"Heads uP" following Jesus

(Stock image from the Internet)

Friday evening my wife, Rebekah, and I stayed up late (Nowadays, 11:59 meets every definition of "late" for us!) so we could watch the latest Space Shuttle night launch. We were not disappointed.

It was a clear night for Florida. Meaning there were absolutely no clouds and the humidity was a paltry 82%.

Consequently we were able to watch ignition and the initial launch sequence on television, and then walk outside to witness 490,850 pounds of thrust emerge over the horizon from our vantage point on the 7th green. Spectacular. Awesome. A few minutes later - at around 12:10 - the low extended rumble of the sonic boom reached our side of the state.

We watched the various stages drop off as the space-craft made it's way "up" and east as it accelerated to a speed of around 28,000 miles per hour. "Up", of course, is a relative term.

I looked into the night sky for several minutes, overwhelmed with the beauty and the depth and the sheer vastness of it all, and I couldn't help but think about a great conversation I enjoyed with a scientist at a recent wedding.

He was a young man in his late twenties, with a PhD in some multi-disciplinary field related to brain science. His work involved, he told me, exploring how an organism such as the human brain could develop self-awareness - "Given the fact that God does not exist".

We enjoyed a broad-ranging conversation. At one point I asked him why he had categorically ruled out the idea of a creator.

"We know so much now," he said. "And the more we can explain rationally, the less we need supernatural of mythological explanations."

He paused, and shook his head knowingly. "The god idea is rooted in ignorance, fear, and superstition. We don't need that outmoded construct any more."

It was one of those wedding receptions where everything is delayed by at least an hour, so we had a good amount of time to chat. He was brilliant, involved in fascinating research, engaging, and a lot of fun to talk with. So I delved a little deeper.

"I'm interested in the 'We know enough now to rule out God' postulate," I said. "Do you remember what the Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin said when he came back from space? He said 'I didn't see God...' Well today we have the Hubble Telescope and it's revealing huge new slices of the universe."

"It's answering a lot of questions," he said. "A lot of stuff religion likes to attribute to God."

"Here's the thing," I said. "The cosmos is like a three-dimensional pie. The further out you go the more there is - it's more than an exponential progression. For every ten questions the Hubble helps us to answer it opens up about a thousand new questions we hadn't even considered. So here's my question: Do we know more, or do we know less?"

"What's your point?" he asked.

"My point is that maybe God isn't sitting on a star waiting for some astronaut to take a picture so someone can say 'I'm right and you're wrong.' Maybe God isn't even in the answers. Maybe God is in the questions we haven't even thought to ask yet, the experiences we don't yet have the capacity to imagine, or the yearnings of a soul we have only partially begun to understand? I know my experience of God is often surprising and seldom easy to explain."

We talked some more, and when I went home I realized that he could have talked circles round me with his intellect. But he wasn't interested in proving an argument... he was actually much more interested in discovering truth.

There is a lot of freedom resident in the honest interest in truth. God, I believe, talks to each one of us in the language we understand. But the question remains, are we interested in listening? Or is our primary concern simply in being right?

Love and blessings - DEREK
Okay, how you're at this site, there are several things you can do...

First, leave a comment (click on "comments" below). We want to know how you are responding to the book and how God is challenging you to re-evaluate your life of faith.

Next, you can link to my daily blog, "A Life Examined." Click this photo if you want to take a look at what's new.

Then, you can purchase additional copies of "THE UNMAKING OF A PART-TIME CHRISTIAN" or any other Derek Maul title by clicking on the link above right.

There's also a link to my website, DerekMaul.net. Click on the blue-toned photo at right. You can read a more complete bio, check my schedule, and even begin a conversation about bringing me in for a conference, or to visit your church or other organization.

It's a privilege to be in this ongoing conversation with other pilgrims in progress. God's rich blessings be with you all - DEREK

Reader "Comments" Pouring In... :-)

"Reader Comments Pouring In" Is that ever a misleading title! But I am happy to say that "Wayne in Greensboro, Georgia" has managed to get the ball rolling. So, in honor of his trend-setting response, I'm pasting his entire post as today's introduction.

I pray that this serves as an encouragement, and I'll hear from more of you!

Blessings - DEREK

• If I am reading this correctly I am NUMERO UNO in the comments section about the "Unmaking" Well that is very fitting since I identify so closely with my Brother in Christ - Derek. I had the privilege of co-leading a Men's class on "Get Real" and when this book came my way I was compelled to pick it up. I feel such a kindred spirit with Derek, his experiences, his writing style and his ability to tell a story. Yet while doing all this he is weaving the story of redemption, the essence of the Christian life deeply into the fabric of the book and at the same time deeply into my soul. I have finished reading it and it certainly lived up to all my expectations. I will begin teaching it to a group of men at Greensboro United Methodist Church, Greensboro, Ga. on Sept. 20th, 2009. We are excited to have this opportunity and are equally as excited to see what God will do with us in this study!!

Thanks, Wayne!

Okay, how you're at this site, there are several things you can do...

First, leave a comment (click on "comments" below). We want to know how you are responding to the book and how God is challenging you to re-evaluate your life of faith.

Next, you can link to my daily blog, "A Life Examined." Click this photo if you want to take a look at what's new.

Then, you can purchase additional copies of "THE UNMAKING OF A PART-TIME CHRISTIAN" or any other Derek Maul title by clicking on the link above right.

There's also a link to my website, DerekMaul.net. Click on the blue-toned photo at right. You can read a more complete bio, check my schedule, and even begin a conversation about bringing me in for a conference, or to visit your church or other organization.

It's a privilege to be in this ongoing conversation with other pilgrims in progress. God's rich blessings be with you all - DEREK

Welcome to "No More Part-Time Christian"

WELCOME!!!
If you've arrived at this page, hopefully it means you're already reading the book, "The Unmaking of a Part-Time Christian." If not, then let me invite you to join the conversation.

It's too easy in today's world to relegate faith to an add-on, after-market, or part-time status. If a little faith is good, we reason, then we'll just enjoy it at arm's length. We wouldn't want to go overboard. Unfortunately, thinking like that lets what is good keep us away from what is best. The good can be the enemy of the best.

So I'm here to be an encourager. Try following Jesus as a disciple rather than simply one more priority that we fit in where we can. At the very least let's talk about it. Leave your comment, I'd like to know what you think.

Love and blessings - DEREK

NOW YOU'RE AT THIS SITE, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS YOU CAN DO:

First, leave a comment (click on "comments" below). We want to know how you are responding to the book and how God is challenging you to re-evaluate your life of faith. Scroll through the comments and see what others are saying, too. Periodically, I plan to sample the comments and use them in a new blog entry.

Next, you can link to my daily blog, "A Life Examined." New entries are posted six days a week. It's a great way to crawl in to the author's mind. Click this photo if you want to take a look at what's new.

Then, you can purchase additional copies of "THE UNMAKING OF A PART-TIME CHRISTIAN" or any other Derek Maul title by clicking on the link above right.

There's also a link to my website, DerekMaul.net. Click on the blue-toned photo at right. You can read a more complete bio, check my schedule, and even begin a conversation about bringing me in for a conference, or to visit your church or other organization.

It's a privilege to be in this ongoing conversation with other pilgrims in progress. God's rich blessings be with you all - DEREK

Full-Time disciples think differently...

God said - "This is my servant Caleb; he thinks differently...." (Numbers 14)

The photographs that go with today's post are not taken from the typical perspective. Early yesterday evening my wife and I had just finished getting ready for a dinner party and I wanted to take another picture of the new kitchen. But I was tired of snapping the same old view. Consequently, I played around with perspective and orientation. I kind of like the result.

It made me think about one of my favorite Bible references: "This is my servant Caleb;" God said, "he thinks differently...." (Numbers 14)

Tip for the day! If you want to earn a few compliments from God - now might be the time to take a look at Caleb. "Check out my man Caleb," God says; "This dude is a bona fide individual; he doesn't follow along with the crowd. Caleb actually gets it!"

NOW YOU'RE AT THIS SITE, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS YOU CAN DO:

First, leave a comment (click on "comments" below). We want to know how you are responding to the book and how God is challenging you to re-evaluate your life of faith. Scroll through the comments and see what others are saying, too. Periodically, I plan to sample the comments and use them in a new blog entry.

Next, you can link to my daily blog, "A Life Examined." New entries are posted six days a week. It's a great way to crawl in to the author's mind. Click this photo if you want to take a look at what's new.

Then, you can purchase additional copies of "THE UNMAKING OF A PART-TIME CHRISTIAN" or any other Derek Maul title by clicking on the link above right.

There's also a link to my website, DerekMaul.net. Click on the blue-toned photo at right. You can read a more complete bio, check my schedule, and even begin a conversation about bringing me in for a conference, or to visit your church or other organization.

It's a privilege to be in this ongoing conversation with other pilgrims in progress. God's rich blessings be with you all - DEREK

Conversations about following Jesus

I had an interesting conversation at a neighborhood party yesterday afternoon. A man asked me about my latest book:

"It's called The Unmaking of a Part-Time Christian," I said.

He understood the concept right off. Then he surprised me with his next question.

"So are you advocating giving up Christianity altogether?" he asked.

It had never occurred to me that anyone would consider dislodging from the "part-time" designation in any direction other than a move into discipleship.

"The title will interest people both pro and con your idea of following Jesus," he said.

So we talked about it, and I was awed once again by the power of the Spirit to reach out to everyone, and most especially those who we feel have no interest in faith at all. This God is so much bigger than my tentative belief.

Let's continue the conversation - DEREK

NOW YOU'RE AT THIS SITE, THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS YOU CAN DO:

First, leave a comment (click on "comments" below). We want to know how you are responding to the book and how God is challenging you to re-evaluate your life of faith. Scroll through the comments and see what others are saying, too. Periodically, I plan to sample the comments and use them in a new blog entry.

Next, you can link to my daily blog, "A Life Examined." New entries are posted six days a week. It's a great way to crawl in to the author's mind. Click this photo if you want to take a look at what's new.

Then, you can purchase additional copies of "THE UNMAKING OF A PART-TIME CHRISTIAN" or any other Derek Maul title by clicking on the link above right.

There's also a link to my website, DerekMaul.net. Click on the blue-toned photo at right. You can read a more complete bio, check my schedule, and even begin a conversation about bringing me in for a conference, or to visit your church or other organization.

It's a privilege to be in this ongoing conversation with other pilgrims in progress. God's rich blessings be with you all - DEREK

What's your "Real Age"? God can help here

This picture was taken in Rome just a few weeks ago. That's me, standing on the "Spanish Steps".

Well, books have already started to ship and the great experiment begins! So here's the question: Will people visit this site and leave a comment? Or will they take a peek and then go away? I'm going with the gut feeling that several of you have already taken a look, so I'll do my best to update this page at least a couple of times a week and encourage you to come back on a regular basis.

Have you ever completed one of those "Real Age" tests on the Internet? One of the key questions has to do with friendships. A solid circle of social relationships correlates highly with physical health, mental health, more complete recovery when we are sick, and actual life expectancy.

Health, and I'm widening this net to include spiritual health, requires more than mere acquaintances, but a network of people who know us intimately and love us regardless. If you think I'm going to say "This is why it's important to be involved in church", then that's only scratching the surface. Many people "go to church" without entering into the kind of authentic, nurturing, healing, encouraging relationships that are a prerequisite - in my understanding - of experiencing "Life to the full" in the way that Jesus imagined when he coined the phrase.

There's more on this subject in chapter three: "Christianity Is Team Sport." Let us know what you're thinking.

- DEREK

NOW YOU'RE HERE THERE ARE SEVERAL THINGS YOU CAN DO:

First, leave a comment (click on "comments" below). We want to know how you are responding to the book and how God is challenging you to re-evaluate your life of faith. Scroll through the comments and see what others are saying, too. Periodically, I plan to sample the comments and use them in a new blog entry.

Next, you can link to my daily blog, "A Life Examined." New entries are posted six days a week. It's a great way to crawl in to the author's mind. Click this photo if you want to take a look at what's new.

Then, you can purchase additional copies of "THE UNMAKING OF A PART-TIME CHRISTIAN" or any other Derek Maul title by clicking on the link above right.

There's also a link to my website, DerekMaul.net. Click on the blue-toned photo at right. You can read a more complete bio, check my schedule, and even begin a conversation about bringing me in for a conference, or to visit your church or other organization.

It's a privilege to be in this ongoing conversation with other pilgrims in progress. God's rich blessings be with you all - DEREK