2 Risking Life, Risking Failure

2.1. Don’t Know What You’re Doing?

If you don’t know what you’re doing, join the squad. That’s what everyone who has ever gone His Way has had to work out, too.

We have known that feeling through many seasons over the last 40 years. But at least we were Free to try to be fully His, HIS way.

God knows we tried to “go along to get along,” even in the highest levels of seminaries, “church” leadership, and recognition and fame in the System, since we didn’t know any better anyway. We were told, “That’s just how it is.”

The path and day-by-day results won’t be sanitized, and that’s okay. Don’t let a System rob you of the potential growth and failures you will have in a dangerous daily Jesus Life with others. Unleash it fearlessly, but patiently and humbly, with careful wisdom.

You’ll make mistakes as you learn, so you’ll look back with a lot of “regrets” about coulda woulda shoulda as you embrace His Actual Life, and slowly grow in His Garden, in His Orchard.

Of course, those I know who have shared Jesus’ Life have experienced just about everything over the last 40 years of Living IN Him, “daily” walking together. We’ve “been there, done that” in the middle of careers, families, university, sports, barbecues, parks, hobbies and the whole bit of life. It’s risky, but those of us who have Experienced His Ecosystem for real for decades have loved it. Helping others who want to grow, nudging out those who have no intention of growing, and letting others into our space so we can grow… all of that is radical. For sure. Way more than words, songs, and attendance. Challenging, but no regret.

But the biggest regret of all would have been to let false “peace and safety,” religious laziness, fear, or critics rob us of the Opportunity to walk with the Risen Jesus. We’ve had enough of the dusty library of mere words.

“The true kingdom of God consists not of mere words—but of Power.”

2.2. From Setbacks to Comebacks

If you risk LIVING you will most definitely risk failing, in situations and circumstances, and even for whole seasons. But as Jesus said to Simon, aka “Peter,”

“Simon, Simon, satan has asked to shake and sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith, focus, absolute trust and commitment to Me would not falter. And when you have turned back from your immature ‘you’ life to Me, learn—and strengthen your brothers.”

“The enemy wants you to fumble, but I’ve got your back in prayer. Every setback is a setup for your comeback—and your glow-up from failure will make you strong to help you and your squad be stronger and deeper in Me for the future!”