Going Deeper

Posted by GatewayGrace on August 3, 2011 in From the Pastor, Gateways to Grace | 0 comments

I love books that make me think past the surface waters of my heart and life, and draw me to the deep.  The Pastor by Eugene Peterson, and The   Organic God by Margaret Feinberg are two that I am working through right now.  In fact, if you want a copy of the latter, drop by the church where we’re making discount copies available for $10.

So, how do books like these make us go deeper— into the realm where the Lord does His best work?  Well, with thoughts like this one from Peterson’s book: “For every complex situation in life, there is a simple, clear and wrong answer.”  I love that!  REAL life isn’t so simple.  How can it be since we are living in such a crazy,        sin-plagued world as amazingly unique creatures      fashioned by an astoundingly creative God?

And do you really think you “get” yourself?  If you want to test that, just serve up this double-sided question from Peter Scarzzero’s penetrating book, Emotionally Healthy Spirituality to a friend, relative or colleague:  “How do you experience me?  What thoughts and feelings come up in you when we get together?”  Scary, right?  Well here’s one more completely different kind of question from Feinberg’s book that exposes even deeper things of the soul: “What do you love about Jesus?”  Your    answer, or non-answer, to that reveals more depth than you may think you had.  So, take a deep breath, and dive in!  We do that here as often as we can!

- Warmly in His Grace,
Pastor Mark