From Pastor Ron (Worship)

Pursuing God just sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? We pursue jobs, certain relationships, dreams and various things which fascinate us, but how does one really pursue God? If I was being honest (and for the sake of this blog, let’s assume I am) pursuing God fits into the same category as catching the tooth fairy or discovering Santa’s secret workshop. Not to mention the fact that scripture seems to describe us as running away from God, not running to Him. Why don’t many people in our culture find God? The same reason a bank robber doesn’t find a policeman; he’s not looking for one.
And yet, if the Bible teaches us anything, it tells the ongoing story of a God who apparently wants to have a relationship with us. So here’s the bottom line: God has been the great pursuer, not me. The real story of your life and mine is that we are being pursued by a loving God. So here’s the million dollar question: so what?
How one answers this ‘so what’ defines your interest in this grand and oftentimes mysterious relationship with God, or what we have recently come to express here at EAC as ‘a passionate pursuit.’ For me, the following have been the consistent elements in this pursuit, which, by the way, has at times been anything but passionate. It has, however been rewarding.
Reading. God has used certain authors in my life to awaken me to some powerful and many times life-changing truths. Some of these authors would include Philip Yancey, John Ortberg, Ravi Zacharias, R.C. Sproul, Ken Gire, Derrick Johnson, and John R.W. Stott. These men have the rare ability to take God’s truths found in scripture and make them come alive and applicable. As someone has said, find a good author and you have found a friend for life.
Praying. I have come to see this vital discipline as not just an assignment, but a privilege. Many times, after praying, the circumstances don’t change; but I do.
Music. Fortunately for me, this is a major part of my job and has been for twenty five years. I cannot tell you the how many times God has used a song to change the direction of my life.
Our journeys with God may have different twists and turns, expectancies and experiences, victories and defeats, but we all have this in common; we are on a journey of learning how to love God, because He first loved us. Pursuing such a God may still sound a little ridiculous, but then again, maybe it’s supposed to.