The Land Between : Book Review
I recently finished reading The Land Between by Jeff Manion. A more timely read I could not find as I go through my own personal time in The Land Between.
Through looking at the Israelites time in the wilderness, Jeff challenges his reader to apply the principles to their own life. He warns of the tendency for the reader to assume that they would not fall into the same patterns of behavior that the Israelites found themselves in. It is a good warning, for we tend to view ourselves as the hero in the story.
The Land Between is not the only one of transition, it is any time of hardship and trial. Through many examples, both personal and anecdotal, Jeff makes real the points he drives home.
The Land Between is a place that is ripe for complaint. The Israelites were grumblers... it was a habit, not the exception. In contrast, Moses went to God with his frustration and vented. The Land Between is a place where we can learn to cry out to God in unabashed honesty and without fear of becoming the recipients of God's wrath as long as we do not allow the habit of grumbling. We must continue to see God's provision and ensure that we do not take it for granted.
There were many passages that spoke to my heart and challenged my thinking. One such quote:
Trouble and trust coexist in the hearts of the people we meet in the Bible—David, Jeremiah, and others—even as they coexist in our own hearts.
Some have taught that faith and fear cannot co-exist. That may be true, but often it is presented that faith and a troubled heart cannot co-exist. That is not true.
This is a great book. If you are going through a season of trial, a time where God's path is leading uphill and you are experiencing frustration with the circumstances of life. This book will be a great tool that God can use to help you look at yourself honestly and identify what God may be work doing in your life.
The Land Between is first and foremost, a time of spiritual transformation, not a time of judgment.
Fatal Assumption? (re-post)
Lately I’ve been talking with a few individuals about what God has been talking to them about. Some relay stories of conviction and challenge. Others relay stories about the future that God is showing them. I’m always intrigued by those who talk about the future. Not because it is about the future, but because of how they see the future coming into being.
One of the accounts in the Old Testament can serve as a type of reminder for us as we walk forward and fulfill the future that God has for us. It is the account of the Israelites as they take possession of the Promised Land. God had revealed that this land was going to be theirs. However, they were not able to just walk into the land, thank the current inhabitants for building homes and infrastructure, and move in. They had to take possession of the land. They had to fight with the current inhabitants. It was not easy work seeing the fulfillment of God’s promise!
When God reveals to us the future that he has for us, it can be a fatal assumption to think that it will be easy. Too many times I’ve seen people just start walking into the future, because God said it would happen, they find incredible opposition and experience discouragement, frustration and often times drop out.
When God reveals something to you, give Him praise. Celebrate the future that he has for you… then, put your nose to the grindstone and prepare to work through a time of preparation so you can experience His plan.
Fat Baby
Years ago Amy Grant recorded a song called: Fat Baby. In a humorous poke at many Christian's reality, she makes the point that too many Christians learn lots but don't exercise their faith enough.
The challenge that many churches find themselves faced with comes from the very people in the church pews already. It's a subtle mindset that is often expressed in comments like, "I love this church/pastor because I really get fed every Sunday." Now, a church/pastor should feed those who attend on Sunday, however, the church/pastor has a higher responsibility.
The church/pastor has to teach the people to feed themselves. Well, duh. We've heard the saying: 'Give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.' Challenging Christ-followers to feed themselves and not rely on the once a week predigested meal on Sunday morning is critical to the health of the church.
If Christ-followers begin to take responsibility for them spiritual diet and feed themselves, I wonder: What (or Who) could the church/pastor focus on Sunday morning?
Evaluate Your Group Effectiveness
Every now and then a leader needs to take inventory about how their group is going. For all-church group life evaluation, forms and online assessment tools are great. However, there is a need for each group leader to take a reading of where their own group is at. It's not meant for deep evaluation.
One form of evaluation comes through the power of story.
One evening at our group I started by telling the group they could choose Option #1 or Option #2. I gave them no indication what was behind ‘door #1′ or ‘door #2.’ One of the outspoken individuals picked #2 and everyone else just fell in line. I got more insight as to whom I could approach as a future apprentice.
Everyone needs a coach!
Mentoring and coaching are two different avenues to the same end: growth and personal development. Both types of relationships are needed so we can fully develop. Often we look for mentors, people who have been where we want to be and we learn how to get there from them. We also need coaches in our life to help us get where we want to be.
Coaches are not necessarily experts in the realm that we are seeking to grow.
Tiger Woods is arguable the best golfer of all time. And he usually has had a coach.
Tiger turned pro on August 29, 1996 with the statement: "Hello World!" In the first sixteen months of his professional career, Tiger played 28 tournaments. He had 14 Top 10 finishes and six wins. The average PGA tour player doesn't win that many tournaments in his career.
What I'm Thinking...
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