Hoops

I think God jumps out of the bushes that line the path we’re on startling us with His presence/words or with an invitation into something deeper. It could be a deeper repentance, or intimacy… another healing touch… it may be an invitation to laughter or joy… perhaps volitional strength… the point is He surprises us at times!

I chuckle as I think of Him lurking about in the most common affairs of my day… at times He even seems playful as He leaps out of a passage of Scripture I’ve read a gazillion times before giving me some new never-seen insight into my life or His person/work. Last evening I’m in a conversation with Sam about his upcoming week one moment and in the next it’s no longer Sam talking about something he’s doing on Saturday, it’s the ever-present Ventriloquist speaking to me about something I’m doing in five months and how He (God) wants to bring more healing/closure to a deep wound of mine through that event (Sam no doubt wondering why I was weeping). Sometimes He hops out of a movie I’m watching or from the music I’m listening to in ways the lyricist never ever intended. He’s with us in the moment between the market and home. He’s speaking through the plumber’s story, the sunset, the smiling child, the homeless guy on the corner, your friend’s kindness as well as those troubling souls within your life’s orbit. A couple of days ago I’m yapping with a buddy and his innocuous observation about another man sends me into an evening of confession, repentance, breaking of agreements and crying out to God for transformation. God is most certainly with us!

A quick story:

I was attending a conference session wherein the President of the organization, a true and good man, formerly a seminary professor vulnerably shares that much of his Christian life has been lived from the perspective that He was to cram his head with as much knowledge and understanding as possible and through that God would sanctify/mature him. He reflected that it contributed little to his personal relationship with God. He continues telling the audience that he attended our Boot Camp and during one of our “Times of Silence with God” he, operating from a perspective of “Yes, God speaks… but not really… and certainly not to me”, finds a quiet place perched upon a rock to listen for anything God may have to say to him. He spent 10 minutes in token respectful silence and concludes… “I knew it!” God didn’t speak… no real surprise to him, He never has. So he, Clive, does what any good Hoosier would do… wanders down to the basketball court to shoot some hoops through the rest of the time with God.

He continues the story saying that he made 10 shots in a row – which is unusual enough that his sharp mind goes analytical over what it is that he’s doing that would explain his success. “Is it the angle of my elbow?” “The snap of my wrist or the squaring up of my shoulders?”…”Maybe it’s my follow through!”

Then he misses the next 10 shots as he’s dissecting his form. And … surprise… God shows up on the basketball court saying, “Clive, you’re trying so hard, you’re so analytical… I want your heart!” Stunned and still, God begins to speak deeply to the governing assumptions of his life inviting him into something very new… and wanted (Living from the heart intimately with God). Clive asks God, “Okay… do you want me to go back to my rock?” (To finish out the “Time Alone With God”) and God answers, “No, continue to shoot hoops – but from your heart!”

See it? Surprise! Oh how he longs for a personal conversational relationship with us! And so, He is ever-present and always lurking about jumping at any and every opportunity to invite us into “more”. I wonder when, where and how He will jump out and into our lives today? – Craig McConnell

Comments

[Brad]

Thank you. I haven't wept like this for quite a while.

[John]

Yes. God lives and speaks!
John

[David Felts]

Thanks Craig...really, thanks....

[Craig McConnell]

Brad,
May you, sowing in tears reap songs of joy. - Psalm 126:5
Love ya man. - Craig

[charlie]

There's so much truth in that... it's like not being able to see the forest for the trees.

[Davie]

Ever since that first session at boot camp, when we gave God "permission" to open our hearts and do whatever He wanted to,..WOW!

God has ambushed me many times and spoke just that right thing that brought brokeness,healing and restoration to an area in my life.
Thanks Craig for reminding us that God will always persue us. Will we allow ourselves to be captured?
Davie

[Craig McConnell]

Davie,
God captured me this morning with Psalm 131,

My heart is not proud, O LORD,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, put your hope in the LORD
both now and forevermore.

[Stacy]

I am a very mischievous person, to the core of my being. In college, I was the practical joker, regularly playing pranks on my friends and professors, and always bringing smiles and laughter to their lives with my mischief. I never really thought much of it... it was just me. Then I read something, I believe in one of John's blogs once... an observation about the playfulness of God. And suddenly I realized that my mischievous nature is part of the way I reflect the image of God, just like your sense of humor is part of your reflection of him, as you've mentioned in your previous blogs. He loves to play too! It is critical for us to remember this. All work and no play makes for a very dull faith... and who would ever be hungry for that? The world thinks the Christian God is boring... let's show them otherwise! :) Thanks for the reminder.

[Preston Dahl]

I have been walking with God for over a year now. Often i look back at when God first captivated my heart and our times together. He took me to a place in my heart i didn't know i had. Deep deep love, friendship, intimacy, AND HIS VOICE! It is so real.

Oh how young and sweetly foolish in my faith i was. My personal favorite is one day i went grocery shopping and as soon as i walked in the door I knew God was taking me on a date. I wanted to cry right in the middle of the store i was so touched.

Now as i stand in the midst of the Christian matrix my heart cries for those times of love and freedom. A new cry has recently begun in my heart. "There is so much more to the Kingdom! I'm about ready to sell all i have for it."

Preston- 21

[Craig McConnell]

Preston,
Just last night I parked on John 15:9 "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” The word “remain” is what halted me and led me to ponder how quickly I move in and out of the Father’s love. - Craig

[Scott]

Craig - as usual, your blog was just what I needed to read this morning. All I can do to hold myself together as I sit at my desk at work typing this.
Was coming into work this morning - praying (coming off of a particularly difficult/challenging situation from the previous day), wallowing in self pity, wondering why I'm going through what I'm going through, looking desperately for an answers, and wondering why God seems so distant.
Haven't checked into the site for a bit. Logged on first thing this morning, read your blog, and - BOOM - my Father reaches out and touches/speaks to my heart as only He can. Thank God for his grace and love - there's nothing that this world can offer that compares.
Thank you Craig.

[Tara]

Craig, in a season of not hearing God's voice, in a season of what seems like a dark night of the soul, it is so good to see, to remember, to witness the way that He does speak, does touch, does love. I don't understand my current season, but I trust God in it, even though my heart is heavy and I thirst desperately for Him in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thanks for continuing to write and share. It means so much.

[Craig McConnell]

Scott,
You are so welcome!I love it, He even jumps out of blogs! - Craig

[Craig McConnell]

Tara,
Good words, thank you for sharing them! This morning I wrote two things in my journal that were scripted from the season of "uncertainty" I'm going through.

"Everything changes when we need God." (The posture of hungering and thristing deeply affects every moment lived, every single thought, interaction and breath while in that posture)

"The blessing of God is that which brings us into deeper intimacy with Christ" (I tend to think of the "blessing" of God as being living in a state wherein I actually don't need Him)... AHHH, I hunger with you. - Craig