When Roger stopped coasting...

In the Fall of 1968, I was a 24 year old graduate student (Masters in Communications) at the University of Missouri-Columbia.  I had just started working as a producer-director for the university's Instructional Television (IT) department.  As one of five grad-student IT employees, I helped college professors video record their class lectures for playback in undergraduate classrooms.

IT studios were on the top floor of Jesse Hall, MU's administration building. >>>

Around the IT office, we grad-students had interesting discussions, including religious topics.  Two of the guys were antagonistic toward whatever I said about believing in Jesus.  ....One considered himself an atheist philosopher; the other a former church-goer, who had past negative experiences with strict "religious" people.

.......As these office/grad-student discussions about faith continued over several weeks, it became more difficult for me to express myself.  ....My insecurities kicked in as these conversations became aggressive.

Challenged, I started questioning myself.  Then began wondering what I believed.  ....Realized I did not know how to express what I believed, ....if I believed it.  ....If you haven't been in such confrontational conversations yet, you may someday.

Well, ....one night while in my apartment studying, I remember asking God for some help.  Don't recall I knew exactly what to ask Him for, ....just "help".  ....That's when the Holy Spirit nudged me, ....telling me to "look up" at the bookshelf above my desk and "see" a set of 4 Reader's Digest books that Mom had given me a few months earlier.  I had not yet opened any of those books.  They just sat there looking good, reminding me of Mom's love.  

.....I reached up and "randomly" picked one of the 4 books ....and "randomly" opened it up to the writings of Justin Martyr.  ....God knew I needed to hear the voice of this Christian Apologist and Philosopher from the second century, ....explaining why he believed in Jesus as his Savior and Lord.  ....In 165 A.D. Justin was martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ.

On the book's Contents page, I wrote, "Jesus lead me to read this in Fall, 1968 to reconfirm my spiritual foundations."  .......Before that night, I had not heard of Justin Martyr.  But God knew I needed deep answers and to know Him better.  ....I've kept that "special" book with me for over 50 years, because it is the evidence of a "life marker" God-Moment ....and I did not want to forget it.

Reading Justin Martyr that night was huge encouragement for me.  ....I learned God is personal, closer than I ever realized before.  ....And Jesus wanted me to better understand my relationship with Him and His love for me.  ....It was a quiet "Wow!" moment I will never forget.

That "Justin Martyr" God-Moment in 1968 started changes in my life.  My heart grew deeper in the Lord, ....as I wanted to know Him more.  ....And then my journey with the Lord takes an unexpected pathway....

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What?  ....Roger a missionary?

Graduating a few years later in 1971, ....I hear about International Correspondence Institute (ICI), a new missionary Bible school starting up in Brussels, Belgium.  My wife Jan and I (married 1969) both felt God's calling on our lives, ....and joined ICI's staff in 1972 as lay-missionaries.  

In 1973, we took our young family to Brussels, Belgium, to help create Bible correspondence courses.  ....It was a totally unexpected path to follow, ....but then God is full of surprises ....custom made for each one of us.  ....God knows what we need ....for where we are in life.  SMILE.

Today, some 50+ years later, ....startup ICI has grown into Global University.  Check it out at globaluniversity.edu ....and see what God has done with it.  Amazing!

.......I have a couple more "God-Moment" stories to tell you about, ....but you already get the picture.  If you pursue God, ....no telling where He might lead you.

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Why am I telling you this story?

Perhaps you have already had "God-Moments" on life's journey.  If not yet, you may soon.  ....And you should be prepared to recognize them for His intent.  .......Now, of course, I say all of this with great wisdom, ....because I'm looking back on my life's journey.  SMILE....  

Did I understand God's intent in my Justin Martyr "God-Moment" when it happened?  Well, no.  It was all new.  I was just trying to figure out how to keep going day after day.  ....And now, older with some life-experience, ....I look back and see what God was doing back then, ....step by step ....as we walked along together.

Was it all smooth going.  No.  Had my challenges.  ....But difficulties help us grow spiritually, ....trusting in God.  Helps build our character, ....endurance, ....our commitment to Him.  ....Looking back, its been a great journey with my Lord.  SMILE....  

What might God-Moments look like in your life?

....I don't know, but God does.

Perhaps like me, God wants you to "move forward" ....out of a "routine, habitual" knowledge of "church-eze", ....into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him.  He would like that.

Maybe God wants you to "turn around" from whatever direction you are going, ....and travel alongside Him ....in a direction He will show you.  He would like that too.

Whatever your "God-Moment" might be, it will give God joy and a smile ....as you follow and trust Him.

So, go ahead and ....listen for His voice....

My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.”
And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.”
    — Psalm 27:8 NLT

.......Isn't this a great Quest journey!