Skip to main content

A Morning View From the Porch at Lakeside

I typically am not a big breakfast eater. Every year at Lakeside for Annual Conference there is a group of men who invite me to breakfast at The Patio. Every year I go one time and enjoy talking and joking with this group and every year I order the same breakfast, a plain toasted bagel with cream cheese and a glass of water. It is tradition, you know! I often get asked why I do not order something different? My answer is, "if something is good and satisfies my hunger, why should I order something different? Besides, I like a plain toasted bagel with cream cheese!" 
I wonder why some people have a salvation experience with Jesus Christ but wander away from the most amazing relationship possible with the Creator of all? They seem to have a taste for many different flavors of seeking to fulfill their Spirit hole in their lives. Often people bounce from one religious experience to another without a deep connection and commitment. They order something different from the menu each time to satisfy their hunger for the perfect spiritual connection. 
I know there are many layers to the why, but I am sure of a few to share this morning. First I question the authenticity of commitment in the first place. Emotional connection and spiritual highs are wonderful. But if that is all there is, we continue to seek the next high and not authentic relationship. Secondly, I believe with only the moment of feeling good and nobody to walk with us, we wander off to the next thing. We need a sister or brother in Christ to help encourage, love and hold each one of us accountable. We need a group of friends around a table to joke with and share our hearts with. 
Jesus was an agent of change as he walked with humans as human. He made a difference in their lives and he called them to follow him. When the world encountered Jesus and were authentically changed, the left, followed and wanted more. The 12 left everything to be Disciples. There was something different. They struggled and failed, but held on to their love for the One. Even Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus, was remorseful and left the money in the temple confessing his sin before hanging himself. 
So back to the bagel, if it is good and satisfies the hunger, why would I desire anything different? Jesus is good and satisfies our need and desire to connect with the God of all! Why would I desire anything different? 
Have you authentically encountered the Christ in your soul? Do you have accountability and support in your journey with another on your path moving forward? Stop feeding the soul with the next best menu item and feast on what we know is good! 

“Taste and see that the Lord is good;

    blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Fear the Lord, you his holy people,

    for those who fear him lack nothing.

The lions may grow weak and hungry,

    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.”  - Psalm 34:8-10

Peace,
PB

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Morning View By the Patio

When I was a young boy we lived in the country and I had to become very creative in how I played. Much of the time I was alone and hd to create imaginary situations so that there were "others" around me. I would also "become" someone else and emulate everything they did. I would know them, study them and learn all I possibly could about them and then become them. One of the people I "became" was Wilt the "Stilt" Chamberlain. At the time he was a famous Los Angeles Laker NBA star. I always wanted to become Wilt. I practiced his famous hook shot, watched him play on TV and learned all of his moves. I had some of the most amazing NBA battles all alone in my uneven gravel driveway. In my mind I was Wilt the "Stilt" Chamberlain. There were a few drawbacks in becoming Wilt. First, my skin pigment was as white as could be. Wilt was African American and I was never going to become Wilt. Second, Wilt was over 7 feet tall. At my peak of vertica...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Morning View From the Patio

I have been gently encouraged by someone who was nudged by the Lord to make a list for the next week of positive characteristics which make me who I am.   Today I begin with compassion. I truly strive to be compassionate with everyone I encounter. I desire to reach out and care when others are struggling. Even if I encounter someone who has hurt me in the past or I may not connect with, I try to put aside differences and find a way to share compassion with them. After all, Jesus was compassionate all the way to death. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.” - 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 Peace, PB
Post a Comment
Read more