Have you ever seen the email that floated around many years ago called an Interview with God?  You can view it here:  https://theinterviewwithgod.com/

Here is a stark question: What if God interviewed you? What if He asked you a bunch of questions about who you are and what you have done and where you are in your life right this very minute. Would you be ready? Would you have all the answers? Better yet, would you be satisfied with your own answers? Oh, and here is the kicker. Would God be satisfied with your answers? Ouch! Did you just ask that Phil? Why yes, I did.

Lately, I feel like I have been on a big interview with God. Now, why would God need to interview me – isn’t He all knowing? Well, if you haven’t had a relationship with Him and you have closed the door on Him, you might think twice before closing the door on Him to answering his questions. I did close that door on Him at one time so – Me…I will answer His questions to the best of my ability. To me that is a loving way to respond to His request. All he wants from us is to love Him back. I will say this….if God doesn’t think I have a ton of questions for Him, trust me when I say I certainly do. I have so many questions, I can’t even begin to think of what they are at this point. However, apparently that is not in the cards for this mission right now and I am at peace with that.    

While God, might have many questions for me, I am going to narrow down my answers into 5 bullet points.

1. I was once asked what my identity in Christ was. It threw me off quite a bit because all I was trying to do was a have a conversation with someone about sex addiction.  My interpretation of their question was not to be helpful but rather to be damming to shut me up. They were trying to put me in my place with their spiritual authority. My immediate answer was Jesus is my Savior. That was the 4 words I had in response. I then went back to topic, probably defending myself along the way. That is the correct answer by the way. However, if you read what I just wrote, it is quite empty. My reflection on that question was to go further and investigate. Romans 8 – living by the Spirit is now my short answer to that question. I must obey, have faith, bear the fruit, receive the gifts, and spread the word is my next answer. Seeking Him in my marriage and my family and surrounding myself with Him in all places possible is the final part of my answer. Today my answer is much more complex. I could type on about my identity in Christ. Today I am not only a student, but I am also a teacher. In fact, my wife and I teach Sunday School class together. If I am honest about where I am with this right now this very minute, my filter in, is excellent. My filter out is in need of continuous repair. What I am saying is I am very good at bringing God into my life. However, I have a good amount of work to do on being a better person with my outward filter in reflecting God to others, particularly with my wife and kids. That’s my honest answer. I am so completely humbled to be able to be in the place I am today comparatively to the place I was in 20 years ago and or even a year ago. One might say it gives me status over the ones who haven’t come as far along as I have. I have to ask myself how I got to this place?  He kept coming after me. It was like I was playing football except I didn’t know I was playing. I was just minding my own business and God would say 1, 2, 3 hut and then I would take the ball and then it felt like he was taking it away from me and I would set it down. I felt unsure and uneasy. Was it my bipolar playing tricks on me? Was this real? Then He would start the 1,2,3 thing again and this pattern repeated itself. Seems we did that exercise a lot. Each time he would show me more. I only assumed this is how it works for everyone. After all, we are all equals right?  How do I reflect this on others? Very carefully. I must never forget where I came from. This is why I sit in a 12-step room every week. We must Step carefully. It is my reminder of who I was. I didn’t get there on a winning streak. This also reminds me about a question I asked my wife last week. I realized I needed some humility due to a situation that presented itself. I asked her – Do you know how to make humble pie?  Here answer? “Make it yourself.”  

2. Does this mean I am better than others? Does this give me spiritual authority?  Well that is an argument for another day. Here is what I have learned about authority. Authority is only given to us by God to be used to edify others in the name of love. Any other use of authority is harmful to others. What this means to me is I extend my hand to you. Why? Because I want to give you what I have. It doesn’t matter if you are man or woman. It doesn’t matter how old you are. And it certainly doesn’t matter what your race is. I want to edify you in the name of God’s love. God gave me a calling. Do You Know Your Calling? For this I am grateful. I don’t know what the rules are on this. What if my calling involves other people?  What if I am supposed to work with others to carry out my calling?  God, I am so open to your direction. I am just trying to follow along. I don’t even know where to begin to look for answers. Will you please show me?

3. Patience – when I was a kid, I went to Disney World several times. The last time I was there I was about 10. Epcot was still being built and was partially opened. I recall the ride “It’s a Small World!”  Do you know what that song is about? It means things are much more interrelated than we think. The one we know most about this message is how we can meet people in unexpected places. This actually feeds into my Collective Connections series you can start reading about here. Collective Connections – Intro The single most-biggest message that God has given me in my spiritual journey is patience. This message has repeated itself to me more times than I can count. The message of patience will forever continue to be repeated I am 100% positive. If I could just be patient enough to receive patience! God has been so patient with me, so why wouldn’t I be patient with God? We are on a journey together, however long that takes. In His time.    

4. Prayer – God thank you for never shaming me with anything. You love me unconditionally. Thank you, God, for loving me despite my sins. I am so incredibly thankful for the love you have shown and given to me.  I praise you with my FAITH. I LOVE YOU with all my heart. Thank you for sending your son JESUS to die on the cross for my sins.  I LOVE YOU JESUS!

5. We grow together. As a team. That is what a relationship is about.  Recently, I did a post called Team – Collective Connections that included the gifts of the 12 Disciples. From that list I have developed a favorite Disciple. Peter is a very likable guy. He is the most Infront of you Disciple and apparently one of the closest to Jesus. I really like him, and I really identify with him. However, I need to go with an odd ball if I had to choose my favorite Disciple. I choose Thomas. The doubter? YES! I choose him! Here is why. Thomas was an encourager and a truth seeker. He asked lots of questions and my favorite part? Show me. Jesus met Thomas where he was. This means a lot to me because God has met me where I was oh so many times along my journey and I know he will do it again if need Him. In many ways I am like Thomas. I encourage, I seek the truth, and I will push you for more in Christ just like Thomas did when Jesus wanted to return to Judea. I will also meet you were you are and show you to the best of my abilities.  

I am satisfied with my answers. I would like to sit here and tell you that I am healed from all my afflictions and I am on a rock-solid path and that I will never faulter. I really would love to give you that definitive answer. I can’t. I do not know what tomorrow holds. What I do know is that since 2003 my graph has an upward trajectory. It has some large peaks, and it has some great valleys. Overall though the trend is upward. There are big spikes and small dips and even flat lines. I am proud of who I am today even with my list of faults that I still need to keep working on. I can only pray for my journey not to end to be known as a doubting Thomas. I do know this. I have come so far and the pain that I have endured will forever give me reason to lean on my big faith to stay the straight path. I cannot imagine going against what my God has asked of me. It is so simple. Live by the Spirit and love Him and your neighbors as yourselves.

God, thank you for interviewing me. Today I have a Sense of Peace in answering your questions.         I love you and just want a relationship with you so I can receive your love and give you love in return.  Where our path takes us is all in your hands. I am on a journey with you.

Amen.