Subscribe to the Pursuit Via Email

Howdy friends, quick blog maintenance item. If you would like to subscribe to the Pursuit of His Best via email, that is now possible and encouraged. Just enter your email address and click the Submit link on the left side of the page.

Next enter the letters requested from FeedBurner's spam checker.

Check your email and click on the confirmation link then enjoy the Pursuit from the comfort of your inbox. When a new post is available, you'll receive it hot off the press as an email update. Feel free also to forward any article and/or post it to your Facebook page or Twitter account.

  

When Youtube videos are occasionally posted, you will need to go to the actual post in order to view the video due to limitations of the functionality.

Saying No to Good in Favor of God’s Best

For many years my prayer has been for God’s best in my life. That happens when I place my wants, desires, and future completely in His hands. I can easily interject my own thoughts of what’s best but that doesn’t always match up with what He has planned. So, prayer and reflection on where I’m investing my time and energy is important on a consistent basis to evaluate whether I’m operating in His calling for my life.

Good things can gradually fill up your life till you have no margin and are no longer operating in God’s calling. Ministry is an especially tricky area. While many ministries do wonderful things, when you try to do too much you lose effectiveness and your walk with God can even take a backseat if you’re not careful.

Never allow ministry activities to get in the way of your walk with God. You may be able to keep the balls in the air temporarily but they’ll eventually come crashing to the ground if you’re operating in your own power and not God’s.

Sometimes what masquerades as a “good” option or choice in life can steal away the best option and the plan God has for you. It can be difficult to say no and give up a “good” option when the best option isn’t readily apparent. God will reveal this to you though and give you wisdom if you press in and seek His wisdom. Just be aware that the answer He gives may not be what you want to hear. But rest in the promise that He is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine and works all things for good for those who are called according to His purpose. Ephesians 3:20 & Romans 8:28

 

Don't let your heart lead you down a path that is merely good but instead seek His best in every decision that you make and in everything that you do. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.” –Proverbs 3:5-6

Will you settle for good enough today or pursue the best?

In pursuit of His best,

Andrew

Prayer and Watering Plants

Generally, I'm a fairly decent plant caretaker. At present, I have one peace lily in my humble abode. It's not too difficult to care for but requires watering several times each week. Left unwatered for more than a few days though and it looks woefully unhealthy and on its way to the compost pile.

In dire need of water

As I thought about it, our prayer lives can be similar. Given regular quality prayer time, spiritually we stay healthy and connected to God but skip a few days and things start to get ugly. When you think of God as providing pure water essential for life, to stop drinking from His fountain means certain spiritual decline.

It's also important to get it directly from Him. While music, followers of Christ, sermons, radio, blogs, books, etc. can provide encouragement in the direction of Him, only He can provide 100% pure spiritual nourishment that will revive and revitalize you. 

Something else that's important is eliminating unhealthy sources of sustenance. If I were to pour battery acid in the plant, it would be dead before the day was over. While it sounds extreme, sometimes toxic media choices, people we associate with, and habits we engage in can act as the spiritual equivalent of battery acid on a plant.

"whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” -John 4:14

Watered and perked up

Next time you water a plant or see one in need of some TLC, let it be a reminder to pause and pray and take a drink from the fountain of spiritual life.

In pursuit of His best,

Andrew

Pottery and God

There are lots of passages in the Bible that use imagery of a potter and clay as an analogy for God and us. When we think from the perspective of God being in control, He is responsible for the outcome of the pottery. He has a vision and purpose for the final product and molds it and shapes it specifically for a reason. If in the middle of the process we get impatient or think we have a better idea on how to do it, that’s when things get off center and become misshapen. How much better to allow the Master Potter to do His work and be molded into the vessel He has in mind?

"But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?" -Romans 9:20-21

Pottery by Wendy Brunson

Though ideally we will trust in the Potter to fully form us, pottery with imperfections reminds us that God can still use broken people. Not every pot is flawless but can be used nonetheless. Unlike all the king’s horses and all the king’s men, God is fully capable of putting Humpty Dumpty back together again. Rather than becoming discouraged by past mistakes or shortcomings, instead allow God to use you just as you are.

Pottery by Wendy Brunson

Once a piece of pottery is fully formed, it must be fired in a kiln to harden it and set the form. If the pottery is never fired in the kiln, it will easily become deformed. Similarly, God can use various trials in life to perfect us and make our faith stronger. While these experiences may not be pleasant, don’t be afraid to go through the firing and hardening process.

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” –James 1:2-4

Even when you don’t understand, allow the Potter to mold and shape you. He knows best and has a master design that He’s crafting.

In pursuit of His best,

Andrew

If you'd like to order some pottery similar to the pieces pictured above, Wendy Brunson's Etsy shop can be found at the following link: Wendy Lou Pottery.

Bible Verse Song: Revelation 4:8

This song comes from Revelation 4:8 where the creatures in heaven repeat this phrase continuously.

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty
Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
Who was and is and is to come
Who was and is and is to come

Holy, Holy, you are Holy

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come
Who was and is and is to come
Who was and is and is to come

Holy, Holy, you are Holy

Every knee will bow on earth and in heaven
Every tongue will praise your name
Holy, holy Lord Almighty
All the angels praise your name

Holy, Holy, you are Holy

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty

The Father's Love

Deeper than the deepest depth
True as true can be
Faithful is the Father's love
love for you and me

From ages past and evermore
the words in red tell of
Nothing on earth will e'er compare

this matchless changeless love

For the Sake of the World

The presence of God is palpable on this album. Bethel Church consistently publishes worship albums of high caliber and this is no exception. For the past month it has been on repeat in my car. In addition to planned songs, there are also several tracks of spontaneous worship. Brian & Jenn Johnson and Jeremy Riddle anchor the roster with contributions from William Matthews and Stephanie Frizzell. Frizzell is very emotive in her singing and on the song "Closer" you can feel her heart as she engages with God.

The album has a mixture of songs of praise and adoration, declarations of truth, and heart cries to God. Musically the style is primarily rock oriented with a few tender songs and lots of vamping in the spontaneous worship moments. Towards the end of the album, songs such as "In Your Light," "Freedom," and "This is What You Do" taking on a more pop sound oriented towards opening a set at church rather than the deeper engaging songs in other parts of the album. Personal favorites on album are: "For the Sake of the World," "Closer," "Forgiven," "To Our God," "Everything to You," "Who You Are," and "Our Father" which is a great version of the Lord's Prayer put to music.

I highly recommend the album whether you're looking for something to facilitate personal worship time or just enjoy really good music. Check it out on Amazon at: For the Sake of the World.

First Time at Boot Camp (or Church)

Last week I attended a boot camp fitness class after a co-worker invited me and pointed out a free trial week offer. I'd heard of it from a number of people, was curious, and I'll try almost anything once. The workout was pretty intense and caused almost every muscle group to be sore at some point during the week.

The more that I thought about it, I realized that the experience had some parallels to inviting someone to church who doesn't normally go. The first day, my friend was not able to make it so I decided not to go. "You should come to my church. It's great but I won't be there this Sunday." 

When I did attend there was the uncertainty of going somewhere new for the first time. (Not to mention that it was dark, raining, on the cool side of the thermometer, and I'm not a morning person) "Where do I park at the church? What do I wear? Where do I sit? Where’s someone I know?" Nevertheless, I found the meeting spot and got down to business with the other worker-outers. 

Then there was the terminology. Words like Tabata, AMRAP, Plank, Burpee. "Baptism, tithe, sermon, discipleship, apologetics, communion" Being the new guy, it helps to have encouragement both from the coach and if others are friendly. (i.e. pastor is friendly, others at church are welcoming) 

When you grow up in church you just natively understand certain terminology and how things work. It can be easy to forget what it’s like to be the new person or even to try something completely new and all the uncertainty that comes along with it.

Next time someone invites you to do something you’ve never done before, don’t be afraid to try it out. It might even give you a better perspective on what it’s like to go to church for the first time.

In pursuit of His best,

Andrew

Dreams and Visions: Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World?

Would you become a follower of Jesus if he personally came to visit you? That is exactly what is happening to many in the Muslim world. In DREAMS AND VISIONS: Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World? Tom Doyle recounts the experiences of many Muslims whom Jesus has appeared to in dreams. This often creates curiosity and the desire to know more about Jesus which is much more easily facilitated with internet access and online resources available to read the Bible and learn more about who Jesus is.

It is extremely dangerous for a Muslim to become a follower of Jesus due to the potential for "honor killings" performed by family members or others against the new believer. However, the overwhelming love and peace that Jesus offers to them when juxtaposed with the sometimes controlling and fear oriented culture they live in overcomes concern of potential repercussions.

In one especially interesting story, a man becomes a follower of Jesus while on a business trip to Mecca during the Hajj. Christianity is illegal in Mecca and can be punished by death. However, he starts to explore the different places in Mecca and pray for the Muslims there. He's very surprised to meet another follower of Jesus who helps him get out of a very dangerous spot. The author also tells of others living in Mecca who study and bring Bibles into the city to give away though it is not allowed.

In another account, a woman named Dina works as a Female Secret Police agent, a group who hunts down and punishes any slips in modesty by women that go outside of Sharia law. She began watching a call in satellite TV show called Iran Alive! in which the host, Hormoz Shariat, a former Muslim encourages Muslims to follow Jesus. When she calls, she goes into diatribes against Christianity.

Hormoz says, "Dina, whenever you call me, you sound angry and filled with hatred. I think your religion produces that in you." She responds, "I can never have a better life than I have had in Islam." Hormoz says, "Oh? Has Islam brought you any particular happiness that you can point to?" She admits that she does have problems in life and says that she is going to kill herself on his show. Hormoz challenges her to give Jesus a week to answer her prayers. She reluctantly agrees but is amazed to find that her mother is healed of a very bad illness and as a result becomes a follower of Jesus and experiences incredible peace.

It is not only casual Muslims who are coming to follow Jesus, the book also tells of multiple accounts of imams believing in and following Jesus, some of whom have training from the most prestigious Islamic seminaries in the world.

Each chapter tells the story of a new Muslim and their experience with Jesus and many read like a high action thriller novel even though they are true. In addition to the personal accounts, there is also lots of information about Islam. For example, the book says that two of the countries with the most growth in followers of Christ is in Iran and Afghanistan which For example, Afghanistan and Iran have exploded in growth of new followers of Jesus within the past 10 years and is estimated to have some of the highest growth in the world.

Jesus says, Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." -Luke 9:23-24 For the Muslim who decides to follow Jesus this is no small thing; they may very literally pay with their life.

I recommend this book if you would like to learn more about the exciting work of God and how He's started a revival among Muslims. It also helps soften one's heart for Muslims and encourages prayer for them. Check it out on Amazon at this link: DREAMS AND VISIONS: Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World?

Nothing I Want

Nothing I Want by: Andrew Allen

I'll open my heart and prepare
a quiet and simple prayer
take all of my life every part of me
Let nothing be held back from You
in all that I say and do
make idols fall down till only you remain

Jesus Christ Lord of my Life
Nothing I want can ever compare to you
Jesus Christ Lord of my Life
Nothing I want can ever compare to you

Fixing my eyes on you
the One that my heart pursues
take every distraction and let it be swept away
Heal brokenness come make me whole
Lord fill up my heart and soul
in joy let me sing forever in praise of You

Jesus Christ Lord of my Life
Nothing I want can ever compare to you
Jesus Christ Lord of my Life
Nothing I want can ever compare to you

When there's loneliness let my heart find rest
hold me so closely to you
When temptation calls and my faith feels small
help me to lean on you

Jesus Christ Lord of my Life
Nothing I want can ever compare to you
Jesus Christ Lord of my Life
Nothing I want can ever compare to you

How Long Can You Go Without Sinning?

How long can you go without sinning? 30 minutes? An hour? A day? A week?

The enemy of your soul spends every minute of the day devising ways to tempt and draw you away from Jesus. "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." -I Peter 5:8 He hates your guts and will do everything in his ability to cause pain, heartache, busyness, broken relationships, and keep your focus off of God.

The good news is that the lover of your soul has power over all and desires a thriving relationship with you. Those who have a personal relationship with Jesus, have access to the most powerful force in all of creation. "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." -I John 4:4 If you aren't currently following Him, He loves you and wants to offer you an abundant life. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." -John 10:10

Sometimes sin gets so entrenched, possibly even to the point of addiction, that it takes some very hard work to reshape your life and thought patterns so that they're fixed on God. Don't try to go it alone either. Your brothers and sisters in Christ will fight alongside you for righteousness.

Never believe the lies of Satan that you're not good enough, never will be, have no value, will always have shame and be enslaved to sin. I Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." When you find yourself tempted, cry out to God for help and reach out to fellow believers in Christ in times of weakness.

Beyond eliminating unhealthy or destructive input (whatever the source: TV, music, internet, radio, movies, books, magazines, negative people) from your life, fill your mind with things that encourage righteousness. In addition to reading the Bible and prayer, some of the most helpful things I've found are scripture memory and singing worship songs. Throughout the day and week choose a verse or two to memorize and it will help keep your mind from wandering and pull your focus back if you begin to drift.

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith…" -Hebrews 12:1-2a

In pursuit of His best,

Andrew

Identity Theft

Identity theft can be invasive and frustrating to say the least. On a spiritual level, the enemy of your soul wants to steal your identity and keep you from living an abundant and joyful life.

Galations 2:20 says: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.“ Similarly, 2 Corinthians 5:17 says: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

When a person asks Jesus into their life, their true identity is in Him. They can still be a mom, dad, teacher, businessman, musician, comedian, friend, sports fan, artist, etc. but a shift occurs. Many people struggle with a variety of hurts, habits, addictions, and other negative behaviors. Whether brought on by self, others, or spiritual attack, the enemy will consistently spout lies and deception at you to keep your focus off of Christ. The good news is that these negative behaviors and even good identity characteristics do not have to define who we are.

When your focus is on Jesus and keeping your heart fixed on Him, the other stuff will fall away to the side. If He is the center of who you are and what you build your life around, the enemy can’t steal your identity. As my pastor said on Sunday, "Sin is not your master." Next time you feel discouraged by negative self talk, the media, other people, or even a direct assault from the enemy, spend time with the lover of your soul and renew your identity in Him.

In pursuit of His best,

Andrew

Love Does

Bob Goff is just a regular guy except for he's the U.S. Ugandan consul, partner in a Washington law firm, took his kids on a tour to meet the heads of state of close to 20 nations, has an office on Tom Sawyer island in Disneyland, among other unique and interesting things. He's the type of guy who will jump at the chance for adventure and whimsy because why not? He invests his life into others and has initiated substantial positive change in places such as Uganda and India. He uses his law training to set children free from slavery and fights against injustice.

While he's accomplished some amazing things and interacted with high profile people, he maintains a down to earth attitude and self-deprecating humor that gives you hope that you too can accomplish incredible things.

The book is chocked full of stories from his life and lessons that he learned from God. Make no mistake, while Bob has done some great things for the world, he is first committed to God and serving Him. It is out of this relationship that much of his work flows.

The book is light-hearted, inspirational, and fun. It's easy to read, you'll laugh out loud several times, and will probably wish there were more when it's over.

Awesomeness

Awesomeness isn't about accolades, fame, or recognition. It's about being the hands and feet of Jesus to the world. That's the kind of awesome that shapes eternity.

Plan B

It's fairly safe to assume that most people have experienced some detours in life and perhaps wound up somewhere that they didn't originally anticipate. Perhaps a career didn't take off, a relationship ended, an untimely death, sickness, or any number of other circumstances take you places you'd rather not go.

In Plan B Pete Wilson explores what to do when God doesn't show up the way you thought He would. He provides examples from the Bible as well as from his personal life and from many people he's known through being a pastor. Many of the examples are of people walking through very dark circumstances in life and what their response was.

Wilson doesn't try to explain all of the tough questions and whys but does walk you through as you work through grief and challenges in a pastoral kind of way. He says, "...I'm not tying this book up with a bow. I'm not asking you to understand. But I am asking you to trust the God who loves you." He quotes Romans 15:13, "I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in Him. Then your hope will overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit."

This book does not have all the answers but it will help in framing your thinking and response toward trusting God even when things don't work out as you'd hoped or planned.

You Gotta Eat

“Do not conform to the pattern of the world be transformed by the renewing of your mind so that you may be able to test and approve what God’s will is–His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” -Romans 12:2

You gotta eat. Whether you eat good things or bad, you’re going to fill yourself with something. When thinking about this in the context of sin and righteousness, there may be times when you eat unrestrained from the trough of sin. This will leave your soul empty and feeling bad. When you’ve had enough, maybe you say “No More!” and stop for a time.

If however, you don’t replace this source of sustenance with something, you’ll find yourself starving and will be tempted to go back to the trough of sin. It would be the equivalent of eating junk food all the time then refraining from eating completely. Just like the body needs something to keep it going so too the soul must be filled.

By all means, get rid of elements of sin and selfishness in your diet but be sure to replace it with nourishment from the trough of righteousness. Drink from the fountain of pure truth found in the Word of God and feast on His goodness. Worship and meditate in His presence for it is there that you’ll be filled with love and holiness. At the trough of righteousness, you will be satisfied as you never could elsewhere. Nothing you desire compares to Him. Nothing.

In pursuit of His best,

Andrew

Poem: Your Love

 

I've searched the world and never found a love as pure as yours

in beautiful and darkened places, peacetime and in war

From towering cathedrals to distant galaxies

your love is vast and infinite for all eternity

Constant, never changing it doesn't ebb and flow

your love is unconditional in every high and low

In times of good in times of bad in all that I go through

no matter what the circumstance your love is always true

Your love is always true

Stinking Selfishness

Have you ever had the experience of smelling something bad but couldn’t quite figure out what it was or where it was coming from? If not identified and dealt with soon, it eventually gets bad enough that the location becomes readily apparent.  Even though it’s unpleasant, to leave it there would mean continued stinkyness and possibly serve as an invitation to critters you’d probably rather not be in close proximity to.

Sometimes selfishness can be like that. Something may not feel quite right in your life but it isn’t immediately identifiable.  Looking out for yourself is not inherently bad but pursuit of self-interest to the exclusion of closely walking with God leads down a path for which the reward is emptiness.

“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 2:4-5

He gifts each of us with abilities and talents not for self-glorification but for serving Him and others. There's nothing wrong with doing what He’s gifted you at with excellence; just make sure the focus is in the right place.

Selfish desires have a way of getting us off track and into things that we later regret. If nothing else, they keep us from spending time with God and pursuing His plans for our lives. That in itself should be enough motivation to consistently examine the heart’s motives and desires.

If you find something stinky, don’t hesitate in taking out the trash. Replace it instead with pure living water. (John 7:37-38) 

Is there any selfishness stinking up your life?

In pursuit of His best,

Andrew

Is Jesus Your Compass?

GPS units are great except when they’re not. Ever been tracking exactly with the GPS directions only to find that you’re definitely not where you planned on going? This might mean an update to the GPS software is needed or that the address was incorrect.

Direction in life can be that way too. The reliability of the source of your directions will have strong correlation to where you end up in life. If you get your queues from popular media or advertising, you may end up in unwanted places. Books, podcasts, and blogs can have mixed information some good, some bad. When advice comes from trusted mentors, friends, family, and colleagues the results may be a bit more certain.

The Holy Spirit is the equivalent of a GPS with the exception that He never gives you wrong directions. You may be surprised at where He leads you but since it comes from the source of Truth, you can be certain that He won’t lead you on a wrong path.

It is important to discern the difference between the Holy Spirit’s prompting and the prompting of the burrito you had for dinner. In all seriousness though, because we live in both a spiritual and physical world there are outside influences in play, whether from the Devil or just emotions run amok, it’s critical that we keep checking back with the Bible. The Holy Spirit will not contradict the Word of God so if there is any question about the reliability of the guidance, head to the Word.

Spending time digging in to the Bible and in prayer connects us to the ultimate and purest source of Truth.  When Jesus is your compass, you can’t get lost.

Is He your compass?

In pursuit of His best,

Andrew

Southern's Who I Am

Here's a fun song I wrote about being Southern.

Southern's Who I Am
by: Andrew Allen

Playing country music on the radio
bluegrass, gospel, and rock n roll
Singing in the choir, singing in the pew
playing for a crowd, or playing for a few
better stand up tall, stand up proud
play it strong and play it loud

Southern's who I am
say howdy, y'all, yes sir, yes ma'am
Southern's who I am
a born and raised Southern gentleman

I like chicken fried with mashed potatoes
pit barbecue when it's cooked real slow
corn bread muffins and black eyed peas
home made biscuits and a bowl of green beans
pecan pie with some cold ice cream
wash it all down with a large sweet tea

Southern's who I am
say howdy, y'all, yes sir, yes ma'am
Southern's who I am
a born and raised Southern gentleman

Gotta do things well and do 'em right
When you're wrong step up and apologize
Whether regular folks or high society
treat em with respect and hospitality
Mind your elders do what you're told
Pray to Jesus and He'll save your soul

Southern's who I am
say howdy, y'all, yes sir, yes ma'am
Southern's who I am
a born and raised Southern gentleman

Alabama, Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky
Mississippi, Louisiana, to the hills of Tennessee
Texas, Virginia, and down in Arkansas
Everybody's welcome to come and visit y'all
If you wanna find out what it's all about
come on down see how we do it in the South

Southern's who I am
say howdy, y'all, yes sir, yes ma'am
Southern's who I am
a born and raised Southern gentleman