Guillaume Néry stands on the sandy floor of the Caribbean Sea, just off Long Island, Bahamas, contemplating the dark hole before him. He is somewhat of an amazing man...perhaps he could be called an adrenaline junky. As a French athlete, his endeavors include base jumping as well as achieving championships in free diving. Free diving is a form of underwater diving that relies on holding one's breath rather than the use of scuba gear. While most of us can hold our breath for 45 seconds before we start to become uncomfortable, if we hold on for over a minute, we may feel that we are about to pass out, our lungs starting to struggle to take in air. As Nery stands there, a few feet below the surface of the water, it isn't just the fact that he is doing so with no apparatus to assist him with breathing, but it is that he is about to free dive into what is known as the deepest sinkhole in the world. It truly appears as though it were a dark abyss with no discernable bottom. If you watch the video of his free dive into this dark hole, you will find yourself on the edge of your seat and perhaps even trying to breath for him. It is as if he steps into an unknown darkness that swallows him up. To say the least, it can be a little scary to watch. Stepping into unknown territory is like that...risky, scary, an adrenaline rush. In this week's podcast, we hear an interview with Contemporary Christian Music artist, Hannah Schaefer, as she talks about her journey into the unknown and taking the risk that was necessary for her to pursue that purpose for which she was created. If you haven't done so yet, jump over to the podcast and take a listen before continuing with today's blog post...I'll see you back here after the interview. Photo by Nariman Mesharrafa on Unsplash Until you step into the unknown, you don't know what you're made of. Roy Bennett In the pursuit of our purpose, the journey takes many twists and turns...much of which is the adventure of discovery and fulfilment that is a part of the experience. Sometimes that journey can be exciting, sometimes it is more of the mundane, sometimes it takes us through a season of the unknown...a wilderness of sorts. Now, spiritually speaking, we may often refer to a wilderness as a period of dryness, in which we may not hear or feel the presence of God...a time when we have to rely upon our faith that He is who He says He is, and He will do what He says He will. While that may be true, in some ways, about this season of stepping into the unknown, this phase of our journey is also a scary and adrenaline rushing time of abandoning the preconceived expectations of others, or even those we have for ourselves. It is about jumping into that uncertain space, where we find that God is certain and real and present in powerful ways we would have never known, unless we had taken the leap. Why Step Out of the Boat? Peter and the other apostles were out on Lake Tiberias late one night, when a storm arose and they were having quite a bout with the wind and the waves. Suddenly, they saw the figure of a person coming toward them, as if walking upon the water itself. They immediately became fearful...the man walking on the water, of course, was Jesus. He called out to them and told them not to fear, that it was he who was coming to them and to have courage. When Peter saw that it was Jesus, in very Peter-like style, he shouted... “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14:28-29 Now...I have to say, this is classic Peter, in his boldness and a bit of spontaneous impulse. But you have to give it to him...he was only bold because he was trusting in Jesus to do the miraculous, and to respond to Peter's willingness to step into the unknown. Had Peter never believed Jesus could make him walk on water...had he never dared to believe that there was something that Jesus had to show him through his faith to step out of the boat...Jesus would not have had the opportunity to display his power in this particular way to Peter and the apostles. Yes, we know what came next...Peter got his eyes off of Jesus and onto the waves. That's when he began to sink. But, even that was a learning experience. Don't give Peter too hard a time over that...Jesus was teaching tremendous lessons about trust, rescue, recovery and sustaining power that would come in handy in the years ahead, as Peter led the first century church. Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:31-33 God Never Wastes Anything You'll hear me say that often. I suppose it is because I've seen it over and over in my own life...even when I've messed up royally...when I have made a mess of things...the Father, in His love and grace, uses every bit of it to fashion a masterpiece that is an ongoing work of art. That is why we can trust Him...trust Him when He calls us to step out of the boat. When He says it's time to step into the unknown, that dark hole that is a little scary to consider, only to open up all of the wonderful possibilities and opportunities to experience His purpose for our lives and the glory it will bring to Him. When we do, there are some things that we can count on as a result. His Peace Stepping out into the unknown may mean we make a decision that leaves others scratching their heads. Perhaps it will disappoint those who had their own agendas for our lives. Maybe it will mean giving up a relationship, or an expectation, or a comfortable environment. But there is one thing for sure...It will never mean giving up the peace that only comes from knowing we are following the will of the Father. His peace is beyond all comprehension and will guard our hearts and minds from the attack from within and without. "In the end, it's between you and God. No one will truly understand your heart the way that God does. In that moment, I knew He had me wrapped up in His arms...I knew that it was going to be okay, and that by jumping into the unknown, I was going to find out my true purpose." Hannah Schaefer Growth and Fulfillment When we take that first step off of the ledge, so to speak, there are all kinds of processes that begin to take place in us and around us. God's Spirit is released to do His work in us...to take us to that next level of fulfilling His purpose in and through us. Because it requires faith to take that step, our trust and reliance upon God grows and matures. We learn what we need and what we can live without. We begin to see the real priorities of life in light of eternity. You can bet that Peter saw this growth in himself over the coming years. Even when he met with Jesus on the seashore for breakfast, after Jesus had arisen, that process was being worked out in him as Jesus told him, "Feed my sheep." Just as Hannah Schaefer realized that her journey through the unknown meant she would learn new skills and understand new concepts, our step onto the water opens up opportunities for us to learn and develop our gifting and talents to fulfill that to which we are called. Someone has said, "God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called." But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 So what will it take to get you to that point of willingness to step out of your comfort zone and into the awesome things God has in store? Discovering, fulfilling, expanding and realizing your purpose often takes you through that season of the unknown. It can be a little scary, but it is a wild adventure that ultimately opens the door for a purposed life.
Check out Hannah Schaefer's music here. Listen to her song, Wild, that is all about answering that call to live our purpose. What is the dream, purpose or calling that is tugging at your heart? Is God calling you to step into the unknown in some way? Share your thoughts and hopes in the comments and let's get a conversation going.
0 Comments
This week, the inaugural episode of the Purposed 365 Podcast airs, setting the stage for the exciting and inspirational series that we hope will make a difference in many lives over the course of this year. There is no better way to get things started, than to cast the vision for why P365 exists...and that is exactly what we have done in this episode. If you haven't done so yet, take a moment to jump over to the podcast and take a listen, then come back and read the rest of this week's blog post that expands on the vision that our founder, Jasman Rolle, shares with us. When you come back, you're invited to engage with our community here in the comments section and continue the conversations. Stuck for Three Days In January 2012, I found myself on a flight, along with a group of other individuals from the U.S., on our way to the Philippines. We were en route to the southern island of Mindanao on a mission to bring humanitarian aid, care and hope to the victims of Typhoon Pablo, which had devastated many areas of the eastern part of the island. After our rendezvous in San Francisco, we had flown to Guam, our last stop on American soil. Having passed through customs, we were re-boarding our plane for the last leg of our international flight into Manila. As our team was boarding the plane, I was the last one in line to show my boarding pass and passport to the gate agent. As he looked at my documents, he called me aside and consulted with a colleague, then told me I would not be permitted to board the plane. It seems that the fact that my passport would expire in 5 months from then, put me within a 6-month window that prohibits entrance into the country of the Philippines. Even though I was only going to be there for 14 days, it didn't matter. Rules were rules and I would not be able to join my team as they continued their journey. They assured me that they would be in touch as soon as they landed in Manila. There I was...stranded in Guam...no idea where to go, who to seek for assistance, or what my next step needed to be. To make a long story short, the next two nights and three days I spent on Guam brought feelings of uncertainty, disappointment and frustration. I won't go into all the details, but little tidbits like depending on a taxi driver at midnight to recommend a place to stay, a hotel room with a bullet hole in the window, long hours in the airport terminal awaiting phone calls and messages, and efforts to assure my wife and friends back home that I am okay, may give you a glimpse into what I was experiencing. There were moments in those three days that it looked as though I may have to board a plane back to the U.S. and abort my intended mission to provide crisis counseling, prayer and support to hurting people, as a part of our medical aid team. I prayed...people back home prayed...my team prayed. However, I never lost sight of why I was on this journey. I knew my mission...the vision I had of what God was going to do through me and my team to touch people's lives. That is what kept me focused and determined not to give up. At one point, God brought a man into my life...on the second day...who spoke into my situation, giving confirmation. This man worked in the car rental agency at the second hotel where I stayed. I told him about my situation, my mission, and my concerns. It turns out, he was a Filipino pastor there on Guam. I will never forget his words to me that confirmed my vision and assure me that God would open the door to complete the mission for which I had traveled so far. He looked me in the eyes and said, "You are a white man, but you have a Filipino heart." Somehow his words reminded me of the vision I had for this mission and reassured me that God would be faithful to get me to the Philippines. A day later, I was landing in Manila, greeted by special security escort to an office where I was given a letter from the Philippines Department of State, declaring that I was permitted to travel freely throughout the country with my passport that would expire prior to the required date. VICTORY! Vision, when related to our purpose, keeps us going when everything around us says something different. In this week's podcast, Jasman "Jazz" Rolle establishes for us the vision that is behind Purposed 365. Why Another Podcast? There is no lack of podcasts available in the digital world and, frankly, no lack of blogs either. You can even find podcasts and blogs that are encouraging and inspiring...seeking to touch people's lives with truth. But, there was not a Purposed 365. You may argue as to whether the world needs another podcast, but you can't argue with the work of the Spirit when He moves upon a person's heart, producing a passion that comes out of one's purpose and leads to a vision for a specific pursuit. The bottom line? There is always need for encouragement and hope...there is always a need for people to be pointed to the redemptive power of Jesus Christ and there is always a call for each of us to use our unique gifting to share these things with our world. That explains why this online community has been created. Jasman Rolle, and all those who are becoming a part of this movement, are using their gifting, unique personalities and experiences to proclaim the powerful work of God in lives when they surrender to His purpose and calling. That is the vision that is P365. The Power of Transparency In his own words, Jazz demonstrates transparency that will be a characteristic of this community, as he admits he had to overcome some barriers in establishing P365. As a "behind the scenes" kind of guy, Jazz had to step out of his comfort zone to follow the passion to which God was calling him. He had to face his fear and move into the next steps. I think he would tell us that this was a process that continued to challenge him at various points along the way. It was the vision that God had given him that continued to enable him to step into those places that were not comfortable and familiar. His second barrier was his tendency toward perfectionism. Like we have discussed in a previous post, over-analysis, or waiting for perfection, can be paralyzing. However, Jazz had people who spoke wisdom into his life and he realized he needed to move forward and do his best, leaving the rest to God. Sometimes we have to take that first step in obedience...even if we don't have all of the details figured out. Knowing your purpose and having a vision of what that looks like for you, will empower you to fulfill that purpose and allow God to get the glory in the process. Visioneering "Visioneering" is a word Andy Stanly created to describe the process of making one's God-given dreams a reality. In his book by that title, he writes, "Visioneering is the course one follows to make dreams a reality. It is the process whereby ideas and convictions take on substance." For the dream of Purposed 365, visioneering has led to this statement: Purposed 365 exists to point people to hope in Jesus Christ, encouraging them to dream and be intentional about pursuing those God-given dreams. This is about more than a man's dream. It is bigger than one or two people. It is about how God wants to work through each of us to accomplish His ultimate plan of bringing people to Himself...offering them hope, redemption, purpose and fulfillment. There will be many stories shared on this platform over the coming months. Each one will be unique and beautiful, but all will be examples of how we can discover our purpose, develop our vision, overcome barriers and, through the grace of God, see Him work in and through us for his glory. That is why even being stranded on an island in the south pacific can't stop the plan of God in and through a life lived on purpose. What have you discovered so far about your purpose? Can you recognize particular talents, interests, or spiritual gifts that may give you clues to what unique way you can live out your purpose? Share in the comments and get the conversation going. With a visit to your local bookstore (if you can find one), you will quickly find that there are shelves loaded with what will likely be labeled as "Self-Help" books. From the latest in weight-loss solutions, mindfulness, and positive thinking, to strategies for organizing your home, being more productive and making a fortune. We often peruse these titles, looking for a way to improve our lives...lose weight, gain skills, or sharpen our business acumen...desiring to become the best version of ourselves. Sometimes they help, sometimes they don't. Some of the advice we find in these books is beneficial and may lead us to greater understanding and strategies to make definite improvements. However, some of them will lead us to a self-absorbed focus on the things that only end in emptiness and disappointment. Purposed 365 is more than a self-help strategy. It goes beyond the idea of becoming the best version of ourselves. P365 is about each of us understanding our reason for being...answering the question of why I exist. While it is true that understanding our purpose will make it possible for us to be the best version of ourselves, it goes so much further than that. Living a purposed life makes it possible for us to be keenly aware of how we can be a part of something bigger than ourselves...something that makes an eternal difference in the world in which we live and the people with whom we interact. No matter what journey we are on, what career path we traverse, or what stage of life we are in, when we understand our purpose lived out in those unique and personal avenues of our lives, we become partners with the God who created all things and wants to bring life, peace and fulfillment to each of us. That is why we believe the things we write about and talk about here in the P365 community are of the greatest importance...that's why we are excited to invite you to join us in this pursuit. Where Does it Begin...This Pursuit of Purpose? Understanding and pursuing our purpose is not just a decision to turn over a new leaf or set a few new year's resolutions. It begins with transformation and renewal. When we come to understand our need to be connected to our Creator and receive his life and peace through His Son, Jesus Christ, we undergo a transformation as a follower of Christ. That means that our thinking begins to change and our perspective on the world morphs. As we are reminded in the letter to the disciples at Corinth... Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17 This new perspective begins the process of discovering our purpose and the call to live it out in the daily functions of life. Our relationships, our careers, our ambitions, and our choices become intertwined in this greater purpose of making a difference in the world in which we live. We become representatives of the very One who has designed us uniquely and planned ways for us to uniquely impact our world and the people who inhabit this planet. The Apostle Paul continued in the passage from which I quoted above... Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ... (2 Corinthians 5:18-20a) Now, before you run the other way, thinking, "I'm not a preacher!"...or, "That's too much responsibility for me!"...let me assure you that these words are not just for career ministers and pastors. Just remember, anything God has called us to do, He will equip us to complete. The exciting thing is, when we begin our journey of faith and the life of a follower of Christ, we get to be representatives of Him to our world. Being His ambassador is at the center of living out our purpose, three-hundred and sixty-five days a year. What Does that Mean for You? Whether you are a long-time follower of Christ, or you are just stepping into this journey of faith, your renewal makes it possible to see your life through the lens of purpose. I like what a pastor said about the Scripture passage I referenced above...one way to live our purpose as an ambassador for Christ is to "be a loving friend, who is available to others." No matter what your current situation, career, or life stage, you get to live your purpose as an ambassador of Christ, being the unique individual God has created you to be, living the best version of yourself. There is nothing more fulfilling and more impactful than that! Where are you on this journey of faith...seeking, learning, serving? What is one thing you've come to view differently as a result of becoming a new creation? How are you, or how could you, be a loving and available friend to someone today? Share with us in the comments and let's get the conversation going! As a 10-year-old, I remember sitting on my bed in the darkness and peering out the window of my bedroom at the headlights of the cars on the distant highway. Even at that age, I had a sense that there was a big world out there, as I imagined where those cars were going. I would even picture in my mind, traveling on that highway for as far as I could remember the lay of the road, and then letting my imagination take over to create a journey into new places that were just waiting for me to explore. It was both an escape, and an excitement, to consider the possibilities that I may one day be able to experience. The curiosity and imagination, I think, was somehow linked to wanting to figure out how I fit into that big world that lay beyond my bedroom window. It is an intrinsic characteristic of the human heart to want to understand one's purpose and place in the world. Someone has said that every person is created with a God-sized hole inside, that only He can fill. However that meshes with theology, the reality rings true. We want to know why we are here. This has sent explorers on adventures for centuries, led thinkers to fill books with volumes of philosophical writings and driven heroes to pay the ultimate sacrifice for what they believe in. You, my friend, are no different...and, the fact that you are reading this may mean that either you are searching too, or you are on this exciting journey and want to expand your horizons even further as you travel that highway into all that God has in store for you. So...What can you expect from the PURPOSE 365 Blog?
Come Along... As my 10-year-old self lay back on my bed and I looked up at the stars at night, I thought about how those same stars (or others like them), would be seen by millions of other people around the world...somehow tying us all together on this terrestrial ball on which we live. Somehow it made me feel a connection to something bigger than myself. Now, as a grown man, when I walk out onto my patio at night and look up into that starry sky, I'm reminded of the journey I've traveled since those days of innocent childhood and the amazing things God has done for, in, and through me over these years...all because I set out on a highway to discover meaning in life...His PURPOSE for 365 days a year. Won't you join us? The conversation in each podcast, the interaction in this community around the blog posts...these are opportunities to connect, share and grow in our pursuit of purpose. It's an exciting adventure and there's never a dull moment. Our amazing Creator makes sure of that! Continue the Journey...Go the the latest blog post here |
AuthorWith over forty years of ministry experience, Randy Kinnick continues to live a life of pursuing the purpose for which he was created. Whether teaching God's Word to adults, coaching youth and young adults in finding their purpose, or caring for the hurting and abused in Southeast Asia, the adventure has taken him around the world in ways he could have never dreamed. The adventure continues! Archives
February 2023
Categories
All
|