Our Father is a Person, Not a Formula…

Naturally, we are inclined to be so mathematical and calculating that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing…………Certainty is the mark of the common sense life; gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life.  To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth.  This is generally said with a sign of sadness; it should rather be an expression of breathless expectation.  ( My Utmost for His Highest)
—————Oswald Chambers
The realm of God is dangerous.  You must enter into it and not just seek information about it.
——————Archbishop Anthony Bloom
………….and I have to say that much of my early life as a Believer, was just that!!  I viewed God as just a Doctrine…….and so I studied Doctrines……Armenism, Calvinism, Charismania, Pentecostalism,  Faith Healing, Name it Claim Wealth Doctrines, etc.  And that is what I did…..I sought more and more information…..but not a relationship with my Father in Heaven!!  I knew about His History but not so much about his person.  I know many very knowledgable men who claim that Doctrine is everything.  They are logical, systematic, clear and precise, convincing and inspiring………but it appears to me………they are also ineffective with Dead Faith and lots and lots of Knowledge about God but little Action.  They have taken little risk in their lives and what I have seen……….they have little joy………caught up in the seeking for more knowledge and the cares of this world.  Lots of discussion about who God is but little action of what He is telling them to do in practice of their Faith.  This is my observation and yes……………. I have been quite judgmental of them but I think and I hope…….. I am getting past that.  I want to learn from my friends……….not become like them or just judge them.  That doesn’t help me or challenge me spiritually.
 
This life is short and why do I want to live it just “working for the legal tender” as Jackson Browne sings in his famous song The Pretender.  Is my legacy important?  Should it be?  Why do so few people I know and you know take a risk??  I believe we are “Slaves to Fear”……we are afraid of the unknown, uncertainty, becoming poor, dying poor, not having enough of anything……..especially the American Dream.  And that’s why I love this song by Jonathan David and Melissa Helser.

I am no longer a Slave to Fear……….I am a Child of God
Am I called to be less daring than Joshua in the Battle of Jericho or Gideon when his army was reduced from 32,000 to 300?  They were mere men just like you and me!!!  
I have to agree with Etheridge when he says:
 
The problem with modern Christianity’s obsession with principles is that it removes 
any real conversation with God.  Find the principles, apply the principle
———what do you need God for?  So Oswald Chambers warns us, 
“Never make a principle out of your experience; 
let God be as original with other people as he is with you.”
So give me your original thought about your destiny
………share it………..
Come on……..
Be Un-American!  Take a Risk for a Change!!

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