Back at the daily grind... almost.

So I type this as I sit in the USM choral office at 8am.  SOMEONE didn't recheck the gathering time and came a little early.  Oops.  :)

The daily grind.  :D

My prayer this morning as I drank delicious CR coffee and read my Bible was that God would help me stay strong and deep in my relationship with Him.  It's so tempting to go back to "normal" after any deep experience, isn't it?

In my huge blocks of time alone in CR, it was not uncommon at all for me to spend 2 hours in prayer and Bible reading, and to enjoy it.  So many times here, I just don't have the time.  Which I realize is simply self-deception.  The truth is that I have the same amount of time everyone else on this earth has. And even more true than that is that I can't really live without having that close, deep, abiding relationship with Him.  Sure I can live... but it's not abundant, joyful, and even enjoyable as God intends it to be.

I was talking with Chris the other day about something I think will strike you strange and potentially heretical.  I think it's possible to get to heaven without a personal relationship with Jesus.

Don't shoot yet.

I believe that a personal relationship with Jesus is like the concept of the Trinity.  It's obvious in the New Testament even though it's never mentioned by name (or phrase).  And let me be clear: there is no mistaking the fact that Jesus unequivocally said Himself that He is the way, the truth, and the life and that NO ONE can come to the Father except through Him.  Nevertheless, I believe we will see people in Heaven who came through Jesus, but never experienced the joy and satisfaction of an abundant life or relationship with Him.  Seriously.  I mean be honest with yourself: how often would you describe your life as "abundant" or "enjoyable" or "joyful" or.... extraordinary?

Pentecostals often like to talk about people who will be in heaven without ever experiencing the overfilling of the Holy Spirit and the power and supernatural life that follows that baptism.  But yet, how many of them (or rather US) don't even have the closeness of that personal relationship with Jesus?  Remember, I'm not talking about salvation here.  What good is the power without the relationship?

As for me... I'm tired of the daily grind and I want nothing more to do with it.  From now on I want the deepness of extravagant time spent on Jesus.  Nothing else will do.  And if someone reading this sees me begin to settle for less, by all means SAY SOMETHING!  :)