What is this... 3 1/2 months after my first post I am writing another blog

Well its now been a year in a time in life that I did not expect.  While in school I never thought that I would be between school and full time ministry for over a year.  This year has been frustrating, difficult and confusing.  I have been jealous, disappointed and hurt many times and for that I am thankful.  I know it will help me in my ministry, I truly believe that.

This week has been amazing because of some teachings that I have heard this week.  I saw Rob Bell with Pastor Heath on Monday.  I have to say listening to Rob Bell for and hour and a half is equivalent to 3 and half years of Bible College.  Rob Bell managed to take one of my favorite passages of the Bible, one of which I thought I knew quite bit about, and shed a knew light on it that I never saw before.  He really put the attempted sacrifice of Isaac into a whole new perspective, because I never looked at the full historical and cultural context.   The story has much less to do with the faith of Abraham and much much more to do with the love of God and his interest in humanity.  That part of the lecture, as well as the whole talk was mind blowing.

A few weeks ago Donald Miller spoke at Mars Hill, the church where Rob Bell pastors.  I started listening to different sermons and was excited to hear Miller speaking in one particular podcast (11.11.2007).  The talk was about our Life-Story, and how the climatic scene of the story that we write as we live as Christians is about hearing "Well done good and faithful servant... " has been written for us.  It is up to us to make up the rest, to make our story interesting and the become a good and successful protagonist in our own life.

As I was listening to the Miller lesson today, I felt like crap. (Which is in many times a good sign of an effective lesson.) I know my story is not that interesting at the moment.  I have been sitting back and waiting for others to fill the pages of my life.  I guess I have an outline of how I want my story to go, but I have not done much of the writing.  I have a passion to serve the Lord, but have lacked a strong drive to be proactive about it.  Now is the time to pick up my pen and write away.

So in a way this blog is symbolic.  As I try to begin writing briandalbowspeaks again, I am also starting to write the next chapter in my story that I have been longing for.  I pray, and ask for your prayer as well, for not so much guidance, but ambition and not so much for open doors, but for doors that I can break through.

Thanks for reading... Sorry about the hiatus.

final note: their is another great reason to like donald miller.  he is a volvo enthusiast.