Not long ago I found myself living in a physical, spiritual, emotional and social coma. I should have had a big Z for Zombie branded into my forehead.
A series of events starting with an eye opening look at what I had allowed to happen to my body and culminating with the horror of losing my beloved 4 year old granddaughter in the mountains of Colorado, started my recovery from living in the depressive staleness of just “making a living,” to breathing the fresh air of living “Fully Alive.”
Thank God, my granddaughter was found alive and well and I found new hope and strength to live “fully alive” again!
Henry David Thoreau said, “Most men live lives of quiet desperation and go to their grave with their song still in them.”
Benjamin Franklin said, ” Many men die at 25 and aren’t buried until 75.”
On the 26th of this month we will be shooting a theater release film using laughter and powerful story to help people live “Fully Alive.” Nothing, I have ever talked about has generated such an overwhelming response as this challenge. Multi award winning producer Gary Wheeler, and Erwin Brothers motion pictures were attracted to this project because of the power of this challenge to impact people from all walks of life.
“Fully Alive” was conceived specifically to help breathe life into so many who feel like the walking dead. At times all of us sense we may be living far short of the potential for which we were created, we feel like we are just surviving instead of thriving!
Like my old buddy the apostle Paul said, “I have not yet arrived in this pursuit, But I long to know Christ and the POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION.”
What could be greater than to know THAT POWER in our life NOW!
I am back on my feet now 40 lbs lighter and running full speed ahead. The physical renewal triggered a change in every other area of my life. Some days my body hurts. Some days my heart hurts. Some days are exhilarating. Shouts of joy are occasionally mingled with tears…… but I AM ALIVE!
I am convinced that the focus of the rest of my life will be to grab hold of those who have stumbled along the way as I did. To encourage them to run again. To learn together how to maximize the moment and LIVE. This movie is the first step.
St Irenaeus said, The Glory of God is Man Fully Alive. I want to know Christ’s love and forgiveness in a way that will empower me to ….
Walk through fear to taste of courage
Reject isolation to embrace community
Discover confidence in the nature of my creation
Live with expectancy rather than expectation
Love every person I meet with the passion of Christ
“I want to wake up kicking and screaming
I want a heart that I know is beating,
It’s beating,
I’m bleeding.” Switchfoot
I WANT TO LIVE!
How about you!! Where are you in the journey of living fully alive? We will be establishing a web page soon where you can share your story, your dreams, your challenges and your triumphs. Until then, your comments will be cherished as we all move toward living life fully alive.
Comments
This is one of things I’ve been doing to ‘act’ alive: https://compassiondave.wordpress.com/2011/03/17/millie-joe-and-mario/
It’s not all I do, but it goes a long way in helping me to hear my own heart beat.
I love compassion! They bring life to children around the world. I can hear your heart beating. Thanks for the comment
Anytime Irenaeus and Switchfoot can be quoted in the same story…you know it will be great!
We are happy to include what you are doing on the website and online magazine.
We often forget…even in HIS service…Elijah had his moment “under the tree”
I know through recent health battle(about the same time as your wife had hers) There comes a time God feeds us,let’s us rest…then tells us to get up and go back about HIS work!
I want to live!
Thanks for sharing this…
Thank you for your comment and for your support. I will be counting on your prayers.
This is it, Ken. This is the post that changes everything for me. I got your Twitter message about the lies of Satan and I will fight the good fight until this battle is won. And I will be joining you in Grand Rapids on the 26th after all. I feel that is where I will get some new armour. Mine seems a tad rusty as of late. May need some help getting there, but make no mistake, the battle is ON!!! (^_^)
Great! Things will be hectic, but please say hello. Let me know which show you will be at. I love your honesty. Welcome to the world of chinked armor. His strength is made perfect in our weakness
Sometimes through the fire, we are refined with purpose again. To just exist wastes God’s talents and gifting in us. When I wane in joy and purpose God gently shows me my focus is askew. His love is steadfast and new every morning!
Jeff, Thank you for your insightful and encouraging words.
4 years ago at age 47 I was diagnosed with early onset dementia, this medical disorder has an average life expectancy of 5-8 years. since receiving the diagnosis I have learned to live for God. of course being human I do get depressed some times expecially when my brain can not remember what common everyday food taste lik. For example a couple weeks ago the package said Blueberry poptarts the brain said onion poptarts. but the good news Today I found out that I do not qualify for hoe healthcare or home hospice care yet. that means I I have more time to enlighten people to the funny side of this disorder and explain that dementia is not a curse but is instead a wonderful gift from God.
I haven’t figured out the onion poptarts yet but the story has brought a lot of people a lot of good laughs. this is the task God has given me showing the joy in adversity.
Ken, God made you post this just now. He told you someone (I) needed exactly those words.
Harry, I am grateful that you were encouraged. LIVE!
This post is very inspirational to me. Thanks so much for sharing!
We are filming a theater release on this topic 26 of March. I a praying that it will encourage many.
Ken,
I heard you speak at Willow Creek last fall and your talk inspired me to get rid of the fear and embrace the life that God has called me to. This blog post is a great reminder of what God is doing in my life and to continue to step out and live the adventure! Thank you!
Vickie, you are very welcome. So glad that you are living fully alive.
WOW! Yet another confirmation to me that I need to move ahead with what I feel God calling me to do – even though it scares me to death! I don’t think I would keep having so many things put in front of me that spark that “umpf” in me to go ahead with it. I feel Him calling me to Women’s Ministry and I’m not completely sure exactly how He is going to use me in that but I’m willing (though scared) to go forth in Him.
Thank you for this post – and this was the first I’d heard (read) about your granddaughter being lost in the woods – sooooo glad to hear she was found alive and well 🙂
Kathryn, courage is the ability to move forward in the face of fear. Sounds like you are a courageous person. Thanks for your comment.
I chose to live 2 years ago after noticing that life was passing me by…now I live fully in God’s grace after recovery. His power of healing has lifted me out of dispare and numbness. Thanks for spot-lighting this choice we all have if we’d only grab on and live to the potential that God has for each one of us. Can’t wait to see it.
Diana, So glad for the choice you have made. AND for sharing it. A great encouragement for all of us.
Ken I have to tell you that you are such an inspiration to me. You put your life and your struggles out here for all of us to read learn and grow from. It helps me remember when I am going through times like that, that I am not alone. I know God is with me but I also am reminded that others have walked the same road and made it to the other side.
I know I have been walking around in a zombie state alot in the last 5-6 years of my life, Sine my husband’s suicide wonder what I could have done or not done said or not said. Understanding it was his choice and he was sick or never would have made that choice, yet feeling some how responsible.
Recently God took that away from me. I have been praying for years that God show me how to forgive myself. I went to your show at Grace Church in Eden Prairie a month or so back and it jump started me to find my way though this pain, and for that I am grateful.
A week or so later I met a man who had just lost his wife. As we were chatting he gave me some profound wisdom. He had lost his son to suicide 17 years earlier. He said he felt I was through my grief, but needed to let go of the rest. He suggested instead of praying for God to help me forgive myself. To pray that God take it from me, because it was to much to bear. The nightmares are gone. I got a letter from my step kids biological mom out of the blue saying thank you for raising my kids when I couldn’t and I got a request to be my son’s friend on facebook and a email from him. That relationship has been nonexistent since his dad passed away.
It just proves to me that God is saying I’m now on the right path. Sometimes when we get stuck in those Zomie states all we need is to look at things from another angle and get a new perspective on things.
I just want to say Thanks and God Bless you for putting your life out here for all of us to learn from. You are an amazing man of God.
Mary
Mary, thank you for your comment. I am so sorry for your loss and I am so glad for your step to live again. Thank you for sharing your journey.
Ken, I just wanted to say yeehar….. see you when you come downunder… satan himself could not dampen the joy of my anticipation.
God bless,
Stephen
I can hardly wait mate!
Your post is one of many encouragements with the domino effect of re-evaluating what’s up with my life right now.
I’ve slid into the rut of that zombified living you describe and am missing out on the joy waiting to be unearthed with a little elbow grease and expectation.
“Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Eph. 5:14).
LY
Larry, Your scripture is perfect. That IS elbow grease.
Ken, My husband and I saw your show last night in Grand Junction, CO and I just wanted to tell you that it was nothing short of amazing. I dont listen to much comedy these days and it was so nice to listen to you and not hear curse words and things like that. I gave my life to the Lord 3 years ago, right before I lost my Dad and hearing your stories of your grandkids brought tears to my eyes. We have a 4 year old son that barley began to know his “Papa”, but I know he will see him again in Heaven. He is very aware of Jesus and who he is. Sorry to babble, I just wanted to tell you again how awesome your show was and how much we enjoyed it. God Bless you and hope to see you again someday,
Amy Taylor
thank you Amy. I loved being with you in Grand Junction!
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Hi, Ken
You wanted more details on that bit of story I tweeted the other day, so here goes…
When I was a kid (between like 7 and 18) I went to a camp called Camp Cheerful in Strongsville Ohio (I was born with a birth defect called Spina Bifida). Every year we would take a walk of about 2 miles, part of which was a good mile up a hill to a state park to spend the day. We’d play games, (wheelchair baseball, frisbee, etc.)cook out and just plain have fun.
One year myself and 2 friends of mine (we were about 14 at the time) got bored on the way back to camp because the group was going slow so that the kids on crutches and braces or walking without could keep up – a lot of us were in wheelchairs, though.
Anyway, like I said, the 3 of us got BORED at the pace. We pulled ahead of the group – maybe 80 kids, 30 adults – at the top of this hill. Then we started down the hill, just holding on to the push rims on the wheelchairs enough to keep control of the chair. As we were going down the hill, a car came up beside us and we kept pace with it all the way down the hill! We figured we had to be doing at least 35 mph (the speed limit) if the car was.
We sat at the bottom of that hill for about 10 minutes smoking before the rest of the group got down there. When they did we got reamed for pulling that stunt, but we didnt care, it was fun!
In retrospect, it was an insane thing to do because we could’ve gotten killed since we were in the middle of the lane, instead of on the side of the road. It was fun, we were kids, but now that I’m in my mid forties – I wouldnt let any kids do it and I can understand why the councelors were upset.
Sometimes I miss being a kid and doing crazy things I wouldnt do now, though!
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I’m definitely coming alive at this point in my life. I’m dreaming bigger than I ever have and God is already showing me that He is giving me these dreams. I definitely want to live fully alive and bring Him glory!
Hi Ken, Thank you for you for going through this soul search to bring it to light and help others who have experienced the same doldrums in our lives but have yet to find the truth you have revealed. I can’t wait to see this video!!
I want to recommend a book to you and your viewers/readers that has been a source of inspiration that has helped me to AWAKEN to Life again. It is called “ORDERING YOUR PRIVATE WORLD” BY GORDON MACDONALD. A BOOK BILLY GRAHAM
commented on with high praise saying “I wish that I had read it years ago.” And Gavin Reid said, “One of the most helpful books I’ve read in twenty years.” It is an oldie but a goodie!
I just prayed about what you need to hear from this book specifically. The Lord showed me page 88 and this is AWESOME…IT RESPONDS TO YOUR SLEEP DEPRIVATION YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR EARLIER BLOG AND A METHOD OF RESTORATION….
“THE WRITER SUGGESTED YOU CAN DETERMINE YOUR OWN SLEEP REQUIREMENTS BY SETTING YOUR ALARM AT A CERTAIN TIME AND RISING AT THAT TIME FOR THREE MORNINGS IN A ROW. THEN THE ALARM SHOULD BE SET 10 MINUTES EARLIER FOR THE NEXT THREE DAYS. BY SO CONTINUING IN THREE DAY INCREMENTS, SETTING THE ALARM BACK 10 MINUTES IN EACH PERIOD, ONE WILL FINALLY COME TO A NATURAL FATIGUE POINT, WHERE THROUGHOUT THE FOLLOWING DAY HE DOES NOT FEEL PROPERLY RESTED. I TRIED IT (GORDON) AND FOUND I COULD RISE MUCH EARLIER THAN I THOUGHT, AND IT ADDED ALMOST TWO FULL HOURS —-VALUABLE HOURS —ONTO MY DAY.”
It has helped me to take the next step after my AWAKENING and that is to put the Lord first in my priorities and develop a place in the sanctuary of my soul where HE is made welcome and I can hear His Still Small Voice.
The companion to this book I can’t wait to read called “Restoring Your Spiritual Passion”, Highland Books, Great Britain.
Your friend,
Mary Dullforce
P.S. I have a little girl like your daughter who is really strong-willed and hooted with laughter at your recounting how she (starkers) almost outran you down the street to avoid going to bed on time. So many of us run away from Our Father only to be caught up in His Loving Arms again.
He knows how to bring us to the end of ourselves and to a new beginning, the one He had planned for us from the start that we ran away from in the first place.
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Amen Ken! Having just recently heard a message by Loui Giglio on living Fully Alive… i can’t wait for your new movie on this subject. Thanks for your post and sharing the words from Switchfoot!!
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Thank you, excited to share your words of wisdom with others!
I would like to get a copy of the message from Ken Davis broadcast on BBN radio. “What I was born to hear.”
Thank You!
Kim Goetze