The theme from Sheen Magazine that they asked me to comment on: It is always best to know who you are and enjoy yourself! We'll explore the spiritual awakening that comes with self-love. Find new ways to live solo!
Pastor Randy, can you please share the inspiration behind your highly acclaimed book, "Slow Brewing Tea?" Slow Brewing Tea is a love story that explores the depths of self-love in a profound manner and exotic setting. Orphaned as an adolescent by parents who died from drugs and suicide, Isaiah spent several years in the foster system before being rescued by a wealthy couple who adopted him. It should have been a fairy-tale ending, but self-love doesn't come that easy. After high school, he enlisted in the Air force and soon found himself in the mountains and fascinating culture of traditional, rural Japan. He fell in love with a gorgeous, intelligent Japanese woman, and it should have been a fairy-tale ending. But, again, self-love doesn't come that easy.
In your book, you talk about how you studied eastern religions for 50 years and questioned the very existence of God. From your own personal experience, how can someone find spiritual awakening from reading your book? Every eastern mystic agrees there is a path, a tao, of spiritual enlightenment. But describing that path is universally enigmatic. To most of us, it seems like we should be able to join a church, meditate on the right words, or sit in the correct position and easily find a path to self-acceptance, a higher plane of love. But rarely is our path to life and truth that easily trekked. is my attempt at describing this path. If you've tried many paths and found yourself wanting more from life, I invite you to explore the path beneath feet by following Isaiah along journey. Take your time with Isaiah, brew slowly, think and feel as Isaiah does, and let yourself fall in love.
The theme for this issue is 'Live Solo!' What ways can someone find revelation, spiritual awakening through their personal discovery or purpose, intention, and self-love? We live in a highly connected world where we are heavily influenced by the culture in which we identify. Exploring other cultures in this hyper-media-driven world is easy, but most of us don't. Living solo means, we must courageously break free from the chains of "what my group thinks is true," get outside our self-absorbed bubble and wipe the film off our glasses. But when you do, you realize the possibilities of living in radical, cross-boundary love are crazy good! Living as a disciple of Jesus takes this kind of courageous, counter-cultural, living-solo attitude.
Since accepting the salvation of Jesus Christ, you have gone on to become a Pastor and dedicate your entire life to ministry and ministering to the homeless at the Rescue Mission, which is so incredible! What was your transition like to become the man of God you are today, and to embrace your spiritual calling? At the age of 50, after living most of my life as an anti-Christian (Christians' judgment and hypocrisy bothered me), I got to a point in my life where I wondered if I was right. I decided to read the Bible for myself, honestly, with an openness to hear from God, not man. So, living solo, I sat by myself and read a modern English study Bible, cover to cover: every note, every cross reference. I fell head-over-heels in love. I couldn't help it. And I realized how silly I had been to think that any of us, Christian or not, could live up to His perfection. My judgment, something I hated from Christians, had kept me from the love of my life. I had not been brave enough to live solo and pursue a relationship with God for myself.
Solitude; living solo doesn't always have to be negative. What scriptures or positive affirmations can you share to help someone to embrace this season of their life? "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God…and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." John 1:1,14. When it comes to knowing God, be a good date. Good dates ask questions and listen to the other—they keep the conversation about them. Everyone knows great relationships are built by great listening. Jesus is the Word. So, open up the Word (the Bible) and listen carefully, ask questions of Him. You will be astounded by how wrong you were about Him and how much you are loved.
How can someone renew their mind to embrace their own spiritual journey and adopt a healthy mindset of self-love? Renewing our minds, to the degree we need to live in radical love, is impossible on our own. The Bible tells us we need a supernatural intervention to have renew our minds, and only then will we be able to find the way, the truth and the life. If you are wanting more, not just mildly curious in watching others live a good life, but truly wanting more for life, you'll need to pursue the path, the tao, the way, for yourself. Don't listen to others, including me, and clear your head from judgment and prejudice. Get yourself a good study Bible, and commit to "draw near to God." Because when you do, He will draw near to you. That's His promise from James 4:8.
Pastor Randy, what gives your life meaning, and what is next for you? Jesus gives my life meaning. Truly and profoundly. I want to be like Him. I can't. But I want to be as close to Him as I possibly can. I have just published a sequel to , called . It's another love story with a lot of adventure in it. And I have seven more novels planned. My passion is that people wouldn't wait fifty years like I did. This life has so much more to offer, and most don't know it. I pray for every one of you reading this article. Draw near to Him, now—when you find Him and bond with Him, you will melt like butter on toast. I wish I could take your hand and bring you there, but you have to live solo, and pursue Him for yourself. I am cheering you on!