Cave Dwellers

I had  a friend tell me something that has gotten stuck in my head a couple of months ago. He said there was a Word that  the speaker said about somebody who'd been hiding in a cave, and how God was calling them out.  He felt like it applied to him. After a month of wondering, of wondering what was my friend was  hiding from, what pains might have made him go there, and how does one come out again- it came back to me.  Always seems to, don't ya know!

( MY very bad Danish accent- don't ya know?)

 Some people's caves are obvious. Drugs, alcohol, massive overeating, TV, Internet addiction. Their caves can be their living rooms.  The walls of some of us others might be made of activities. Some very good activities- Church services, classes, hobbies, etc.

 I know a guy at the gym who spends  a couple hours a night at one gym, then takes off to another gym with other classes.  A short guy- he's admittedly built like a mini-Mac truck. But I digress.( love that word!)

Even though most people who know me will attest to the fact that I am an extremely busy and highly social person, there are parts of me that I think have hidden out in a cave.
I have so much I want to do, so much of life I desire to experience, but don't do them. The dreams, the big visions that God puts on our hearts- the higher callings that we all feel- like the far off call of the wolf at the moon. Or the wondering- what really is my purpose- my big calling in life?
For me- right now- to teach primary school.   To  start a small woman's group at Church.
All good- all where God has me now.   But I feel there's more......

 The log in my eye demands attention.What are the walls of my cave made of? Old school  friends, new school friends, family, book club, exercise, plays, school committees, other family, Church, Internet. I think mine is a mod-podge of many activities.  And why am I there? Fear? Fear of success, fear of failure, or just plain distractability. Distracted by the immediate, not leaving time to plan for the future.

I think now of Lazarus. Jesus called him out.  But then he turned to the ones around him and said, "Now you unwrap him."  I think we are all responsible to go before God and answer His call to come out of our caves. But I think it takes relationship- relationships where we get real with others and pray for each other- to really walk it out.
Just thinking.....

Dallas Willard

Went to the most amazing memorial service today. A service that made us cry, but also motivated us to want to live a life that would shine with the light and love of God- just as Dallas Willard had.  A professor at USC, international speaker, Christian philosopher,intellect and  author;  we could never quite figure out why he chose our little ex-hippie, family and blue collar worker church to go to. But we were glad.  Always friendly, gracious and down-to-earth, yet answering questions given him with such wisdom and depth that it would take months or even years to figure out what that meant.  And then it would change our lives.
Here is an example:
“A carefully cultivated heart will, assisted by the grace of God, foresee, forestall, or transform most of the painful situations before which others stand like helpless children saying “Why?” 
― Dallas Willard, Renovation of the Heart: Putting On the Character of Christ

He helped me get ahold of that after my husband died. He patiently answered questions until I got it. I love this man!
 I keep talking in the "we" vernacular. That is because so many of our church family was there- (It was held at Church on the Way in Sherman Way- and is podcast somewhere on this worldwide web.) And in this loss- we were truly a family. He had that effect. But most of all- he showed us what Jesus really looked like. Loving enemies- respecting, laughing and inspiriting us to disciplines that would change us on the inside. I fall so short- but His grace goads me on. And Dallas modeled that grace.
As was his style- Dallas gave. He gently,patiently, and with much love and humor gave his wisdom and blessings.

 I will end with the blessing- the prayer that he gave for us-it was written on a bookmark inserted into each of the bulletins:
" My Prayer for You
That you would have a rich life of joy and power, abundant in supernatural results, with a constant, clear vision of never-ending life in God's World before you, and of the everlasting significance of your work day by day.
A radiant life and death. "
Dallas Willard

If you ever want to read a great, potentially-life changing, powerful book- read Renovation of the Heart.

2 great men have graduated- passed on to the other side in the last couple of weeks..
Dallas Willard, professor, national speaker, author of Divine Conspiracy, Renovation of the Heart and several other books was one.
Dallas was a peacemaker. Working to inspire changed lives by the power of Christ and an abiding sense of knowing that He truly loves us and is committed to working in us more of that Love.
Here is one of (many) of my favorite quotes from him,
" 'Do not be afraid little flock for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the Kingdom.' Luke 12:32   It is the love of God, admiration and confidence in His greatness and goodness and the regular experience of His care that free us from the burden of 'looking out for ourselves."
 from Renovation of the Heart.
Of the other great man, John Butler, I have no quotes, although others might.  His greatness was carried out in quiet, gentle ways.  His gentle chuckle had  the power to chase away worry and make mountains into molehills.  His easy responses  put out fires of contention- bringing joy and building bridges where there could have been war and division.

 It seemed that he lived Dallas's quote, for he truly seemed to know that God loved him and took care of him, and from that flowed a love and care for others that is the true hallmark of Christianity.
John was a peacemaker.  Like the wine he made and freely gave away, he gave of the richness of a well fermented life!

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. " Matthew 5:10