We're all still human after all... for now.

As some of you may or may not know, I was ordained as a full fledged minister of the Gospel by Glenn Park Christian Church on Sunday night! It was an evening full of family, friends, love, laughter, music, singing, and even a light show by God. He decided it would be great to make His presence known by shutting off the power to the building during the prayer by the Elders to commission and ordain me. Pretty cool actually!

The journey to get to this moment in time was a very long one, filled with many hard lessons learned. Here are just a few of the lessons picked up along the way, in no particular order:

1. God has a plan for you. If he's not done with your plan yet, He will bring it to fruition... even by allowing you to walk away from a high speed rollover accident in a top heavy 4x4.

2. If you're not good at studying in high school, you won't be any better in college.

3. Your first love isn't always "the one"

4. Your soul mate will smile and say "that's nice!" when you bring home musical gear instead of an engagement ring on multiple occasions, no matter how much she really wants one.

5. NEVER buy an RV for a band with your own money...

6. If you're not in credit card debt now, don't get there. If you are in credit card debt, get out quickly!

7. Moving away from home for the first time is hard, but moving back home after 2 years of living on your own is even harder.

8. Driving a school bus is only fun for the first few weeks... Then it becomes what it is: Debt reduction!

9. Being a dad is one of the most frustrating and yet most fulfilling responsibilities at the same time.

10. Extended family members are "interesting" at times...

11. There are times when moving your family 1400 miles twice in 15 months is just part of God's plan, even when it looks completely insane to most people.

12. When you are in the center of God's Will for your life, it may seem like things are a little too good. Whatever you do, don't make turmoil for yourself just so you'll have something to worry about. Instead, enjoy the fleeting moment of being in the center of His Will, because when He moves, it'l get bumpy for a while. He's just moving so you don't get complacent, and so He can fulfill His plan in you.

I tell you all of this in order for you to see a journey. The disciples had been on a journey with Jesus, and while His walk with them on earth was drawing to a close, He was doing His best to prepare them to be His hands and feet after He was gone.

I was reading this morning in Acts Chapter 1. If you aren't familiar with this chapter, the first 11 verses tell the story of Jesus being taken into Heaven after His resurrection. Here's a snippet from what I read today:

Acts 1:4-8 - On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

The verses that really caught my attention were where Jesus says "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

See, just like the disciples were asking for a date of deliverance, I often find myself asking the same question and getting the same answer from God. It's as if He says "why are you questioning my plan? It's on a 'need to know' basis, and you don't 'need to know'." Some things never change, eh?

What's interesting to me is that the disciples were looking for a restoration of Israel to a prominent power in the region. I'm often looking for the next big thing, the next goal, the next plateau, etc... However, Jesus was already thinking on a higher level. He was speaking of the kingdom of His Father, and not an earthly one. He desired for the disciples to think on a spiritual level, and He desires the same for us.

A life of Worship thinks on that spiritual level. It is less concerned with earthly issues and more concerned with kingdom building. It is a life that has already experienced the Holy Spirit coming upon it, and responds by following the giver of the Holy Spirit with everything it has.

Let's work on remembering that God gifts us with life from moment to moment, and even though we may not know where life is headed, He does and is directing us in His timing. Worship Him in all aspects of your life, and let Him sweat the details!