Well, I’m off again to the upper Midwest. I’ll be in the Chicago area and then into Wisconsin over the next few days meeting with two communities of believers I’ve never met before. I always look forward to seeing what God might be doing in such locales. There’s an anticipation in my heart about what might be ahead this weekend.

I am also reading through George W. Bush’s Decision Points these days. As many of you know the Bush presidency was one of the greatest disappointments in political affairs. He came into office talking about being a uniter and not a divider, and then had one of the most divisive administrations of my lifetime, just like the president before him. But I always want to hear a man’s story from his side of things, and not just as he was filtered through the media. The book had been interesting, though I am sad at many of the decisions he ended up making.

I did like this quote when talking about his growing up in the love of his parents:

“When you know you have unconditional love, there is no point in rebellion and no need to fear failure.”

While I don’t use the term “unconditional love” myself (because I don’t think there is any such thing as conditional love), I understand what people mean by it. To be truly loved just for who we are is the place where transformation begins. Real love disarms the need for rebellion, because it doesn’t seek to control. And real love is not based on performance so you don’t need to fear failure.

Imagine if all God’s people knew that reality about his love! There’s no need to seek your own way, when you realize how loved you are. And you don’t have to be afraid of making decisions because he is going to love you through your failures. And there is no mistake you can make that is so big that Jesus can’t be in it with you to redeem it for his purpose.

I honestly believe this is the kind of freedom Galatians 5 is talking about. It isn’t the freedom to indulge my flesh, but the joy of living in the reality of his love and that alone will disarm all the lies and appetites of the flesh…

Tomorrow I get to fly back home to enjoy a day with the friends that help us pray and listen to Jesus for what we do through Lifestream and The God Journey, and to have a day with our whole family. Looking forward to it.

Last week I found this email that so resonated with me as well:

It’s funny how when Christian folks find out we don’t attend a church, we kind of become their project to get us into their church. I’m sure I was exactly the same, not too long ago. A couple guys that I have become friends with are very intellectual in their pursuit of God. One attends a Catholic church, the other a Baptist church. Every so often, they will buy me a book to read or CD’s to listen to. I’m reading a book about a protestant who turned catholic and a book about Calvinism. I may have to start turning down their requests to read these books because I feel like I’m all cluttered up, if that makes sense.

Both are very passionate about doctrine. Their argument is that if you don’t have correct doctrine/theology, you can’t really get to know God. I appreciate their passion to know God better, I’m just not so sure of the route. God always amazes me and seems to reveal Himself to us, even when we aren’t “doing it right”, so I believe He will honor the desire of their hearts to know Him. I don’t really know if I’m a Calvinist or an Armenian or somewhere in the middle. I’m not really sure I care what camp I fall into. My focus and prayer for months has been:

• “Father, I want to know you more intimately, the way you want me to know you.”
• “Father, open my eyes and help me to see how much you love me and those around me, and teach me to respond to that love.”
• “Father, when I read the Bible, reveal yourself to me. Help me to see what you want me to see about you.”

Then I get around these real intellectual guys and I think, “is my approach too simple?”. But when I start studying all the heady stuff, I get all clogged up. When I go back to just my simple focus, I mentioned above, there is a rest and peace. I guess that answers my question, huh?

Yes, I think he did!

I know for me when my spiritual journey was more of a head trip than learning to live loved, I was much more enamored with doctrinal positions. While I still believe in the importance of sound doctrine and growing in the truthof who God is, I don’t think he is nearly so complicated as some scholars would have us believe. Learning to live in his love and love those around me, including those who cross my path each day, is far more joyful and far more intellectually challenging than all the other things that use to fascinate me. And his truth emerges in the loving.

I guess that’s what Paul meant when he said “knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” Living loved leads to correct doctrine, but rarely does correct doctrine lead to living loved.

For some time now, I’ve wanted to record a new series to help people sort through the truth of Scripture inside a relationship with the Loving Father that would be a companion to Transitions already on the website. I’m finally going to be able to do it this May in the Indianapolis area. Since we will be recording this for audio and DVD distribution, we need to do it at a TV studio. As uncomfortable as I am with doing something like this, I feel the resource is important for people who want to be engage the reality of God in the Bible.

Confusion abounds about the Bible and what it says about God. Is he a demanding deity, or a tender Abba? How do we reconcile the Old and New Testament depictions of God and come away from reading the Bible inspired to greater trust in the Father rather than condemned in our failures? Many have given up reading Scripture because they are either intimidated by its content or confused about how to interpret it. By looking at the whole of Scripture through the revelation of Jesus we can see that it was never intended to be a book of rules, but an unfolding story to show us who God is and how he thinks. In this series Wayne Jacobsen wants to help you read the Bible through the lens of Jesus that not only makes it easier to understand, but also resolves the seeming inconsistencies in its message and content. For 40 years Wayne has been a student of Scripture mining it for wisdom, encouragement, and insights that helped him follow God more accurately and hopes you will find the same treasure in its pages.

Recording sessions have been scheduled in Anderson, IN as follows:

• Thursday, May 12, 6:15 -9:30 pm

• Friday, May 13, 6:15 – 9:30 pm

• Saturday, May 14: 8:45 am – 1:00 pm

Since space is limited registration is available on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be no charge but we need a firm commitment so as not to rob someone else from coming. Because we are recording this will be a more formal environment, where we need people on-time and ready to go. If you would like to participate on one or all of these opportunities, you will need to sign up with Sara and receive location details from her.

Well, I’m off to Austin for the weekend and then to Central Florida for the early part of next week. If you want to connect with either, please click on the links above.

Also, the Dutch version of He Loves Me, is now available in Holland from Publishing House Shama, which also carries So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore.

And as much as I enjoy my own Kindle, I didn’t know you could subscribe to blogs on it until I had some people asked me why mine wasn’t listed. So, I worked through the process and now those who wish to subscribe to the Lifestream Blog on their Kindle can do so. It costs $1.99, but it will automatically sync new entries on the Lifestream blog with your Kindle each time you log on. Sorry about the cost. That’s THEIR charge, not mine.

I wouldn’t have even remembered it if it hadn’t come up again the next day. The person who picked me up in the morning to drive me to my next destination told me a friend of hers that I’d met last night had called this morning to tell her how much my parting words had encouraged her. I scoured my brain to remember what I had said and came up blank.

“You don’t remember,” she said.

“No, I don’t.”

” As you hugged her you whispered, ‘I love the mess you’re in.'”

Now I remembered. It was only a passing comment, but somehow it had found a receptive heart. I really enjoyed this couple and their courage to follow Jesus even though some of their friends couldn’t understand the journey they were on. Many wanted the husband to quit his vocation and be their pastor, but he had refused, preferring them to follow Jesus and love each other rather than be managed by him. So their decision wasn’t popular and had caused some to begin to look down on them.

I love those kinds of messes. No, they are not fun, but messes created by our following Jesus are good messes to be in. He does wonderful things in our hearts even through the faulty judgments of others. Other messes, created by our own selfishness, failings, or arrogance aren’t such good messes. Oh, Jesus redeems us in the midst of them too, but I don’t love them so much.

That’s why some messes are better than others. Some storms you sail into because you’re lost, trying to save yourself and that takes a lot of rescue and rebuilding. I’m blessed Jesus does that. Other storms come up as we are following him, and while we don’t necessarily enjoy the mess, we can rest knowing it isn’t one of our own choosing.

All the children in front of the soon-to-be completed residences


The girls in front of their new digs.


The boys in front of their new digs


An assembly for the students during the school day

This has been such an incredible story, and we’re almost done. The building have been completed, the children have moved in, and classes have begun. Amazing. Here’s what Michael wrote recently:

I would like to sent our gratitude to your entire family and specifically your beloved wife Sara who worked tirelessly to improve our Kenyan families at large. We have come from far with you and on behalf of other brethren, thank you for being patient to us. Thank you for the comfort messages and more involving with the entire team with great support have changed and restore thousand of lives who could have died innocently. All said, all the funds you have supported us with is written in the book of life. I can see HIV victims smiling. The poor and the needy have something to testify about the love of Christ in their own way. In the midst of the valley, God brought life when they counted themselves as dry bones. God sent the breath of life from the brethren who have the mind of Christ and the Love from there your ministry has planted here the tree of unconditional love.

May the Lord be praised and his love will endure forever. The building is being completed beyond our expectation. Some rooms are now being used by the children. We are working our tirelessly that the children may get proper documents to allow them stay in the centre. So, we are trying to address there guardians as they continue with schooling under the center’s protection. Thank you for your prayers.

To date we have taken in $93,2062 with the matching grant. Thank you to every one who was able to participate. That money has gone to buy the property and build the buildings. The remaining need includes $6200 to complete supplies for the children’s residences, kitchen, and school. We have also committed to providing for the salaries of the staff ($750 per month) and meals for the children ($300 per month) for the next two years. We also want to help them develop some means of income around the Center which will help provide ongoing support after the two years is up. It has been a long journey, but light is clearly evident now at the end of the tunnel. If you’d like to help, there is still plenty of opportunity.

Thanks to all of you who continue to participate. For more information on our project here, you can read this earlier blog. If you would like to be part of this to support these brothers and sisters and see the Gospel grow in this part of Africa, please see our Sharing With the World page at Lifestream. You can either donate with a credit card there, or you can mail a check to Lifestream Ministries • 1560-1 Newbury Rd #313 • Newbury Park, CA 91320. Or if you prefer, we can take your donation over the phone at (805) 498-7774.

I get this email a lot. In fact I got two of them last week. I think you’ll enjoy the exchange:

I know you get this more than a lot, but I am totally lonely! I’ve been on this journey since the summer of 2009 when the So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore book came across my path. I feel isolated, and today I am going to a “church” just to be around other Christians, but yet I don’t want to go back! But I miss being around the people who at least seemed to know God. I do not miss the sermons and all the bells and whistles of Sunday mornings though. I guess I have to ask, after two years almost, how does this work? I’ve been depressed but I do not want to go back to the system, for real. I miss fellowship.

My response: Sorry you’re having some difficulty finding some folks to travel with. And believe me, I know how lonely it can feel. But fellowship is not to fill our loneliness. That ultimately can only be swallowed up by a loving Father as he continue to makes himself known to you and shows you how to follow him. He knows the fellowship you desire and he will bring it into your life as you simply begin to love the people God has already put around you. They may not even be believer yet, but as you simply grow in learning to care about them and recognize those God’s wants to give you a friendship with.

That doesn’t mean you can’t try out fellowships, look on line from others from your area. All of those can be helpful in this process. You may even find some in a more traditional congregation. Not all congregations are harmful. There are some out there who help people get to know Jesus and provide some wonderful relationships. Let him lead you and try not to be anxious. Sometimes it is better to go it alone with Jesus for a bit and learn to live in him rather than try to do that in a religious setting that trades in guilt and performance.

But be assured of this, Father knows the fellowship that he wants to bring into your life. Look where you can, but beyond your own abilities, know that he is at work. Right now I suspect God wants you to learn dependence in him so when others come along, you can find the friendships that trust in him allows as people encourage each other to live loved. It is a process. I know this isn’t the easiest part, but as you get through this season you’ll find it well worth it…

Just this morning I got this in return:

Thank you brother Wayne. This is the wisest piece of advice I’ve gotten since I met the Lord 11 years ago, when everything my bible study pastor told me came as fresh water because it was new and enlightening. I just felt the same way, and I so appreciate the time you have taken to answer my e-mails and that my e-mail didn’t go to a black hole. And thank you for not banging my head with scripture.

I will really be using the advise you just gave me and yes I “heard” my Lord saying to me the same thing yesterday, that I need to depend on Him alone (by the way I did not end up going to the congregation; I couldn’t; I just went to the beach to be with Him). I finally understood what a journey life is, it amazingly clicked inside of me, and that the journey is to be traveled with Him. I also finally understood the passage where Jesus says for us not to make treasures on Earth but rather in heaven, and I came to the realization that the treasures can be life itself, family, friends, a job, a career, children, parents, boyfriend, pets etc. as beautiful as all this can be, and that the treasures in heaven is Him, at least for now that’s what I understand. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

it is a journey. These things work out in time as we simply live inside the love he has for us and learn to love others around us in the process.

You might also try these podcasts on a similar subject…

I am off again, this time to one of my favorite places—New England. I wish it were fall, or at least spring, but it seems to still be a bit cold back there after a long dark winter, as I hear it from many. I’m going to get to hang out with friends old and new, and talk about one of my favorite subjects—how God won us to his affection through the cross.

I am often asked, “What does it take to get Wayne to come visit our group?” It almost sounds like it is an impossible task, especially in the last few years when people thought my popularity had increased and it was all that much more difficult or costly for me to come. That is not true. While the last few years have been a nightmare trying to navigate in the shadow of the popularity of THE SHACK and the increased interest in two of my other titles, my passion to help others on this journey has not changed. And I find that far more effective in a living room of 20 or 30 than I do a conference hall of hundreds.

God asked me to engage that craziness for a season, but it has not been an enjoyable season and it complicated my life in so many ways. For the last six months I’ve been seeking to lay all of that down to get back to that which I love most, communicating with people about this journey, whether it be through writings, recordings, or personal visits. All have a different capacity to communicate and help encourage God’s unfolding kingdom in the world.

So what does it take to get Wayne to come for a visit? It really isn’t that complicated. All of my trips start with an invitation. Ask. Then both of us can begin to pray about a timing and a purpose. When God gives us both a clear “go” for the same timing, then we move ahead with the planning. That’s really it. I don’t charge an appearance fee or even make sure the group can cover my expenses. My thinking is this. If Father has it on his heart then he will provide everything we need to make to make it happen. And I don’t schedule very far out, usually 2-3 months domestically, so that I can be more flexible to engage those more propitious moments where a crisis or a critical transition make it most helpful for me to be with a specific group.

And while I already have more invitations to travel than I can probably fulfill in the next two years, I don’t handle requests in the order they were received. They all go on a list and we pray over them to see what Father has in mind. The sense that I’ve had over the last few months is that some people are reticent to follow through with some nudge Father put on their heart because they are afraid I’m too busy. If people do that, however, we’ll both miss some exciting things he might have in store.

So, no, I’m not writing this because I lack invitations, but simply to let those who have had something they think God might have put on their heart and dismissed it because they thought I’d be too busy, to think again. I’m always looking for those opportunities that have Father smile on them, to help people discover the depths of Father’s affections, help groups discover how to engage a relational community that will free God to work in their midst, to connect people in an area who don’t know others near them might be on a similar journey to theirs and to help equip those who have a heart to help others grow on this journey. And I love hanging out, making new friends, and seeing what Father is about in the world.

I generally assume that anyone who reads this blog also listens to my podcast over at The God Journey, but I find out from time to time that isn’t always the case.

I do get a lot of email from people who deal with their adult children struggling with same-sex attraction, especially how they can continue to love their kids even though they are not supportive of their lifestyle on moral grounds. The podcast this week features an OB/GYN from Austin, Texas whom I met at a conference last fall. She has an interesting story of growing up a believer, discovering same-sex attraction in her teens and then living that lifestyle for nearly twenty years before her passion for God collided with her lifestyle. Through it all she had a mom who loved and prayed for her through those long years.

She was in California recently and Brad and I had the chance to interview here for this week’s podcast. You can listen to it here. She also gave us a list of resources for people struggling with sexual brokenness in their own lives, or in someone else they love.

The Living Loved Education Center has opened to provide schooling for the children


One of the students reciting a lesson in the school room


Lunch time for three of the students


Hanging doors in the almost-finished new construction

As you can see, the school has opened and the final touches are being completed on the new buildings just in time for the rainy season. This is a far cry from where these children used to live. Sara and I are so grateful for those children, and for all of you who have made this happen. When I was in Pennsylvania this weekend, someone handed me a $1,000 check to add to the fund. I was blown away. There are still more needs as we open this orphanage and ensure the staff can be paid. Michael wrote this today:

Dear Brother Wayne, I am so excited to report to you and thank you very much for the amount you send, it is enough it has help us to cover for all remaining issues, this inclusive the water and everything. Right now we are working out for the side of roofing and everything is going well until we finished. We have bought all the materials including paying the water in some days in advance. Thank you very much for your understanding about these special issues that have arisen. I am really blessed to see that the big number of the children are in the centre. We have enrolled enough teacher to start working immediately and other care takers along with other workers which I will be sending to you their information soon as possible. We are still working with some children to get their birth certificates in Eldoret.

Michael also included a special request, somewhat sheepishly, knowing how much people have already given. In all we have sent to help in Kenya, he has not taken one dime for his own household though he cares for 16 children in his own home. One of those, Petronilah, has grown into a young woman and has been accepted into nursing school in Uganda. However both her parents are dead and no one has any money to scholarship her eduction. To date, Michael has not asked anything for his own household, but would like to see this young woman take the opportunity. The cost is $2600 for the first year and $1800 for each year for the next two years. I find myself hoping there is someone, or some group of people out there who have not yet had the ability to participate in the ongoing need in Kenya, who would be willing to take on this need and bless this young woman with a nursing degree that will bring tremendous blessing to her life and her country. We can provide a tax-deduction for all contributions and the conduit to get her the money. If you would be interested in covering this need, please write me directly. If others of you just want to give a portion to her, feel free to do so as well. Just note that your gift is for “scholarship.” (UPDATE 3/17: A family on the east coast wrote to let us know that they would underwrite the full cost of her education. So this need has now been covered. I am so deeply touched by the generosity of people!)

Thanks again for your consideration. For more information on our project here, you can read this earlier blog. If you would like to be part of this to support these brothers and sisters and see the Gospel grow in this part of Africa, please see our Sharing With the World page at Lifestream. You can either donate with a credit card there, or you can mail a check to Lifestream Ministries • 1560-1 Newbury Rd #313 • Newbury Park, CA 91320. Or if you prefer, we can take your donation over the phone at (805) 498-7774.