Memorial Day - Sacrifice

I want to say thank you to all those who have SACRIFICED for the freedom that I enjoy and often take for granted. I have never known what it is like to live without the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. Mary Anne and I have been able to raise our family in the perimeters of freedom. We have been able to take them to church and teach them the ways of God without ever giving it a second thought. SACRIFICE is the price.  SACRIFICE is a word that holds so much within it. SACRIFICE is leaving behind a mom and dad who have poured their life into you for 18+ years. SACRIFICE is leaving behind a wife or husband that loves you more than anyone in the world. SACRIFICE is leaving behind your own children to go and fight for the children of people you do not even know. On this day we pay tribute to those who have SACRIFICED and did not come home to a mom, a dad, a husband, a wife, a son or a daughter. Let us never take the SACRIFICE of others for granted.  

Take time to watch this video.

Brain on a Chain - Four Thoughts for Leaders

There are four thoughts I have concerning leaders and we all are leading someone. Leaders need to make sure they have their brain on a chain in all four areas.

1. Activity/Intimacy - it is important that we all realize that Christian activity does not equal intimacy with Christ. Jesus said that there are people who are doing many spiritual activities that He does not even know (Matt 7:21-23). If He don't know them, He is not intimate with them. As Henry Blackaby say in Experiencing God, "God pursues a continuing love relationship with you that is real and personal".
2. Crowds/Obscurity - Leaders like crowds. If you are a called leader and you have accepted your calling, you want to get the message out to as many as possible. Crowds make that happen. However, if your relationship with God is not developed when and where no one is looking, then it is all a farce in the crowd. The hypocrites were bad to pray in the open square so that others would see them and Jesus told them to get in their closet (Matt 6:5-6). It is also interesting that the more intimate we are in a relationship the more time we spend alone behind closed doors. I am most intimate with my wife and we go where no one else is even allowed. We should have that kind of relationship with Christ. How are you handling your obscurity?
3. Emotions/Truth - This is a point that I feel is so relevant for today. We are tempted to run from one emotional experience to the next chasing God. So, our journey is from one worship experience, to a worship conference, to playing loud music in our car. We have projected images, light shows, and other tools that heighten our emotions. These are not bad things, but could you worship if you did not have those things. Can you worship when you are presented with the Truth of God. Jesus identified Himself as THE TRUTH (John 14:6) not a truth. Make sure you worship THE TRUTH and not an emotional experience about THE TRUTH. 
4. Feed/Eat - It is easy for Christian leaders to always be feeding. They preach, teach, write, blog, etc about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, Church, Christian Life, etc in an effort to feed others. The effective Christian leader must make sure that he/she is eating the Word more than feeding the Word. Eugene Peterson has a great book entitled Eat This Book that I highly recommend you read. The danger some Christian leaders fall into is that they start to feed vomit - that is regurgitated food. They take something someone else has eaten/studied and present it a fresh. I say get in the Word of God before you seek to present the Message of God. Eat well before you seek to feed. 

In conclusion, I did not intend for this to be so long. You are a leader. Make sure you have an intimate relationship with Christ, spend time with Him in obscurity, worship based on truth, and eat the Word. 

Continued From Yesterday

(Continued from yesterday)

This is a continuation of gleaning from the first chapter of the Christian Classic by Andrew Murray The Master’s Indwelling. As Christians we are to be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18). This is not just for some it is for all. It is for you and me. Murray writes, “God’s Word teaches us that God does not expect a man to live as he ought for one minute unless the Holy Spirit is in him to enable him to do it.” (p17). God expects us to live according to the Spirit. “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” (Romans 8:5, ESV). If you are Christian you have the Holy Spirit.

^“Because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:5b, ESV). Murray gives some steps that will help in the move from carnal to spiritual.

1. Recognize that a spiritual life, a walk in the Spirit, is within our reach. It can be had.
2.  A man must see the shame and guilt of living a carnal life. Just as one cannot come to God for salvation unless he is convicted of his sin and need for God, one cannot come back to God until he is convicted of his sin that had led to carnality. Read the story of the prodigal son.
3. The distance from the state of carnality to spirituality is ONE. Murray continued, “It is when a man utterly breaks with the flesh; when he gives up the flesh into the crucifixion death of Christ; when he sees that everything about it is accursed and that he cannot deliver himself from it; and then clams the slaying power of Christ’s cross within him, - it is when a man does this and says: ‘This spiritual life prepared for me is the free gift of my God in Christ Jesus.’ That he understands how one step can bring him out of the carnal into the spiritual state.”
4. Crucify the flesh. “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Galatians 5:24, ESV). One must give themselves up to the Holy Spirit by faith.

The choice is ours. Living in a state of carnality or spirituality is a choice we make everyday. Take the step.  

The Master's Indwelling - Christian Classics

There are some Christian Classics that bring us great truths of the Word of God. One reason I put so much stock in our fore fathers of the faith is that their commitment to the Word of God was so strong. They were not tempted with all the distractions of our modern culture. They spent great amounts of time feeding at the feet of Jesus and absorbing His Word. Andrew Murray was one of those men (1828-1917). The Master’s Indwelling were first papers delivered by the author in a series of addresses at the Northfield Conference of 1895. Later they were rewritten and revised by him for the authorized publication we know as The Master’s Indwelling (you can download the book for free at Amazon as a Kindle publication and use it with an app on iPhone or iPad). I want to pull some thoughts from the first chapter entitled, “Carnal Christians”. This also would be a good resource for those reading Crazy Love and this particular chapter in relation to chapter 4 of Crazy Love – Lukewarm.

1 Corinthians 3:1 “But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.” (ESV)

In this verse Paul breaks Christianity down into two groups of people: spiritual and flesh (carnal). Today, I want to deal with the carnal Christian. Note that they are Christian. Notice the next two verses.

1 Corinthians 3:2–3, “I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, ³ for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?” (ESV). Paul keeps using the word flesh (carnal).

We learn from Paul’s writings there are four marks of living according to the flesh or carnal.

1.     A simple condition of protracted infancy. If a baby cannot talk, walk or feed itself at six months we do not worry. But if that same child cannot talk, walk or feed itself at four we would easily come to the conclusion that the child had some kind of dreadful disease. This is true in the spiritual realm as well. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food.” (Hebrews 5:12, ESV).

2.     There is sin and failure continually. “For while there is jealousy and strife among you” (3a). This happens because one is not properly given up to the Spirit of God. God did not give us the power of the Spirit to fulfill the desires of the flesh.

3.     There is a presence of the gifts of the Spirit but not the graces of the Spirit. The graces of the Spirit are to make a man free from self; the gifs of the Spirit are to fit a man for work. God might use one to make an impact on others by the use of the gifts. So often we see people using their gifts of the Spirit but neglecting the graces of the Spirit – love and humility. Read 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 and then go back and read chapter 13. The carnal one uses the gifts of the Spirit but neglects the graces of the Spirit.

4.     Carnality makes a man unfit for receiving spiritual truths. Paul said, I “could not address you as spiritual”. “I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it” (v2).

Many  people ask why is the church so feeble today? Carnality, living according to the flesh.

The contents of this blog are gleanings from The Master's Indwelling by Andrew Murray. 

Tomorrow I will blog about how to live the spiritual life opposed to the carnal life.  

Clear the Decks

What are you seeking from God? That might be a very complex question for you. Some come to God to go to heaven. Some come to God in order to receive the blessings only He can give. Some come to God to find healing. Some come to God so that their children will hear about Him. Some come to God so they can fix their life. Some come to God so that the world that seems cruel and unfair will change and become fair and without problems. But, why did you come to God? Go all the way back to the moment of your salvation. Why? I would submit that if it was not because of the great love He has for you and has demonstrated through the life and death of Christ in forgiving your sins He might not be Lord of your life. When He is Lord He does not come in to just get you to heaven, receive blessings, find healing, teach children, fix lives, or any other isolated need. He comes in to "clear the decks for divine action". When a submarine is about to go underwater they have to make sure the decks are clear. God want to use you for His glory. You were created by Christ and for Christ. At some point we have convinced ourselves that we have an option not to let Him use us for divine action. Here's the deal!

Galatians 2:20-21, "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. "

GROW UP

“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” (1 Peter 2:1-3). This is a conditional statement. “If” gives us a picture that some may think they are part of the faith community and they are not. Let’s look at this starting in verse three. I believe that anyone who has tasted the Lord they know He is good. Therefore, the reason some are on spiritual milk like newborn infants is because without Christ they cannot grow up. Unless someone knows the goodness of the Lord from a taste of the Lord, they will not understand the meatier things of God nor will they desire them. The actions mentioned in verse one are not of spiritual mature people. Christian, if you are on spiritual milk and these vices are part of their life – grow up. This is a battle of the flesh and spirit. Walk in the Spirit.  The Psalmist gave great advice, “Oh, taste and see that he Lord is good!” (Ps 34:8). (This is some thoughts from one of my morning devotionals Mornings and Evenings. 

Discouraged/Encouraged

I was discouraged last night at our adult attendance. I know that the youth and children's work is taking some of the faithful that are working with them. But yesterday I had fasted for WOW Wednesday and then when I saw the adult turnout it discouraged me (sorry if that makes you think less of me). Even those who were here sat so far apart it looked like everyone was contagious with some dreaded disease. It seems we are more attached to a certain seat than to people sometimes. But God taught me a strong lesson that goes along with the “by faith and not by sight lesson”(2 Cor 5:7). My sermon was about leaning in when everything tells you to lean out and God will bless the effort. So, with that said, I met with two people class after church. We were to meet concerning pre-marital counseling. I was tired, they were tired, and it had been a long day. However, the first thing I do in pre-marriage counseling is confirm salvation. Well, neither of these two were saved but had been attending pretty regular for some time. I did not slay 600 like Shamgar and the building did not have 1000 in attendance last night but 2 people did find a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. So as I went home considering the night, if I had to choose to have 1000 in attendance (which would really feed my flesh) or two saved (which would really feed my spirit), I would have to choose the two. I was so encouraged. God blessed my day of fasting but in a way I did not expect or pray for. I do not know what is going on in your life, but I do know this. God is faithful and “all of His promises are ‘yes’ in Christ Jesus” (2 Cor 1:20, DW paraphrase). Look to see how He is going to answer your prayers and fasting. Don’t have some predetermined outcome that you want God to make happen. Give Him the situation and ask Him to work in His great wisdom. Give God the latitude to give the best answer not just a good answer. 

DESIRE

Proverb 19:2 says, “Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses the way.”

Psalm 20:4 says, “May He (the Lord) grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans.”

We all have desires. We have the desire for our sons and daughters to be protected and healthy. We have the desire to have and hold a good job. We have the desire to be able to retire one day. We have the desire to pay all our bills. We have the desire to be a good person. There are more desires within our heart than we could name. Some of those desires are good, some bad and some neutral. He is the way we must deal with our desires.

First, pray that you might “be filled with spiritual knowledge, wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Col 1:9-10)

Second, listen for God to speak. He has given you His Spirit – the Spirit of His Son Jesus Christ. He will guide you, help you, convict you, comfort you, teach you, etc (John 14-16).

Third, walk in obedience. Obey in the moment. Do it then. Delayed obedience is disobedience.

Do you have a desire today? Gain knowledge in that area – spiritual knowledge. Don’t make quick decisions so that you do not miss the way.

God wants to give you the desires of your heart. Make His desires your desires today. 

Lesson from 24

I am an avid watcher of the show 24. Let me give a brief description of the show before I go into lessons learned from season 8. Here is Wikipedia's summary of the show. “The series begins with him working for the Los Angeles Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU), for whom he is characterized as a highly proficient agent, but one taking a 'ends justify the means' regardless of the perceived morality of some of his actions. Throughout the series most of the main plot elements are political thriller like in nature. A typical plot has Jack Bauer racing against the clock as he attempts to prevent multiple terrorist plots, including Presidential assassination attempts,nuclear, biological and chemical threats, cyber attacks, as well as conspiracies dealing with government and corporate corruption". The 2 hour series finale is next Monday and I am very interested to see how it will end.

“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” 1 Corinthians 15:33 (ESV)

This verse has been lived out in multiple ways over the past years, but this season is the focus. President Taylor has been trying to put together a peace treaty that stands the chance to be the first of its kind. However, she has found herself teaming up a previous president, President Logan. Logan’s presidency ended with great embarrassment. He is prideful and is seeking to get his name back in a positive light and talks President Taylor into following a crooked path to reach a world changing end. It has the feel of “the end justifies the means” mindset for Taylor and Logan.

The tragedy is that President Taylor finds herself justifying behavior and decisions that are out of character. The carrot seems so good that she has now begun to walk down a ruinous path that has cost many people their lives. She now had put herself in a position that she described on last night’s show as “telling lies to cover up lies”. All because she began to keep company with Logan. “Bad company corrupts good character”.

I know this is only a television series (one of the best ever) but we can learn some great lessons if we choose. Evaluate your life right now. What relationships are you allowing to mess up your character? What carrots are you chasing that have convinced you that it is worth throwing your character out the window? Your  decisions could very well cost people their lives – that is their eternal life. They might decide that your Christianity is not worth much based on your character. As the Lord told the prophet Haggai to tell the people, “Consider your ways”.

Lyrics Wednesday - Empty Me

Chris Sligh was on American Idol in 2006. His journey is interesting to say the least. He is a Christian artist today and has a powerful song entitled "Empty Me". It is amazing how quickly all of us can be drawn away from the things that are most important in life. We have been trained by our culture to reach for all we can get. This song goes along with a couple of books I have been reading and re-reading - "Radical" and "Crazy Love". Here are the lyrics and a link to listen to the great song. Let this be our prayer.

EMPTY ME

I've had just enough of the spotlight
When it burns bright
To see how it gets in the blood
And I've tasted my share
Of the sweet life
And the wild ride
And found a little is not quite enough

I know how i can stray
And how fast my heart could change

Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me
So i can be
Filled with you

Ive seen just enough of the quick buys
Of the best lies
To know how prodigals can be drawn away

I know how I can stray
And how fast my heart could change
Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me
So I can be
Filled with you

Cuz everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you
Compared to you
Cuz everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you
So I surrender all

Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride

Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me
So I can be
Lord empty me of me
So I can be
Filled with you.
Filled with you
Empty me

Book Review: The Heart Mender

"The Heart Mender" by Andy Andrews

It is rare that an author can weave the past, the present, fiction, non-fiction, tragedies, successes, and drive home a biblical truth that almost everyone struggles with in one book, but Andy Andrews accomplishes that and more in The Heart Mender. The year was 1942 and WWII reaches the shores of Alabama and changes Helen Mason’s life forever. However, this is not her first time to experience life change due to WWII. This war has torn apart her heart, mind, soul and spirit. Events from the same war also become her heart mender.

This book caught my attention because of the non-fiction nature it possess. History is a great teacher and Andy Andrews uses this history lesson to teach about the difficulty of forgiveness that holds most people hostage. There were times I could smell the ocean mist, bacon and eggs cooking, and the smoke of gun fire. The setting of the book is in the Alabama Gulf Coast, a place of which I visit at least once a year. Andy took me on a journey that was relaxing yet challenging. The story is strongly convicting as it confronts forgiveness head on. God is the ultimate heart mender but it is amazing how he used the people in this most enjoyable read. I have read other Andy Andrews books that were enjoyable but this one is his best. I highly recommend you put this on your summer reading list.

The Heart Mender is published by Thomas Nelson Publishing and was provided to me to review by their Bloggers Book Review Program.

GET A FREE COPY

The first person to get three people to follow my blog will get a free copy of "The Heart Mender". Just get them to send me an email saying you got them to follow the blog to dan@myhconline.com .

Brain on a Chain - Strong & Courageous

In my study for the WOW Wednesday at Harvest Church I was studying the first chapter of Joshua. God gives Joshua instructions, commands, encouragement, and more in that first chapter. He, in a sense, tells Joshua to put his “Brain on a Chain”. The part that really caught my attention today was his repeated words, “be strong and courageous”. The study of these words reveals a great truth that all should apply who desire to “live by faith” (2 Cor 5:7). “Be strong” concerns a prepared condition. Joshua was to take the initiative to “meditate on the Book of the Law day and night”. God was telling Joshua to get his brain on a chain. Making his brain strong. Getting it ready. Taking time to prepare. Then the words “very courageous” follows “be strong”. God knew that Joshua would encounter some tough stuff and if his brain was on a chain from bathing it in the Book of the Law, he would find courage to carry out God’s plan. Courage is an attitudinal action achieved from a prepared condition. So, Joshua would be able to face tough stuff with courage because of his prepared condition. The same holds true for us. If we will “be strong” (do what it takes to prepare) we will find the courage to face the tough stuff of life. So, “PUT YOUR BRAIN ON A CHAIN”.

ORANGEjuice

God has spoken to me so clearly this morning. I had a great day yesterday. I battled the “live by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7) battle most of the morning. It is amazing how I can teach on a topic then God puts me to the test. It’s like He says, “Alright big boy let’s see how you are doing on this topic.” I am glad I had just been teaching on it again in my Sunday School class. Our attendance was down yesterday due to a few different factors: Mother’s Day, Air Show, Graduation, pretty weather, etc. So as I looked out in the parking lot during Sunday School the devil started that live based on what you see thing. I was a battle for me but I believe the promises of God won out.

After church, Mary Anne and I, Jeremy and Krista Dyer, Christy Wise and her sons Alex and Mason went out to East Tuscaloosa and gave out brown bag lunches to about 50 people (there numbers were down also). It was good to help folks. I had a man about 55 come up to me and said he helped paint the Family Life Center. He began to cry and asked me to pray for his mom who had just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Her name is Mable if you would like to pray for her now. We prayed together and I watched this grown man walk away crying for his mom get on his bike and ride away. He was why I was to be there. It was not about a certain number of people. It was about one man yesterday.

Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Phil 2:12–13 (ESV)

It is our job to work out (v12) what God has worked in (v12). You ministry opportunities this week might be to a crowd or to one man on a bike. Work it out. Obey in the moment. Go ahead and make the commitment to Christ that you will walk in obedience today by the moment. Don’t worry about tonight or tomorrow. Work it out in the moment.

Christ has been raise so nothing you do for Him is in vain. (ESV) “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14).

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:57–58 (ESV).

Set Free By Friends

This is one amazing illustration of the Christian life.

At the end I have a link to a video that is powerful yet needs to be watched understanding it is graphic in nature but powerful in message.

The Bible clearly teaches that the devil is like a lion seeking to devour us.

1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. NIV

As we live out our life we are often just going about our business and not really on “alert” or demonstrating “self-control”. This is a dangerous place. Not only does the “devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”. He will seek to take out the weakest.

Now, sometimes we all experience the attack of the devil. We are to be there for each other when that happens.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. NIV

We really do need each other. We need each other to break us free when we cannot even help ourselves.

Galatians 6:1-2 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. NIV

Watch this video and learn this biblical lesson better than ever. You might cry when it is over. It is an amazing truth that Scripture teaches lived out before a video camera. Over 52,300,000 have viewed this on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM (this is the original raw footage)

Harvest Church Life

Yesterday was one more great day at Harvest Church. Nassan Ibrahim from Uganda did a great job preaching on the Joy of our Salvation. God used you to make a huge impact in the lives of refugees in Uganda. We took up, so far, over $5700 to aide in helping this ministry. That would be 38 homes or two churches for 150 people each with 2 homes to spare or two fresh water wells with 4 homes to spare. It will be used in a powerful way. Nassan is a powerful man of God. Pray for his continued effectiveness for the kingdom. Again, thanks to the Praise Team for taking us to a powerful time of praise and worship.

LIFEgroups continue to experience success with few challenges. Chris Allen has started doing a short visual lesson with the kids in our group so that they continue to learn more and more about God and His love and faithfulness. We will not have LIFEgroups next Sunday due to mother’s day. Make sure your LIFEgroup is planning on attending the picnic on Sunday May 23 and helping with the IN THE STREETS opportunity May 30.

May 30 is going to be our next IN THE STREETS opportunity. Make sure you make plans now to attend and help from 2-4. Also, we need groceries, clothes, toys, etc.

HC Worship continues this week with our WOW Wednesday. We will be going before the Lord in praise and worship and learning from God’s Word from the book of Deuteronomy. I promise it will be applicable to your life. Make sure you are here at 6:30. Bring the whole family.

A Warning

This week in my devotion one of them was based on 2 Corinthians 5:7. It reads, “we walk by faith and not by sight”. This devotion was by Oswald Chambers and he always plows new ground. Let me give you just a few insights he gave. I will not number them because it is not a complete list of truths that this verse or principle gives.

Ω “God is trying to make us do our work as hidden people who are not in the spotlight”

Ω “Can we do our work when it seems that God has sealed up heaven?”

Ω “A self-assured saint is of no value to God.”

Ω “If we continually try to bring back those exceptional moments of inspiration, it is a sign that it is not God we want.”

Ω “Never live for those exceptional moments – they are surprises. God will give us His touches of inspiration only when He sees that we are not in danger of being led away by them.”

Ω We must never consider our moments of inspiration as the standard way of life – our work is the standard.”

Those last two are really good. I want to give you the whole context of this scripture. Paul is talking about our heavenly dwelling. He clearly understood that we are aliens in this world. Our real and eternal home is in heaven. “So we are always of good courage…for we walk by faith, not by sight” (vv6-7).

So, here is the deal. Just do it. Do what God has called you to do and quit trying to recreate experiences. Do not let your sight mislead you, discourage you, confuse you or dissuade you. What you see is not always what you are getting. We are a people that love burning bushes, blinding journeys and emotional worship services. We must be careful in these expectations. We are to live “faith” lives, not “sight” lives. Will we be faithful, even when we do not see what we think we ought to see? I think that is a worthy question.