When God Shows Up!

Why should I be amazed or astonished when God shows up? Shouldn’t I simply expect God to act? Well, I did, but I didn’t this past weekend.

This past weekend was our 4^th annual Holy Spirit weekend venture. My friend and colleague, Pastor Rob Nelson, and I started out by presenting these weekends as a “teaching moments;” to help the faithful learn more about the Holy Spirit and becoming full Trinitarian Christians (Father, Son, AND Holy Spirit).

For the first couple of times we led these weekends together we fell into the knowledge trap. We thought that If we TEACH about God’s Holy Spirit (just like we preach on Sundays) then this transformation should happen. This year, we asked another pastor friend to come out with us, Mike Lee from Lodi who is an accomplished musician and worship leader. The three of us have journeyed together as accountability partners since our first One Year to Live men’s retreat  four years ago.

A couple of years ago, as we prayed about the year’s upcoming weekend, we were literally touched by God – God told us he didn’t need smarter Christians, but Christians who yearn to EXPERIENCE him through his Holy Spirit. And so the weekend began to change from head to heart.

Just before this year’s weekend, I was extra busy with my book (read “obsessed" says Sabine!) and some last minute editorial and structural changes and on Wednesday, Sabine’s oncologist told us she had to go back on I.V. chemotherapy requiring two ½ day hospital visits each week for a number of months. In addition, we have a host of family soon joining us for Christmas. I was tired. Distracted. I really didn’t want to go on the weekend. On the day of the retreat I was extra busy, missed a nap I was going to take and dragged myself out to the Bethel Horizons Camp near Dodgeville where we scheduled this year’s retreat. I was worried about Sabine. The book edits were driving me nuts.

After dinner and some song, prayer and praise, we asked the nearly 20 folks present  if they would like some prayer as the evening began. No one came forward so I said, okay, why not me to start the session? As I stepped into the circle of those in attendance I had a huge weight on my shoulders. I felt strong hands on my shoulders, prayers for Sabine and then something I could actually feel on my shoulders – a slow lifting of weight. I began to feel more relaxed. I recognized my need to center myself this weekend and get beyond my book and its problems.

The evening went well and we finished up around 11 p.m. I thought I was tired and I headed to my room to hit the sack. Once there, I could not sleep. I tossed and turned. Sleep evaded me. In my head, I started thinking about a problem chapter I had. More tossing and turning and then I got up out of bed at 1:30. I had brought my computer along and the chapter in question was right there.  Is this what you want me to do, God? Two hours later, the problems were solved. I went back to bed got a couple of hours sleep and then got up around six. I had a cup of coffee, saw the sunrise in the east and began to feel light as a feather and I wasn’t tired. This was strange. What we all had prayed for last night had now come to pass. But lying in bed earlier, unable to sleep, I was a little ticked with God – hey, God, let me sleep. But that wasn’t the plan God had for me. Sometimes God’s plan is to disturb us.

I should have known God would be up to something powerful this weekend. When Rob and I met on Thursday afternoon we each had received a “word of knowledge.” His word was “surrender,” mine was “self-abandonment” -- virtually the same thing. We shared our words and I knew those words were as much for me as for anyone else in the group. I needed to surrender/abandon myself to God. To let go and let God. To not try and orchestrate God and tell God what to do. God is not someone for me to order around. That’s my spiritual struggle.

Of course, the weekend went powerfully well. Why would I doubt it? Wasn’t that my prayer! God’s Spirit came down and touched us powerfully. God’s spiritual gifts became manifest in the group just like on the day of Pentecost. And we ended with being further empowered and strengthen by the sacrament of  Holy Communion.  We did just as Jesus did. “Take and eat this bread – my body given for you. Take and drink this cup, my blood given for you,”

This weekend, we broke bread together, talked about our problems, prayed for and encouraged one another. God was given glory through song and freed-up bodies. Hands were raised, knees bent, and hearts opened to God.  Yes, we know about this. It was just like the Bible tells us. Just like the Early Church; the Church we read about in the New Testament. The Church Jesus died for. In Acts 2 we read all about that Church: those in it were filled with awe as they experienced signs and wonders. They lived in harmony with one another. Every person’s need was met. They worshipped and ate meals together. They celebrated with joy and exuberance and mightily praised God. So, what happened? Those around them liked what they saw and every day God added those who were saved (Acts 43-47, The Message translation).

Brothers and sisters, that’s the Church. Is it a place you would like to be but cannot find it? It really isn’t a building, it’s a body of people – a community. If you want something different, pray for it. Pray that those who come together in a building and yet who call themselves the “Body of Christ,” can humble themselves to the Lord, open their hearts to God, and then be willing to get out of their heads and into their hearts. Worship in Spirit. And set themselves and their needs aside and open the door for God to come in and dwell – and even mix things up! If we truly pray for God’s Spirit to mightily come among us, stir us up, and pour out his Spirit on everyone, it will happen.

Why should we be amazed or astonished when God shows up? Shouldn’t we simply expect God to act? We can be change, the transformation, that needs to happen. Go and do it!

(Finally, I need to share this powerful video by Rob Bell on God's Spirit called "Breathe." You can see it at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JzjerWHtdM) Let me know what you think.)