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I just returned from another trip to Israel.  I have been there at least 15 times and every time I go, I am profoundly moved.  There is something inexplicable about reading the stories of the Bible in the locations where they actually happened.  There was something about the land and its people that cannot be fully explained in rational terms.  Every time I go, I am stirred to be more serious about the Bible. After one trip I decided to memorize the sermon on the mount - Matthew 5-7. After another trip, I signed up to retake hebrew at Calvin Seminary.

Without the help of my wife Lorna, this trip would not have been possible.  Even though I am still able to teach, travel and lead a group, there are things that I am not able to do.  Well actually, I am still able to do most of them but when I do it wears me out.  Getting dressed.  Carrying a backpack.  Cutting food.  Tying my shoes.  Putting on the raincoat.  Zipping up the raincoat.  Carrying my food.  While I am still able to do all of these things, whenever I do them it completely wears me out.  So without Lorna, this trip was not possible.  So I say, "thank you very much, Lorna."

It has been a while since I wrote on (or "in") the blog. Don't know why. Maybe just laziness. Certainly not business. Anyway, here it goes. It is a new year. For years I made new years resolutions. One year i decided to read through the entire Bible once a month. Another year I committed to focus on prayer. My resolutions always related to something that would help me grow spiritualy. This year I have no resolutions at all. Well, maybe one. I resolve to live everyday to the fullest and try not to worry about tomorrow. Of course this is easier said than done. My goal is to embrace everyday, enjoy it, live it like there is no tomorrow and give God glory through it.

It is also a new decade. I really did  not think about a new decade until recently. And the thought of a new decade scares me. Frankly I am not sure I will live to see the next decade. I have ALS and even though i have had it over nine years and it is a slow growing form, the statistics suggest i will not last another ten years. If you had told me nine years ago that I would still be alive, I would have been estatic. After all, the doctors gave me two to five yearrs to live and most of those years in a disabled condition. So i am grateful to still be alive and mobile. But i am learning that the more God extends my life, the more  greedy for life I become.  I am always wanting more and more. Maybe I will make it to 2020. If I do, i will still want more. If I don't make it to 2020, it has been a great ride.

I am sitting at home in the living room. The sun is shinning - unusual for Michigan this time of the year. Actually, the sun just went behind a cloud. Anyway, it is a beautiful day. I am chilling out between dates on the book tour. The tour is at the halfway stage.  We began in Kalamazoo, Michigan where I spoke at a fundraiser for an organization that works with the poorest of the poor - DCK (Deacon's Conference of Kalamazoo). Then I did several events in Grand Rapids, spent 4 days in NYC, went to Chicago and then Santa Cruz. Along the way I did a number of radio and print interviews. At most places where I spoke, I also answered questions from the audience.  So I have started to compile a list of questions. They are not listed in any kind of order.

1. Jesus was humble. How did you develop humility during your year?

2. Did you struggle with consumerism during the year?

3. After the year, you stopped living Jewishly. What have you kept doing?

4. I can't believe you voted for Obama. What in the world were you thinking?

5. Did you choose 12 disciples to follow you?

6. What kind of beer did you drink?

7. What did you do about dependence on foreign oil?

8. What lessons did you learn?

9. Did you ever walk on water?

10. How did your ALS impact your journey?

Well, this is the beginning of questions. There were a lot more.

The new book,"The Year of Living Like Jesus", is on the way to the bookstores. Soon you will be able to buy it. If you are anticipating a typical conservative,evangelical approach to following Jesus and his teaching-be warned. You will likely be dissapointed and maybe angry-in a Christian sort of way. Some will think,"What is the world were you thinking?" Let me attempt to answer that question. (Even though my answer will sound defensive).

First, I wanted to try and follow Jesus and his teaching without the constraints (some would say "boxes") of organized religion. For the first time in my life I don't serve a church or religous institution. So I am free! I tried to set aside all constraints imposed by organized religion. Of course this was nearly impossible.

Second, I began the year with little or no preconceived ideas about where this might lead. Actually I was a little nervous about where it might lead. And the journey took many unexpected twists and turns. I ended up doing things I never anticipated doing.

Third, I wrote this book for those on the fringes of the faith.  People who are interested in Jesus but not "the church." I did not write for those who are in the church. My passion has always been for those who are "unchurched." Years ago we started a non-traditional Saturday night service for those who would never show up on Sunday. It was a stretch for nearly everyone in the church. But we did it! This book is "Saturday Night" reduced to writing. I pray that many who are attracted to Jesus  but not the church will take the next step.

Fourth, I am still an evangelical - though I don't like the term (see the introduction to the book). I still believe what I said when I was ordained many years ago. But I have never been satisfied to remain the same. I have always pushed the boundries. I want to keep growing as a devoted follower of Jesus. I believe that my year of trying to live like Jesus helped me change in significant ways. But I still have a long way to go.

Last, the way of Jesus is hard. It requires constant vigilance. It demands our total commitment. I learned through many failures and mistakes just how hard it is. I don't claim to have all the answers. I don't claim that everthing  I did was right.  My only claim is that  I tried to follow Jesus and his teaching - however imperfectly.

Tonight I will be giving a talk along with my neurologist to over 90 medical professionals.  Dr. Wiley, my neurologist, has been a great encouragement to me these last nine years.  A while back we gave this talk to the Kent County medical Society.  I spoke from the perspective of the patient and he spoke from the perspective of a physician.  It was very well received and so we are doing it again at Calvary Church -- the church that I served for over 18  years.

Shortly after I was diagnosed with als (incurable,degenerative and terminal illness) I preached a series of messages on the subject od Divine Healing. For me this was not theological or theoretical - it was the reality of what I was facing. The first message introduces the topic and the rest fill in the blanks. I can remember the series as if it was yesterday even though it was almost nine years ago. I hope it will encourage a lot of people who are struggling.

THE SERMONS ARE FOR DOWNLOAD ON MY BLOG-FOR FREE

Actually I never intended to write a book about my year of living like Jesus.  I was several months into my journey and I ate lunch with one of my friends who works at Zondervan. I was telling him about the first several months of my journey and he suggested that I consider writing a book about my experience.  So I was several months into the journey before I even considered writing about it.

So now that the book is coming out, I am very excited and nervous.  Sometimes  the more "nervous" part outweighs the "excited" part. I explored Catholic, Orthodox and Episcopal prayer ideas.  I ate kosher and observe the Jewish feasts -- none of which are required of Christians.  I voted for President Obama even though I had always voted for a Republican.  I frequented the bar and drank beer.  And I did all of these things in my effort to follow Jesus teachings.

So for better or worse, the book is arriving in bookstores.  I am praying that people on the fringes of the Christian faith will pick up the book and read it- people who are interested in Jesus but not the church.  I am praying that they will read it and that they will be open to Jesus and his teaching.