There has been a big push to find church relevance in recent times, and a refreshing emphasis on non-religious Christianity. Leading the charge have been writers who put emphasis on the relationship break we have had with the creator - the Personal Jesus.

There is a break away from reductionist readings where we try to break down the relationship with the Personal Jesus into a five step process. The oversimplified formula of steps usually go like this:

Because man was sinful by nature then God sent his Son who died for us and then we can accept Jesus into our hearts.

In his book, Searching for God Knows What, Donald Miller challenged his students on the spiritual integrity of assuming to know God merely by following these 5 steps. Under this challenge, I trust a few more “Christians” like Miller's students would answer, “Well we should also know the Personal Jesus”.
Miller says that in the business of trying to remember the bullet points of formulas we are missing the rich narrative of stories, poetry, visions and emotional letters.

In this rich text lies the capacity for the Creator to come out of the pages and beyond, walking into our waking lives. In the poetry and prose, there is a portal that connects with our hearts. It has the capacity to heal the relational wounds of that first separation beyond a bullet point fact. It presents a vision for the future. A vision not of dry black and white text but in the rich colours and textures of God's diverse creation.





In this day and age, we tend to want to break things down to their fundamental elements. We try to make everything into a formula.

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Sometimes we can start focus on the "7 steps" to developing our spiritual gifts instead of building a relationship with the one who gives the gifts. There is a Personal Jesus. He wants to build a relationship with us while teaching us the elements of prophesy ministry and Evangelism that are particular to our calling in life. A series of steps can not ever  cover the ground needed to master these spiritual gifts.

Sometimes it can be helpful to break things down into steps. But we must be aware of the whole. We have the whole of spiritual gift development to help us in this cause. We have the part of learning and prophesy but this is nurtured in relationship - connecting to our personal Jesus and speaking out what he says. We have the part of learning and doing some sort of ministry but this also needs time, development and encounter with Gods community, His Person and His Spirit - then we can begin acting out in ways we've been told to. Helping others. We have the part of evangelism - letting others know of our experience of knowing a personal Jesus but we will benefit all the more knowing that God is with us in this.



Then William Shakespeare could be regarded as a prophet using the logic above. Donald Miller, in Searching for God Knows What, contrasts the absurdity of breaking spirituality into three step self help manuals and then compares this to the story of Romeo and Juliet. In Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio accuses Romeo of “loving by numbers” and in a formulaic relationship with Rosaline. We can see how many people in the spiritual desert try to encourage into Christianity by offering step by step processes. This is like trying to love by numbers. It neglects the reality of the invitation to have a deep love relationship with a personal Jesus.

In contrast to this loving by numbers, Romeo then encounters a love full of the love, poetry, and wonder of the greatest Hollywood classic. We know of the endless disruptions this mad love would cause the young lover. This was a mad love that would require the giving of everything. Because that's the nature of love. Because of a family feud, Romeo gave had to give up his name as he entered into passion that would take only his earthly life.

Like how Romeo was from a different family, God also was from a a different family to us. A kingdom not of this earth. But like Romeo, God gave of himself to unify the Heavenly kingdom to the earthly kingdom.  God sacrificed everything for us in sending his only Son from his side in heaven to Earth in a sacrificial act of love. Like how Romeo sacrificed everything for Juliet, God through Christ also was willing to give his life, his everything for relationship with us. Such devotion is worthy of more than love by numbers, more than a three step process.




You Can Take Action:
Begin learning more about prophesy.
Begin talking with The Personal Jesus about ways in which you minister to others.
Begin speaking to others about the important spiritual lessons that you are learning. Ask what spiritual things they have been learning.



Knowledge is not all about formulas and classifications. There are many ways of knowing and we can all have a different perspective on a Personal Jesus.

There are different interpretations of the Gospel coming from the same original accounts. This does not mean the Creator is dependent on our different interpretations or that he changes depending on who's looking at him.

Some seek to know God in science and formulas. Others seek to extend our present knowledge in a more inspired relational connection to a Personal Jesus. Visions, dreams, spirit and the great community are means to true, personal and real connection to God.  God who is the source of all knowing.

True Joy requires a consistent flow or state of happiness. Too often when we find happiness we think there is also the big “surprise” that comes with it. We ask, "What's the catch?"
Real happiness is found where there are not any catches. Joy is pure and whole and only truly found personified in the Personal Jesus. I think it explained well by W. Phillip Keller who says,  "...there is a deep river of Joy that is unceasing, runs, flows steadily, surely through us, through all the universe, pure, power, enthusiasm, enduring hope, the fountain-head of life itself.

Ode to Joy Video Found on Copying Beethoven
You Can Take Action:
Examine what you are learning and how you are learning. Do you take things a part and make smaller bits of information? Are you willing to look at the whole?
Begin seeing knowledge as more than a rational thing.
Begin to talk with our personal Jesus about how to live in a state of joy.



Boldness.

The Heroine (you) realizes the call to live a bold and extraordinary life. To follow in the footsteps of a Love full of the mercy and forgiveness that has been delivered to you. Deep in an in love relationship with the Personal Jesus, you the hero responds to your own unique calling in the creation plan. A plan that was put into your heart long before you were born. The quest of the Dream Giver that gives life its fruitfulness and meaning. A quest to carry and live out the word of God in your own unique way. Find out more.


In Spiral Dynamics, green is the colour of "experiencing the moment" in life. It's time to live in the moment and to be joyful.

You value community. Reaching decisions through consensus. You find value in valuing others. You recognize that everyone should have their share and be a part of the whole. You see that connection is made through plugging into a spirit of overcoming differences and harmonizing with other distinct ways of knowing.



See Spiral Dynamics on The Colors Page for links



A more personal relationship with the creator and his creation is forged. Joy is found through sensitivity, understanding and compassion of others perspectives, and what has been placed in your own heart.

Everyday issues for the Personal Jesus Green Level:
Personal Jesus and spirituality: Developing your spirituality in a deeply personal way.
Personal Jesus and science: understanding it's value and limitations.
Personal Jesus and education: learning about knowing.
Personal Jesus and social work: Connecting and ministering to the community.



Decide what you want to achieve with the drama. What behaviors would you like to modify. What aspect of consciousness would you like to raise to enhance your relational bond with a Personal Jesus?

Plan what to do before, during and after the drama.

Use the Interactive Guide below to go the other levels after the Personal Jesus page. Next level: yellow.

Level Objectives for Personal Jesus