Five Minute Experiment

When I think of “experiment”, my mind instantly goes back to my freshman year at Colby Community College. I was an 18 year old kid ready to experience all that college had to offer—and maybe learn a thing or two along the way. 

One of my first classes was a chemistry course taught by a highly esteemed professor named Dr. Max Pickerill.  Students called him “Pick”. He was a bright, witty man in his mid seventies who talked with a deep gruff in his voice and had a knack for cigarettes. 

In fact, he would teach with a cigarette in one hand and a piece of chalk in the other. When we moved from the classroom to the chemistry lab, his cigarette always went with him. Now, I was already nervous enough about the idea of experimenting with dangerous chemicals while surrounded by a bunch of rookie chemists who were probably still hung over from the night before.   I didn’t need the added pressure of the professor walking around the lab with a lit cigarette. 

On one particular occasion, while I had already mixed several chemicals together and was thoroughly confused regarding what I was actually doing, Pick walked up to me with his lit cigarette and began adjusting my chemical solution with the same hand his cigarette was in. I was convinced I was mere seconds away from losing my eyebrows.  I didn’t pray much in college, but I called out to God in that moment!

Not only did Pick help my prayer life, but he actually taught me a great deal about chemistry. He also taught me that experimenting often leads to new insight and knowledge.

I sensed God pose an experiment idea to me recently. The idea was to grab a piece of paper and pen and simply sit before Him for five minutes thinking about nothing except the reality of His amazing presence in my life. 

This should have been an easy experiment. I am talking about the same Spirit that “hovered over the waters at creation”. (Gen 1:2) What was the result of that? Everything your eyes behold today. This exact Spirit not only hovers over me, but He actually resides within me! Why would it be so difficult to fix my mind on this awesome truth for five minutes? 

I made it less than a minute before my mind started replaying certain events of the day. One particular thought led to another and to another, and it wasn’t long before I realized I had not only chased the rabbit down the trail, but I followed him all the way into his burrow. 

I failed my experiment. I had completely forgotten about God’s presence in about 23 seconds. I wrote down everything that I had thought about in that five minute time frame, and then I began to evaluate why these thoughts hijacked my attention.  The common theme was worry and anxiety over things that don’t really matter. 

With my list of hijacking thoughts and concerns staring me in the face, I began to obey the Scriptures by “taking every thought captive” and “casting my cares upon Him”.  This was a powerful experience that yielded great fruit. After all, I then tried the experiment again and made it 42 seconds. Progress, my friends.

I encourage you to find time and engage this same experiment. Sit with God and set your mind on the indescribable gift of His presence for the next five minutes. Make a list of any thoughts and concerns that derail you, and cast those into God’s reliable hands. 

Why not? What do you have to lose? 

It won’t be your eyebrows.

The Familiar Grin

As much as I enjoyed playing baseball, I was probably a less than average pitcher. In fact, not only was my shoulder sore after pitching a game, but turning my head to watch one ball after the next fly over the fence made my neck sore, too. 

There was one particular game though where I experienced a break from the familiar sounds that accompanied my pitching performance—“ball 4!” and “WHACK!” The events of that day still bring a smile to my face.

I was standing on the pitcher’s mound waiting to start when it became apparent that we were missing the umpire. I could see the director of our league frantically looking for the person she had hired to call the game. A few more minutes passed before I saw someone walk onto the field wearing the typical umpire's uniform.  I took a closer look at the smile behind the mask, and I realized I recognized that grin.

 For whatever reason, the regularly scheduled umpire never showed up that day, and the director was forced to replace him with any willing volunteer. In this case, that would be Scott Jenkins—my brother. I laughed out loud when I discovered he would be calling the balls and strikes. 

The other team’s fans certainly weren’t laughing once they saw his generous strike zone. At one point, my offering went awry and missed the plate by nearly a foot. Scott paused, stood up, and while trying not to laugh, yelled, “STRIIIIKE!”  

A barrage of insults and criticism quickly followed, which only served to expand his already favorable strike zone. It’s amazing how my confidence grew by the pitch. My fast ball miraculously sped up, and my non-existent curve ball starting smelling like stinky cheese.

I was favored, and I enjoyed every moment. 

Favor is a beautiful thing. Simply put, it’s undeserved kindness. If you knew how I had tattled on and nagged my older brother growing up, you would agree his kindness was undeserved. Experiencing his favor turned my heart towards him. He made a statement on that afternoon that he was for me, and the result was a strengthened friendship. This is why it's so important to understand God's favor towards us. 

The Christmas story is a story of favor. You can’t grasp the reality of what happened with the baby in the manger without recognizing the unimaginable and undeserved kindness of God towards His people.  Look closely at what the angels proclaimed after His birth:

“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”  Luke 2:14

God’s favor rested on a rebellious and nearly faithless people.  Their darkness didn’t dictate His response, but rather His nature penetrated their darkness. The same is true today. God doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, but His kindness leads to repentance and into a greater revelation of who He is. 

We were created to experience His favor on a daily basis. I am convinced that He is reminding us of this as we go about our hurried lives.  Do we recognize His whisper and His kindness in the clutter of the world?

This Christmas Season, let’s possess eyes to see and ears to hear. Let the wonder of the season return. Open your heart and receive the favor of your Creator.

²⁴ ‘May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
²⁵ May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
²⁶ May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace.’  Numbers 6:24-26

And may you laugh out loud when you see Him show up in the most unusual places, sporting that familiar grin.

The Old Tree

The following entry was written 362 days ago, but today's events mirrored the description below. 

Sing it with me…

Oh Christmas tree
Oh Christmas tree
How beautiful are your branches

Our poor tree needs therapy. We concede that it’s not the prettiest tree on the block (we’ll eventually decorate it), but it sure has a story to tell.

Nearly three years ago, Ashley and I set out for what was supposed to be a relaxing walk around our neighborhood. As we rounded the corner and headed for a nearby park, Ashley spotted something in the distance. I saw a smile flash across her face, and I realized we were in for a detour. Dumped on the side of the road was quite possibly the ugliest Christmas tree I had ever seen. A crumpled sign was taped to it that read, “Please Take”.

As we got closer, I realized why nobody had taken the owners up on their free offer. This tree had serious issues. To say that it was mangled would be putting it nicely. I wanted to walk on by, but Ashley had different plans. You could see her wheels turning. She saw something that I didn’t see. In her mind she pictured the finished product, but I just saw a giant hassle.

A few minutes later I was pushing this big, ugly tree into the back of our explorer. It didn’t fit, so I tried convincing her that it wasn’t meant to be. She didn’t buy it. So, I got behind the tree, assumed a football stance, and rammed this poor tree into the back of our car. The door finally closed, and I let out a loud groan. Ashley laughed with excitement.

I don’t know what she did to that tree, but by the time the sun set it actually looked quite nice. I apologized for my lack of belief in her tree restoration skills and committed to being more open to her ideas in the future.

We made our annual trip to the basement today to fetch the once abandoned tree. It’s the same process every year. We pick up the tree and start up the stairs only to realize that it doesn’t fit. And each year you can hear me—face buried in pokey fake tree branches—belt out, “PUSH HARDER!” We force our way to the top of the stairs, and Ashley spends the next few hours fixing the damaged branches and crushed lights.

Why do we still have this old tree? Why don’t we go out and buy a prettier one? Surely it would be a good idea to buy a smaller tree--one that actually fits up the stairs. But, we can’t. We must not. Even with all its aesthetic flaws, it serves as a continual reminder of what Christmas is all about.

Christmas is a season to celebrate restoration. Our broken and mangled lives restored by the most unthinkable plan; our once severed relationship with the Almighty restored by the giving of a Son.

Is God really that good? Would he really do that? Does he really care that much? Indeed. He’s making all things new. He’s restoring today. He’s rebuilding lives. There’s nothing in your life that’s too dark or ugly for God’s redemptive hand to touch. There’s not a relationship that’s too cold for God to restore.

I’m filled with anticipation for this to be a special Christmas season. At the Jenkins house, we refuse to believe this is just another busy Holiday season that requires us to bust out the credit card and buy a bunch of presents. This is a season to slow down, reflect, and recapture a sense of awe towards God. That won’t come naturally; we’ll have to intentionally fight for it.

Why shouldn't we view Christmas from a different angle this year? Let's believe for great things. Let's expect restoration--restoration of hearts, relationships, and joy. Consider the response of the angel Gabriel as Mary questioned his virgin-birth announcement: “For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

Make it a special season.

Surprised By Goodness

There was a time in my life when I was convinced I would never allow sushi to touch my lips. To be honest, I didn’t even know what sushi was until five or six years ago.  I was utterly perplexed when I discovered that people actually pay money in order to consume raw fish. It sounded more like an appropriate method of extracting information from terrorists than the centerpiece of a romantic meal.

Bear in mind that I grew up in Western Kansas, a place where beef is king. I am--and always will be-- a proud carnivore.  This is why I cringed when another couple recently invited Ashley and I on a double date to a local sushi restaurant. Their company would be very enjoyable, but I was prepared for the food to be hard to swallow.

From the moment we walked in the front door, my buddy began raving about how delicious the food would be. He specifically said, “Gabe, this food will melt in your mouth.  Once you actually taste it, you’ll be hooked for life.” While his passion for sushi created a mild level of curiosity, I still had no real interest in allowing raw fish to come anywhere near my taste buds.  

My plan was to take small bites and not think about what I was eating. With this in mind, I cut off my first piece and slowly lifted it to my mouth—trying hard to avoid using three of my five senses.   It wasn’t what I thought it would be. Not only was it bearable, but it was quite good. I looked across the table and said, “This is surprisingly delicious!”

Tasting sushi goodness required me to get past my preconceived ideas and actually experience it for myself. Isn’t this similar to what’s required for experiencing the goodness of God? We have to set aside our preconceived God notions and demonstrate a willingness to “taste and see” for ourselves.

One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Psalm 34:8: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” What a wonderful invitation. God doesn’t force Himself on us, but He invites us to come closer and discover that He’s not what we imagined. He’s far more personal. He’s deeply kind. His love is immeasurable. 

Despite anything you’ve done, the invitation stands for you. God opens His arms and says, Come to the waters and experience my goodness. Let me satisfy you with what your soul really desires. (Isaiah 55)

I’m simply saying, “Once you actually taste it, you’ll be hooked for life.”

The Much Needed Baboon

Avery’s new favorite movie is The Lion King. She sits perfectly still for the entire two hours—I’m not sure she even blinks—hanging on every word. Then, she’ll spend the rest of the day singing, “Can you feel the love tonight?”

I try to redirect her by belting out, “In the jungle…The mighty jungle”, but she always gives me the look. It’s a look I’m quite familiar with—“Dad, you really can’t sing.”

I must admit I do enjoy the film. In fact, I had forgotten how much it parallels life. The scene where Scar blames the young and impressionable cub for Mufasa’s death, and then proceeds to tell him to “run away and never come back” is a page directly out of satan’s playbook. Shame drives us to run and hide. Then, it’s easy to forget who we really are.

Enter Rafiki. 

This is my favorite scene. The wise old baboon presses Simba on an important question: WHO ARE YOU? After Simba admits that he doesn’t know who he is, Rafiki excitedly proclaims, “You’re Mufasa’s boy!” The exchange between the two is silly and cute, but it’s actually quite profound. 

Rafiki is leading Simba back to his true identity. He’s challenging him on a deep level. Simba shows initial resistence (he calls Rafiki a “creepy little monkey”), but something within him eventually comes alive. His eyes are opened, and he discovers that he’s living a shadow of the life he was created to experience.

We all need a wise old baboon who’s willing to remind us who we are and who we belong to. Someone willing to challenge us on a deep level and speak the words we need to hear.  Have we given anyone permission to speak this candidly to us? If not, are we willing to invite this kind of truth into our lives? 

I wanted to make sure Ashley knew she had permission, so I approached her a few days ago and said, “You’re a baboon”.

She gave me the look. It's a look I'm quite familiar with...

Et tu, Ehud?

Ehud.

Have you ever heard of him? My mind drew a blank as I saw his name appear in our children's curriculum last week. After finding and reading the story, I sat back in my chair and began to ponder how I would actually present this lesson to a group of kids—without scarring them.

The story goes that Ehud, in an effort to free the Israelites from oppression, devised a plan to kill Eglog, king of Moab.

Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace and said, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king rose from his seat, ²¹ Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king’s belly. ²² Even the handle sank in after the blade, and his bowels discharged. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it. ²³ Then Ehud went out to the porch; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.
²⁴ After he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked. They said, “He must be relieving himself in the inner room of the palace.” ²⁵ They waited to the point of embarrassment, but when he did not open the doors of the room, they took a key and unlocked them. There they saw their lord fallen to the floor, dead. (Judges 3:20-25)

Thanks for coming, kids! Have a great day…

There was unity amongst our leadership team to be vague regarding the details and instead focus on verse 15: “Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer—Ehud.”

That simple statement nearly jumped off the page when I read it. This is how the Kingdom works. God hears the prayers of His people, and His answer often comes through another person. In other words, we get to participate in the Kingdom. 

I was inspired last week to pray the following simple prayer: God, help me be the answer to someone’s prayer today. I sensed God reply by saying, “You’ll like the fruit of your life if you make this a priority.”

Moments later I looked down to see an email come through where a person was pleading for help. After communicating that I’d be happy to assist, they responded, “What an answer to prayer!! Thank you!”

I smiled as I thought to myself, “God, you’re serious about this.”

I’m pretty sure He smiled back and said, “Won’t you be serious about it, too?”

Great Expectations

It never gets old seeing their puzzled expressions.

The doorbell rings, I open the door and smile, and then proceed to reach for a tray of the most random and seemingly awful treats imaginable. This year’s assortment included a rotten onion and baby food. It’s always a little awkward holding the tray while the kids look at me like I’m an alien.

Meanwhile, Avery comes around the corner smiling and holding a mountain of sugary goodness. The kids breathe a sigh of relief, their smiles return, and all is right with the world again.

It’s no surprise that when a child approaches a door on Halloween night, proudly sporting their new costume they’ve been waiting weeks to wear, they expect one thing—sugar.
Anything less is a huge disappointment. Their expectations are pretty clear, and their faces are quick to communicate disappointment and confusion when their expectations aren’t met.

We all have certain expectations, and it’s probably safe to say we’ve all experienced the feelings of disappointment when our expectations aren’t met. Disappointment can either pass quickly, or it can settle in and crash on your heart’s couch for months or even years at a time.

I’ve been in a season lately where God has been dealing with me regarding expectations. This is something that I had given very little thought to in the past, but I have since learned the importance of intentionality in this area of life.

If expectations go unchecked, they can lead to disappointment, anger, a hardening of the heart, and separation from God. I know how easy it is to blame God when something doesn’t turn out the way I expected. It’s almost as if I silently hold on to a belief that He must act in accordance with my expectations. Not good.

Think about it…How easy is it to have misguided expectations towards your spouse , job, financial situation, children, friendships, etc. ? As humans, we expect happiness to come when certain physical circumstances come to pass. I’ll be happy when I have the perfect job. I’ll be happy when I get married. I’ll be happy when I’m not married. I’ll be happy when I have more stuff. What happens when these circumstances don’t come to pass and expectations aren’t met? God, where are you?!?!

I’m not advocating a life free of expectations—that would be a miserable existence. Faith involves expecting. I’m simply encouraging each of us to invite God into the process of evaluating our current expectations. It’s powerful to ask God to shape and form our expectations according to His word and His purposes. It’s freeing to keep open hands and an open heart towards whatever God wants to do.  To start each day with a blank canvas and allow Him to paint the picture and tell the story.

Then, we find ourselves expecting the unexpected. We discover how active, mysterious, and deeply good God is. Life becomes refreshing as we watch our cups overflow with His faithfulness.

When we let go of misguided expectations, we see Him coming around the corner.

Smiling and holding a mountain of goodness.