The Next Milepost

It has been quite a journey. A journey which has taken me to the other side of the earth. A journey that traces its roots to a small town in Iowa about 13 years ago. I was a cross country truck driver waiting for my trailer to be loaded for a trip back home to Phoenix. The snow laid heavy all around me for the second day and I was stuck in my truck engaged in a knock down drag out fight with God.

God had been bugging me for a while about going into full time ministry. He was calling me to be a preacher, or a pastor, or something like that. I wanted no part of that. I was horrified of the thought of getting up in front of people and preaching God's Word. I was armed with all my Moses arguments as to why I was not able to do what He was calling me to do. I lifetime of driving a truck was my backside of the wilderness and Marshalltown, Iowa was the location of my burning bush.

As with Moses, God was not going to be denied. He broke my will and I gave in. I knew I could not do this without the Lord by my side, directing my path.

He put people in my life to help guide me along the way. Pastor Randy Southwick had been my friend and mentor up to that point and he helped mentor me afterwards with a different purpose in mind.

This morning we were reminiscing as we recalled how God has brought me up to this weekend. Sunday, October 27, 2013, is the day I pass the next milepost. I am being ordained as a pastor. It is evidence that God has a sense of humor. He has taken a truck driver and made me into a shepherd.

I am humbled that Calvary Community Church would ordain me. God wrestled me with me until I tapped out on that snowy day, 13 years ago, and I couldn't be happier. I love what he has me doing now. He has even given me a love for the people and land of India. As I write this post I am getting ready for the India Fellowship we have every Friday evening and I am planning my second trip to India.

I am a happy and blessed man. Sunday is not the finish line...just the next milepost.

Do You Hear God's Voice?

I was reading in the book of Exodus this morning about God calling Moses from the burning bush. He told Moses that He had a job for him to do. Moses had all sorts of excuses why God needed to move along and go bother someone else. Moses finally relents and obeys the call of God.

You read of similar things happening in the New Testament. Jesus calls Peter, James, John, and Matthew. They immediately leave their jobs and follow Jesus. But you also read of the rich young ruler who hears the call, weighs the cost, and decides it is a price too high to pay. How incredibly short sighted this guy was. He had it all and found he wanted nothing more than what he could hold in his hand right then and there.

Have you heard the voice of God? The first call is the call of salvation. God never stops there though. He continues to speak to us. How we wish His voice was as clear and distinct as a voice coming out of a burning bush. Jesus will often speak to us in soft whispers gently spoken in our ears. He has a job for each of us. Are you listening?


You may say, "He doesn't have a job for me. I don't have the skills needed to go do what other people are doing." Excuses! God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

Matthew 5:14–16 (NASB95)

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;

15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

There! There is your calling. Start right there. You are a light to the world. Notice He doesn't say, "Would you consider being a light to the world?" You ARE a light to the world. The world is watching you.

Since you ARE a light to the world, don't you think you need to listen for the voice of God? He speaks to each one of us, it's just that we distract ourselves and cover up His voice with all kinds of other things. Get quiet and alone with God. Spend time reading His Word. Spend time with the television, radio, iPod, and video games turned off. Spend time in prayer and meditation. Learn to cultivate your listening skills. He is speaking to you, learn to hear His voice.


Don't settle for the stuff of this world that you can hold in your hand here and now and miss out on the riches of Heaven. God is calling you. Are you listening?