The Space between......(Cue Dave Matthews)

The Delgado family is in Phoenix AZ this weekend for a hockey tournament- (Owen and Elle are both playing). Listening to this sermon a few times (12 hour drive) has kept me from saying many stupid things out of anger to a bunch of 9-10 year old kids WHILE coaching them.  Last year I wrote my post from a hotel room and this year I am in a hotel lobby.  Last year the Admin team studied John 17, "Listening to Jesus pray for us."  I went back and reread what I posted last year and was blown away!  I have been experiencing a dimension of "nearness" and "Defiant Joy" in the "space between" this past year that I was not aware until I read my post from last year.  God is near....so very near!

Post from 2/14/2016
The enemy's lie....."NO JOY FOR YOU!" "Evil's one goal is to doubt the goodness of God" - DJ

Back in the 90's NBC Thursday night TV ruled the ratings.  The most popular show was "Seinfeld" followed by "Friends."  A legendary episode of Seinfeld involved an iconic character named "The Soup Nazi!"  His one line, "No soup for you!"

"No soup for you" quickly became a cultural saying that implicitly robbed someone of a said desire or joy.

Enter Phoenix Arizona!  Owen and I have been in Arizona since Thursday night.  We are here with his hockey team from Stockton.  I am the assistant coach of the team so I get to deal with the parents in a "special" way.  Our family happens to be the only family on the team that has placed our hope in Jesus.  Throughout the season there has been many uncomfortable moments of tension between my family and others (most notably how we raise our kids).  Two world views colliding on the stage of youth hockey.  This weekend I have discovered afresh and been reminded by Darrell in this sermon,  that joy (the joy of Jesus) is offensive!  People who don't know the Grace of God are searching desperately for Joy the person!  When confronted by Joy, I have observed two different responses.
1.  Anger
2.  Wonder and intrigue

Even after a crushing 13-1 loss (last night), a smiling 9 year old (Owen) is offensive to parents who have believed the lie that the Father (God) is no good.  No grace.....No Joy!  The joy nazi (the enemy) strikes again!

I have been surrounded/reminded this weekend that bathing in God's grace exudes a pungent odor of Joy unspeakable!!!

End post from 2/14/2016

From a prison cell in Rome to a hotel lobby in Arizona (again) GOD IS NEAR....SO VERY NEAR!....And that nearness engages us in so many dimensions.  I am only aware of maybe 3 or 4 dimensions throughout the day of this nearness, but how many am I not aware of?  (This bugs me - kind of like Mirm trying to corner the market on truth =)

How many times has He drawn near through scripture or circumstance (prison cell - hockey families) that I either ignore or pray against.  How many times does He draw near during the summer to which I react in the same manner?   OUCH! Mother word softener!!!!!

God is near....so very near!

I am thankful for this blog and everyone's participation.  See most of you next weekend!!

SUMMER IS NEAR....SO VERY NEAR!!!