Fear

Fear will sing your dreams to sleep if you let it

Fear is misplaced Faith

Fear takes over when I give more weight to "what if's" than what God said and who He is.

What's God's Point?

WHo am I? 

Why am I here?

What’s my purpose?

Who is God, Where is he?

What’s the point?

These are questions that have echoed throughout eternity since man believed the lie Satan brought into the garden. The question we should be asking is, “ What is God’s point?” Where is he leading me?

If I’m going to find any answers I need to go back to the source. “I need to sit under the tree of life” and ask God, “What’s the point?” 

Because how we answer that question determines the way we will live our lives. 

Do we think God wound us up and is no longer involved? 

DO you think you were made just to live 70-80 years and then die? 

If you are a Christian do you believe you were made to accept Jesus and go to Heaven? If that’s the case, I ask you, What’s the point? Wouldn’t it be better to just die now if the goal is “heaven”. Was sin bigger than God, did it surprise him, and he’s really going to scrap the world, and pull out plan B?

I don’t believe so. I believe there was only ever one plan, and we are still going back to what he originally intended in eden. 

We pray over and over, the memorized so often said in a drone monotone, “ Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven..” 

DO we realize what scripture says? That it says “Here on earth.” That doesn’t sound like rapture and destroying the earth. Isn’t he a God who makes all things new? 

Are we fighting a losing battle, or do we believe in the eschatology of Victory? Is the question Andrew posed to us last week. 

Because if we believe it is all  just going to hell in a hand basket, then why go to Haiti, why help the brokenhearted and homeless? Why recycle, and why do we do anything for the environment if death is the end? 

I believe death is inevitable, but it’s not the end. I’m looking forward to the end, the real ending. The life AFTER life after death.. what happens after “heaven”. 

Because before the fall we were made to work, and work was good. It was cursed at the fall, not created. I don’t think our future is white robes, mansions, and harps, but a New Jerusalem. An Eden like City where we live life the way God intended ; with him on the throne. That’s the Kingdom I believe in. That’s the point. Or a start.... 

Hey Idiot, I love you. What do you think of me?

At the end of the week this is how I have heard God... like "Come on Rachael, just live for me..I love you." Do you need to get smacked over the head and told the same? Believe me, He does Love you..Let that free up your mind a bit. 

The freedom to Love God and do what you want has completely shifted my thinking of the way calling works. We didn't discuss it in class this week, but Moses comes to mind. God didn't force something on him that wasn't there. Moses sat in the presence of God, and Aaron spoke.. two separate and necessary jobs that needed doing for God's work to be carried out. 

Before coming to G42 I began reading Knowledge of the Holy*. AW Tozer's plea for us to think well on God, to seek out the mysteries of who he is, and the truth he has reveled of himself in scripture. G42 is knowledge of the Holy in action. Our classes are meant to make us uncomfortable, to dig into the deepest parts of our minds and figure out what ungodly beliefs have been tucked away that need to be infused with truth. We are practicing thinking well on God. 

In our session on Thursday we talked about strongholds. 

Stronghold: A  hiding camp of the enemy. A stronghold is a distinct pattern burned in our minds that causes us to think or perceive things in a certain way. A faulty thinking pattern based on lies and deception. 

By the way, Demons and strongholds are good friends. If Satan gets a hold of your mind, he needs to do nothing else. 

Can you guess what the two major strongholds in believers are??

1.) An incorrect view of who God is..

2.) An incorrect perception of who we are...

Who is God? Who are you?

What would you answer to those two questions?

I know there are many layers to each, but I'm more looking for the first thing that comes to mind, the first layer you could say. I've realized this week just how many layers to strongholds there can be, how many layers of freedom are available, and how much we can either allow ourselves to be trapped or experiencing the fullness of what we were made for. 

Go ahead, throw out your "Christian, moral, safe" answer. You don't have to have grown up in the church to have one of these. It's our general response, like saying "fine, or good" when asked how we are. Throw it out and get real. One truth I knew going into this is God IS all honesty and truth. When we are honest he honors and respects that, it's not like he doesn't already know how you feel. Oh and... screw the people around you. (Don't get me wrong, I love people, but our assumption of what people will think or say in response to who we are, what we are questioning or how we feel is to speak plainly, stupid... there will be more on this later.) 

Now say it out loud. God I think you are (___________insert your answer here.) Listen to the what you just said. Repeat it a few times, and let the words fall to the floor, or echo around you. 

Why do you think that? Where did it come from? and are you willing to explore it to find truth?

Now, Imagine doing that in front of 17 other people. Imagine being called on before you've had time to think of a proper answer, or even get your thoughts together. Imagine letting go of what other people think of you and just focusing in on the question. Imagine letting your guard down so people can really see you. Welcome to G42. 

This is what the church should look like. This is what we should be doing. Let's stop having bible studies where one person speaks and everyone listens, and lets put the responsibility back on everyone to know each other and be known and wrestle through things together. I still think we need a pastor to shepherd and bring truth to the whole, but in our day to day, in our meetings, in our general conversation.. 

What are we doing? How are we helping each other mature and work if our perception of God is skewed, our perception of ourselves is inadequate, and of one another isn't real? 

What is the point of the church?? Why do we gather together? Is it not to know and pursue who God is? And support each other wherever each of us are? To worship together in freedom and in truth? To work to bring the kingdom of God in all areas of life? Because from where I'm sitting I don't see a lot of this in the church body. I see a lot of people coming in craving it, but too scared to step out and take it. What are we afraid of??

What if we got together to figure out who God is and who we are, and started the conversation with, "Hey Idiot, I love you." Would you feel the freedom to breathe and be real? Please don't be offended. There's no need to be. I'm just calling it like I see it, and like I've been called out on it. I've been an idiot, and I'm trying to walk away from that. 

Here is a small peek into our conversation about what we think of God, and questions we have. None of us are perfect. We are all figuring it out. But there are two types of people: Those who sit in their imperfection and those who seek out the answers to change it. 

I would love to know your answers and your questions. You are welcome to be honest here.. if you are so brave.. to enter into a little freedom.

" I sometimes fear that in the face of a decision I will choose the wrong thing and God will be disappointed in me. That I constantly let him down. .."

" I picture God as my imaginary friend, that only I can hear and do what He's telling me..like jiminy cricket."

" God just seems so abstract, like when I finally see him one way, everything shifts and I don't understand, and maybe won't ever."

" I see what I have, and what I'm lacking and think God's not fair. Then I see what I have that others are lacking, and think the same. Everything is so uneven. If he can do something about it, why not. I can't tell if he's in control, and if he's not, then how can I trust him?"

" I see God as being judgmental.."

" I used to think that 'God so loved the world' and didn't see the individual. I now waver back and forth between that and that he sees me so personally..."

"God is constant. We don't have to work for his love. That 'though we are unfaithful he is faithful'(2 tim 2:13). I know that from walking away from him, and him taking me back with no questions. How can someone do that? I don't know if I could love someone like that."

"Is he a God of all things, and if so why did he create people who wouldn't ever love him? or does he choose not to know all things?.."

" If we say God is in control, why is there so much crap that goes on. Doesn't seem to me like he is control of a lot."

" I picture God as a distance marker. That I strive and "do good" to get closer to him, and no matter how much I move forward the distance marker keeps getting further and further away."

" I fear he won't equip me for the things he's put on my heart. It's overwhelming."

" How many of you think if you don't read or pray, or have a quiet time, you'll be back at square one with God again?" (multiple hands raise...)

How do we find the answers? How do we get past these strongholds in our life......? On it's way shortly...Don't worry it's not a ten step process or something you can check off. That's not my style, and it's not my Dad's either.

* Unfortunately, I left "Knowledge of the Holy" on my plane ride from NY to Belgium. Praying that whoever picks it up is intrigued and taken on an awesome journey to discover who God is...I'm hoping to find one in a used book store around here. 

Love God and do what YOU want...

“Love God, and do what YOU want..”

It may sound controversial to some, but this is the phrase that sent my mind reeling our first day of classes this week here at G42. Love God, and do what you want. So many people have asked me what exactly is G42 and why are you going and so here is my attempt to put into words why I am here and what I’m experiencing. It will be in several parts so i don’t exhaust you in one post. I am not one to tell a short story. 

In order to explain the present, let me explain the past. When I left on the world race I left a job that I love, a city my heart aches for, and some pretty incredible people in pursuit of my “calling.” Before I planted somewhere, I wanted to know that it was “exactly where God wanted me..” destiny talk I guess you could call it, God’s divine will. I realized quickly after training camp for the World Race, that the year was going to look completely different than I had expected. In fact I was told to drop all expectations, and be open to whatever God would do throughout the year. A pretty daunting demand for a control freak like myself, but I went in open handed wanting whatever it was that God had for me, and he blew away any of my previous expectations, and gave me so many answers, but left me with more questions than I had ever had in my life. 

When I got home I felt restless, I need to be “doing” something. After all we have seen, done, and experienced this year I can’t just do nothing. After all the people I’ve met, the ways I’ve seen God move, and the inner transformation that’s happened in my own heart, where do I go from here. I have all of these passions, and all this fight against the injustice of this world welling up inside of me and....

                  

                  I DON’T KNOW.....

           WHAT TO DO WITH IT!

Not knowing is the worst for me, and so I paced the many houses I visited in the last several months trying to figure out what “my calling” is. When I finally decided to come to G42 it was, because I wanted it to be a part of my story, because I want to be mentored by people passionate to know God, and who's purpose is to send our generation out making a passion a vision and a vision a reality. We may not have much control over our environment, where we are born, or what family we are born into, but what we do have a choice in we should seize, not take for granted. Decisions are an honor God bestowed to us saying “I trust you.” Our problem a lot of the time isn’t that we haven’t heard God.. it’s that we don’t trust when we have. We are so caught up with wanting a burning bush, or to hear God’s audible voice speaking through a mega phone in the sky that we remain immobile asking for “confirmation” for the sixth time instead of seeing the passions God has given us are for us to take action.

What makes you feel alive? What gets you up in the morning? What do you see in the world that makes you burn up inside at the injustice? The age old question, “ If money weren’t an issue, What would you do with your life? Is so appropriate. Why aren’t we doing the things we love? I’m not saying the things that just make you “happy”. Life isn’t about being happy, but about work. We were each uniquely created to work for the kingdom of God. It might not always be easy, but a little passion goes a long way.... 

Our first session here at G42 Beck Hearn lead with, “ I’m not interested in fluffy super spiritual out christian-ing one another. If one of you was made to be a hairstylist, and the other wants nothing more than to start orphanages in Africa, neither is more holy. You both have a separate passion, a different mission, and both are needed. If one of you tries to do what was intended for someone else, then you create a void where you are meant to be. Don’t try to do someone else’s work, because it seems more worthy. Do the work God gave you. DO what you love. Do it for the glory of God....”

That was the first 30 minutes of our classes, the first paragraph of my 22 pages of notes, and the first discussion that started revealing issues I’ve been having in decision making, in understanding who God is, and who I am to him. I’ve often thought of God as a Father who I’ll never please. I’ll stress out about a decision, because I want to make sure it’s his perfect will so he isn’t disappointed in me. But that’s not the point. He gives me free will to choose, and he gives you the free will to do the same. Even if we don’t choose him, he’s proven he'll fight all of eternity to get us back. 

“...if you really really love God and have a relationship with Him, you don't want to do anything other than what He wants you to do! "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature rather serve one another in LOVE." Galatians 5:13. That is freedom in Christ! It isn't about rules or religion, it's about grace, love, and Jesus kicking the crap out of Satan.

~Taken from Steve and Jo’s adventures, G42 alumni

www.thestevejoadventure.blogspot.com.es/2011/06/g42.html

** If you’d like to help support me here at G42 the support link is www.g42leadershipacademy.org/donate and be sure to put “Rachael Metzger” in the intern box. I am currently in need of 300 dollars for this months tuition, and $5500 total for the 6 months here. Thank you!