SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY

Author: J Brad Mitchell

  • Accountability and the Christian Community

    I know in my mind that accountability is important.  I understand that someone following up with you and checking in regularly helps to keep focus.  But an even better accountability is someone who is walking along with you through it.  That takes a time, effort and a similar goal.

    This has become even more evident to me recently.  I am a runner.  I really enjoy going for a morning run and even look forward to it most of the time.  There are times when I don’t really want to get out of a warm bed and put on a bunch of layers of clothes to go running in the freezing cold.   There are times when I am tired and another hour of sleep is more than appealing.  But, I love to run.  Eventually, I will make myself get moving and will be so thankful that I did.  Accountability is good with running because it keeps me consistent.  Would I still run without it?  I would…but probably not with regularity.

    That is NOT the case with strength training.  There is not much I enjoy about strength training.  I would choose most anything over it.  I have avoided it as much as I possibly could.  The problem with that is – strength training makes me a better, more fit runner.  There has to be some irony in that.  Right now, I have a stress fracture and I cannot run.  Could that have been caused by not strength training?  There is a really good possibility that my lack of strength training led to this problem.  Now I can’t run…at least for several more weeks.  You would think that not being able to run would motivate me to get with the training so this doesn’t happen again…but that’s incorrect.  And, I need more than someone calling me and checking with me to make sure I did it…because I have no problem saying “NOPE, sure didn’t.”  I need someone to push me and walk the path with me.  I am thankful John took that on – we may want to all pray for him.

    Why do I mention this?  It reminds me of what we as Christians should be doing for one another.  I don’t mean that we should be exercising together…although that’s never a bad idea.  I do mean that we should be traveling this journey together.  There are going to be parts of this journey I will really enjoy and there will be times when I am really struggling.  If I have a Christian community that walks with me on this journey, we can celebrate together and we can help each other up when times are really tough.  I think that we, as Christians, have lost so much of that.  I think that we come together to worship a couple of times a week…we maybe enjoy a meal together occasionally – but that is where it ends.  We don’t journey together…we more vacation together.  If I understand the idea of Christian community, it is more than simply worship and an occasional meal.  It looks like walking arm in arm together, celebrating together, striving together, doing life together, and working through our differences…together.

    Church, for me, is like running.  I will show up to church because I love it.  I love to worship, praise and be with other Christians.  It helps if I am out and someone checks in on me (if I wasn’t the pastor, it might keep me attending a little more regularly).  But, in order to run well, I need strength training…we need to people to walk with us as we serve Christ, to join in on the efforts of more than Sunday mornings.  What I’m trying to say is…Christian Community is so much more than simply once a week meeting.  Maybe we should journey together rather than just vacation.

  • Without a voice

    I’m not sure I have ever been this long with little to no voice.  Funny how it happened right after I preached a sermon on Sunday, which went fine.  Not having a voice has had an interesting effect on me…

    I’ve had a lot of time to think.  School is complete and I am unable to run.  This time of thinking has been good.  As I was thinking about this really minor problem that will correct itself soon, these two important things came up:

    –Not having a voice has given me the opportunity to listen more.  I try not strain my voice to say anything unless I think it really needs to be said.  It has definitely caused me to stop and think before I speak…not something I do often enough.  When it requires effort to say something, you want to make sure what you say counts.  This has allowed me to be quiet and have the opportunity to simply listen.  It has been an opportunity to not only listen to others, but also to listen to God.  All too often, when I pray, it is me talking and God listening.  This type of prayer isn’t building a relationship, but more unloading my list of things I need help with.  It could be called my “God-do” list rather than the “honey-do” list.  If this is my only prayer, I am missing opportunities to fellowship with God, to worship, and to hear.  Being silent allows me to reflect on what God is doing.  It allows me to worship without asking for anything.  It allows me to focus on the Creator of it all and appreciate what he has made and is doing.  May God continue to work on me with this, even after my voice returns.

    -It brought to mind those in our world who have “no voice.”  There are people all over the world that truly have no voice.  I don’t mean that they cannot speak literally.  I mean that they are ignored, treated poorly, abused, abandoned and/or forgotten.  There are people who have found themselves in situations that they are screaming for help but no one can hear them…or at least no one chooses to hear them.  I thought about the often quoted Matthew 25 and “the least of these.”  Maybe God has given us ears to hear…not the things of this world…but ears to hear those shouting to be heard.  Maybe God is giving us eyes to see…to see those who have been forgotten or abandoned.  Maybe God is giving us hands to reach out…to show others that they are somebody…to bring them to the table and fellowship.  Maybe God is giving us feet to go…to those places where he leads, no matter how scary…so that we can visit those who need HIM.  Maybe, just maybe, taking care of the least of these is not just feeding…but loving, supporting, and giving voice to those who have forgotten they even have one.

    I’m praying that God will allow me to hear…to see…to serve…and to go!

  • Almost ready

    My Divinity School experience has almost come to completion.  I am so very ready to see what God has in store next.  My plan for this blog is to post regularly about my thoughts on life, theology, and living for Christ.  It has been difficult to write while reading and writing so much in Div School.  I look forward to what is ahead.

  • Hatred is NEVER okay

    Hearing the news of the people who were killed in prayer meeting is disturbing to say the least. As we remember them…let us not remember that 9 people were killed. Let us remember these people…individuals…people who were in the house of God. These were preachers and coaches and young people. These were people who had families and lives and made a difference in their community.

    As we remember them and pray for their families and their loved ones, it is a reminder that hatred is never okay. It is NEVER okay to hate someone regardless. Not once does Jesus condone hatred. The OT speaks of God’s hatred but in a manner of disdain for sin. We are not God. And, we are all sinners. Hatred is never okay.

    Jesus said that his disciples would be known by the way that they LOVE. Of all of the characteristics, it is that they will be known by their love. Loving is not easy. Loving takes work. Loving takes effort. Love is difficult and trying and painful at times. Love is messy and confusing. But hatred is never the answer. I think of how Jesus told us to love God and love others. I think of how he reached beyond the ethic boundaries of his day to show love. I think of how he told the parable of the Good Samaritan. I think of Paul reminding us in Romans to transform and renew our minds.

    It is also never okay for us to think more of ourselves that we think of others. We are superior to no one. We are the church. We are servants. Our Lord and Savior washed feet. Our Lord and Savior never owned anything and never had a place to lay his head. Our Lord and Savior spent years with the man that would betray him. And, we are reminded in Philippians that Jesus humbled himself in the ultimate humility. If Jesus did not think of himself as better…how can we?

    The question then is how we as a church show love in our community. How do we show radical love that shakes the foundations of the institutions of our world with a love so intense and driven by the love of God that it changes things? How do we so love with the love that God has poured out in us that we stand for justice and peace…but not in violence, rather in love?

    Love does not mean that we sit by and watch things happen. Love does not mean we let people run over us. Love means we take a stand for what is right. Love means we don’t accept hatred. Love means that we are willing to stand united to show what it means to follow God in a way that transforms. Love does not go with the mainstream. Love is different. The love of God reminds us that hatred and superiority are NEVER OKAY. What can do you with the love that God has given you? What can we do as the church with the love that God has poured out in our hearts? How can we truly love like never before?

  • Hope?

    It is easy to have hope when that is what you see.  When things are going well, hope is effortless.  But, if it is effortless, is it really even hope?  Or is it really just feeling good because things are going well?  In my opinion, having real hope means that despite my circumstances, I can look beyond and know that there is something better.  It means that even when the world seems to be crashing down around me, I know that joy comes in the morning.  And, it means that when things are at their darkest, there is always a glimmer of light.

    I was listening to an older Third Day song this morning.  It is one of my favorites…Cry Out To Jesus.  It is a reminder that there is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary, and love for the broken heart.  There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing…HE will meet you where ever you are!

    It is a powerful reminder of where my hope comes from.  Now to learn to live more like someone who has hope…

  • Perspective Shift

    They say that you never know what you have until it’s gone.  I somewhat disagree.  I think that you really realize what you have when there is the realization that it could be gone in the blink of an eye.  You know those life changing moments where you realize that what is here today could be gone tomorrow and your perspective begins to change.  I think it changes even more as I get older.  As a young person, considering the end of life is difficult…it is as if I will live forever and all things will just continue until then.  But, there is something about aging.  While I am still “young”, my perspective is definitely taking a shift.  My friend gets hit by a car on his bike and found out he has cancer.  A young 16 year old is dying from cancer.  My Dad has been gone for 1 year after his battle with cancer.  My oldest daughter is driving and dating.  My youngest is cheering and growing up.  And…I hit a milestone birthday.  I’m always excited about birthdays…I am in way better shape now than 20 years ago.  I feel great and am thankful.  I have a wonderful wife and a beautiful, loving family.  This 40th birthday is exciting…but doesn’t come without me considering that each day is a gift.  I approach 40 with eyes that are opened a little more than usual…I am blessed if I just look around.  I approach 40 with ears that are a little more attentive…I can hear the voices of those I love if I just listen.  I approach 40 with my mouth closed a little bit more often…what I say isn’t nearly as important as what I do.  Words are super important…but most effective when backed up by actions.

  • Living ultra in a non-ultra world

    A friend of mine summed it up well for me yesterday…she said, “Brad, your whole world is an ultra world”.  And, indeed, she was correct.  I am an ultra runner.  I do things to the extreme.  I love a challenge…but it has to be a real challenge.  I don’t do well with small challenges.  I take the phrase ‘go big or go home’ literally.  I’m not going home yet, so I’m living life big.

    One of my greatest personal accomplishments is completing a 100 mile run.  I am really glad I did.  It was more than a challenge but I did it.  I also completed an ironman distance tri.  Another big challenge for me.  But, it isn’t just about exercise…it is about life for me.  I want to live my life ultra.  This often causes me to stress and overwhelm myself.  I know this.  I know it when I am doing it.  But, I want to really live life.  So, I don’t just take a spin class, I teach it.  I don’t just take a world religions class, I work on staff for the center.  I like to live life ultra.

    Some would say this is a character flaw.  I actually think it makes me who I am and I don’t see that as a flaw.  I like pushing limits and going above and beyond.  When my life is done, I want to have lived life to its fullest…in a good way…in a way that made a difference.  So, that makes me different sometimes.  But, I’m good with that.  I am okay with living ultra in a non-ultra world.

    I am thankful to my friend for helping me to put words to it.  I am living my whole life as an ultra!  Time to do it up and hopefully not drive my wife and family crazy in the process!

  • The Dream

    This all started with a dream…but isn’t that how most things start?  Yet, this dream wasn’t pleasant…it wasn’t pretty…it was scary and it shook me up… I’m in my final year of Seminary.  I finish this degree in December of 2015.  It has been a long journey.  This journey has challenged me in ways that I never thought it would.  In these last years, so many things have happened – including losing my father to cancer.  I left the church I served as pastor for over 10  years.  I have struggled financially.  My income has decreased but my needs have increased…So, I guess you get the point – it has been difficult.  Many times along this journey, my family has asked me if all this was really worth it.  Was it worth it to get this Masters Degree?  I have heard, “I sure hope you make something of all this.”  I have pushed my limits and continue to do that.  I’m in my last year…I can see the end.  So, why worry about it now? Sunday night, I fell asleep just like normal…right away without a problem.  I pack so much into a day that when I finally lay down, I am out.  I can’t possibly even think any longer.  I had not eaten anything unusual or weird.  It was a normal evening.  But, the dream was anything but normal… I was driving by myself and came to a stop sign.  I put my car in park because I was having trouble seeing out my window.  I decided that it was better for me to roll down my window because it was fogged up – it is cold outside after all.  Unfortunately, rolling down my window didn’t help because it wasn’t the window, it was my eyesight.  I was going blind.  Everything was going dark.  I had initially put the car in drive, but put it back in park since my vision was becoming worse.  I turned on my emergency signal and picked up my cell phone.  Surely I could figure out how to put my passcode in and call my wife…even blind…I mean, how many times had I done this in my lifetime?  This part of the dream ends… I pick up sitting in an office (I can see).  It is a small office and the lady working at the desk is NOT happy to be there.  She really does not enjoy her job, people, or the others in the waiting room that will not be quiet.  She is at a small desk with a window between her and the waiting room.  I am at her desk with paperwork.  She keeps cutting her eyes at the people in the waiting room.  She hands me something… I end up at a house with people who I do not know there.  They know me.  They can tell I am distressed – but I am not one to show my emotion.  I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me.  I don’t want any attention.  I just want to go to my room.  It seems I have a brain tumor.  I am alone.  I tell no one. Now, here is the part of the dream that keeps playing in my head… I hear a voice ask me…was it worth it?  The voice asks me that and I realize that I cannot do anything further with this degree.  I am going blind, I have a brain tumor – it doesn’t appear I will ever do anything more with what I have learned.  But, I turn to the person and I realize that YES – it was all worth it.  All that I have learned along this journey has meant so much…the journey was the gift…the goal was not the degree…the goal was the journey and it was ABSOLUTELY worth it!  By the way, in the background, I hear my favorite song playing, “Overwhelmed” by Big Daddy Weave.  I am overwhelmed with what God has done and is doing. So, this blog is written because life is worth it.