Valleys and Mountain Peaks

I have learned more from my valleys I ever did from my mountain peaks.

I have learned that I can do a lot of things that I never thought I could do, as long as I'm not trying to do them apart from Christ.

I am learning the art of perseverance, and that it can't exist apart from faith and trust in God.

I am learning that more is accomplished in prayer than by any other means.

I am learning that I don't need the answers to all of life's questions ahead of time.

I am learning that my life and my spiritual journey affects other people's lives and spiritual journeys, and theirs, mine.  Some of the most profound moments in my faith life have come from people who will never know their impact.

I have learned that just because I can't see what's going on doesn't mean nothing is going on.

And most of all, I am learning to thank God in all things, *especially* in the valleys.  The deeper the valley, the more imperative it is to be thankful.  And the most important thing to be grateful for is God Himself, who will carry us through our trouble, and richly bless us on the other side of it.

One Year Without God

When I first heard a radio interview with the "pastor" who decided to go one year without God, I was disgusted from the start.  Pastors are supposed to respect and follow God's teaching - like "pray continually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and "Do not put the Lord your God to the test" (Deuteronomy 6:16.

Every pastor I have ever known has not only desired to be obedient to God, but has put a relationship with Christ above everything else, as it should be.  I have to wonder what kind of pastor engages in willful disobedience against God, and would sacrifice what should be treasured.  That he has done all of this so publicly makes me wonder what the real motive was, and the sincerity of the faith he started with.

What came to mind when I heard this story was an old saying, "Feed What You Want to Grow." Conversely, Starve What You Want to Die.  This man deliberately killed his own faith.  I don't get it, but I guess he got what he wanted.