thoughts before I go to sleep

A few thoughts I wanted to get down before I fall asleep:

Can people who do not believe in the teachings of Jesus carry out his teachings?  In particular, his truths about the oppressed, the chained and the broken?

The reason I ask is that pretty frequently, I have seen an individual who does not know God make a move that looks very much like a move of the Kingdom.  I’ll give an example.  A global organization begins to give aid to an impoverished African country.  This global organization has no ties to Jesus or any other sets of spirituality for that matter.  They develop a relationship with this country and continue to provide aid over a significant amount of time.  Or what about someone like Angelina Jolie?  I know most people are tired of the media painting Jolie as a saint or the next Mother Teresa, but she has some credibility in my mind.  I don’t know what or who she believes in, but she does use her status to place a spotlight on refugees in Africa, Pakistan, Thailand and others.  That’s pretty cool, right?  What about a more local example?  Something simple, like a guy picking up a hungry, poverty-struck man to take him out for a hot meal?  What if that guy helps to enable the poorer man to get a job?  That’s Christ-like.

All of the above are examples of fighting for the oppressed, feeding the hungry and trying to eliminate poverty.  They are acts of love and kindness; they bring about hope and peace.

I’m not arguing that non-believers are working to bring salvation to people. But I am believing that they, whether they know it (or like it) or not, are being an active part in making all things new.  Yes, there has to be the love of the Lord involved.  Yes, salvation needs to come.  But shouldn’t we be glad that the those who don’t even know Jesus or the teachings of Jesus are actually following through on his call to humanity?

I think we (body of believers in Jesus) should be willing to partner with those who are Isaiah 61-ing it regardless of their awareness.  I want to be quick to point out the good stuff that’s going on around me, whether a church is doing it or not.  We ought to be for justice, peace, love and hope at all times.

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Austin City Limits

I had a good time this weekend at the Austin City Limits Music Festival.  It’s a three day festival that lasted from Oct. 2-4.  Austin Tolin hosted us.  Despite being in Texas, I really enjoy the city of Austin.  The first day of the festival was awesome – perfect, cool weather.  It rained all day Saturday which made for a cool dynamic to the festival.  The third day was mud though.  Everywhere I went Sunday, mud was up to my ankles.  It was pretty gross; everyone was covered in mud.  By Sunday, I was certainly ready to come home though.

Some of the highlights of the festival were Phoenix, Kings of Leon, Ghostland Observatory, The Dead Weather, Passion Pit, Bon Iver, Grizzly Bear and Mute Math.

Grizzly Bear, courtesy of stereogum.com

Phoenix, courtesy of pastemagazine.com

jaunted.com

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John 4

The past couple weeks have been a couple weird ones.  I don’t really know if I would say they have been good or bad – just weird.

I have noticed that I have been running out of energy very quickly.  In a lot of ways too.  I have had a hard time waking up in the morning.  Just the other day I skipped my first class simply because I was too tired.  I have longed to go to bed earlier as well too.  It’s not due to a lack of sleep either – I’m getting plenty of sleep.

This happens spiritually as well.  Over the past couple weeks, if I haven’t spent time with the Lord by about noon, I begin to shut down.  When I get too busy and don’t sit with Him, I get exhausted.  Frustration and hopelessness set in.  Before I know it, it is mid-afternoon and I am becoming short with people, frustrated, sleepy and I do not fill close to Jesus.

The only true way to experience refreshment and energy is going to God.

I have tried taking naps.  Sometimes that seems like an easier alternative than putting in the effort to being with God.  There are other methods I try sometimes in efforts to get energy and feel refreshed.  But the truth, as I’ve been experiencing more and more (both physically and spiritually) the past week, is that true refreshment, a real filling, comes from Jesus.  I’ve been drinking other things than the living water of Christ.  Even literally, I’ve been downing coffee or Coke rather than go sit with God in my room, thinking that it will be a quick and easier alternative.

Being with God is the best way to find refreshment.  Jesus promises us rest and peace when we are with Him.  He says that when we drink his living water we won’t need anything else.  I am trying to learn to trust that promise.  If I haven’t spent time with Him by mid-afternoon, the troubles of the day really begin to eat at me.  I begin to think of things in heavy ways.  Even if it’s lying in my room, just asking for God to come, it’s worth it.  It transforms my day.  He makes the heavy things light.  He makes the hard things okay.  And their is no substitute or shortcut.

I love it when God opens up new revelation on his words.  I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced what this verse means.  I guess I had head knowledge, but it never hit my heart until now.

By the way, who saw this play at the U.S. Open:

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The thing I secretly want to talk about…

Health Care!

I could certainly share all my thoughts on the current health care reform bill that Congress is reviewing, however that would take entirely too long.  You most likely don’t want to hear all my thoughts on health care reform and I don’t think I could organize my thoughts enough to effectively put them in words.  I do enjoy discussing H.R. 3200 (yep, I linked to it twice – look through it) and I do tend to lean towards the liberal standpoint.  However, I could lean left for different reasons that most.

So rather than write out all of my thoughts, I am going to use the thoughts of some other, more educated, brilliant minds.  These are some of the links have shaped my thoughts on the issue:

David Gushee’s use of applying scripture to health care reform – If you read one, read this one.  I put this one first because I love Mr. Gushee’s thoughts.  Read through some of the comments at the bottom.  There is some good points that should not be overlooked, but all in all, I really like Gushee’s thought process.  He really lays out how the federal government can play its part in the Kingdom of God.

Newsweek picks out morals, truths and a bit of a biased opinion - To be honest, there are a few things that Sharon Begley writes that I disagree with.  Furthermore, the article is extremely biased.  That said, Begley does call out the Obama administration for not stepping up and putting a stop to the spread of fear-based lies.  She also points out a few interesting paradoxes.  She has a sassy tone, but if you can get through the article without getting frustrated, it’s a good read.

I am a Brian McClaren junkie – I read what he writes.  He is one of very few “famed” names that I take what they say as truth.  So it makes sense that I would look for his opinion.

Politifact.com – I can’t tell you what a good tool this is.  Thanks to the St. Petersburg times for creating and operating this thing.  These guys are thorough; they check everything.  I linked to the health care section, but the site has it all.  It covers quite a bit so check it out.

The actual reform bill – H.R. 3200.  Obviously, I don’t expect you to read the whole thing, but here it is.

Just as a disclaimer, my full opinions are not in the links posted.  In fact, I disagree with a few things.  If you have any other suggested readings, let me know – I’d love to read it.

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Jon

Well, my best friend is moving to Kazakhstan Sunday.  It’s not permanent, but it is nine months.  So he is gone for the foreseeable future.

Jon has been in my life since my junior year of high school.  In the beginnings of our friendship, the two of us, along with Ryan O’Meilia would play ping pong for two to three hours a day.  We went to Costa Rica together.  We even combined our acts in the Perfect Man competition at Jenks High School to give the best haircut the school has ever seen.  We toilet papered our high school together.  We worked at Shepherds Fold Ranch together.  We have been pulled over a combined 30 times by the police, once at the same time (though driving separate cars) and we dominated the xanga realm together. We failed at building a raft together, we both majored in psychology, we have laid around and watched countless hours of terrible television.  Just last week, the two of us and Robert Gillock even visited IHOP together.

a pretty tart strawberry and a cabob

After high school, he went to Evangel University to play football and run track.  Although we didn’t get to walk directly together, we sacrificed time and convenience to stay close.  I’ve gotten to see Jon rise up and commit himself and lead the group of guys he lives with.  I’ve seen kids flock to him at Shepherds Fold – they want to be him.  I love worshipping with him.  He yells, he cries and he battles for the Presence.  Jon is a warrior.  If you have had the opportunity to worship with him, you know he is like a general leading his people into the House of the Lord.  I’d follow him anywhere.

I think the best part about hanging out with Jon is that other problems, even huge problems, seem relatively small when hanging out with him.  He’s not a worrier and he doesn’t dwell on heavy or dark things.  He can make quick decisions and go with them.  I know God respects someone who can hear his voice and act swiftly and thats what Jon does.

So when Jon graduated, and was asked to go to Kazakhstan, he didn’t stall.  He said yes.  And the Lord blessed it.  I’m excited to see when he does over there.

So I’m praying that God blesses Jon in every way.  Give him courage when he needs it.  Bless him with disciples to pour into; give him friends to pour his heart out to.  I hope he finds community to live with and do life with.  I pray for safety, physical and spiritual safety.  Bless him with more of You.  Give him more of yourself, more of your intimacy.  I’m excited to see the things he does in Kazakhstan.  I hope we get to do life together again soon.

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4,5,6,7,8,9

I got an email from a friend today that I wanted to share.  He is a prophet who runs a prophetic equipping school in Hillcrest, South Africa.  I got to meet Mark Visser three years ago and still receive emails from him.  Here is a mass email he sent out this morning.

Hi there

A short note to motivate you and bless you.

The Lord is desiring to speak to us. Scripture says that God has continually got thoughts for you at any given moment. Actually at any given second, God has many thoughts for you. Psalm 139: 17,18 reads the thoughts of God for you are more than all grains of sand.  Now calculate the amount of grains of sand and compare them to the seconds that you have lived.  OK we know that this task is not possible – but you can see that at any given second of any day, God has many, many thoughts for you.

What is the Now Word (Kiros Word). The Word of God at this point in time.  At this second, this minute, this hour, this day, this week, this month and this year what is God saying to you.

What about at 5 minutes and 6 seconds  after 4 A.M. on the 7^th of August  this year.  What will be the Kiros Word (Now Word)  of God at 4:05:06 on the 7th day of the 8th month, 2009.

Bless you,

Mark Visser

I really like numbers.  So this 4,5,6,7,8,9 thing is good.  I hope you experience the Lord’s thoughts and heart today.

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Rest v. Anxiety

This post could also have been titled Peace v. Stress, Harmony v. Despair, or Love v. Fear.

Lately, I’ve been in a tough place where I’ve had to make decisions that I don’t really feel like making.  I don’t have a specific equation for making decisions.  I have friends who can make a list of the pro’s and con’s.  Others can just choose in the moment and go with it.  I’m not talking about small decisions like movie plans or what to eat for dinner.  These are life-altering decisions, like where to live, where to work, what to be involved in, etc.

I’ve been on overload the past month or so with tough (and heavy) decisions.  Though it’s pretty painful and unsettling at times, I’m learning how I make decisions.  Sometimes decisions are simple.  I ask the Holy Spirit a question and he leans me a certain way.  Most of the time though, I think God wants to lead me through some stuff.  The answer usually isn’t even the point with Him.  Or maybe it is, but he just has to show me a few things on the way there.  I don’t know.  It doesn’t matter.  But though God is certainly not a God of confusion, he does lead me through some fog.  I intentionally used the word “lead” in the past sentence.

So here is what I’ve discovered: When I begin to think of “solutions” or “answers” on my timing, things like anxiety, stress and or even just a sense of being overwhelmed are manifested.  The problems become heavier than they really are and the enemy comes in and spreads lies.  I hear things like “This problem will never be solved,” “God won’t speak to you on this issue” or “You don’t have what it takes to make this decision.”

But when I allow the Holy Spirit to bring things up, God begins processing things with me.  And God’s ways are peaceful and light.  When He comes, he brings truth.  That doesn’t mean he brings the right answer, but he does speak truth about who He is and who I am in Him.  I’ve come to enjoy processing tough things with God.  The Father knows how to walk me through stuff so that I don’t have a panic attack or freak out.  He keeps me calm, he lets me process and think out of rest.

I’ve heard great friends tell me to do everything out of rest.  I have told people that before.  And though I’ve understood that phrase to an extent, God is taking me deeper into what that those words mean.  Process things out of rest.  Make hard decisions out of rest.  I’m having to allow God to bring things up in His timing.

On a completely different note, I’m listening to, and soaking, to this:  

And it’s awesome.

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Reflections on “Everything Must Change”

I just finished the book Everything Must Change: Jesus, Global Crises, and a Revolution of Hope by Brian McClaren.  I’m really not much of a reader and I often have short attention spans with literature.

The book messed with me in a lot of ways.  A lot of really good ways though.  McClaren doesn’t offer a “solution” to major social problems (global poverty, hunger, war) like I suspected he would.  Rather, he does something more powerful and reveals how the Gospel works to rid the world of these problems.  In order for change to occur, there has to be a paradigm shift.  We can’t go on thinking that Jesus’ good news is only for the individual.  It’s so much bigger than us.  Sure, it starts in our hearts and Jesus came to save souls, but he also came to save the world.  Our job is to partner with God in saving the world.  God has plans of restoration for issues like poverty or hunger; they are all part of his good news or part of his message of salvation.  The Bishop of Grinsby said this:

“[McClaren] argues that the core message of the gospel actually addresses the economic, political, environmental and social problems of our age, but for it to speak into our age, the church has to move away from talking about the externals of faith and concentrate on what Jesus was actually trying to say.”

Courtesy of newsgroper.com

God hates injustice.  He doesn’t cares about global warming, fair trade and education.  Injustice don’t exist in the Kingdom of God.  In the community I’m in, we are asking God to bring His Kingdom down to Earth to heal and restore the person.  And that’s perfect, but there is more.  he Kingdom of God should also be brought to wipe away injustice.

This happens through faith.  McClaren points out that believing, radically believing, changes things.  Jesus says that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.  We have to believe that Jesus wasn’t as concerned about the geographical location of mountains as much as hearts being transformed, hunger and poverty being wiped off the face of the Earth and global justice being served.

Courtesy of Fair Trade Social Action Group

I don’t even know exactly how to respond right now except to believe that God is craving justice for all things.  I’ve got to get past the thought that the gospel is only for humans.  All this seems so obvious.  But I’ve forgotten.  I’ve forgotten what we, as the Christian church are supposed to be.  Our job is not only to raise up other believers, but be advocates of peace, hope, justice and love to all the world.  I realize this whole thing is scattered.  I can’t put 300 pages into one blog.  It’s impossible for me to fully express my heart on this and this is not the medium in which to do so.  But I think you should read it.  Whoever you are, you should read it.  It’ll mess you up.  It got me.  It excited me.

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His Face is His Presence

The more time I spend with God, the more I realize that all he wants is us.  Sometimes I have to put the bible down, turn the worship music off and stop striving.

This intimacy stuff has been difficult for me to enter in to the past two weeks.  Being still has been hard.

I have been fulfilling my desires for closeness with finite things – objects, relationships, running.  But when I do this, I will always walk away unsatisfied because God has infinite desires in me.  I wasn’t meant to pursue finite things; they were never meant to fill me.

With that said, I want a Psalm 27 heart.

It’s always about the Face of God.  It’s natural of humans to seek out the face of somebody.  In a crowd of people, we always look for a face to recognize someone by.  It’s no different with God.  In fact, God’s Face is His Presence.  I want to seek the Face of God.  I want to look for His Face and cling to it.

In his goodness, He wants to give us His Presence.  He delights in us even when we don’t delight in Him.  I only think about God delighting (dancing, singing or giggling) over me when I am delighting or drunk in His Presence.  Not so.  God delights in us when we are too weak to do the same.

Blake Studdard talks a lot about intimacy.  You should check it out.  It will bless you.  Also, the sermon Coming Face to Face by Tim Keel has really fed me the past couple days.

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Framing Stories I

God is trying to re-frame the way I understand him.  I am realizing that for as much as I may read the Bible, I don’t really know the Bible.  I don’t really know the lasting impact of what Jesus did.  Not even in a spiritual sense, but what Jesus did in a cultural, political and economic standpoint.

I intend to write a series of these “Framing Stories” posts.  I think this could be a continual season.

Jesus came to establish a new kingdom.  He came proclaiming the Kingdom of God.  For years, Romans were loyal to the kingdom of Caesar.  Their motto was “peace by victory.”  But according to Jesus, that phrase doesn’t work in the Kingdom of God.  Brian McClaren says Jesus’ motto would have been something like “victory through grace and love.”  ”Peace by victory” implies a Kingdom motivated by war, capitalism, government, etc.  Unfortunately, too many people think that when Jesus comes back that he will come back with some sort of fight or war-like attitude.  In fact, Revelation 19:15 talks about Jesus with a sword.  But we overlook that the sword comes from his mouth (metaphor).   Sometimes I fall into the trap of thinking that when Jesus comes again, he will be more violent and wrathful.  I’ve always had this image that Jesus would come down from Heaven start throwing lightening bolts at the Enemy until he is burnt to a crisp.  But God is consistent and doesn’t change.  He didn’t stand for violence (i.e. turn the other cheek, love your enemy) when he came 2,000 years ago, why would he in his return?  Something other grace and love would be a return to Pilate.

I am guilty of subscribing to the methods of Caesar.  I have supported wars for “holy” reasons.  I have justified poor decisions with religious rationale.  I fall into the belief that government has the potential to fix the problems of the world.  I get too busy or have things that are too important rather than living in my identity as an ambassador of grace and love.

Upon thinking about it, I believe we fall into believing that violence and domination are the reasonable answers when we lack the faith that Jesus required.  When events or situations surpass our understanding, we turn to the methods we are most comfortable with (violence, apathy, argument).  It’s only when I am living in the Presence of the Holy Spirit do I see the truth.  Then, I can see that real change, this Kingdom of God, only comes through the way Jesus lived.  He changed paradigms.  In almost everything he did, he goes back to correct the former missteps the Israelites previously made.

My thoughts aren’t complete.  They never will be.  I’ll never fully understand.  If I did, my mind may explode.  I just know that the things God is up to are beyond my comprehension.  He wants to re-frame the way we understand things.  Jesus didn’t come solely to offer salvation; he also came to to offer a better way to live.

What lies am I believing about what the Kingdom of God is like?  What patterns of this world do I fall into that Jesus came to overturn?

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