The Sound of God’s Voice Begins, Where Common Sense Ends

“Write for Me Kevin, and I will provide!”

This was the powerful impression of an illogical God on the spirit of a very foolish man. Yet one who after living by common sense, and losing everything he worked years to achieve, finally decided to stop leaning on his own understanding – to never again be pushed around by what is seen – opting instead to be led by what is unseen.

And by sound of God’s voice, at a time when there was no money for rent or utilities, and little food in the pantry, I began the arduous and unreasonable task of writing my first book–The Extravagant Fool: A Faith Journey That Begins Where Common Sense Ends.

As the bank began the process of removing us from our home at Christmas, and taxes threatened to seize what few assets we had – including the computer I would use to write – the good intentions of other believers, including our own church family screamed: Enough! With words of get-a-real-job-now practicality that were impossible to rebut by any form of human wisdom:

“Yes…but these days everyone’s a writer…your real job is to put beans on the table.”

“Sure God is good…but we live here, in reality. It’s just plain selfish to put anything above your family.”

So, by the standards of the age, it was a foolish idea – one that many still believe originated deep in the heart of my own wishful thinking, certain that a God who remains silent beyond the pages of His Word hadn’t spoken such a foolish thing. And perhaps the kind of “foolish” thing that could only be believed or carried out by absolute faith – the kind of faith, ironically, that we find as our example in the pages of that Word – the very same Scriptures where victory was only achieved when human logic bent its knees to the irrational call of God.

Reality Check

Indeed, if faith comes by the hearing of the Word, then living here in “reality” is living by what we find within in its pages, despite what logic dictates. In order to courageously follow the impossible things God uses to test and grow that faith, we must begin by sitting still, and learning to trust the examples He’s already given us – the whole of Scripture – where every impractical story challenges our logic and self-appointed sense of direction. A kind of shepherd’s crook perhaps, to pull the off-course sheep back in the shepherd’s direction, and where the sound of His voice can be clearly discerned and followed with childlike abandon.

Thank you Noah, Abraham, Esther and Gideon, Mathew, Mary and Paul, for listening when it made no sense, and following like a fool at logic’s expense!

So God challenged my faith for the sound of His voice, by challenging me to first believe that the heroes of Scripture – men and women He led to victory – had heard it long before and recorded it, that we may learn to listen as well, and follow courageously against the opinions of apparently wiser men.

In other words, He inspired me to approach the Word with absolute trust, to set aside the dirty spectacles of practicality and human wisdom—to knock with certainty as if it were the door that only His personality could answer. As a result, I began to discern the plagues of my past – of relegating God’s voice to the past and parading its characters and their creator as if only cartoons worth quoting in the present. I began to have disdain for the logical sneaks who hive off chunks of the Word into sentiments and stings, as if a Deity who could speak entirety itself into existence, might struggle to say exactly what He means.

Even by logic, a divided house falls – He either did it all or did nothing at all. Meaning every single word, whether in red ink or black, spoken by prophet, king, physician, fisherman, or a collector of tax, whether from the mouth of Jesus or those inspired by His Spirit, are supernaturally in-tact.  The more time I spent, the more He revealed, the more intimate our relationship became. The more intimate our relationship, the stronger His impressions became.

Until these words: “Write for Me Kevin, and I will provide!” became the ultimate ground where faith and logic collide. Today there is a book being published by a major publisher, and my family still has a home and plenty to eat – something that was impossible for me to accomplish, yet by God’s lead, was impossible for logic to defeat. To God alone goes the glory!

Dividing the Soul and Spirit (Separating our understanding from His)

Lord, remind us again about the Word that was made flesh…Its breadth and dimension are unrestrained by the flattened landscape of paper and ink. Its Jasper walls of everlasting truth cannot be overtaken by the temporary weeds that men call facts. No literary arrow dipped in the flames of contradiction can set fire to this living water or breach the iron gates of its context. Not even the giant void of black universe can block the radiance of one single verse – “Let there be light” from Pennsylvania to Mongolia. It’s a lamp to our feet that now stretches from Amish nightstands to the glowing cell phones of shepherds in the Gobi desert.

O how the Word is alive and powerful, sharper than any two edged sword. Yet we hold it captive – locked in the scabbard – by leaving it unread. And from the comfort of our own understanding we end up leaving for dead, the still-small-voice that speaks so intimately behind every inspired pen-stoke, and corporate slice of living bread.

Help us all to be convicted to a life of resting on every word you’ve spoken, and moving with abandon by every word you speak. May our spirits be ready to listen with ears that hear, and may we pursue your voice with courage through every soulish doubt and its common-sense veneer.

Living Proof

If you’d like to know more about how we learned to truly hear, trust, and follow the sound of God’s voice to a life of absolute freedom from striving, spiritual rejuvenation, and distinct purpose carried out; Our story, chocked full overwhelming odds and miraculous impossibilities, offers an inspiring glimpse and undeniable proof of God’s unfathomable goodness, along with His loving desire for each of us to step past our own understanding, and finally be led by His Spirit.

The Extravagant Fool is about encountering God with an uncommon intimacy. About honing your ability to discern his voice, leading to a revelation of who you are and what you are to do here on earth, plus the provision to carry it out.

Sound impossible?

Hear the living, breathing testimony offered by the extravagant fool, a man who staked his welfare—and future—entirely on the goodness of God.

• The Extravagant Fool releases May 6^th but can be purchased now at pre-sale pricing.

• Chapter One is available for free at the website by clicking the “Book Preview” tab

My wife Holly, and I, hope you will be deeply encouraged by what God has done, and be equally challenged, and inspired by what He will gladly do for anyone willing to rest in His arms like a happy child. Thank you for taking the time to read the rest of our story!

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Warm blessings.