The Book of ‘U’

I remember in some of our leadership training sessions in the past I would sometimes ask the question, “If your friends or family were to write a biography of your life story, what would the title be?”

Don’t get me wrong here, what others’ think about you is important in a lot of ways, but totally unnecessary for you to discover the real U.

It is an eye-opening experience. Think about what you would write as the title, compared to others would put as the title. There are several books I suppose we could write about our lives. The secret things book. You know the one that reveals how you REALLY feel about people and situations. There is also what I call the book of dreams.

Would your life story be horror story, love story, drama, comedy, or God forbid a fiction? I am pretty sure I can say with confidence that your story probably didn’t turn out the way you planned it. But the reality for us is that it (is).

A great exercise I learned from Crystal Andrus was, Your Five Words. I visit this training over and over like on a monthly basis. The exercise is simply find the five words that describe you. What are the five words that reveal what you are all about. Five words that reveal your intent and desire to be in life. I searched out these words in my own life. I found it difficult to own them. I was having conflict in my mind over it for about a month.

Were these five words supposed to be the things I desired to be? Were these words what I perceived what others saw in me? Were the words to be a definition of how I think I am now?  This is how I interpreted the training session; my five words were at the core of who I really am. When you strip your life down to the bare bones material.  Like discovering the core of your purpose and intent at a cellular level.  Take away all of the labels of thought, definition, and opinion of others. In other words, who are you really without any form of external accomplishment, or possession.

I believe this is a wonderful exercise. I have had many of my friends try to come up with their five words. You see these five words is the bedrock of identity. Since I believe life is really a stage to discover the RealU, then it’s imperative that we find these words. When you find these core nuggets, then you can begin to live an authentic life.

Meaning you become aware of alignment to these core values and context. Everything else that does not line up with your core words, is merely a shadow of the RealU!

So what are your words? What is the Title of the Real Book of You?

The ‘Process’ of Becoming

You won’t be in the church very long these days without hearing the words, Destiny, purpose etc. Back in the 70’s it was all about soul winning and witnessing to others. Then as we progressed in the 80’s we focused on ‘know your calling, and make it sure. We took spiritual gifting tests to determine our gifting. Some pastor friends I have today still use that system. It was sort of modified personality profile, to logically discern what people’s spiritual gifting might be. Sortly after that time we began the five fold endeavor, trying to see which office was a fit for our personality, as if that really has any bearing on it at all.

Sometime in this realm we became side tracked to the pursuit of cash, and we coined it so appropriately, Blessings. We sort of got stuck there for a while it got crazy, nothing was ever taught unless it has something to with your personal gain, and blessings. Let me say on a side note here I am so not against what the church says is ‘Blessing’, I not delusional to think that if God did release that kind of material into my life it would actually be just for me. I don’t want to get off track but clearly the church has laid a foundation subtlety that if everything is going good in your life, and you have more money than you can spend, then the obvious thing is YOU ARE the BLESSED ONE. Forget about the spiritual gifting, and callings etc., if there is no money to made then the church shuns it.

I submit this thought for the day. The old covenant says, He gives you Power to get wealth. In 3 John he says that his earnest prayer would be that his friends would prosper as their souls prosper. We have taken that to mean that if I have a lot of money and stuff, then my soul Must be doing well. I can’t imagine St. John thinking like that. After all he was the very one that wrote, If you have this worlds goods, and see a brother in need and shut up your heart towards him, then it’s OBVIOUS that the Love of God is NOT in you!  A better view of 3 John would be I pray you prosper and stay healthy, but not at the expense of losing your soul.

You can take Joshua’s word, Power to get wealth, or again St. John’s; ‘To Him gave he the Power to become a son.” Today we are bombarded with the message of Destiny, Purpose, Calling, Election. Everyone is pursuing some sort of destiny in God. I couldn’t agree more with the concept. I think you should know the REASON for your being here on the planet. But how are you going to pursue it, and bring it to pass? Are you going to keep going to meetings, reading books, or mimicking your favorite person? Or could it be that it might be a direct result of becoming a Son!

I am more focused on who I am and supposed to be at this stage of my life than what I am supposed to be doing. Doing doesn’t do much in the long run, but Being last forever! So how does this Becoming happen? I’m glad you asked; it’s what we have come to know as the process. PROGRESS is ALWAYS a PROCESS!!!

One thing I know without a doubt. The Process is the only way to become. And when you are in Process I guarantee you that you will do it all alone! You might be surrounded with many people, friends and family; but internally God will take you through the process and you will be left alone. The process is not the process until you are alone in the inside.

These are some of the things that we share in Clinton and where ever we go. I know that I know multitudes are frustrated with their faith. They have more questions than answers. Their Theology is not airtight as it used to be, not there are gaping wholes that can not be ignored. It you thought serving God would be convenient, or that everything in your life was going to be just great when you became a believer; Well sorry to break it to you: YOU HAVE BEEN LIED TO. Quit trying to hide it, and fix it, and embrace the one and only thing that can help you……

THE PROCESS!

Read the Red Letters!

I have been on this journey for now over 30 years. I don’t think that I have seen such a lack of commitment to aesthetics in my whole existence in spirituality. While there are many who are going through the process of change on the inside; the deconstruction process. There are others who are a huge turn off to those outside of their immediate circle. They may be ‘free’ in their thinking, but they still possess the ‘Protesting’ Spirit of the Protestant Reformation. It seems they have become defenders of their truth, more than sharing in love and compassion.

I read a funny cartoon on Facebook the other day that kind of says how I’m feeling. The scene was a guy standing in front of the gates of Heaven and Peter or whoever does the role, says to the guy; “Hey great I found your name that is wonderful; but you must have forgotten the You – Don’t – Have – to – be – a – Jerk – About – it clause.” 

Instead of harping on the obvious I am looking for solutions. I want to be a part of the change necessary to swing back to center. When I started in this walk I was so zealous and eager to have everything figured out. I was on a personal mission to change the world, and be a spectacle to those in the church, and them that were not.I was not going to allow anyone to outwork me.  I actually went on a personal discipleship plan to hold myself accountable to the works of a follower. I tracked each day for about a year on these criteria.

How much time I spent in prayer each day (hours)
How much time I spent in study of the scriptures (hours)
How many people I shared Jesus with (per day)
How much time did spend do good works of serving and helping others (hours)
How many days did I fast (per week)

Just to give you an example for about three years in the beginning of my walk, I fasted more days than I ate. So like there would be 356 days in a year, I might go 200 days without food. One time I fasted for 7 days with no food or water. Another time I went 21 days fasting with just water. My heart was right in the doing of it, all I wanted to know God, and break chains off of my life and others. The tragic thing when you are young in the things of God, it is impossible to not be proud of your works! One day my Father in Law (my first pastor) asked me to share at the men’s group. God bless him I have to tell you I was a mess. You see none of these works while were done sincerely, did not yield the most important thing; Love and Compassion.

I went to the men’s group meeting with pages of charts that revealed all the time spent with God, doing His work. It was pages and pages. I was telling the men there was no excuse to not have time for God! I should them they could shave minutes off of their busy lives and schedules, and that God is requiring more time. Well needless to say the words of this 22-year-old lunatic went over like a screen door on a submarine! I mean it crushed me to think that these men didn’t really want to serve and spend time knowing the Lord. The more I saw their laziness the more I committed to righteousness ( meaning works). I can not even tell you the Thanksgiving meals I missed because I was ‘fasting’, and that really hurt my mothers feelings. It didn’t make her want to serve the God that I served, it just pissed her off. The church would schedule a Wednesday night work night / picnic. I would go into panic mode! I stayed in the building and prayed while they played volleyball of all things on a church night!

Pastors would let me teach and preach, but when the people knew I was going to be the speaker, they wouldn’t show up! I couldn’t understand why? I was dedicated, separated, and consecrated! Isn’t that what the Levites were to be and do? Were they so hard-hearted? Did not anyone really love the Jesus that I knew? I was spinning out of control. My heart was aching for the wrong reasons. The people I so wanted to reach and serve were pushing me away. I was feeling rejected and despised, and slowing learning prophetic paranoia! (That’s for another time)

It was about three or four years of this pattern. I was suffering inside, buffering my flesh on the outside. All the while I was going deeper into spiritual suicide. Meaning people would say, ‘Mark, you are so heavenly minded that you have become no earthly good.’ I wore that label proudly. One day I will never forget the rest of my life. One of my first mentors had a meeting with me and said, ‘You are definitely committed and you know about Jesus, but you are too hard on the people. They are never going to hear you because you are too critical.’ ‘You need to learn compassion to go with all of this truth you have.’ And then he said this to me, ‘For the next 30 days I want you to only read the read letters!’

Much to my surprise it changed my life forever! I would like to offer this journey to you as well.

In this crazy world of Facebook, people are judging, criticizing, blasting each other, acting out as if politics were the savior and not Jesus, and just outright mean. I’m talking about so-called Christians! All that I can think for the last few months is; We Need a Red Letter Revolution!

I am coming back to Oklahoma to my roots soon, I will keep you posted on the details as they unfold. I am looking to go on a journey with some people who want more than and John 3:16 or Acts 2:1 experience. I looking for people who want to walk, live, breathe, and manifest the love of God! I’m looking for some people who desire to go from ‘doing’ to ‘being’.

I will post the Red Letter Revolution soon as a personal challenge to my friends. In the mean while begin deciding if you would like to go on this journey with me!

Grace & Peace

MM+

Love thy neighbor as thyself….

I have been contemplating this idea for quite some time now. In Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s gospels we see the same quotation by Jesus.

Mar 12:30 – And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment.
31  – And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32 – And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33  – And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love [his] neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34  – And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him [any question].

I have not encountered too many people in my life who have any issues with God. I realize now that most people have issues with His people, or other people in general. I used to say, church would be wonderful if there were no people to deal with! But the truth needs to be told, I honestly do not believe we as a people understand this concept of love thy neighbor ‘as’ thyself. It could be quite possible that we understand it, but our state of mind and being just won’t allow us to engage.  The great thing that Jesus addresses is this pseudo form of christianity and spirituality. The Scribe in the story of Mark says you are right Jesus! Like Jesus really needs any confirmation or affirmation from him. This only proves the arrogant spirit by which the Scribe spoke in the first place.

The Scribe seeks to validate himself by agreeing with Jesus publicly. He recites to the letter exactly what Jesus was teaching. But Jesus says an amazing response to the Scribe, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” No one even know what to say to Him after that. I interpret that as you can ascend to an understanding, and a head knowledge of the ideology. You can conceptualize it in your brain, but until you actually practice it, you will always see the Kingdom as being a place to attain to, rather than live in. Could be possible that Jesus exposed this man’s religion for what it was, a bunch of concepts and principles.

This famous portion of scripture has come to be known as the ‘golden rule’. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. It is so much more than a golden rule. It’s the Kingdom rule and way of life. I am concerned in this day and age that people do not have a clue what the latter part of the ‘rule’ truly is? We all sort of have an idea about what it means to love God with our heart, soul, and mind, and strength.  But honestly I am convinced that we would get so many variations and ideas of what it means to love others as you love yourself. The obvious question that I would have for people, is not only what does that mean, but do you? Do you truly love your neighbor as much as you love yourself? What does self-love mean anyway? These are valid questions that I am processing. If I had the time and resources I would love to do an anthropological research on this one concept. I somehow think it is key to our Kingdom Living. I am not convinced that we have or can manifest the Kingdom of God without first loving our neighbors as ourselves!

I believe that people would rather be in a revival outpouring than a community one. I have been to and experienced the true anointing and revival atmosphere. I mean in the very literal essence of God almighty. Where even like Job, he says the hairs on the back of neck stood up! I have been in this environment many times. My question to all of the apostolic reformers, and revival seekers is this; can you have a true move of God, without community life? Did the people in the book of Acts join the church, once 3000, and then again over 5000; simply because of the miracles? Or did they join because of the community life, and the fact that everyone’s needs were met. Not one single person lacked in that community. Which would be a bigger miracle and impact? Seeing God heal someone, or people living in true community and looking out for each other?

In America we are blessed with a curse at times. Our Constitution guarantees the pursuit of happiness. (self-love) And we are under the banner of independence and freedom from others. Kingdom living is contrary to the American way of life believe me. I read somewhere not long ago that this generation will go down in history as one of the most narcissistic generations of all time. Loving thyself and narcissism are a million miles apart. Self love has more to do with respect, honor, care, and boundaries. narcissism is all about the Ego / Carnal Mind and self loathing.

Sigmund Freud came to the conclusion that every human has the inherited default (gene) propensity to narcissism. I call that the Ego/Carnal Mind. Narcissism is egotistic elitism that tends to be indifferent to the plight of others. To be overly consumed with ones own sense of self-importance and need, compared to others. We somehow in our culture call that spirituality. The ground is level for all, with the opportunity to become unequal. That’s what I have heard all of my life. And God only helps those who help themselves.  I believe we are all unique individuals with individuality. But I am convinced that this idea of not caring for others is interfering with our opportunity to manifest our true nature!

Clark Kent – Superman

I was thinking one morning before church about Clark Kent and Superman. Actually I was waking up that Sunday morning while I was in Kansas. I started laughing out loud to myself. I think God was cracking me up. He showed me the ONLY disguise other than having a curl, was a pair of glasses. I don’t know why it was so funny, but the illustration in my mind was hilarious. Needless to say that morning at church I shared it, hence the video.

The thing that was so funny to me is that no one at the Daily Planet ever connected the dots. But on a more insightful thought it is a wonderful picture of Superman (Divine Nature) living disguised as Clark Kent (Humanity Suit). The scriptures tell us over and over that we have a treasure in earthen vessels. And also that we have the Divine Nature of Christ within us. So in essence all of us have the Superman (Divine Nature) qualities. A couple of thoughts it is the same as Jesus. The Word of God (Logos), Divine Nature of God, took upon Flesh (Human Nature) qualities and dwelt among us. One of my favorite thoughts is the scripture that promises,”…as He is in this world so are we.”

Clark Kent came to earth from another galaxy. Sounds familiar huh? He was raised by a farming family that found him. And He slowly learned He had these super human abilities. Hence the Superman Concept. But because he wanted to fit in, in order to save some; he took on the persona of Clark Kent. Clark Kent worked as a reporter at the Daily Planet because he truly loved a lovely woman Lois Lane. But when there was a calamity or trouble emerge Clark Kent would slip off. He would strip himself of his earthly reporter suit and Superman would be Revealed! Here is the concept I want you to ponder. We all have the Superman Divine Nature living within us, as a matter of fact it is the REALU! But you can not manifest or create it, it must be revealed.

1Cr 15:49 KJV – And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
1Cr 15:50 KJV – Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1Cr 15:51 KJV – Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Cr 15:52 KJV – In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Cr 15:53 KJV – For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.
1Cr 15:54 KJV – So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Believe this and try not to think about it in obscure rapture times. But think in terms of realty! If we could dispose of our earthy, fleshly, carnal mind and or ego, we certainly would reveal the Divine Nature within all of us.

Enjoy the short video and share with others: