Archives For Calling

Can We Live A Life of Glory And Brilliance?

May 21, 2013 — 5 Comments

My wife and I are celebrating our 30th anniversary in Italy. In my absence, I asked my friend Gary Barkalow to write a couple blogs.

Gary has spent his life studying Calling—you could call him a Calling Expert. I invite you to enjoy with me as he shares.

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“Ok, the idea that I possess a glory, splendor, strength, brilliance that is extraordinary seems a little farfetched.  It’s not my personal experience.  I think my effect is pretty small.  I can only do the best with what I’ve got and that ain’t much.”

I’ve heard this thought many times – within myself and from others.  The truth is that if it was YOU ALONE that might be Assistedtrue, but it isn’t to be YOU ALONE.

Dallas Willard wrote,

Now what we can do by our unassisted strength is very small. What we can do acting with mechanical, electrical, or atomic power is much greater.  Often it is so great that it is hard to believe or imagine without some experience of it.

But even that is still very small compared to what we could do acting in union with God himself, who created and controls all other forces (The Divine Conspiracy).

Our life was never designed to be “unassisted.”  And yet, that is how we live—okay, I live—most of the time.  Partly because I believe the lie that I’m on my own.  Partly because of my fear that God won’t come through.  Partly because “it’s hard to believe or imagine it without some experience of it.”

Jesus repeatedly said, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” Matt. 4:17

Dallas told the story of growing up on a farm in southern Missouri where electricity was not available.  Then, one day, it was announced that power lines would be brought in.  It was an opportunity for a different way of life if they if they chose to tap into them.  He writes,

The comparison, you may think, is rather crude, and in some respects it is.  But it will help us to understand Jesus’ basic message about the Kingdom of the Heaven if we pause to reflect on those farmers who, in effect, heard the message: ‘Repent, for electricity is at hand.’

How we live   
Continue Reading…

In Beliefs of the Heart, Calling, Calling Driven church, Christianity, Glory, God's Love, God's view of us, Wonder , , , , , ,
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Are We Merely To Be Good, Or Good for Something?

February 19, 2013 — 16 Comments

I remember the first time I visited the home of one of my high school friends. A corner of his family room housed a music section with a baby grand piano, some brass instruments, and a beautiful old guitar lying on a shelf.

The guitar looked like something special. I took it down from the shelf, dusted it off, tuned it up, and strummed it. I thought I was in love.

I asked my friend about its history. The guitar has been given to his mother when she was young. old gibsonShe had never learned to play it, but she had a sentimental attachment to it, and she loved seeing it sit in their music corner.

I wrote down the model and serial number and visited my favorite guitar store to discover its roots. It was a customized 1940’s Gibson guitar with rare Indian Rosewood sides, real ivory inlay, and a custom fingerboard. It was a literal treasure.

Years before some unknown master craftsman had fashioned this custom guitar using special woods, saws, braces and glues, to make a masterpiece. Now it sat on a shelf gathering dust. My friend’s mom thought, “It added atmosphere.”

I think this is the common picture of Christian calling: to look good on the pews—maybe a little dusty—while missing the God-designed purpose: releasing our music.       Continue Reading…

In Beliefs of the Heart, Calling, Calling Driven church, Christianity, Desire, God's Love, God's view of us, Living Life as an artist , , , ,
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Today I Heard God Tell Me, “You Dah Man”

July 16, 2012 — 32 Comments

Years ago I worked with a man who had an insatiable desire to impress. When he gave presentations, he never used a one-syllable word when a four-syllable word was at hand (or at least on the shelf). When he told me of his client visits, he eulogized his eloquence and waxed lyrical about his wisdom.

Self-acclaim obscured clarity; self-admiration overshadowed expression; and self-tribute was always the topic. When he did something well, he made sure you knew it.

You may know someone like him.

I’m not sure what got me thinking about him today, but my mind kept replaying past scenes of his self-praise.

Later on I read the story of the prophet Nathan addressing King David after David’s adultery. Nathan tells the story of a rich man with many flocks stealing a poor man’s deeply beloved and only lamb. David was enraged at the injustice. Then Nathan said,

“Thou art the man” (2 Samuel 12:7, KJV).

As I thought of my impression-needy friend, I heard God say, “Sam, Thou art the man” It was an arrow in the heart. (You’ve got to hear it in King James English) Continue Reading…

In Beliefs of the Heart, Calling, Christianity, Getting glory, Hearing God, Pursuing an Inner Life, Satisfaction, Strength to face the day , , , , , , ,
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I Long for a Calling Driven church

June 12, 2012 — 26 Comments

At a prayer group in 1988, I felt urged to pray over a man. As I prayed I felt God say, “If this man left this prayer group, it would make no difference. And that is a tragedy.”

Instantly I felt grief for this unappreciated man. I prayed, “Yes Father, it is a tragedy. I feel so sorry for him.”

Immediately I heard God respond, “No, his life is not the tragedy —I’ll take care of him. The tragedy is the loss to this body because he was not allowed to offer what I put in him to give. This body will never be what it could have been.” Continue Reading…

In Beliefs of the Heart, Calling, Calling Driven church, Guidance, Wonder , , ,
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Risk 1: The Inescapable Nature of Risk

June 14, 2011 — 8 Comments

Risk is an inevitable element of life. We are daily bombarded by the need to make decisions, and many of these decisions involve risk. A few of us are huge risk takers but most of us prefer safety.

We avoid risk by making safe decisions. Or do we? Might the very nature of safe decisions create a greater risk than we ever imagined?

See also:

In Beliefs, Calling, Glory, Risk, Significance , , , ,
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These Inward Trials

May 25, 2011 — 6 Comments

Christ claimed that he came to set prisoners free, and we believe that we are indeed free. And yet, we live so much of our lives as though we are still captives. When difficulties or temptations arise—as they so often do—we feel trapped or confused, and frustrated.

Yesterday, God spoke to me of hope and joy in the middle of trials. This is what he said.


Video Length: 3 minutes and 16 seconds

In Calling, Getting glory, God's Love, God's pursuit of our heart, Growing in intimacy with God, Importance, Overcoming obstacles , , , , , ,
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Finding our Calling, and the Desires God puts in our hearts

February 11, 2011 — 5 Comments

All humans—believers and non believers— possess a deep desire in our hearts for a unique purpose. We want to know what we are to do. We sense a significant purpose yet we don’t know what it is or how to uncover it.

As we become believers, we know we are called to be children of God. And yet we also still sense that God has a unique plan and purpose for our lives. There is something that we and we alone are meant to bring to his creation.

God too wants to reveal his Call to us. Listen to the story of one man who found part of God’s special call for him.


Video Length: 3 minutes and 50 seconds

If you want to learn more how to find your call, I suggest you read Gary Barkalow’s book, It’s Your call, or you consider attending a Calling retreat.

In Calling, Glory, God's Love, God's pursuit of our heart, Identity , , , ,
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