BOOK SAMPLE

I have recently started a new journey...writing a book. My goal is to simply share what I've discovered over the past several years as God has drawn me near. Below is a sample of one of the chapters. I'd love your feedback.

Jesus is funny. He’s quite enjoyable to be with. I grew up going to church and I had a decent relationship with God when I was younger, but I didn’t know how deep and rich his personality was until much later.
 
Many people never taste of God’s goodness because he’s either just an intellectual idea to them, or they think he is boring as all get out and they don’t have time for him. If your impression of Jesus is based on pictures that are hung on the walls of many churches, I can’t say that I necessarily blame you. Many portraits of Jesus make him look ghost-like. Frankly, he looks miserable; and miserable to be around.

I’m convinced that the real Jesus is someone you would actually enjoy sitting down and having a cup of coffee with. I’m guessing he prefers his coffee dark and bold—perhaps even Folgers! I can picture him looking across the table and smiling as he surveys your fluffy Starbucks drink.

We must not overlook this aspect of Jesus—not the choice of coffee (I obviously made that part up)—but his desire to interact with you, his friend, on an intimate level.

We see this truth clearly presented in John 21. Peter and the rest of the guys had just been skunked on an all night fishing trip. Little did they know but the creator of those stars they were fishing under-yes, the resurrected Lord—was about to make an appearance on the beach.

⁴ Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
 ⁵ He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”
   “No,” they answered.
 ⁶ He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
 ⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. ⁸ The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.^{[c] 9} When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. John 21: 4-9

I smile every time I read the story. Think of the joy in Jesus’ heart as he gathered firewood to build a fire. I imagine he was saying to himself, “I can’t wait to see the look on their faces when they recognize me. Ooh, how I’ve missed these fellas.”

It would have been enough for Jesus to simply appear on the beach without breakfast. We are talking about a man who had just been raised from the dead. He went above and beyond. He wanted this to be extra special. I’m sure it was extra special.

I would have loved to be sitting on a log around that fire listening to the conversation. I wonder if their stomachs hurt afterwards because they were laughing so hard as they retold stories. I’m curious how many times their eyes filled with tears as they realized he was back. It’s a beautiful picture of who Jesus really is. He loves being with people. He thoroughly enjoys people.

He’s still like this. The Bible says that he’s the same “yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) What does this mean for you? Well, you can know him like Peter and John did. This is the good news of the Gospel. This is the invitation to you and to me.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelation 3:20

I wanted nothing to do with Jesus when I was in college. I sensed him knocking, but I wasn’t about to open the door. I was happy to attend church monthly in order to ease my conscience—as long as the sermon didn’t hit too close to home.

Meanwhile I was living in darkness. Jesus continued to knock, and I continued to treat him like he was standing on my front porch trying to sell me vacuums. Thanks, but no thanks! I love him deeply now for his persistence. I also love him for the way he protected me.

On one particular night, I was partying with friends when my cell phone pocket-called my parents (this was before I figured out the keyguard function). What I didn’t realize was that our conversation for several minutes was being recorded on my parent’s answering machine. Imagine their surprise as they clicked the little blinking button on the answering machine. I was also surprised as my mom called the next day. “Son…”

This is one example of how Jesus protected me. He forced me to bring things into the light. I love that about him—although I wasn’t appreciative at the time. He was forcing me to face my ugly disobedience. His love for me was too strong to allow me to slip further into darkness. He wasn’t going to watch me drive the wrong way down the interstate.

It wasn’t long before I hit my knees and told Jesus that I needed him. I thanked him for his love and patience. I asked him to enter and have his way in my heart. Since that incredible night, I have tasted of the Lord’s goodness. I have learned that it’s much more than following a bunch of rules. It’s about being loved by him, loving him, and knowing the richness of who he is. There is nothing that compares to him.

I buried my nose in the Scriptures, and I started writing in a journal. One of the first verses that nearly jumped off the page was Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” I took him up on his offer and started asking him questions. I discovered that he likes to talk, and he has plenty to say worth listening to.

The dialogue has continued for several years. I’ll sit down in front of my computer and start typing. I’ll share what’s on my heart, thank him for different things, and ask him what’s on his heart. Then, I’ll pause and give him time to speak.

I realize that by simply stating you can learn to hear God's voice, I have landed myself in the "crazy camp" to some. You see people all the time doing bizarre and harmful things because, in their words, "God told them to." I see how some people have arrived at their "any normal person doesn't believe God speaks" theory. But, do the actions of a few flaky or truly disturbed people really disqualify God from being a deeply personal God? Isn't this the same God who was nailed to a wooden cross and endured excruciating pain to demonstrate his desire for personal relationship? What is personal relationship without personal communication?

² But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. ⁵ They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”John 10:2-5

If you sat down with me day after day, it wouldn’t take long for you to recognize the sound of my voice. It’s the same with Jesus. The challenge is taking the time to be still and listen. The first time I tried this, I made it about 4.5 seconds before my mind began to wander. This is especially challenging for men. It’s almost like we need a bull riding buzzer to beep after the eight second mark so we can celebrate our accomplishment.

The more I stayed with it, the more I began to fall in love with him. Often times, he would simply say, “I love you.” I would respond by saying, “I know you do. What else do you want to say?” He would say it again, “I love you.” I must have been a slow learner because this would go on for months at a time. He wanted those three words to be far more than head knowledge. He didn’t stop until they were deeply planted in my heart. He still starts many of our conversations with those three beautiful words. 

I’m currently writing this chapter in December, and I’ve been reflecting lately on some of the things Jesus spoke this year. I recorded well over four hundred pages of dialogue, and one of the themes he emphasized was, “Come closer. I have more to share with you."

I didn’t always feel like listening. There were other times I didn’t sense he wanted to speak. That was, of course, a lie. Below is a sample of our dialogue recorded on July 24^th:

ME: God, you are the same today, yesterday, and forever. You never change. Sometimes I think that you are less interested in communicating with me on certain days. This is just a lie. You never change. Each day you are ready to communicate with your son. Thank you. Thank you for being a good Father. I praise you, LORD.

God, what are you saying today?

HIM: Son, you hit the nail on the head. I am the same. I am looking forward to talking to you, even tonight. I have a lot to share with you. Gabe, a lot happens in a day. I am not sleeping. I am not like a bear that hibernates while your life carries on. Rather, I am the one who is directing your steps. I want to share with you things that are coming on an everyday basis. You can’t afford to ignore me. Your heart will grow hard if you fail to hear my voice. Gabe, stay steady and draw near to me. I have much to share with you.

There are many good things coming. There are also challenges that I want you to thrive in. Gabe, there is no reason to fear or to worry. I hold your life in my hands. I am with you. Trust in me. Trust in my goodness. Write about the goodness of my heart. I will give you ideas that I want you to communicate. Speak the truth. Let the truth go forth plainly. Let all arrows point to me. I am the author and finisher of your faith. I am telling a good story through you. Find time to get away and write.

I took him up on his offer. I have spent increasingly more time away with him, listening, writing, and talking to him. I’m learning more and more to recognize his sweet voice.

His words penetrate. He doesn’t talk for the sake of talking. It’s not like he’s as lonely as a teenage girl who’s just been dumped and is waiting to unload on whoever will pause to listen.  His words are intriguing and compelling. Like an excellent story teller, I’m usually waiting on the edge of my seat to find out what he’ll say next. Sometimes I’m bent over laughing and other times tears will roll off my face and land on my well-used keyboard. His words are rich, flavored, and personal.

I haven’t always heard him correctly. There have been times when I thought he was saying something, but it turned out to be wrong. Those are frustrating moments. The enemy is quick to accuse, “You’re making this all up. You are one weird duck.”

There have been other times when he has spoken something specific, and his words were confirmed. Those are the best.  I could insert many different stories here, but one of the first that comes to mind happened after I had saved enough money to buy my wife, Ashley, an engagement ring.  I had worked for months to gather enough money to buy a diamond that she would be proud of. My roommate at the time was also saving money to buy an engagement ring.  I was busy making proposal plans when I heard the Lord whisper to my heart, “You should give the money you have saved to your roommate so he can buy a ring.” These are the moments where it’s easy to think, “I’m making this up. You see, I am one weird duck. This isn’t God!” He went on to say, “If you want my best, you’ll trust me with this.”  I couldn’t deny it. I recognized his voice, and it was him.

My phone rang a few days later and a voice on the other end said, “Gabe, I was putting laundry away and the Lord impressed on my heart to send you a check so you can buy Ashley a ring.” Wow. First of all, I had just met this man one time. Secondly, he had no idea I was planning on proposing. Third, nobody knew of the words God had spoken to my heart about giving my savings to my friend.

The check arrived a few days later. It was much more than I had saved.

Yes, he’s like that.