfully that it was a moment fit to be included in the writings of the Bible, but I can't. For one reason, my wife reads these and she knows how hard it's been to see even the slightest evidence of Christ in my life lately. That's hard to admit, but it's never the less true. I've been so caught up lately in my own situations and circumstances - just as Elijah, I've ran, and ran and ran, until I found myself hiding in a cave waiting for the inevitable to happen.

The part I really like about Elijah's story (as well as my own) is that even with all of the lack of faith, all the character flaws, and the succumbing to fear - God stayed with him, me. In the depths of the cave God asked him simply, What are you doing here? Elijah, like me gave him some ridiculously sounding answer, and then God orders him to get his scared butt up and come outside and face his fears. Elijah does so and a great wind blows across the front of the cave, yet God wasn't in the wind. A great earthquake rumbles through the mountain range, yet God wasn't in the earthquake. Then a great fire rose up all around him, yet God wasn't in the fire either. Finally when all was silent, and Elijah grew quiet he experienced God in a still, small voice, and once again God asked, What are you doing here Elijah - Doug?

For far too long, I've been hiding out in my own cave of sorts, and yet once again He's spoken in a still, small voice through what I've seen from my friend Bobby's situation. And now I'm ready to once again begin the chase. No, not chasing after rainbows, or any man-made project or ministry, yet after God himself. I'm hoping and praying for another close encounter with Him through the splendor of the Holy Spirit manifested in a church service like the ones of my past, or even during a quiet time at home all alone. In the car during a rain storm, or while simply talking with a friend, or praying along side my wife.

I want God, and I want a lot of Him! I don't want Him in a box or just in a book. Instead I want Him more and more in my life, turning everything that I know or think to be true upside-down leaving me in awe of His wondrous ways! So, if you see me at your church next Sunday you'll know now why I'm there. It's not to sit in the pew beside you, although I would enjoy that as well. It's not to hear your voice sing beautiful songs of praise, nor will it be to jot down notes from your pulpit insight as to what God's message for our lives is, although I can use all the help understanding this that I can get. No, I'll be there looking to once again experience first-hand God's presence in a very real and tangible way, and for no other reason.

I know, as well as Pastor Bobby does - He is worthy of our chase!

Who knows, maybe we'll see each other at the end of a rainbow soon, and if so I sure hope you bring a pot of gold with you. doug