The Waiting is the Hardest Part

Thoughts after reading from Seizing Your Divine Moment:

First, special thanks to Tom Petty. Anytime someone comments about waiting, I hear Tom's voice singing in my head "the waiting is the hardest part." And sometimes I will even sing it out loud doing my best impression of Mr. Petty for the poor soul who has lamented to me about waiting.

What I discovered today is that some of my waiting may not be necessary. If I am waiting on God for direction or a mission, it has already been given. He said go. God is waiting on me and is probably mumbling to himself "Would you just GO! For the millionth time, GO! Does The Great Commission ring a bell, Bert?"

But in my mind, I'm not ready. I can't quote enough scripture. I can only remember 8 of the 10 commandments and about 6 of the 12 disciples. And that's counting Paul. What? He wasn't one of the 12. See what I mean, I'm not ready. And, I still haven't memorized the order of the books of the Bible. And besides, I don't even have a passport. So even if I was ready I couldn't get to "all nations" to be a witness anyway. I need to keep preparing for my calling, my divine moment if you will, and wait for God to give me the go ahead. So, I should wait some more, right.

Wrong. I drive to the end of the earth almost every day. It's called Fresno, a little nation called work. It's inhabitants need Jesus as much as any people I can think of. They have lost spouses to death and divorice. Their children have life threatening illnesses. They have children outside of marriage. Some are involved in homosexuality. They drink, use drugs, fornicate, lie and gossip. I could go on, but it could end with someone turning into a pillar of salt. Bottom line, they're humans who need to hear some good news. And I was commissioned long ago to deliver that news.

Ready or not, I should go.


Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)
The Great Commission

16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Acts 1:8 (NIV)

"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."

Sit and sin

James is my favorite book of the Bible. I hate it. It reminds me how I fail every day.

Today it was James 1:22-25 (recommended reading from my friend Joe Saubert.) Listening to the word is not good enough, I have to do what it says. I can't just sit in the pews and hear the word, for full credit I have to walk out the doors and do what it says. Apparently the Word is interactive. But verse 25 says by doing what I have heard, I will be blessed in what I do.

Earlier this week it was James 4:17. Twice! Once from Erwin McManus in a podcast or a book I am reading, and once from a self-confrontation study I am doing. James gets a little harsher here. If I know the good I ought to do and don't do it, it's a sin! End of chapter 4, start ripping rich people in chapter 5! Hey, where's my blessing? Oh, maybe not sinning is it's own blessing.

Anyway, it seems that I am supposed get up, get out and do some good. Maybe after the Rose Bowl.