What Does Missional - Relational - Incarnational Look Like?

"The new Mother Theresa is Bono. NOTICE - it is not someone who comes out of the institution."

-Len Sweet - today

The Road Less Traveled

Acts 9:1-20
Saul the persecutor of the followers of the Way, gets cuffed and stuffed (arrested) by Jesus on the road to Damascus after a 150 mile journey on foot. Amazing testimony repeated many times in the apostle and Luke's writings. But what about Ananias (v 10...)? A believer in Damascus who gets called into duty by God in a vision.
"Ananias!"
"YES, LORD!"
"Go..." (It usually means trouble when God begins instructions with go)
"Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas - ask for Saul of Tarsus."
(Uh, Oh) "BUT LORD...!" (That is the dude with letters to arrest us all and he's out of control.)
And God's reply - "Go and do what I say."
Like driving through a heavy fog, can't you imagine Ananias slowly stepping down Straight street, step by step, praying, every sense heightened and tuned in, tunnel vision focused on overcoming the fear of not knowing what lies ahead and pressing forward in faith, praying, praying, praying (ok Lord, ok Lord, ok Lord)?
(v. 17) So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you may get your sight back and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Instantly something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he regained his sight - got up - was baptized - ate - was strengthened - stayed a few days - And immediately - (IMMEDIATELY) - he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "HE IS INDEED THE SON OF GOD!" "HE IS INDEED THE SON OF GOD!" "HE IS INDEED THE SON OF GOD!"
(and this continued for quite a remarkable time through quite a remarkable witness.) Saul trashed the religious leaders letters authorizing arrest and instead brought his witness, his testimony of Jesus to the synagogues.
So let us not forget about our brother and model, Ananias, inching his way down Straight street - It took Ananias' blind obedience to cure Saul's blind disobedience. Ananias took the road less traveled... and it made all the difference.

Spiritual Linebacker

Vince pole vaulted against my cousin Kyle in college, holds the record for the biggest person to clear 18', and is in my Doctorate of Ministry cohort at George Fox Evangelical Seminary. Don't mess with Vince.

Football at the Top of the World (Barrow, Alaska)

This was my home in kindergarten, first and second grade. A long way from Texas. Check out the abc news special about the new Barrow Whalers football team - really cool (literally) - find the short video by clicking on the TITLE OF THIS POST.