Do you see yourself as an insider or an outsider? How do you see me? Structures of power emerge in any culture, and these can be political, religious, financial, and others. Those who belong to the structures and reap the benefits thereof are insiders. Have you noticed that insiders will fiercely defend the organizations they gain from? But they are unable to address structural problems and injustices in the system. I was an outsider to the religious establishment of my own generation, and that is where my opposition came from. Are you an insider in the religious organization of your time?

How important is it to you to be right? How do you describe your faith? Would you say it is a relationship with me? So is it more important to be correct or to be connected? Do you see truth as a series of abstract propositional assertions, or do you see it as a living person? My revelation has been progressive and some who were commended in the Bible as heroes of faith held doctrinal positions you would not affirm today. I accepted them in spite of this because of the way they pressed in with what they knew and would not be denied. I will do the same for you.

Do you find that intelligence is highly rated in your culture? Everyone wants to be smart, and you have seen those who are not pretend that they are. Do you realize that there is something more important than intelligence? Asking the right questions is more important than being clever. You won’t get the right answers by asking the wrong questions no matter how smart you are. What if you pursue the right questions but have limited cognitive ability? Do not be discouraged. You have my promise that if you seek you will find.

Do you see the benefits of having a direct encounter with me? In the beginning, before there was an organized church, this was the only way to experience me. Do you assume that this is no longer available since there is now a church? But this is not a valid assumption. Is it the longing of your heart to encounter me yourself? Have you found that this is not something you can arrange or stage yourself? You are in my hands but I am not in yours. Do not be discouraged.