Wednesday / 8:00 a.m. (New Beginnings)

Escalating alarm tones…4:00 a.m. Wednesday October 20, 2010…eyes open after already waking up 2 times earlier in the night. Stare at ceiling…ask myself if I’m nuts for walking across America again…flashback of last time whizzes by…can’t describe, won’t try…get out of bed…shower…dress…load car…leave for launch point on Santa Monica Memorial Pier at 5:44 am…head north on 1-5 north…traffic already…merge to highway 10 west…enter Santa Monica proper around 7:00 am….arrive at Santa Monica Pier few minutes later…drizzling rain…park rig…ask myself 2nd time if I’m I nuts for walking across America again…get out of car…put on gear…walk to end of pier in rain…notice normal (and abnormal) early morning people and activities…find other person crazy enough to be out in the rain and ask him to take a picture of me…breathe deeply…sigh…ask myself 3rd ime-am if I’m nuts for walking across America…lean forward…silently say, “here goes Jesus”…take first step…give self permission to table issue of whether I’m nuts or not……remind self that God said, “go”…

The Encounter

As I walked my pathway today...I met, spoke, and prayed with many people of all different walks of life.  Some were employees en-route, others were by-standers, a few were business owners, some pastors, others without hope, and many rushing to-and-fro on their way undisclosed locations.  Some smiled, others looked away, a few helped, some blew me off, and a few like the store clerk, schood studen, salon lady, and local resident...talked.  Another slice of my encounter revealed that some areas were clean, orderly, and active...while others were dingy, un-kept, and fragmented.  Other areas were wealthy, some poor, a few open, and many oppressed.  Still other arenas were quiet, average, and undeclared with regard to what lingered within them.  And yet, I became soberly aware that much more was likely happening in the lives of those I observed and was privileged to lock eyes with.  Question was...what?  I continued...

What moves a man to walk a continent step-by-step…again?  Is he driven by insanity…irresponsibility…notoriety…or reality?  Is more than meets the eye… 

Uncovering Heaven’s Pathway

As you follow and step into God’s journey with me…there are a few things you should know about the eyes I see, mind I process, heart I sense, and spirit I perceive with as I encounter the physical and spiritual realms around me…

Our life experience, impact, and resulting conclusions win or lose based on the perspective we choose…either the world’s…or God’s. We can live what comes “natural” or…leap far beyond our human waywardness to live God’s “supernatural adventure” as we extend His love, peace, and power in Jesus’ name. Anyone can live for themselves…it takes no class and requires nothing. Yet, Jesus calls us beyond ourselves into His presence with hunger and thirst for righteousness as we serve others, defeat darkness, and establish His kingdom on earth as His through unconditional love…at any cost. Encountering, extending, and establishing God’s kingdom within the hearts of those who do not know Him…requires work in ourselves on behalf of others.

If you’re still willing to lace up your boots, zip your vest, cinch your belt, put on your hat, and grab your sword…let’s cut our way through hell’s over-growth as we ponder how God’s kingdom equips us to touch heaven and change earth…