I just traveled to Bangkok and I began listening to another amazing book: unChristian by David Kinnaman. Shocking! I am writing these reflections not so much for you as for me, and you are simply invited to read them and ponder the implications as well, if you like.

Here are some thoughts that have riveted my ears and seared my mind as I am hearing the truths of his research coming out. [I am writing from notes scribbled on paper as I listen and replay certain unavoidable sections, but I don't have page numbers. I do apologize. Maybe I will get the Kindle version and track some of these down later.]

1. Of the younger groups that were studied, 85% saw Christians as hypocritical! Ouch. Remember, perceptions build peoples’ pictures of reality.
2. Part of the reason for #1 is that statistically there was very little noticeable difference between people claiming to be Christian and those who did not. One case in point, people claiming to have participated in some sort of sexually immoral activity in the last 30 days (pornography, suggestive movies, extramarital affairs, sex outside of marriage, homosexual activities, etc.): 35% for non-Christian people; 30% for born again Christians (he gives a good definition of that group as well). Amazing!! In other words, if the two groups were in a room together and based on responses to this question there would be NO NOTICEABLE distinction between their moral underpinnings in this area other than the “label”!
3. According to the things that Christians use to determine who is “in” or “out” from their groups are the very things that Christians are not doing themselves – that is hypocrisy.
4. People outside the faith of Christianity have even said this: 84% said they knew a “born again” Christian [that is great as far as coverage and "witnessing" is concerned]; BUT, only 15% thought that person’s lifestyle was any different from theirs [so, what happens to the power of witness then]! Prayerfully ponder that.
5. In an age of technology and the idea that more “eyeballs” equals more “impact” for the gospel, research showed (in start contrast) that the combined effects of radio, TV, and literature tracts on blessing the control group being studied amounted to less than one-half of one percent as being a contributor to their choosing a deeper faith experience with God. The overwhelming reality that impacts people is the relationships they have and the people they know. Which means we better read number 4 again.

I will stop here for now and get back to listening – and maybe you can pick up the book sometime as well. These are important questions and issues to ponder, pray about, and wrestle with.

I’ll leave you with one of his conclusions from the hypocrisy section (my paraphrase from listening): Could it be that God is using these cultural accusations of hypocrisy to point out the lack of true faith and the shallowness that often passes for conviction? Might these responses be God’s way of calling us to repentance and radical change? Could God be using the world to tell us Revelation 3:14-22, again?

I hope so. It has for me.

I was recently in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, speaking to a small group of pastors and teachers and one of the subjects in the course of the week that I talked about was a simple, yet potentially life changing tool for your spiritual growth: the prayer journal.

I have been a “journal-er” for a number of years now and these are some simple things I have learned. I hope it can be a blessing to you as you seek to learn from your life and grow deeper in your walk with God. I do not claim to be an expert in this subject (or any for that matter except one: my failures and God’s faithfulness through it all), but I have learned a few useful things that might encourage you to start the habit or help you fine tune your already existing habit.

1. First of all, what is the purpose of the prayer journal? There can be many possible answers, and they are not exclusive of one another: a diary or record of activities (whether daily or on a fairly consistent basis); an ongoing prayer to God walking through the ins and outs of your life; a collection of your Golden List (I’ll explain below); a record of whenever you see God showing up in your life (this can be random at first, but when your personal walk with God grows and it starts happening almost every day, it is truly awesome); finally, it can be an honest reflection of God’s working, your failures and growth, and His incredible faithfulness.
2. For me, my journal ends up being a mix of all of those possible reasons and can change from time to time in its format. But, in the changing, one thing is constant, it is me writing to God and talking with Him. It is not a list or collection being captured for some unknown future reader (or even my wife who occassionally reads as well – with permission), but I am always writing in conversation with my God! I find that to be a simple and beautiful thing.
3. The Golden List. This is a great idea and can help you to start journaling on a daily basis. The name and idea comes initially from the great and easy reading book: The Ultimate Journey, by Jim Stovall. Though the same idea has been shared by other authors through the years (including Ellen White within SDA circles, and more recently even by best selling author Robin Sharma). The Golden List is quite simple. It is just a list of 5 or 10 things each morning that you are thankful or grateful for. For example: good health, blessed marriage, a job, healthy children, recent blessings, good friends, etc. This becomes a great “jump-starter” for you to start telling God thank you for all He has been doing in your life. Nothing should be taken for granted in these challenging times. No one is guaranteed an easy ride! Say thank you and start your day off on the right foot. It can often lead you into sharing your heart needs with God as well.
4. My journal has many roles now. I use it as a verbal “picture” of my life. Where I am living, my family makeup (including any students living with us, any animals that my wife and kids bring into our home), addresses, phone numbers, current working situation. All of those I list at the beginning. Then, I recommit and resurrender my life to God in writing. No waffling, no second guessing, I want what God wants. I want to give my life fully to Him, no matter the cost or the pain and I tell Him and anyone else reading it. I am His. I belong to Him. Then, I have begun making a simple index page that I will populate as I write particularly important reflections, miracles, or useful facts. Finally, at the back I keep a list of the books I have read during that journal and any particular Scripture focus areas I have listened to or read repeatedly (the Bible or the Qur’an). This addition has been a great way for me to track the new things I am learning (I am a platinum member of Audible.com and love filling my traffic time while traveling with great material to help me grow, in addition to large amounts of Scripture and other spiritual authors being listened to regulary).
5. One more thing that I have added to my journal that is really blessing me is to go from the back part, after the items I mentioned above, and keep track of my actual prayer list of people and needs that I am regularly bringing before God in prayer. So, I number from 1 and on, using the actual day that the requests are entered as breaks for the prayer requests. Then, each day as I pray I am being reminded of the needs and I am able to remember more throughout the day to keep praying (I personally don’t think God needs the repetition, but I do) and to redeem any “open” moments when I am not busy actively serving, learning, loving, or sleeping. Remember, we should seek to redeem the time and to capture every thought so that we can walk godly lives through various spiritual disciplines and surrendering to God and His will. So, the beginning of the journal goes from the front to the back in a running prayer to God and capturing the activities and miracles of what God is doing in my life so I don’t forget them; and then, from the back of the book moving forward is my ongoing prayer list. This list is being constantly monitored that way and I am able to see the answers to prayer and rejoice in God’s love and mercy in my life and in the lives of others whom I am praying for. This also means that both my personal journal and my prayer list are in the same book and are easy to keep with me. Keeping a prayer list allows me to tell people with integrity that I will pray for them and actually mean in and do it with this simple tool.
6. So, you might ask, “what’s the point, how does this help me?” Great question, glad you asked! This journal now becomes a way to remember your growth, struggles, God’s mercies, and so forth. This keeps you from forgetting the way that God has led you. One author has quipped, “you have nothing to fear for the future unless you forget the way that God has led you in the past.” A journal like this is a way to combat fear for the future since you are reminded of what God has done throughout the last year or more. I like to take time during each year to review the journal before and see the way that God has led and blessed through that time. I normally do a review on my birthday as I recommit my life for the next year that God has so graciously given me and then also again at year end. I take time to read over the previous journal, and say thank you for what God has done. I also like to keep track of any people in that previous year who have specifically blessed me. I try to send them a thank you note as well (this is a new habit I am trying to incorporate into my life after reading about it from Doug Phillips at Vision Forum). I find these two times of year to be a rich blessing to me and help me to keep my personal relationship with God and others growing beautifully.
7. Before I finish the way this has blessed me, I need to write a few more words. Journaling helps you to capture pictures of your life that poor memory will lose. Also, as you capture these moments you can learn about your life and help to navigate the future by knowing yourself and your God better. A simple book with a little time can be a spiritual life saver when the enemy tries to discourage you and your memory is faulty. You can find the many ways that God is real and has blessed you or others, answered prayers, or simply walked with through thick and thin.

Let me know your thoughts about this. I hope this has blessed you. How has a journal blessed you as well? I would love to hear from you about your experiences.

It was a rich evening for sure.  Imagine being surrounded with people of faith from at least two different faith communities choosing to meet together in unity and agreement.  And, add to that, the privilege to share your heart with them.  That is what I was given the chance to do recently in Australia.  What a blessing for me and I pray was for them as well.

I shared with them a short description of my journey and then gave a shared call for true people of faith to live that faith in these days just before the return of Isa al Masih (Jesus Christ).  In a time of rampant hypocrisy, bold rebellion, mesmerizing materialism, and deadly fanaticism, it is high time for us to wake up and move out of the darkness into the mighty light of the God of grace and mercy.  It is time for us to live out our faith in community, agreement, partnership, and praise.

The presentation was recorded and aired to other places around the world, apparently, but you can access it here.

Please let me know what you think of it.  And, let’s walk together for His glory.

Here is the audio for the presentation.

02 05-05-2011-SDA-BryanGallant-MoreThanWeRealise-1 Talk Only

If you would like to have the pdf of the slides presented, they are here.

More than we realize Australia

I just got my oldest son a watch that will hopefully stand up to his rough and boyish use and had planned to surprise him with it. I had given him a job to do so he could practice being more industrious and responsible and he had done very well with that. So, today seemed like a good day to bless him with a better responsible watch.

Therefore, later as he was running out to go practice piano, I told him to go and get a particular book in the library to read. He responded and said that he did not want to read that one and went and got another one.

Sadly, because he did not obey what I said he completely failed to see the blessing that was waiting for him next to the exact book I had mentioned! My father heart won’t give up and I will try to bless him another day.

But, as I reflected on his actions, I wondered how many times my responses to God produce similar, empty results?

How many times does God want to bless us and asks us to do things that we may decide to do only half heartedly and miss out on the greater blessing He had in mind the whole time?

Could it be that behind the calls to obey lie greater blessings? I suspect so.

Here are a few reflections from our recent move to Indonesia to lead out in an Intercultural Study Center.

I am sitting in the back room of our house in my new office listening to a chorus of “Allahu Akbar” or “God is Greater” on all sides of our home.  Ramadan has ended and the countryside is rejoicing in the coming of the holiday. I find it rather beautiful.

Beautiful to remember that God is Greater than anything.  Any trouble, any concern, anything:  governments, opinions, machinations of Satan, book burnings, all of it.

God is Greater!  God is still in control.  Take a moment and praise Him for He is worthy!  Praise Him that we have the promise of the soon return of Jesus Christ to finally and fully establish God’s Kingdom in our lives.