GlocalNet

I can’t remember a time in my life where all I took was my Bible, my journal, and a pen and sought God for six days with no agenda or big decision I had to make - no crisis needing fixing - just meeting with God.

I was with 22 other guys with the same desire.  He said different things to all of us.  Most of the time I was alone with him - praying, fasting, journaling, worshipping, reflecting, walking in the woods.  At other times we’d come together and challenge and encourage one another.  It was beyond all my expectations.

What was he like, you asked Daniel Ly?  Very tall, deep voice, yet soft-spoken, red-headed, big ears - maybe from all those prayers he has to hear - just kidding . . . . I don’t know what God is like, I know his presence, his power, his comfort, his Word, his glory - but I know so little of him to have studied, prayed, worshipped, and served so much for so long.  I am OK with knowing what I know, but I want to know what I don’t know - yet how can I know that unless he reveals it to me . . . It’s like one of my friends there from Bulgaria with us - he doesn’t know what Blue Bell Ice Cream is.  What a tragedy - but at least he doesn’t know what he’s missing!  Soooo - what was the result?

First, God showed me some stuff in my life I need to deal with - (sin) - and it wasn’t stuff I expected - it was out of the blue - it broad sided me - but it was good and it was right.  You can’t spend a lot of time with God and not peel back that onion some.  Yes, I sin.  I hate it - it angers me, but I am a sinner.  Our greatest sins are not our “acts” but our attitudes - and I needed some strong adjustment.  Since I’ve been back - God continues to speak and convict.

Second, I love the variety of ways God works in our lives.  He doesn’t deal with us all in the same way - we are all different with different issues, personalities, situations, understandings - but he met us all.  So I enjoyed the Episcopalian along with the Pentecostal and me a “sometimes” Baptist.

Third, there is something about being with a group of guys you haven’t met.  Deep honest sharing in brokenness, can sure form deep bonds quickly.  I loved some of the younger guys and also admired their courage in dealing with stuff in their lives at such a young age.  I met a couple of young “superstars” but they don’t know it yet - which is good. 

Fourth, I need to be doing something like this every year.  It’s stupid I don’t.  I think I’ve discovered a new spiritual discipline. 

In case any of you guys on my trip find and read my blog - know I’m proud of all of you.