My passion is to help people live balanced, restful, and purposeful lives—ones characterized by faith, community, and God’s goodness.
Truth is of little value unless it becomes reality. What good is knowledge minus love? Doctrine absent God’s empowering Spirit? Prayer without action? A regular gathering of Christians, minus them being a house of prayer, a community of faith, and the body of Christ? And, does one really know God in an intimate, life-changing way, if there is no passion to make him known?
Attempting to walk in this “radical middle” and helping others do likewise has been my life’s calling and joy. However, I’m only capable of being one of “God’s fellow workers” helping others embrace these green pastures, because I also desperately want God to deepen these things in my life. This lifestyle, for me, also includes balancing the priorities of family and career, being and doing, the prayer closet and the marketplace, being crucified yet living, working hard but God’s grace doing the heavy lifting. When our lives find this type of symmetry, they’re restful and purposeful; truth can become a reality.
My life is far from flawless, but God always graciously redeems all I leave in his hands, doing his perfect work from my imperfect attempts. My desire for one-on-one mentored relationships hopes for God’s initiative and a healthy constitution of my heart that precedes my words and deeds. I desire that my witness of God to others flows fundamentally from my love for God and others. I want their good, regardless of who they are or how they treat me. This is only made possible because of God’s primordial, unconditional, steadfast love toward me.
Our relationships with people should be nurtured, enjoyed, and valued as priceless treasures! But what does that mean? We should imitate Christ’s attitude, who looked at us and thought we were to die for, who loved us when we were not lovable … and who though innocent in our strained relationship with him loved us unconditionally while we were against him. As our lives become like Christ’s, people aren’t treated like they’re projects, nor dispensable objects used to complete a mission; nor do we quibble about minutia like the lawyer who asked, “Who is my neighbor?” We’re also not islands to ourselves! And, even when we’re hurrying along life’s path on a “solo mission,” we’re like the good Samaritan, rather than so busy with the project in-hand or goal in sight that we indifferently bypass and neglect the hurting person cast to the side of the road. This is done whether this person is deserving of my attention or not. For “mercy triumphs over judgment.” You get the idea. Christians are called to show true humility and love to everyone—regardless of their age, ethnicity, lifestyle, or creed.
Who I am and what I teach develops from my relationship with the Living God and my understanding of his ways, Jesus Christ being the cornerstone for grace being lived out in my life; what is happening in my life is also a key place that informs this process. This path God has set before me to walk involves being a husband to Brenda (married 38 years), and a growing family that started with four kids and now also allows me to be a grandpa to five. Additionally, I’ve ministered vocationally for forty years within and from the local church setting, the last twenty at Apex Baptist Church as one of her pastors.
The purpose of Graced Lived Out is to post devotional thoughts, which are launched from my above expressed passion, that help you and I grow in character as a disciple of Christ that is making other disciples. You’ll also find a helpful book review, now-and-then: all digestible thoughts meant to either enlighten or change your pathway, as well as give you encouragement along the Way. Mostly, these thoughts will address “people in the pew” and from time-to-time pastors and Christian leaders.
Check out my eBook, The Names of God, which is found on this site’s home page; its thoughts still fuel my daily prayers and life – both private and public – and inform my desire to “know God and make him known.” May it similarly serve you in this way.
I would love to stay in touch with you, as we together experience the wonderful joy of God’s gracious love pouring into and through our lives. Please feel free to leave a comment on the site or send me an email. Your life matters to me!
Grace and Peace,
Peter
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