Another Milestone Reached...

Yesterday I logged in my 700th blog post. How interesting (to me) that it was a reminder about our identity in Christ. However, it's just "a drop in the ocean" considering the wealth of information we have yet to obtain.

There's a story that was relayed to me about a man who had never seen the ocean. One of his friends had visited several times and wanted to help him understand how incredible it was. He took a glass, filled it with ocean water and sand, and brought it back to his friend. He said, "See...this is the ocean. It's just as incredible as I said it would be." While most of understand that this sand/water filled glass could never contain all of the ocean; why is it that we think one person, one church, or one denomination could give us a full understanding of who God is?

Our God is continually revealing Himself to us.
Jesus brought to the world an understanding of the nature of God in the flesh.
The Bible gives to us an understanding of God in the Word.
The Holy Spirit is continually giving us an understanding of God in the Spirit.
While there are plenty of people in the world who claim to know God, I think we are all better suited to say that we are trying to know Him more and more every day. {Got to give a shout out to my wife for that last part - THANKS!!!}

The Bible is full of people who thought they really knew God only to find that there knowledge was just a drop in the ocean.
Job thought he knew God until the revelation that came in the suffering
Paul thought he knew God until the Damascus Road experience
David thought he knew God until another revelation came that birthed yet another song
All throughout Scripture we find story after story of God revealing more and more of Himself to us.

The fact of the matter is this: While the Bible contains information about God, God is not contained within the Bible. There is so much more to know and experience. There are heights in our relationship with God that we haven't reached. There are moves of the Spirit of God that we have yet to experience. There is so much more!!!

Jesus even told His disciples that if they knew how to give good gifts to their children, "How much more will the Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask." One of my favorite quotes comes from a professor I had while in Bible College: "How much more of God's how much more do you want?"

I appreciate you all staying with this blog over the past few years. It's been a great way for me to put my thoughts down in a way they could be recorded. It's also been a great way for me to work out some of my own issues, some of my own theology, and even some of my own inquiries as to the nature of God. I hope that we can continue to learn more together. As it relates to our understanding of who God is for us and who we are in Him - there's plenty to learn.

Be Blessed!!!

A Wonderful Reminder

You ever have a day where it's good to just be reminded of something that you already knew? This has been one of those days for me. God reminded me of something that I already knew about myself and it brought incredible peace and excitement. I pray it will do the same for you.

Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." {NLT}

If you are in Christ you are a NEW creation: An unprecedented, uncommon, and unheard of creation in the earth. What God has done in us has never been done before. There is a new humanity that exists on the earth - a humanity that is found in Christ, indwelt by the Spirit of God, and has become God's anointed ones through an act of redemptive love. This is a work that only God could do and we get to be a part of it. Is it any wonder that Paul calls this work a "masterpiece"?

Any time I read this verse, I'm reminded of the movie "Mr. Holland's Opus". At the end of Mr. Holland's career as a music teacher, there is a gathering of current and former students to celebrate his tenure. It is in this gathering that we hear one of the greatest compliments that could ever be given: "We are your symphony Mr. Holland. We are the melodies and the notes of your opus. We are the music of your life."

We are God's symphony!!!
We are the melodies and notes of His opus!!!
We are the music of His life!!!

What God did in Christ was to give the world a visible representation of who He was/is. What God has done through the new humanity He has created is to give the world a visible representation of Jesus. We are His anointed ones who continue the story of redemptive love that began in the Garden. We are the ones that God has chosen to use to create His most incredible masterpiece. This is who we are in Christ.

So...it doesn't matter what your day has been like. It doesn't matter if you have fallen or failed. God chose to look past all of that - made redemption, forgiveness, and salvation available - and allows you to walk in His unconditional love. You need to step into this identity today and never let anyone/anything tell you differently. What God has done in you is incredible. What He is going to do through you is amazing. You are a part of His greatest work of art.

Random Thought Tuesday

I have a question brewing in my mind today. I'm going to use today's blog to sort it out. The question is this: How can a believer spend almost their entire life in church and never learn how to operate in the Holy Spirit? As I think about this question, it causes me to ask a lot of other questions. While I don't know if we will ever get the answer, it's going to be fun working through this one.

John 16:7 says, "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you." According to Jesus, the coming of the Holy Spirit is to be advantageous to His followers. But if we never learn HOW to cooperate with the Spirit in our lives then we will never know the life that Jesus describes.

This question came to me as I thought about Jesus' description of the Holy Spirit's coming. It's also the result of me thinking through my life growing up in the church and even during my time as a ministry student. Most of my learning about the Holy Spirit came on my own. I learned about Him through experience. Don't get me wrong, I did learn the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. I knew where He went in my theology. But there was never a time when someone sat me down (or even in a classroom setting) to teach me how to live in Him, understand how He spoke to us, the tools that He used in our lives, etc. There is so much about the Holy Spirit that we are simply left on our own to figure out.

I find it amazing that much of what I've heard about the Holy Spirit were just token phrases. You know...we expect Him to work with us through evangelism. We expect Him to be a part of our worship or preaching. He's supposed to be leading us into all truth. And we think we understand how He speaks to us. It's almost a sad statement but the truth is that I probably learned more about the Holy Spirit through Blackaby's study "Experiencing God" than I ever got in church or Bible College. What did I learn in church or school?
I learned how to get a message together
I learned how to evangelize (through memorization)
I learned how to pray, sing, and share my testimony
I learned the basic doctrines of the faith
I learned about the Old and New Testaments
I learned how to study the Bible
These are all good things but where was the instruction necessary to operate in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that I would have an advantage when He came. And there are plenty of believers who could benefit greatly from His ministry in their lives.

Why does this problem exist? I'll close all of this out by listing some things that I think:
Church leaders who don't know how to approach the topic
Churches that have learned to do 90-99% of ministry without Him
Church members who don't understand the necessity of the Holy Spirit in their lives
Churches have spent so much time trying to figure out what the Holy Spirit isn't supposed to be doing that they aren't really sure what He does anymore.
And the lack of overall experience with the Holy Spirit.

After going through all of this, you can bet one thing: I will do my best to convey to my people the importance of the Holy Spirit, His ministry within the earth AND the believer, and how we can operate in Him. I will do my best to help others develop a personal relationship with Him. He is God manifest in the world right now. I think it's time the Body of Christ gets to know Him. Don't you?

Needing Your Input

Happy Thursday everyone!!!

I have a new poll question located upper right of the page. Please click on one of the options. I need to know your thoughts. It's been my joy to share this blog with you over these last few years. I just need to know how many of you are reading.

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Daniel Webster once said, "The most important thought I ever had was that of my individual responsibility to God."

What are we responsible for?
Living in grace
Loving God with all that we have and all that we are
Loving others as yourself
Sharing this incredible and abundant life with all that we come in contact with
And the list could go on...

I never like to view responsibility in a negative light. 1 John 5:3 says, "This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome." It's pretty natural to hear the word command and think of a Drill Sargent barking out orders. Rarely, if ever, have I heard God speak to me in a way that wasn't in love. His commands are not a list of things (like what we had in the 10 commandments) but is a way of life. Even after God shared the Law with the children of Israel, He said, "I put before you life and death. Choose life..."

Another aspect of thinking about our own personal responsibility toward God is that it keeps us from worrying about what others are doing (not doing). It keeps us focused on our individual relationship. I'm starting to discover that I cannot be as worried about someone's walk with God. I just need to enjoy mine.

As you go about the rest of your day - THINK.
What has God given you?
What has God done in your life?
Who has God placed around you?
What can you do that will bring glory and honor to Him?

You don't have to be creative. The Holy Spirit is a wonderful guide. Let Him speak to you. You will discover that the abundant life that Jesus promised isn't something to be kept hidden but something to share with everyone.

Hope your day is blessed.

Celebrating My Wife

Proverbs 18:22, "The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the LORD." I enjoy reading this verse in the New Living Translation. Most translations read "a good thing" rather than "a treasure". If you know my wife, then you'll understand why I chose these words.

My wife is celebrating a birthday today. And as I think about what this new year holds for her/us, I'm overwhelmed by the past 17 years together. This proverb holds true in my marriage because I have been willing to discover the treasure that lives within my own house.

A treasure of love...
Over the last few years, my wife and I have come to realize the importance of love. Love is so much more than an emotion. The fact is that we haven't always felt the love but we have always been willing to live in love toward one another. The Bible tells us that "love covers a multitude of sins." It also covers a multitude of faults and problems. I'm grateful for the love that Jenn has demonstrated in our lives. We are learning more and more what it means to live in unconditional love.

A treasure of joy...
We absolutely love laughter in our home. I enjoy seeing my wife smile. We do what we can to enjoy life together. I have come to a place in my life where I love to introduce my wife to people. She has the ability to bring joy and encouragement to others. For a lack of better words, she is the bright spot in our family. The joy of the Lord is her strength and we get to bask in the glow of it.

A treasure of friendship...
I share everything with my wife. There is no one in this world that knows me better than she does. We do as much together as possible. We still hold hands in public, speak our love to one another, and share those intimate glances and smiles. My wife has become in the words of Forrest Gump, "My best good friend."

While there are plenty of other things I could write about, I want to say that where we are now hasn't always been this way. We endured the struggles of learning to be married. We have gone through the senseless arguments and tough times. But we chose to endure the difficulties and find a way to enjoy our life together. By the way...this is what we promised we would do.
In sickness and in health
In adversity and prosperity
And to be true and loyal to one another as long as we both shall live.

I am not ashamed to live out Proverbs 5:18, "Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth." I also want to say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" to the most incredible woman I know. I have truly found a treasure in my life and favor from God.

Is the Message LOUD & CLEAR?

I have never been a fan of church signs that allow for messages. Thankfully, where our sign is located it was never really an option. Don't get me wrong, there are some pretty good messages that can be conveyed with a sign. HOWEVER, before I start shouting through a bullhorn I want to make sure that the message I'm sending is consistent with God's Word.

For far too long the church has been quite inconsistent with her message. Most of this has to do with a lack of understanding concerning the finished work of Christ. Adding to this problem is the churches that claim to speak for God but show no evidence of God's love, forgiveness, or compassion. What are we trying to say? What is it that we want the world to hear?

The fact of the matter is that the lives of the individual members speak more clearly than any church sign. The consistency of our love, our compassion, and our lives before the world is the message that everyone needs to see and hear. The world needs to see people whose lives are filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. In other words, they need to see a display of the fruit of the Spirit. Am I asking too much? I don't think so.

I just had a conversation with someone regarding a church sign that I read. For the sake of community, I will not post the actual quote but it wasn't even close to communicating the finished work of Christ. Why am I bringing this up? I'm sharing this because it seems that the most consistent message the world gets from us is inconsistent. Churches around every corner - and almost all of them communicating a different gospel.

2 Corinthians 5:19, "...God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." Can we not consistently communicate this message to a world that doesn't know Jesus? It seems that we have lost the understanding that we are His ambassadors of "GOOD NEWS". And this is exactly what the world needs to hear.

As you travel around this weekend, I challenge you to read some of the church signs that you come across. I don't want you to judge the congregation inside but simply ask yourself: "How does this communicate the finished work of Christ." It will not take you long to discover that the sign pointing people to Jesus needs to be you/me. Let's make sure that we are loud and clear when it comes to sharing God's love. Let's make sure the world knows that Jesus did not come to condemn them (John 3:17) but that He came so they could be saved.

Be blessed.

The Discipline of Waiting

Isaiah 40:31, "but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."

It may not be very popular and it probably wouldn't sell many books, but there is something to be said of our ability to wait upon the Lord.

Over the last couple of days, I have shared some tools to help strengthen you in your relationship with Christ. We have talked about the necessity to renew our minds, remain in a faith-filled mindset, and recover a proper image of God and ourselves. You will discover these tools to be valuable if you can learn to wait upon the Lord.

I love this verb in the Hebrew. To "wait" means to bind together, look, and patiently wait. When we wait upon the Lord, we aren't sitting idly by and doing nothing. We are actually do what is necessary to bind ourselves together with Him in the process. We are walking in faith, trusting, learning about Him, and meditating upon His Word. We are learning what it means to have a confident expectation of Him. The question isn't whether or not we will ever have to wait. The question is how will we wait?

John Waller wrote a song a few years ago titled "While I'm Waiting" - pay attention to these words:
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

As you and I learn the discipline of waiting, we will discover more and more about who God is, who we are in Him, and how to be strengthened in this process. Remember that Isaiah promised that those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. We will run and not be weary, walk and not faint, and we will rise up with wings as eagles. This isn't the microwave Christianity that is so popular today, but it is the tried and tested way of growing in our relationship with God. This is the place where we learn to see, hear, and trust Him. And in the process, He gives us strength.

Take some time to wait upon Him. Don't force the issue. Let God be God and learn to establish your heart in Him. When you go through that process, then you can fly.

Our Identity In Christ

I shared with you yesterday about the importance of Right Thinking, A Renewed Mind, and a Proper Perspective of God and His Word. Neil Anderson has authored several books concerning Spiritual Warfare and the necessity of being grounded in the finished work of Christ. The following is a list of Scripture and the confession of truth that comes with it. May you experience the fullness of who you are in Christ!

I am accepted...
John 1:12 ----------- I am God's child.
John 15:15 ---------- As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1 ---------- I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17 -- I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:27 - I am a member of Christ's body.
Ephesians 1:3-8 ----- I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13-14 -- I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9-10 --- I am complete in Christ.
Hebrews 4:14-16 ----- I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.

I am secure...
Romans 8:1-2 -------- I am free from condemnation.
Romans 8:28 --------- I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
Romans 8:31-39 ------ I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22 I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.
Colossians 3:1-4 ---- I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6 ----- I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
Philippians 3:20 ---- I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7 ------- I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
1 John 5:18 --------- I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

I am significant...
John 15:5 ----------- I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
John 15:16 ---------- I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
1 Corinthians 3:16 -- I am God's temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
Ephesians 2:6 ------- I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 2:10 ------ I am God's workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12 ------ I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13 ---- I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

Learning how to establish yourself in righteousness is a KEY to experiencing the freedom that Jesus bought and paid for in your life. I pray that you will move into greater levels of victory and confidence in the finished work of Christ.

Getting In Touch with God

‎"If you are not thinking right, if your mind is not being renewed, if you are not perceiving God and His Word properly, it will show up in your emotional life." ~ Neil T. Anderson

I absolutely love this quote by Neil Anderson. It pinpoints many of the reasons people struggle to encounter God.

#1 - If you are not thinking right
"Stinkin' Thinkin'" ruins our efforts in encountering God. For instance, if you do not believe that God is listening then you will continually struggle in prayer. If you do not think God is paying attention to you then you will not feel His presence in worship. If you do not think that you are able to hear, sense, or even see God at work in your live then you will feel like giving up. Our spiritual life is connected to our thought life. Our soul can often lead our spirit man. Before you start on this journey, you have to know what you believe about God.

#2 - If your mind is not being renewed
Not only is it important to think the right thoughts about God, it's important to think the right thoughts about yourself. How you perceive yourself in this relationship is vitally important to your connection with God. You MUST have your identity based in His Word. You must allow God to define who you are and live according to that definition. We are transformed by the renewing of our minds. So get rid of the "Stinkin' Thinkin'" about God and encourage yourself with who you are in Christ.

#3 - If you are not perceiving God and His Word properly
This is the result of the first two items. You cannot have a high view of God and a low view of yourself. Neither can you exalt yourself while debasing God. His Word must be the foundation for how you perceive Him and yourself. It must be the truth that you cling to in regards to your relationship with Him.

#4 - It will show up in your emotional life
You cannot fake until you make it. If you are struggling with God's identity and your own, it will eventually leak out. You will find yourself moody, depressed, and in total despair. This is why it's important to have your foundation in Christ. You cannot build a relationship on other people's encounters, a church, or even your pastor. There must be a heart to heart connection with Jesus.

I have heard it said that if we are going to grow at all spiritually then we must get rid of the gray areas. In other words, we have to resolve some things about God.
Is He really unconditional love?
Is His grace really sufficient?
Is He really approachable?
Can I know Him?
The list could go on and on. However, there is a promise in God's Word that you must cling to:
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." ~ Jeremiah 29:13

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By the way, the trip to Florida with my son was great. We had a very successful hunt and enjoyed our time with family, friends, and one another. It's great to be back with you. Be blessed!!!

Taking a few days off to enjoy some Hog Hunting with my son. Hope everyone has a blessed weekend.

“We are made in the image of God; we carry within us the desire for our true life of intimacy and adventure. To say we want less than that is to lie.”
― John Eldredge

Encouraging Yourself In the Lord

1 Samuel 30:6 gives us some insight into a very difficult time in David's life. Under a great amount of grief and pressure, he is still able to encourage (strengthen) himself in the Lord. In fact, many of the Songs of Deliverance that we read in the Psalms came out of these types of situations. There's something for each of us to learn here.

If you are like me, then you have only been taught to pray in times of great difficulty. It's in the offering up of the Prayers of Salvation that we bring our requests unto God. In this place of fellowship with God, we are often encouraged in our faith. We learn to trust in Him and His goodness in our lives. However, I think we may be missing out on a great opportunity to strengthen ourselves. The Prayers of Salvation are good but don't neglect the Songs of Deliverance.

Songs of Deliverance come in various forms. Some of these songs are a part of the psalms and illustrate for us the times that God had intervened in the life of David. In this context, the songs are historical in nature and give testimony to what God has done. However, these songs cannot be viewed in just a historical context. Many of the songs that David sang were also prophetic in nature. You must remember that David was a part of the school of prophets that taught men how to prophecy through songs and instruments. Many times in the Old Testament we read about the worshipers actually going out before the armies and God bringing the victory. What was happening? The worshipers would lead in the praises of God and sing songs of deliverance to create an atmosphere of victory. Then the people of God would simply step into what had already been proclaimed.

David was a worshiper and a man after God's own heart. His life is continually marked with the attitude of discovering God in every situation. What David was dealing with in 1 Samuel brought great discouragement to his heart. And it is my belief that David was able to pray and praise himself into a place of great strength. This is one of the greatest lessons that we need to learn. When we combine the Prayers of Salvation with the Songs of Deliverance, we come into a place where we can encounter the Lord Our Strength.

Imagine taking your difficulty before the Lord - your cry out unto Him. Then imagine getting up from that place, lifting your hands unto the heavens, and singing out the faithfulness of our God. You may sing a familiar song that gives your comfort or it may be a song that is birthed out of your time of prayer. Regardless of the type of song, you are learning how to praise your way to victory. And there are a lot of battles that are never won until we learn how to give praise out of the difficulty.

Many people read the Psalms and consider that David is just celebrating a victory. However, more often than not he was singing unto victory. The song of his heart was matching the prayer of his heart, and God was moved by His faith and proclamation. I have personally seen people get victory in their lives when they chose to praise God in the midst of their circumstances rather than just crying out to Him in prayer.

Worship also allows us to move into a place of great confidence. Unless you are hearing from God during your time of prayer, it's easy to walk away from that place and say "Well, I have left it in God's hands." Adding a Song of Deliverance to that statement will also help you establish your heart in confidence toward God. I remind you of Paul and Silas, imprisoned for preaching the gospel, in the midnight hour lifting their prayers and praise unto God. And God showed up!!! Foundations were shaken, prison doors flew open, chains fell off, people were saved, and they were delivered.

Never underestimate the powerful combination of prayer and praise. Make a habit of putting them together in faith. Pray out of a contrite heart and praise out of a genuine heart. This is the art of strengthening yourself in the Lord. Remember Joshua 1:9, "This is my command--be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

Knowing His Ways vs Knowing His Deeds

Psalm 103:7, "He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel." Other translations of this verse tell us that God revealed His "ways" to Moses and His "acts" to the children of Israel. Either way you read it: Moses was in on something that the rest of the people were not experiencing.

I think I have discovered why Moses experienced God in such a different capacity. In Exodus 33 we find Moses asking God to reveal His ways unto him. Most of us already know that Moses would draw near to the mountain where God was, while the rest of the people stayed at the base. We understand that the people of God were comfortable with a man of God. However, what they missed is the difference between intimacy and religion.

I have come to a place in my spiritual life where hearing about God isn't enough.
Hearing other people's testimony can no longer sustain me.
I must know God for myself, experience Him for myself, and establish my own understanding of who He is based upon His Word and my own personal encounter.

Maybe you feel the same way I do. Maybe you have found yourself talking about a certain attribute of God that you only know through study. You believe it, you can prove it in Scripture, but there isn't an intimate knowledge. Do you find that frustrating? Do you ever get jealous of other people's intimacy with God? Don't you want to know Him - personally - in your own life?

If you know me personally, then you know that I enjoy reading. I absolutely love hearing people articulate their faith and experiences with God. God has used many different authors to shape my understanding of Him, His Word, and His Kingdom. But I cannot be content in someones "mountain top" experience when I know that God has called me to make the hike for myself. While I appreciate their ability to shape their thoughts into words, I long to experience God for myself. I long to hear Him speak His character and attributes into my own life. Knowing His deeds is not enough. There was a time in my life when it was essential for me to know what He has done. There was a time when I needed to hear from others. I just cannot be content to grow in the shadow of someones experience.

Most of us came to faith in Christ through the hearing of His deeds. There's not too many people who got saved through a Damascus Road experience. It was through the proclamation of the deeds of God that I came to know all that God had done for me. It's how I initially came to know the love of God and experience for myself. But something changes in each of us when we hear Him speak His love into our hearts. Something is altered forever in our lives when His nature is revealed to us. And something must change. If we do not see a change in our approach to God then we are no better than all the other religions in the world. We will find ourselves in bondage to a religious system rather than enjoying a thriving relationship.

Jesus was manifest to clearly reveal the nature of the Father. He has deposited His Spirit within us - a Spirit that cries out Abba, Father. Can you imagine in the natural spending your entire life hearing about your Dad but never really knowing Him? Can you imagine your brothers or sisters talking about how wonderful your dad was but never experiencing him for yourself. Most of us would think that is a ridiculous way to live. I wonder how many of us think it's ridiculous to live our Christian life the same way? We are too content to hear about the glory of our Heavenly Father through our brothers and sisters rather than experience Him for ourselves.

You have to ask yourself the question:
Do I want to know His character or am I content to know of His deeds?

Depending on your answer...there may be a trip to the mountain in your future.