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For the month of August we are taking a break from our usual schedule. Instead we invite you to be part of a challenge we hope will make an impact in your life and along the Silk Road.

John 15:4 – 5

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

I am the vine, you are the branches.
He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

What does it mean to abide in Jesus?

Last night I had a dream that I was playing golf. The conditions outside were perfect: the sky was blue, the sun was shining, and everything was setting up for me to play a great round (even though I rarely get to play and am not even that good at it).

In my dream, as I teed up to take my first swing, I looked up and a HUGE house stood between me and the hole. As I surveyed the situation and tried to figure out what to do I heard God whisper to me, “Swing away.” I thought to myself, “

What? What does He mean, ‘Swing away?’ Doesn’t He see this house that is blocking my view of the hole (my goal)?

I moved my tee and ball and teed up again, only to find another obstacle in my line of sight, blocking my shot. Again God said to me, “Swing away.” This process repeated several times. I would move my ball and tee only to find another obstacle. Every time God would whisper, “Swing away.”

Overcoming Obstacles

Our family is transitioning right now to move overseas. The last few weeks have been spent sorting through our house trying to decide what to take with us, what to put in storage and what to sell. To say this has been physically and emotionally exhausting would be an understatement. I have watched my children shed tears over the loss of family, friends, pets and possessions. I have been amazed at the strength of my wife (somewhat of a sentimental packrat), as she has let go of some good things so that our family can pursue greater things.

At times this process has seemed overwhelming. Most days the task ahead seems so daunting that something inside of me is telling me to not even try. There are too many variables and obstacles in the way of reaching our goal…but then I hear God say, “Swing away.”

That is the power of abiding in Jesus.

Peace comes not from possessions or places but from the power of abiding in Jesus. Abiding in Jesus doesn’t mean that Jesus goes wherever I go. It means that I go wherever Jesus goes.

Abiding in Jesus means that He is going to lead us to places that are bigger than us, but that is okay because God’s strength is perfected in our weakness.

It is in those times of overwhelming uncertainty, when all we can see are obstacles in our way, and the strength of men fails, that if we listen very carefully we can hear God say, “Swing away.”

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