James Bond was always one of my heroes growing up. I absolutely love all the movies. I actually own the DVD’s to quite a few of them. Unlike most Bond fans, Roger Moore is my favorite, not Sean Connery. I think Pierce Brosnen did a bang up job as well. Some of you don’t know who James Bond is; shame on you. Please don’t quit reading this blog because I am exposing my fanatical James Bond allegiance. There is a greater meaning here. Hang Tight.
The affinity for James Bond movies is a symptom of what seems like an insatiable desire for adventure. I have always been like that. I love adventure. I have always loved doing things that others think are ridiculous, whether it be jumping out of trees onto a trampoline, jumping from cliffs into the ocean, jumping out of planes, or being in places in the Middle East where bombs have been dropped. It gets my adrenaline going. There is nothing like adrenaline coursing through your veins. Sometimes you get that taste of iron in your mouth. I even like to learn how to do new things just in case they come in handy down the road. I have a commercial driver’s license on the off chance that I am faced with a dilemma where I need to drive a big truck. James Bond was always qualified to do this stuff. It came in handy for him. I have been thinking about learning to fly.
I have just finished doing some reading and studying for a series of Bible Studies that I am writing and teaching at my church. I have been searching through some Scripture and books that mean a lot to me. I am thrilled to find that same spirit of adventure exists in the God who called me. Not only does it exist in Him, but it originates with Him. Don’t hear me to be saying that God takes risks. I am simply saying that if you are going to be with Him, buckle up. It is going to be an exciting ride. God has taken me on the most exciting 36-year journey. It isn’t over yet. It is the joie de la vie, French for the joy of living. For some reason it is easier to make a point if you use another language.
As a believer, I have found that the adventure is not always comparable to a thrill ride. Sometimes the adventure takes you through deserts, dark valleys, and down lonely roads. Often the adventure is finding a drink of water in a dry land. Adventure can be tearful as well as thrilling. I used to think that having an adventure played out just like a Bond plot. You and I both know that isn’t the way the world works. Some of the greatest adventures for me have been painful times of learning. Other times the adventure was stepping out in faith when it seemed hopeless. I realize now that some of my greatest adventures have come just at the point when all seemed lost. It is then that I would be called to step out beyond my capacity. It was then that I heard a call to go out a bit into the deeper waters where my own instinct and my navigation would be rendered useless. I would be forced to rely on something greater than my own mastery.
I like what Sir Frances Drake said about this kind of adventure.
Disturb Us O Lord!
Disturb us, Lord, when_We are too well pleased with ourselves,_When our dreams have come true_Because we have dreamed too little,_When we arrived safely_Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when_With the abundance of things we possess_We have lost our thirst_For the waters of life;_Having fallen in love with life,_We have ceased to dream of eternity_And in our efforts to build a new earth,_We have allowed our vision_Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,_To venture on wilder seas_Where storms will show your mastery;_Where losing sight of land,_We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back_The horizons of our hopes;_And to push into the future_In strength, courage, hope, and love. (1577)
I find great difficulty when I am called to stretch myself in this way. I thought that as I get older my faith would increase own its own, that I would scoff in the face of difficulty. I assumed that with age, I would just be a natural at this stuff. Boy was I wrong. The challenges seem to get more challenging. My faith seems to be more frail at times. However, something happens to me when I read words like Sir Frances Drake’s.
Each time I read the words, “Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wilder seas where storms will show Your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars,” I feel adrenaline rush through my veins. I taste the goodness of hope that only I find in Christ. I know wherein lies my strength. My strength is renewed. I feel the fire of which Jeremiah spoke, “…In my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it,” (Jer. 20:9).
Pushing away from the shore to launch into the deep waters. Moving beyond the horizon. It is a bit scary. But, it is the joie de la vie.
Your servant, your friend,
Tim
The affinity for James Bond movies is a symptom of what seems like an insatiable desire for adventure. I have always been like that. I love adventure. I have always loved doing things that others think are ridiculous, whether it be jumping out of trees onto a trampoline, jumping from cliffs into the ocean, jumping out of planes, or being in places in the Middle East where bombs have been dropped. It gets my adrenaline going. There is nothing like adrenaline coursing through your veins. Sometimes you get that taste of iron in your mouth. I even like to learn how to do new things just in case they come in handy down the road. I have a commercial driver’s license on the off chance that I am faced with a dilemma where I need to drive a big truck. James Bond was always qualified to do this stuff. It came in handy for him. I have been thinking about learning to fly.
I have just finished doing some reading and studying for a series of Bible Studies that I am writing and teaching at my church. I have been searching through some Scripture and books that mean a lot to me. I am thrilled to find that same spirit of adventure exists in the God who called me. Not only does it exist in Him, but it originates with Him. Don’t hear me to be saying that God takes risks. I am simply saying that if you are going to be with Him, buckle up. It is going to be an exciting ride. God has taken me on the most exciting 36-year journey. It isn’t over yet. It is the joie de la vie, French for the joy of living. For some reason it is easier to make a point if you use another language.
As a believer, I have found that the adventure is not always comparable to a thrill ride. Sometimes the adventure takes you through deserts, dark valleys, and down lonely roads. Often the adventure is finding a drink of water in a dry land. Adventure can be tearful as well as thrilling. I used to think that having an adventure played out just like a Bond plot. You and I both know that isn’t the way the world works. Some of the greatest adventures for me have been painful times of learning. Other times the adventure was stepping out in faith when it seemed hopeless. I realize now that some of my greatest adventures have come just at the point when all seemed lost. It is then that I would be called to step out beyond my capacity. It was then that I heard a call to go out a bit into the deeper waters where my own instinct and my navigation would be rendered useless. I would be forced to rely on something greater than my own mastery.
I like what Sir Frances Drake said about this kind of adventure.
Disturb Us O Lord!
Disturb us, Lord, when_We are too well pleased with ourselves,_When our dreams have come true_Because we have dreamed too little,_When we arrived safely_Because we sailed too close to the shore.
Disturb us, Lord, when_With the abundance of things we possess_We have lost our thirst_For the waters of life;_Having fallen in love with life,_We have ceased to dream of eternity_And in our efforts to build a new earth,_We have allowed our vision_Of the new Heaven to dim.
Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly,_To venture on wilder seas_Where storms will show your mastery;_Where losing sight of land,_We shall find the stars.
We ask You to push back_The horizons of our hopes;_And to push into the future_In strength, courage, hope, and love. (1577)
I find great difficulty when I am called to stretch myself in this way. I thought that as I get older my faith would increase own its own, that I would scoff in the face of difficulty. I assumed that with age, I would just be a natural at this stuff. Boy was I wrong. The challenges seem to get more challenging. My faith seems to be more frail at times. However, something happens to me when I read words like Sir Frances Drake’s.
Each time I read the words, “Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, to venture on wilder seas where storms will show Your mastery; where losing sight of land, we shall find the stars,” I feel adrenaline rush through my veins. I taste the goodness of hope that only I find in Christ. I know wherein lies my strength. My strength is renewed. I feel the fire of which Jeremiah spoke, “…In my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I am weary of holding it in, and I cannot endure it,” (Jer. 20:9).
Pushing away from the shore to launch into the deep waters. Moving beyond the horizon. It is a bit scary. But, it is the joie de la vie.
Your servant, your friend,
Tim
Comments
You forgot to mention there's often a price to pay following Sir Francis--a watery demise for some.
For others, a new shore.
You write well. Subscribe me to all your new posts.
--Alan