2011: The Year of Living Dangerously by Paula Friedrichsen

Have you read the story of the birth of Jesus in the books of Matthew or Luke? If you haven’t, you should! It’s a story full of mystery, danger, risk, and fear. In the narrative we read about dramatic dreams from God, terrifying angelic encounters, and perilous escapes. And Jesus’ birth isn’t the only Bible story full of intrigue and risk….just think about David and Goliath, Daniel in the lion’s den….Samson, Joseph, Gideon, and more.

The stories found in the Word of God are intended to serve as a template for how God moves in the lives of men and woman. They are meant to inspire and propel us to dig deeper into the nature, personality, and character of God….to find out more about Him and then to boldly live out our own adventures in this life.

Think about the stories you tell when you’re reminiscing around the Christmas dinner table with extended family… You tell about the times you risked much, when you did something dangerous, when you lived on the edge and went outside of your comfort zone.

But some people don’t have a story. They have allowed fear of the unknown, fear of failure, or even fear of being uncomfortable to hold them back from any kind of meaningful or risky experiences. But where’s the fun in that? How can God possibly use someone who won’t leave the house? And let’s face it, no one wants to hear about the day you did nothing, right?

Life was meant to be lived. It was meant to be experienced. The Lord intends for us to have dramatic encounters with Him…times when He reveals Himself to us in new and spectacular ways. If we’ll obey Him, going where He says to go, doing what He says to do—He will fill our lives with adventure. Yes, there may be danger along the way. And yes, we may have to risk looking foolish. But would you have it any other way? Would you really want to allow your fear of failure, or your fear of being outside of your comfort zone to dictate what you’ll accomplish in 2011? I won’t! 2011 is going to be my best year yet. I’m going to step out more; doing the things I’m called to do….using every talent (no matter how mediocre) to His advantage.

The quote below describes perfectly how I’m feeling:

“Life is not a journey to the grave, with the intention of arriving safely, in one pretty and well-preserved piece, but to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out and defiantly shouting ‘Geronimo!!!’” (Author unknown)

I love this quote and the imagery it conjures. When I read it I think about how people will sometimes pass an open casket at a funeral and say, “Ohhh, she looks so good” – almost as if the aim in life is to be physically well preserved right up until the end….to leave this earth with a wrinkleless forehead and plumped lips. But the true aim in life is to be poured out and used up for a purpose bigger then ourselves. To live dangerously for Christ. To allow Him to take us on adventures, to save us from peril, and to see Him use us in radical ways—and to live to tell the story!

So here we are on the cusp of a brand new year. And my question is; what has God told you to do? What is it that He’s been prodding you to achieve? I can tell you this; it will likely be bigger then what you can accomplish by yourself. You’ll have to rely on Him in greater ways then you have in the past. You’ll most likely have to hook up with other believers and ask for their help too. Perhaps you’ll have to do some fundraising….or you may have to do some writing and speaking… It might involve a loan from the bank and a brand new business… perhaps you’ll have to learn to do some marketing and promotion to get the word out. But whatever “it” is, I can tell you that it’ll be worth any amount of effort. It’ll be worth any amount of sacrifice. It’ll be worth risking failure, and foolishness, and odd looks from those in your circle—because doing exactly what you’re called to do is LIVING!

Make 2011 the year you finally get out of your comfort zone. Make 2011 the year you conquer fear of failure and finally begin to be the person you know you could be. Make this year the year of living dangerously for God—and I promise, it’ll be the best year of your life so far!

Paula Friedrichsen is a member of Church on the Mountain, a vibrant community of believers in Crowley Lake. We meet at 9:30 Sunday mornings. Call for more information: 935-4272 or www.ChurchOnTheMountain.org

More of Him by Tom Hovsepian

Remember the movie The Hiding Place which tells the true story of Corrie Ten Boom and her family’s attempt to hide Jewish refugees from the Nazi occupiers of Holland during WWII. There’s a scene when Corrie is a little girl and asking her father about death. Her Dad’s explanation is a classic. He said, “Corrie, when we travel by the train, when is it that I give you your ticket?” Little Corrie answers, “Just before we are about to board the train Poppa.” He says, “That’s right Corrie and it is the same way with death, when the time comes, the Father will give you your ticket just before you are to board.”

The other day I was re-reading The Supernatural Power of a Transformed Mind by Bill Johnson. In it, Bill talks about his 8 month pursuit of God, and how he continually cried out, “More of You at any cost.” At the end of that time Bill has as dramatic encounter with God which changes his life. What struck me about this story was whether I could cry out like that for 8 months (or even 8 hours for that matter) proclaiming my willingness to pay any price for “more of Him.”

It made me sad to be honest and realize that I probably couldn’t. In my opinion there was no way I could tell God that I would be willing to pay with my health, my family, my comfort, my freedom, or most anything else to have more of Him. My mind couldn’t grasp it and so I wasn’t sure I could forfeit any one of those things.

As I reflected on this more I began an assessment of my life. Where has my pursuit of God taken me? Slowly I came to realize that my wife Kandi and I have actually paid a lot to have more of God. In fact, if someone had asked us to pay in advance some of the things we’ve given up in our pursuit of Him, I would probably have said, “No way!”

It was then I understood my life was like Corrie and her train ticket. My destination is definitely, “more of Him”, no doubt. Yet in getting there, most of the time I need the ticket of His grace handed to me just before I board. Otherwise I’ll FREAK at the prospect of what is required for the journey.

With tears in my eyes I think of the journey of my friends Danne and Daphne over the last few years; out of work… forced to move in with a friend…. truck repossessed….. and their daughter tragically dying after a botched surgery… But then, they finally moved to the Coachella Valley to work at The Father’s Heart Ranch (A group home for abused boys), and are now filled to the brim with God’s love and purposes for their lives. Their gifts and callings have bloomed into great beauty and importance.

Asked to pay the price of these things before hand, they absolutely would have said, “No way.” They were handed the tickets of God’s grace to those difficult destinations just when they needed it. And they continued to pursue more of God through it all!

Same is true for you. There is a hunger and thirst that resides in you that nothing else can fill. Most likely you are a lot like me….not sure you could sustain that pursuit for 8 hours, much less 8 months. All I know is that I need as much of God as I can get right now. I had to just assure myself of that fact, and be confident that when the time comes the ticket of His grace will be there. It makes it so much easier to sit back and enjoy the journey.

Tom Hovsepian is a former pastor of Church on the Mountain who currently resides in Arkansas with his wife Kandi. Tom will be speaking at COTM next Sunday, December 19th, at 9:30 a.m. Call for more information: 935-4272 or www.ChurchOnTheMountain.org

This Season, Celebrate REASON! by Paula Friedrichsen

There is a brand new billboard right outside of the Lincoln Tunnel which reads, “You KNOW it's a Myth—This Season, Celebrate REASON!” The picture depicts a traditional nativity scene. The billboard was paid for by the organization “American Atheists” and it cost a reported $20,000. It’s scheduled to remain up throughout the holidays.

According to their website, American Atheists aim at putting an end to Christianity—claiming it is built on myth.

When I saw this news story yesterday I thought, “Just what evidence do we have that our faith in God is more than a myth?” And then I laughed! The proof is so “in your face” that it makes me pity the poor soul who simply cannot see what is in plain sight. Of course God exists. Hello? Sunrises… newborn babies… rushing mountain streams… the love between a man and a woman… starry nights… The evidence is everywhere!

Let me give you my short list of why I believe in Jesus:

1. I know God exists because He changed my nature. I did not have to clean myself up before I came to Christ. I came, just as I was, and He accepted me and made me new. He IS my salvation.
2. As my first child was laid in my arms I was filled with an unspeakable joy and my eyes were irrevocably opened to the goodness of God and the wonder of His many gifts. He IS the giver of perfect gifts.
3. I know God exists because only He can give me peace. In any situation, no matter how upsetting, dangerous, traumatic, or chaotic God gives me peace as I spend time with Him. He IS the Prince of Peace.
4. I believe in Jesus because He’s healed me many times. He healed me of Lyme disease 11 years ago—and the list just goes on and on. In fact, this headaches illness that I’m currently struggling with doesn’t worry me too much because God heals. It’s just who He is. He IS my healer.
5. I know God exists because He leads, warns, and counsels me in a myriad of interesting and intriguing ways. He IS Wonderful Counselor.
6. God has made Himself real to me by fulfilling many of my dreams, desires, and longings. No, I’m not living a perfect life with perfect circumstances—but I am living proof that God will shower His love and abundance on anybody who comes to Him with childlike faith. He IS unfailingly good!
7. As my husband and I prayed for our kids last night it occurred to me that God has so wonderfully answered our prayers recently. What a blessing to be able to clearly discern the hand of God in your children’s lives. Again, we’re not living a perfect life with perfect kids—but we do plainly see the hand of the Lord upon them. And we are thankful! He DOES answer prayer!
8. Lastly I know God is real because I am filled with love for Him, and I am convinced that He loves me! I have encountered His presence in ways that are undeniable, and these experiences stand as a testimony that is unshakeable and stalwart. Nothing can shake my faith in the reality of God because I know Him. Just as nothing can shake my knowledge of my husband (there’s just too much evidence to prove that Jeff exists), nothing can shake my knowledge of God. He IS Mighty God.

How could I not worship and adore the God who has made His works manifest in such a way that they have been painted across the canvas of my life in bold, bright, vivid colors.

And it’s not just me that He’s blessed, right? He’s blessed you too! He’s given you a roof over your head, food, clean water, a warm bed. Perhaps He’s given you a spouse to enjoy… to eat dinner with… to have companionable conversation with… to snuggle with on cold nights. Maybe you have a couple of kids or grandkids—with all the challenges they bring—but what a blessing they are, right?

He’s given you fresh air, sunshine, and the awe inspiring High Sierra Mountains to gaze at and enjoy. He’s given you an adorable town to live in with many quaint shops, delectable bakeries, homey restaurants, and a small-town movie theater right there on Main Street. He’s given you a world class ski resort 45 minutes up the hill, the Buttermilks to explore and climb, and numerous mountain lakes to fish and hike around.

The Lord has made His works manifest in our lives in every conceivable way—and He longs for us to simply open our eyes and see Him for who He is. Like the billboard said, let’s celebrate REASON this season. And any reasonable human can plainly see that God does indeed exist.

Paula Friedrichsen is a member of Church on the Mountain, a vibrant community of believers in Crowley Lake. We meet at 9:30 Sunday mornings. Call for more information: 935-4272 or www.ChurchOnTheMountain.org