Plagerism

OK, So I have been reading this book over the last couple of weeks:

It is by John Ortberg, the pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, California, and it is called God is Closer than you Think.

You can order it by clicking here.

I highly recommend any of Ortberg's books. Others that I have read include: The Life You've Always Wanted; If You Want to Walk on Water, You've God to Get Out of the Boat; and Everyone's Normal 'Till You Get to Know Them.

In the first chapter of the book, Ortberg describes an event during the first year of his marriage when he and his wife visited the Sistine Chapel in order to view Michelangelo's work, The Creation of Adam, on its ceiling. Ortberg described the painting on page 11:

If you look carefully at the painting, you notice that the figure of God is
extended toward the man with great vigor. He twists his body to move it as close
to the man as possible. His head is turned toward the man, and his gaze is fixed
on him. God's arm is stretched out, his index finger extended straight forward;
every muscle is taut.

That's God on the right. Notice how He is leaning so much that the angels seem to hold on to Him. He is interested in engaging Adam so much, that He is willing to go to superextreme measures in order to make it happen.

Adam on the other hand, is a different story. Ortberg writes on page 12:

His arm is partially extended toward God, but his body reclines in a lazy
pose, leaning backward as if he has no interest at all in making a
connection. Maybe he assumes that God, having come this far, will close
the gap. Maybe he is indifferent to the possibility of touching his
creator. Maybe he lacks the strength. All he would have to do is
lift a finger.

Working at a church is quite interesting. A lot of times I am approached by church members who are struggling in one or more areas of their lives. Perhaps it is a young seminarian looking for God's direction in his life. Perhaps it is a marriage that is on the rocks. Perhaps it is
someone struggling with an addiction of some sort. Regardless of the struggle, many times these people are looking for God, but God seems to be silent, or absent from their lives. These people all ask, either verbally or mentally, "Why would God let this happen to me?" or "Where is God in all of this?"

God is closer than you think.

Matthew 28:18

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority on heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

When God feels far from you. When He seems to be ignoring you. When He appears to be absent from your life. Remember that He has promised to always be with you. Right now God is twisting and contorting his body. He is rushing in as close to you as his clouds can take him. He is stretching out his arm as far as it will go. He is doing all of this because He wants you to be able to encounter Him. All you have to do is "lift a finger." When God isn't anywhere to be found... He is much closer than it appears.