Surprise!

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The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. John 3:8 NIV

Surprise! Undoubtedly, this one simple word has been shouted millions upon millions of times throughout the years to birthday recipients. Normally, the unsuspecting person walks into a dark room, and then the lights come on with family and friends shouting, Surprise! Now, for some folks, like me, they were truly surprised; others were half-expecting something.

Connie truly surprised me on my 40th birthday when we were living in Johannesburg. We had gone out for dinner with a few friends. Coming home, under the pretense of coffee and cake, we walked into the room filled with American and South African friends shouting, Surprise! I am sure somewhere in my Myers-Briggs personality profile, there is something about not wanting to be surprised; I prefer knowing what is happening. That night caught me off guard, but what a memory to have special people in my life as part of the surprise.

God has a long history of standing at the door, shouting surprise. We are often caught off guard since we were expecting one thing to happen, and a different action takes place. We pray one way for something, only to see a completely different answer. We make decisions expecting one thing, only to get a completely different result. The longer we live, the more surprised we will be at what happens.

A lot of people are confident that the end of religion has finally arrived. They have watched over the last couple of decades the declining number of people identifying as Christians, read the statistics of declining church attendance, and the weakening of the church’s role in society. If you read only the reports, looked at the numbers, and watched the declining number of people in church, your thoughts would also be gloom and despair.

Yet the God of Surprises is hard at work if we are ready to be surprised. Paul wrote in Ephesians, “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you…” (Eph 1:18). As we open the eyes of our heart, we get to be surprised at what God is doing. Pastor and writer Joshua Luke Smith writes, “I’ve heard it said that familiarity breeds contempt, and I’ve found this to be true. At times, I’ve grown indifferent, even numb, to the reality of Christ in my life. But these words from Paul awaken my dimming zeal. Oh, that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened. My dream is to be an old man who still hasn’t got over the hope to which he has called me, living on the edge of tears, moved by his grace in my life.”

Time magazine cover on April 8, 1996, was “Is God Dead?” Yet within a few short years, their June 21, 1971 cover had the words, “Jesus Revolution”. From dead to revolution in five years, or as Pastor Greg Laurie commented, “What a difference a few years can make, especially when God intervenes.” It has been five decades since the Jesus Revolution, the last great spiritual awakening, but the God of surprises is blowing new fires around the world. Is the world ready for another Great Awakening?

Great Awakenings have been in times when a nation was in transition, grappling with rapid social, economic, and cultural changes. Awakenings happen when people are spiritually hungry and are searching. Does this sound familiar?  Laurie, who was a product of the Jesus Revolution, writes, “While we can’t plan or manufacture a revival, we can prepare the ground for one. Or, as I like to say, we can “pre-prayer” the ground. Our job is to rebuild; God’s job is to pour out His Spirit.”

The God of surprises is moving in the United States. According to Barna, nearly thirty million more US adults are following Jesus today than was the case just four years ago. Barna CEO, David Kinnaman, called this “the clearest trend we’ve seen in more than a decade pointing to spiritual renewal…this movement is being led especially by younger generations.”

The God of surprises is moving in places where the death of the church has long been predicted. Jim Denison writes that in France, 10,384 adults were baptized on Easter Sunday; the number of teenagers following Jesus was ten times higher than in 2019. Bible sales in the UK increased by 87 percent between 2019 and 2024. According to the UK Bible Society, churchgoing increased from 8% in 2018 to 12% in 2024. “That means for every two people in England and Wales who went to church back in 2018, there are now three.”

What are hungry people wanting? I found Carey Nieuwhof’s thoughts helpful in one of his recent podcasts. Here are some of his highlights: Pray with boldness — people want a powerful God. Preach deeper –assume they are starving and don’t want entertainment. Cut the fluff — be real. Assume intelligence, not background. Avoid Christian insider language – define your words and meanings. Don’t ignore felt needs, talk to people – connect people to Scripture.

God is moving. Are we ready to be surprised? May this prayer from the Book of Common Prayer open the eyes of our hearts and “pre-prayer” us for what can be.

Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use us, we pray you, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29: 12-13

Happy 4th of July on Friday. Pray that the United States will again experience a nationwide spiritual awakening, beginning with each one of us.

God is great!

Sound of Summer

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Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. Prov 6:6-8 NIV

What sounds define summer for you? Those who have camped outdoors would probably rate the chirping of crickets both comforting and irritating. Summer means the buzzing of cicadas, the obnoxious croaking of frogs, the forlorn hooting of the screech owl, and a myriad of other midnight sounds.

Fifty summers ago, a simple, repetitive two-note motif played on a tuba created a heart-stopping, suspenseful drama that caused thousands to jump out of their seats and cancel their beach holidays. These two little notes changed summer vacations after watching the movie, Jaws. John Williams, the composer of the 2-note ostinato, described the music as “grinding away at you, just as a shark would do, instinctual, relentless, unstoppable.”  June 20 marked the 50th anniversary of the movie Jaws, and even if you have never seen the film, you have most likely been gripped by the soundtrack.

There is something special about the sounds of summer. Granted, each season brings a melody of unique sounds, but the summer sounds remind us of the fullness of God’s creation. Last Friday marked the official beginning of summer—the end of school bells, early morning alarm clocks, and quiet walks on the beach. We gladly welcome this new set of sounds and grab the summer rhythm, because, as John Goodman writes, “How quickly time goes by now, compared to when you were a kid. Summer used to last forever. Now it is twelve weeks.”

We welcome the summer sounds of children’s laughter echoing across the backyard fence as they recapture memories of a simpler time. Do you remember the summer excitement when life seemed simpler, less hectic? Summer is a great time to turn off the TV, forget about social media, and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. When was the last time you took a rock and skipped it across the water, counting the number of skips from your throw? Instead of the well-laid-out vacation itinerary, you might try a road trip in your car. However, set your GPS to avoid interstates. Connie and I did that a few years ago, and it is amazing what you see along American highways and through small towns. You do need to factor in lots of stops to enjoy those unique, unknown museums; it will be worth it.

We welcome the summer sounds of lawn mowers as they help remind us of God’s creation. Yes, I know the sounds can be annoying when trying to catch an afternoon nap on the porch, but that’s another story. I don’t know about you, but there is something deeply satisfying within my soul after a morning working in the yard, realizing that I am partnering with God in maintaining His creation. “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” (Audrey Hepburn) “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Gen 1:26 KJV)

We welcome the summer sounds of thunderstorms as they awaken our senses to the immense power of God. Summer brings unexpected afternoon storms with the sudden darkening of the sky, the rumble of thunder, and the repeated lightning strikes. The devastation of storms often leaves behind communities struggling to cope, individuals whose lives have been upended, and neighborhoods demolished. Yet in the aftermath of these summer storms, there is the calm assurance that God is still in control. Even after the summer storms of life, the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 46: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.” (vvs 1-5 NIV)

We welcome the evening refrain of summer night sounds as they wrap us in a cozy hug of comfort. John Steinbeck wrote, “What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?” Solomon wrote similarly in Song of Songs, “See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.” (Song of Songs 2:11-12)

Lord, I am forever thankful for the life lessons you give through the simple acts of nature and life. The changing seasons equip us for the challenges that life will bring.

You give us the springtime to teach us the importance of preparation. Sowing the seeds of faith which will be needed in the years ahead. Though we can’t see anything happening, the seeds are sprouting roots that will anchor us when the winds of adversity blow.

You give us summer to watch the seeds break through the hard soil, begin to grow, and bear the fruit from our labor. We know we will face unexpected storms that will blow hard against us, but the plants of faith, prayer, and trust will provide the roots to hold us against the unrelenting storms of life.

You give us autumn as a time of gathering in our harvest and times to celebrate and worship You. We can open the barn doors of our souls and see the abundance of what You have provided.

Finally, winter will come when we must learn to stop our labor and rest in your care. There is no more time for planting or harvesting by us, but the fields have been left ready for the next generation. We can now look forward with excitement and expectation of what will come.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:3 NIV

God is great!

Healthy Obsession

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As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:1-2 NASB2020

What is the greatest obsession that drives your day? It might be getting that job promotion you have been wanting, along with a nice salary increase. Perhaps it is moving into the big house on the corner with the manicured lawn. Many may find just getting out of bed in the morning without pain is their obsession.

John Hinckley Jr became obsessed with actress Jodie Foster after seeing her in a movie. Over the years, she became all-consuming in his thoughts and actions, an obsession that would drive him to attempt the assassination of President Ronald Reagan in March 1981. Hinckley traveled from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. on a Greyhound bus with his plan to get Foster’s attention.

The day of the shooting, he spent the morning writing a letter to Foster. “As you well know by now I love you very much. Over the past seven months, I’ve left you dozens of poems, letters and love messages in the faint hope that you could develop an interest in me. Although we talked on the phone a couple of times, I never had the nerve to simply approach you and introduce myself…The reason I’m going ahead with this attempt now is because I cannot wait any longer to impress you. I’ve got to do something now to make you understand, in no uncertain terms, that I am doing all of this for your sake! (Excerpt from Hinckley’s March 30 letter)

We all have something that becomes an obsession for us; thankfully, few of us allow an obsession to drive us to the dark side like it did Hinckley. However, there is an obsession that gives life, purpose, and joy. It is an obsession that has been part of generations and continues to consume those who will allow it. That obsession is God himself. Jesus tells us that it is a total and unwavering devotion to God, encompassing every aspect of our lives – an obsession not of feelings but of a commitment that influences thoughts, emotions, and actions.

Jesus simply says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)

Oswald Chambers writes, “The total being of our life inside and out is to be absolutely obsessed by the presence of God. If we are obsessed by God, nothing else can get into our lives—not concerns, tribulation, nor worries. To be obsessed by God is to have an effective barricade against all the assaults of the enemy.”

One of the most quoted verses in the entire Bible is Deuteronomy 6:4-9. Known as the Shema, they are recited every morning and every evening by Orthodox Jews and have been for generations. “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”

The Psalmist writes of a hunger and thirst that can only be satisfied through God in Psalm 42.  Recently, my family and I had the opportunity to be in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. There is something always life-giving when watching animals in their natural habitat. It is amazing to watch these magnificent animals as they move about the day, but especially when they begin moving towards their water sources, totally consumed by the need for water, even knowing the dangers that may be there. We have that same innate need for God that pulls us toward Him daily.

Paul David Tripp on Psalm 42 writes, “Be honest today: Do you hunger after and long for God? Are you like a parched deer, panting for water? Does longing for God propel your devotional life, your relationships, and your participation in public worship? Longing for God will always produce love for the people of God and joyful participation in the public worship of God.”

Jesus calls us into an obsession with God, but only because God has been obsessed with us from the beginning of time. Without doing a thing, we are already deeply and completely loved by God. “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (I John 4:9-10)

David writes of the priceless love of God in Psalm 36:7 that people take refuge in His shadow.

John writes of a sacrificing love of God that articulates His love for us in John 3:16.

Isaiah writes of a surrounding love of God in Isaiah 43:2 when facing major obstacles.

Zephaniah writes of a comforting love of God in Zephaniah 3:17. “The LORD your God is with you the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Nancy Ortberg, in her book Looking For God, writes that in a dark hour of her life, God was there for her, even if she couldn’t see Him. “Slowly I began to understand that I had been seeing God from such a narrow perspective. I had boxed God up and compartmentalized Him into thirty minutes each morning. But in reality, He had been waiting for me to realize that He had invaded all the parts of my day, if I would just pay attention.”

We wake up every day with thousands of messages vying for our attention. Unfortunately, a few will become an obsession. Yet in God’s obsession with us, he seeks us with an unrelenting love. What will your obsession be today?

God is great!

Power on Display

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When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit…Acts 2:1-4

Who pushed your buttons? It is so easy to get cross with someone because of what they said, maybe how they said it, or even how they looked at you, yet be totally oblivious to why we reacted.  Pete Docter’s animated film, Inside Out, takes viewers inside the mind of a young girl named Riley Andersen. Five little characters within Riley’s brain argue over who gets to drive her emotional console. Joy and Anger, Fear and Disgust, and Sadness are the personified versions within Riley, all vying for the right to be in control. Life is going great for Riley until she turns 11 and her family moves from Minnesota to San Francisco for her dad’s new job.

Joy has acted as the leader until now, always trying to keep little Sadness from taking control at the emotions console, but for the first time, Sadness can plant a core memory within Riley’s mind. The story then unfolds with drama for Riley as Joy can no longer be the sole driver of her emotions, and their adventures try to correct problems they caused with Riley’s memory storage. There is now a sequel adding more emotional characters, all trying to take control of a teenager, Riley’s emotional console.

Yesterday marked Pentecost Sunday, when the church celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the church. I don’t equate the Holy Spirit’s indwelling with the five little emotional Inside Out characters, but without a doubt, nothing has been the same since that eventful Sunday morning for Believers after Pentecost. Dr. Michael Milton writes of Pentecost, “It was Inauguration Day as the Holy Spirit demonstrated the provision of God, the prophecy of the Old Testament, the promises of Christ, faith in the prophecy of the Old Testament, and the words of Jesus. This Pentecost and every day, is a day to reorient our lives to the mission of God.”

Pentecost marked the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise of the Holy Spirit’s coming. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— (John 14:16), “But I tell you the truth; It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” (John 16:7) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

Jesus understood the physical restraints of his body, being in one place at one time, but with the coming of the Holy Spirit, everything changed. There would no longer be the limitations of place or time, but His ever-present presence.

Jesus understood the importance of going to the ends of the world. The followers in that room worshipped that morning when Pentecost came, but immediately they left the comfort of their gathering and went into the streets proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ. By the end of the day, over 3,000 had followed Jesus and were baptized.

The coming of the Holy Spirit was in keeping with prophecy, promise, and provision. Yet that morning, God shook the foundations of expectations. An event of this magnitude was not going to be a quiet unveiling but one that shook the earth. An earthquake that is still reverberating and will continue until the final day.

Writer and pastor, Frederick Buechner, wrote of the unexpected when it comes to God. “Those who believe in God can never in a way be sure of him again. Once they have seen him in a stable, they can never be sure where he will appear or to what lengths he will go or to what ludicrous depths of self-humiliation he will descend in his wild pursuit of (us). If holiness and the awful power and majesty of God were present in the least auspicious of all events, this birth of a peasant’s child, then there is no place or time so lowly and earthbound, but that holiness can be present there too. And this means that we are never safe, that there is no place where we can hide from God, no place where we are safe from his power to break in two and recreate the human heart because it is just where he seems most helpless that he is most strong, and just where we least expect him that he comes most fully.”

Pentecost changed everything. The timid message of Peter and John was transformed as they confronted the religious leaders. Barnabas set the standard for generosity and encouragement. Stephen was known as a man full of God’s grace and power and stood boldly for Christ even as he was martyred. Though Philip was deeply involved in a highly effective ministry, he was sent to one stranger out in the wilderness to share the truth of Jesus, and this stranger would be pivotal in carrying the message of salvation to Africa. Saul, or better known as Paul, was on a mission to Damascus to defend the religious traditions, only to come face to face with Jesus.

Just as Pentecost Sunday changed the course of these early Christian believers, Pentecost Sunday is still changing our day-to-day lives. We are confronted and convicted, causing us to change course, seeing events impacted but always part of the truth being shared.

May this ancient prayer of St. Augustine be an encouragement to you today as Pentecost Sunday comes to a close.

“Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may be holy.

Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work may be holy.

Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, to love what is holy.”

God is great!