First: Know God; Next: Work for God

Bozeman, Montana

When Jesus, in John fourteen and fifteen, instructs his disciples to attach themselves to him like a branch connects with a vine, he intends this to be our first priority in the spiritual life.

This is a way of saying that our doing must emerge from our being. Do not do things, unattached. Do not assume your tasking is pleasing to God if you do not have much time with him.

Oswald Chambers wrote that we "slander God by our very eagerness to work for Him without knowing Him." Stephen Seamands says, "That is always a temptation in ministry-to want to do things for God without cultivating our relationship with God." (Seamands, Ministry in the Image of God: The Trinitarian Shape of Christian Service, Kindle Locations 207-208)

First, be with God, in relationship, continuously. Learn how to dwell with God.

Second, hear from God. Learn how to discern his voice, to you.

Third, when God tells you what to do, obey. Remember that obdience is ob - audio, listening followed by following.

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My two books are:

Leading the Presence-Driven Church

Praying: Reflections on 40 Years of Solitary Conversations with God

I am now writing How God Changes the Human Heart, plus editing a book on the Holy Spirit which should be out in late Spring 2019.

I'm getting my act together to write Technology and Spiritual formation.

Then, the Lord willing, Linda and I will write our book on Relationships.