Brian Dolleman's Blog

People collect stuff…

Happy Meal toys, Coke bottles and memorabilia, Precious Moments figurines, spoons from states, salt and pepper shakers, Beanie Babies, fingernail clippings, hubcaps, ticket stubs, Silly Bandz, coffee mugs, baseball cards, belt buckles (I’m pretty sure this list could go on and on).

I saw a program on TV once about a guy in England who collects stuff related to The Simpsons (cartoon). He had tens of thousands of items stored in his home. He actually ran out of room in his home and started filling his attic with Simpsons stuff.

It’s kind of a weird obsession—like an organized, focused version of Hoarders.

I asked my friends about collectables. Here’s what some of them said:

“Ugh—my mom loved collecting things. She even collected shopping bags (she was a little bit crazy).”

“My grandfather collected keys. I also had an uncle who bought out a shoe store and kept them in a spare house.”

“I had an aunt who collected lint from the dryer and cardboard tubes from empty toilet paper rolls. I think she had grand plans to use them in some future craft project.”

Odds are, you either collect something or know someone who has a collection.

Am I right?

Here’s the thing about collectables: they get dusty. They don’t really satisfy. We get them hoping to improve the quality of our lives—but there’s nothing we can do to improve theirs. They’re not alive. They’re just things.

I’m honestly not trying to bash on collecting.

I had a rock collection when I was a kid.

I have a small $2 bill collection now.

Here’s the point I am trying to make about collecting:

The focus of our lives should be more about doing good stuff than collecting stuff.

Remember Solomon?

For 20 years, he did lots of good stuff. Then, he took the next 20 years to collect stuff (actually, women).

When the focus of our lives becomes more about collecting than contributing, we get weird.

We are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2.10 NLT)

The verse says, “so we can do the good things…” not “so we can collect lots of things.”

Making a difference, improving people’s lives, contributing, encouraging others, and being a blessing never gets old—and never attracts dust.

Collectables, on the other hand, always get dusty.

Some people have a cloud cover over their lives…

They’re clouded-in, unable to see beyond the immediate.

It’s almost as if you can see the haze that surrounds and constrains them.

In the Old Testament, during Israel’s journey through the desert to their Promised Land, God gave them a sign to indicate when they should camp and when they should advance.

The sign for waiting was a cloud hovering over the Tabernacle—and the sign for advancing was when the cloud lifted.

“Now whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey… But if the cloud did not rise, they remained where they were until it lifted.” (Exodus 40:36-37)

“Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on.” (Numbers 9:22)

Using this Old Testament example as an analogy: when we have a cloud cover—a thick, dark haze over our lives—we cannot advance… but when the clouds lift, we are able to move forward.

The writer of Ecclesiastes also used the “cloud” analogy: “Throughout their lives, they live under a cloud—frustrated, discouraged, and angry.” (Ecclesiastes 5:17).

So many people are clouded-in with past hurts and failures, insecurity, bitterness, fear, depression, and other negative emotions.

These clouds always hinder vision and progress.

Jesus didn’t save us so we could take 2 steps forward, and then get stuck for the rest of our lives!

I love what 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory… by the Spirit of the Lord.”

In other words, God’s plan for our lives includes a lifting of the veil—or the lifting of the thick, heavy, dark clouds that hover over us.

God transforms (changes) us to become more and more like Him… going from glory to glory, level to level.

He wants our vision to go to a whole notha level!

It’s time for the cloud cover to lift.

It’s time to see again.

It’s time to move forward, to advance.

Ask God to lift that cloud cover of (___you fill in the blank___) from your life and restore your vision today.

The other day I wrote about Solomon…

His reign as king lasted 40 years.

The first 20 years were spent pursuing God-given vision.

During that time, he did a lot of good stuff (he designed, built, invented, wrote, and improved stuff).

Then he closed the “good stuff” book, dusted off his hands, and started writing another one.

Unfortunately, this new book wasn’t inspired by God-given vision—instead, it was fueled by personal appetite.

Over the next 20 years, he took 700 wives and 300 concubines.

Yikes dude!

I wonder if he felt entitled?

I wonder if he reasoned: “I’ve done so much for everyone else—now it’s time for me. I deserve this.”

Solomon’s next book was a sad story, a tragic tale.

He lost his way.

He closed the “good stuff” book and began writing the “serving himself” book.

I think the story of Solomon vividly illustrates why we need to keep that “good stuff” book open.

I never want to close that book!

I never want to be found dusting off my hands, getting started with my brand new book, Serving Myself.

I never want to reason: “I’ve done so much for everyone else—now it’s time for me. I deserve this.”

I never want to convince myself I’m entitled.

Speaking of entitlement, here’s a great quote: “The feeling of entitlement always gets me in trouble. No one owes me anything. I’m going to count my blessings instead.” —Shari Dolleman

We still have a lifetime of good stuff to do—a “good stuff” book to keep writing.

God planned it that way.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2.10 NLT)

There’s plenty of good stuff—good stuff that’s not yet done…

People we’ve not yet helped.

Goals we’ve not yet accomplished.

Masterpieces we’ve not yet created.

Improvements we’ve not yet made.

Lives we’ve not yet blessed.

So, keep that book open!

Picture your ideal self.

Not who you are right now—but who you could be, who you should be, who you would be…

What is your ideal self creating?

What is your ideal self accomplishing?

Who is your ideal self helping?

What kind of a difference is your ideal self making?

What’s the legacy your ideal self is leaving?

So…

Did you have some thoughts, answers or ideas that came to mind?

If you did, those answers might actually be God-given dreams for your life.

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2.10 NLT)

The Message Bible says, “He creates us—to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do…”

This is exciting—God has good stuff planned for us to do!

Good stuff, not yet done…

People we’ve not yet helped.

Goals we’ve not yet accomplished.

Masterpieces we’ve not yet created.

Improvements we’ve not yet made.

Lives we’ve not yet blessed.

In you—there is a dream, a vision, a thought, an idea—the seed of some good stuff…

Good stuff, not yet done.

My prayer is that there will always be a clear sense of purpose compelling us forward…

Good stuff, not yet done.

Rather than going through life with the “coulda, shoulda, woulda” mentality, let’s live with the “I can, I will, I am” mentality…

Good stuff, not yet done.

People do all kinds of scandalous, self-sabotaging things when they lose their vision.

The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people get out of control.” (Proverbs 29.18 CEB)

Solomon started out his rule as king of Israel with strength, focus and unwavering vision. The Bible tells us, “The kingdom was now firmly in Solomon’s grasp” (1 Kings 2:46).

Solomon built the temple that his father was unable to build.

This incredible structure took 7 years to complete (1 Kings 6:38).

He also built a palace for himself, which took 13 years to complete the construction (1 Kings 7:1).

I can’t even begin to imagine what this house looked like!

During these years, Jerusalem’s infrastructure, economy and influence flourished.

Then something strange happened… Solomon seemed to run out of vision.

There are no more stories about battles to fight or buildings to build.

Instead, Solomon started chasing after his own appetites and desires.

He no longer lived to fulfill God-given vision, but rather to fulfill his own lusts.

The Bible says Solomon “had 700 wives and 300 concubines” (1 Kings 11:3).

What? This is crazy!

Solomon is now so busy with women (I can’t even figure out the math) that he has no time or energy left to do anything purposeful.

Solomon’s reign lasted 40 years.

The first 20 years was full of vision, purpose, building, developing, creating…

The last 20 years was full of, well… distraction, self-centeredness, lust, and overindulgence.

Warning—don’t run out of vision!

I don’t ever want to get to the place where all my dreams and visions have been fulfilled.

I don’t want to lose sight of purpose.

I want to always have one more dream to fulfill, another building to build and another mission to accomplish.

I’m praying that God will constantly fill me with visions, dreams, and goals.

We use vehicles to get us where we want to go.

Sometimes, we use vehicles to help us feel closer to God.

For some, it’s recreating an experience they had in the past at a camp or revival meeting… hopping in the time machine makes them feel closer to God.

For others, it’s singing a particular song, reading a favorite verse, wearing church clothes, or using the correct Bible translation… they’re riding in a specific vehicle attempting to close the distance between them and God.

I understand why we use time machines and other vehicles.

I’ve done it myself.

They’re not bad—they’re just not necessary.

Time machines and other vehicles aren’t holy.

They don’t bring us to God.

And they don’t bring God to us.

“God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” (Ephesians 1.5 NLT)

Did you catch that? God brought us to himself through Jesus Christ!

Distance? There’s none.

Getting close to God doesn’t require a vehicle or a time machine.

God closed the distance for us.

He’s with us and we’re with him.

God is with us when we’re humming along to that Taylor Swift song and he’s with us when we’re singing our favorite worship song.

God is there when we’re in our church clothes and he’s just as near when we’re in our swimsuits at the beach.

God worked in our hearts at the camp meeting back in 1985 and he’s going to minister to us at the next camp meeting (and before it, after it… he’ll even minister to those who can’t go to it).

Listening to girls talk about what they’re looking for in a man is fascinating stuff…

I’ve heard girls say things like, “I’m only going to date a guy who has a really nice car.”

When I hear that, I always wonder: will she miss the right guy (faithful, honest, hard-working, loving, interesting, funny, etc.) because she was overly distracted with the vehicle?

I wonder the same thing in the church too…

Will we fail to notice God because we’re so obsessed with the vehicles?

God has already closed the distance for us.

He brought us to himself through Jesus Christ—and his Spirit lives in us.

Let’s notice Him… time machine or no time machine, vehicle or no vehicle.

Taking our relationship with God to a whole notha level means being aware of him more—even without the use of time machines and other vehicles.

I had a party at my house recently.

Two of our friends decided to hide in the guest bathroom’s shower—planning to surprise anyone who tried to use the bathroom.

They were in there for 20 minutes or so.

They successfully freaked out at least one person.

Now, every time I use that bathroom, I have to check the shower first—to make sure nobody is there.

I know it will be empty, but I still have to look so I won’t be thinking about it while I’m “busy” in there.

There is someone in your shower though.

God is there.

He’s everywhere.

I know it’s kind of weird to think about God being in your shower… but He is.

In fact, there’s nowhere you can go that He won’t be.

We think of God being in our church services or in our times of personal Bible study and devotions.

He just doesn’t stay confined to those “boxes”.

He’s also in your shower and in your car and in your cubicle at work.

He’s with you at the gym and He goes to the movies with you.

He’s everywhere.

I think part of our growth—in terms of our relationship with God—is being aware of His presence outside the “church box” and “Bible study box’.

“I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—but even in the darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as the day.” (Psalm 139.7, 9-12 NLT)

So… next time you’re in the shower, remember: Someone’s there with you.

NOTE: Special thanks to Erica Jones and Kaitlin Cole for providing the inspiration for this post.

We tend to approach our relationship with God either through knowing or experiencing.

Personality influences our tendencies—but we need to both know and experience God in order to grow in our relationship with Him.

Yup, that’s right: we need both.

We need to know Him and experience Him.

Knowledge is necessary—we need to learn about Him, we need to know Him, and we need to understand what the Bible says about Him.

Experience is necessary too—we need to sense, hear, feel, and respond to Him.

If we only approach God through knowledge, our relationship with Him will become academic, stinted, anemic, and weak.

I’ve been in church services before where the approach was only knowledge…

The thing is, God wasn’t needed there—they were doing just fine without Him.

If we only approach God through experience, our relationship with Him will become subjective and driven by our own whims.

I’ve also been in church services where the approach was only experiential…

They were weird, off-base, and dangerous (like a moving train that has left its tracks).

Growth in our relationship with God will require knowing Him and experiencing Him.

“May you have the power to understand (know)… his love. May you experience the love of Christ…” (Ephesians 3.18, 19 NLT)

Time to take your relationship with God to a whole notha level?

Know | Experience | Grow

My daughter and I like to play the “Would You Rather…?” game.

It’s kinda silly, and it’s kinda fun.

It’s about sharing—how you make decisions, what makes you tick… what makes you you.

It’s also about listening and learning—what they like, how they think… what makes them them.

My daughter and I already know each other pretty well, but we still enjoy the game.

And we’re still learning things.

In the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul prays for us—that we would grow in our knowledge of God.

“I keep asking that God… give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.” (Ephesians 1.17 NIV)

Maybe you feel like you know God pretty well.

That’s cool.

But there’s more to learn and there’s room to grow.

I really like the phrase, “so that you may know him better,” in this verse.

Here’s something worth considering:

What am I doing, what am I making time for, what’s happening in my life right now… so that I might know Him better?

It could be time for a good game of “Would You Rather…?” with God.

We all know the Goldilocks story: a little girl, walking in the forest… comes to a deserted house.

Inside the house, she sits in a chair that’s too small and one that’s too large before finding one that is “just right.”

She tastes porridge that is too hot and some that is too cold before devouring a bowl that’s “just right.”

She tries a too-soft bed and a too-hard bed before finding one that’s “just right.”

Astronomers use the term “Goldilocks Zone” to describe planets that are positioned “just right” from a star—planets like earth that can maintain liquid water (too close to a star, everything burns—too far from a star, everything freezes).

Investors use the term “Goldilocks Portfolio” to describe a family of funds that aren’t too hot or too cold… they’re “just right.”

Goldilocks may be a positive concept in astronomy, investing, and fairytales—but it’s a problem in the church.

In the church, I call it “The Goldilocks Syndrome.”

Not too hot, not too cold… “just right.”

Or, as God describes it: “lukewarm.”

“You’re not cold, you’re not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.” (Revelation 3.15-17 MSG)

“Just right” ain’t right in the church.

Safe and comfortable isn’t where life flourishes in God’s kingdom.

I know this is counterintuitive—we’re ingrained with the notion that “safe is good.”

God used such a strong visual image to describe how he feels about the Goldilocks Syndrome: it makes him want to vomit.

Recently, a friend asked me what I believe needs to change in our church.

Immediately, I thought about the Goldilocks Syndrome.

With tears welling up in my eyes, I answered his question:

“One thing I feel strongly about: our church needs to push and go beyond where we’ve been. We need to take the limits off, clear the haze of apathy… really give a damn and do things big, loud, and risky.”

That’s what I’m praying for.

No more Goldilocks Syndrome.

No more “just right” safe and comfortable, hazy, lazy, lukewarm Christianity.

It’s time to take the limits off—and go to another level.