Fresh Starts

Everybody loves a fresh start. A break in the pattern. By slipping out of any chain of events we allow limitless possibilities to break into our world. A fresh start allows you to color outside the lines that were drawn from months or years of life before, to explore new boundaries and horizons.

This season of my life finds me in Redding, California. Spelled just like it sounds. The journey has taken me over the Golden Gate bridge:

...in and around Whiskeytown Lake:

                ...by and over Burney Falls: (hiking over)

                                    ...and through the Redwood Forest: (That's Mom and Dad!)

It's definitely quite the change of pace. I'm a student at Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry, a school in its 16th year, run by Bethel Church. We just had our second day of class today and one more day tomorrow to finish out the week (no school on Fridays). I'm living with 3 other guys in my class: Aaron (Texan, straight out of Frisco Vineyard, coffee addict), and the Moses brothers (aka the Mose Bros). They're from India and this is their first trip to America. So far they love it or are very good at hiding their disdain.

As I think more about it, I realize that a fresh start is not as far away as it looks. It doesn't have to look like quitting your job or moving across the country. I did because this is an opportunity that I didn't want to pass up, but really every day is a new chance for a fresh start. In fact, a Christian's life should always be a bit unpredictable. Jesus says in John 3:8 that a person born of the Spirit is like the wind. "You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going."

The wind has no routine, but it does not blow anywhere that the Father does not allow it to blow. It stays within the boundaries of his will yet gets to experience utter freshness daily. We are free to start new friendships, traditions, and patterns whenever we want to. If you need a change, pray for change. Then go get it.

One thing Bill Johnson (senior pastor of Bethel Church) has taught us so far has been to give thanks for what God has already done, even if it seems small. After years of drought, Elijah saw a cloud the size of a man's hand and new it was a sign that an amazing rainstorm was coming. He got excited and had faith that God would provide. Whatever your next step in life is, praise God for the one you're standing on right now.

My thoughts are filtered through music and there is almost constantly a song in my head, in my heart, or in my mouth. The current one in all three is Build Your Kingdom Here by Rend Collective Experiment.