jesus.

Since this is the first post. its got to start with jesus. I want to know him on such a more intimate level. I want to tap into his heart beat.With that said: i believe that the heart beat of jesus is humility. its what is hardest for us to desire. no one likes pride to be revealed or brought about or crushed. its what we need. just like pride and sinfullness was wired into us as "pre-jesus-sinful-people;" On the other side of the cross and the glorious redemption of his blood... humility is wired in us now. i dont know if that makes much since but i know what im trying to say. before "jesus in us" we didnt possess the capability to be humble in the eyes of God. we were enemies of him. humility and righteousness is what we have and possess now. by the blood of jesus we can access the heart of the creator. this past weekend i went to selma with some friends. this is a cool story...

HUMILITY-from a man named mel. thank you mel!

This man named Mel had grown up and lived in the Selma community his whole life. Everyone knew him. He knew everyone. Mel was "supposedly" a christian. But he was a religious man. There is a story in the Bible that reminds me of this. There were a few people who begged to differ. They prayed and prayed.

Six weeks ago Mel went to an Emaeus walk. While there, the holy spirit was at work in him. Mel started to become aware of some "junk in his heart." As he would tell you. Sin was being convicted in this mans' heart. A dying process had begun. Life was about to spring forth. The redemptive blood of jesus that us "bible-belters" have heard our whole lives was starting to take some gravity.

Mel was overcome with guilt and conviction. Shame was mounting. He prayed that the Lord would help him get this "junk" out of his heart.

The Lord is STILL faithfull.

Mel knew he had to confess this stuff to his committed, loving, and praying wife. Praise God for her. Through this story i know the faithfullness of the Lord has made traction on her heart.

I now have chill bumps as i type.

Moving along...

He was with her on the way back from the Emaeus trip and as they were riding in the car it started. It being the junk. The junk was starting to come out. He said it was the longest one hour of his life. He told her everything. She accepted him. She loved him. She was proud of her man!

Fast Forward

Mel has a daughter. He decides to call up his daughter at college. Imagine this phone call if your a girl. Your dad calls you to tell you that he will be sitting with you at the banqueting table...feasting with the king...and you. Don't you love the way he put that? Wow! Amazing. His daughter was deeply moved. As any daughter would be after a phone call like that.

Six weeks ago Mel was dead.

Now he is on fire for jesus. This fire has been contageous in the community as of late. He was asked to give his testimony in "the baptist church" on sunday. Mel goes to the Presbyterian church. They are right across the street from each other. Kind of funny. On saturday I had the opportunity to meet Mel and chat with him for a moment. He had come out to his land (where we were) to bushog and get the land ready for hunting season. As I was talking with him, I could tell he was real excited about talking in front of the church. He was there to be with jesus. He might have been bushoging...but in reality...he was with jesus. Getting ready.

Well now its Sunday morning and just to give you a brief overview of the spiritual scenery at First Baptist Selma...its got your typical men who put on there faces and do the sunday morning deal...then leave unchanged and unmoved. But thats not really a fair assessment of that Church. Its great. But like all imperfect bodies of Churches, there is going to be some who were just like Mel. Religious men. You get it now.

Soo, the pastor gets finished speaking a little bit and introduces Mel up and hands him the microphone. Mel was jacked!! Joy was all over him. As he started talking, he told them basically what i've been telling you. As I started to look around, I saw men and women. But more men on the edge of the pew. There hearts stirring. knowing THERE IS MORE! More than there businesses or there golf game or there whatever you want to insert. Mel was expressing his passion for jesus and it was contageous. But humility. Ahh...we're back to that word. Humility is what was pouring out of this man. This is what happened...

(He starts to kneel on the carpet. In front of everyone as he is speaking)

Mel says: "This is just something I like to do every day to show the attitude of my heart. [[interjection: Ok, the man is on his knees for 10 straight minutes before a congregation telling them how much he loves jesus and what God has genuinely done in his heart.]] To show God that he is big and I am small. And the funny thing is, I used to worry what you might think of me. But now,I dont care what you think of me because I know im (he gets louder) SAVED AND I LOVE MY SAVIOR!" (thats just awesome)

Is that not incredible? There were hearts that were riveted after hearing that. In all honesty I myself was choking up and stirring as well. To see a man come to the end of himself. To embrace the dying process. And to just go hard after jesus--no matter what the cost. It was refreshing to say the least.

So i went down afterwards and talked to him again. But while i was waiting to chat...i notice some men were waiting to talk with him too. Could it be that they were soo moved by the humility pouring out of Mel that they wanted what he now had? That's exactly it! A man called my Selma friend's dad and told him he is just like mel and wants what he's got. AMEN!!! Praise God that the Lord is more committed to us than we can truly understand.I believe the Lord is doing a remarkable work in the hearts of men in this country. That we would not settle for passivity or complacency. That we would walk in the knowlege and truth of who God calls his men. That we would rise up with passion and love for jesus to lead women and to lead families. All of this out of a heart that cries HUMILITY. Its going to be exciting to watch.

I hope this story and testimony of how great our God is has moved you to a place where you can see him and then respond to him the way you were created to. Thank you. Till next week. Go in the grace and peace that's ours in abundance.

abandoned-
johnchristian