This is long overdue...
Today at Imago Dei ( the community of folks I do life with...some call it church, ha) Charlie talked about JOY. And he read James 1:2-4 and spoke of the tension we have in finding joy in the tough times/trials and what exactly that means. i feel like i UNDERSTAND it...specifically because of what i've gone through in the last year. Many of you know this has been a RIDICULOUS year for me in terms of life situations and in terms of spirtual/emotional growth and maturity. And I want to take just a second to reflect on how GOD was IN that and thank all those who have been a part of helping 2008 go from the worst year of my life to perhaps the best year of my life...
James 1:2-4
"Consider it PURE joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
consider it it pure joy when you face trials?
As Charlie said, "Really?"
You can't be serious James. You obviously have noooo idea what i've been through!
My dad just died of cancer...PURE joy?
My car was just totaled...PURE joy?
I was just diagnosed with a particular disease...PURE joy?
My relationship/MARRIAGE has failed...PURE joy?
He/She wronged me...PURE joy?
I just lost my job...PURE joy?
I have no food to eat and no place to lay my head...PURE joy?
(FYI not all of these things happened to me..some are just examples)
The list goes on...and James tells us to consider those things and still be joyful. Now as Charlie talked about this I couldn't help but think of redemption. We serve a God of redemption. I'm sure that as Christ was being led to the Cross and as they beat him and flogged him he wasn't thinking what a joyous occasion that was. Joy is NOT necessarily happiness or a good time. Joy is not SITUATIONAL. but even though Jesus was going through all that he knew what as going to come on SATURDAY. He understood that even though he felt that way then, that God had a plan, all He had done through Jesus and taught through Him up to that point would culminate on the cross and then in his resurrection and at Pentecost, there was hope in what was to come and IN THAT, he could find JOY.
God WILL REDEEM.
The joy I have is deeply connected to the REDEMPTION I have experienced IN ME. 6 months ago I couldn't have told you how things would get better. no clue. in fact at that time i felt like things would never get better. now you have to understand that God didn't FIX the problem that was at hand. i didn't understand why not. But now as I look back i can see how God began to REDEEM me despite the problem. That's usually how God works. We tend to expect HIM to always FIX things. But sometimes life and our brokenness and others freewill and our own (which He will ALWAYS honor) don't allow for the fixing of life's problems but if we allow Him to, God will REDEEM US internally. we trust that SATURDAY will come. Charlie said that a theologian calls it,
"the eschatological expectancy of joy"
which is a fancy way for saying that IN Christ we have this assurance that in the future (eschatology) things will be better (redeemed).
James is helping us understand that just because we are IN Christ and have committed ourselves to Him DOES NOT guarantee that bad things won't happen to us. (don't by into that prosperity gospel/happy happy happy/ best life now BULL %$*@) Life is messy. Bad things WILL still happen to us. But when they do, are you gonna let it ruin you or let it shape you. it's going to do either or. there is no in-between. and James encourages us to consider those things PURE joy because God is going to redeem you on the inside! there is JOY in that! Let those things makes us mature! Persevere because SATURDAY is coming...REDEMPTION is on it's way!
I can't tell you how things exactly got to where they are for me today but I can look back over this last half-year and see how God orchestrated things around me and in me that have truly REDEEMED me and given me HOPE. There is SO MUCH JOY in that. I could not have done it without him and the people around me. Charlie said that the mark of believers, those who claim to follow Christ, is that when the pooh hits the fan ( he didn't say that, i did), we still remain faithful to Him and seek Him. We don't let life's circumstances knock us off track in our pursuit of and partaking in the "upside-down kingdom". I couldn't have remained faithful without the community of those around me...
Jeff, I miss the heck out of you. thank you for being there for me. for crying with me, listening to me, letting me get angry and say things I didn't mean, for loving me, giving me hope and making me laugh. I don't know what I would have done without you there. Jessey, thanks for being there too and letting me steal jeff's time during that time! come home soon!!
Eric, thanks for also being there for me during that time. Quite a time for you to first meet me :) thanks for your love and grace and time to listen to me as well. I'm so glad you're around and that our friendship has grown.
John, thanks for your love for me and for your conversations that have helped me understand God so much more. I love you brother! thanks for all you did and continue to do in my life.
charlie, thanks for your grace and love. for meeting me for breakfast when you didn't even know me and for listening to my heart and my brokenness and for helping me realize that SATURDAY is coming. Thanks for Imago Dei and your leadership there...you have NO idea how good it feels to be a part of a church like what we have going on there. brilliant and beautiful!
small group, thank you guys for your love and your listening ears to me as well over the past 6 months. i love all of you so stinkin' much!
Greg and Ryan, you guys are two of the best guys in all of the land. i'm so glad God brought you two in my life when he did. amazing how God works. i value our conversations so much and i'm so glad we can not only grow together in our spiritual lives but we can have a heck of a good time together too. you two better stay in my life forever, i love you both.
ZuZu, i'm glad you're back in my life too. you have a heart of freakin' gold and I loooove it. you teach me a lot about God's love! and it's nice to have such a like-minded friend. i don't care what people say about your browness, i love you.
Kami, thank you for giving me a chance even while knowing everything. i'm so thankful for you and CAN'T wait to get to know you more and for everyone around me to get to know you more! you are so full of grace and love and gentleness and innocence and joy! you've sparked more hope in me! Thanks for letting me be me and enjoying it!
Rob Bell, don't act like you don't read my blogs! Thanks so much for your books and podcasts! God has used you to encouarge me many many times and have helped me a great deal how I understand the God we serve...and it makes me LOVE him MORE! Thanks for your insight! someday i wanna be you! not in a weird idolatrous kind of way but ya know...insightful, hip, full of love, grace, and peace, and helping people see and understand God in ways that help them love and appreciate him more!
and to my family (most likely you won't be reading this but ya know..props to you anyways) and everyone else thanks so much for all your love and grace!
So, anyone who is reading this and has gone through a crap time or is going though one, KNOW that you can find joy WITHIN you no matter what because REDEMPTION is coming! The situation may not play out like you'd like it to but if you allow God to work in you, He will! The time table may be different for everyone but over time you will be able to look back and see how God worked everything out and you will be able to see what He's done IN you and THROUGH you...
"And we know that in ALL things God works for the GOOD of those who LOVE him" Romans 8:28
There is JOY in that!
Grace and Peace,
12.07.2008
12.03.2008
Lil Old Lady and Al the Painter
I can say that most days I hate my job. The only days I actually enjoy them are when I get to work around people, whether it be the customer that i'm putting a new faucet in for or for another worker who happens to be at the new house i'm working on. Well today was a good day because I got to experience both! And not only that but somehow the same conversation came up twice and now I can't help but tell all you fine folks about it! It's on a topic i've been wrestling with for a couple years now...
As I'm working on Lil Old Lady's toilet (eww, i know) I notice a lot of spiritual decorations around the house so I begin to talk to her about Christianity. Once she realizes that I too am a Christian she proceeds conversing with me in great excitement because "we just need more Christians out there". I agree with her but she continues by saying, "because it really is us (Christians) verse the Terrorists (she also called them Muslims at one point)...Whether it be in my day or not sooner or later we're gonna have to fight all of them off to protect this great country and uphold it's values" Now I know we all have different opinions when it comes to this but you will soon find out mine because...well..let's just say I wanted to throw up.
Can I say that?
I had to bite my tongue so hard and just nod my head as she continued telling me why Christianity was going be the victor over the Terrorists by us wiping them off the face of the planet. Needless to say, I finished fixing her toilet and left, heartbroken, onto my next job....where I met Al the Painter.
Al the Painter is a guy in his late 30's and boy is he a talker. I could barely get any of my work done. I had seen him around on other job sites before but today it was just me and him. We began talking about what we do (outside of our day job) and I find out that Al the Painter is a boxer. A dang good one. And he teaches inner city kids in Peoria how to box. But it's deeper than that because he's a mentor to these kids too. He said it's sad because most of the kids come in wanting to fight so they can beat kids up but he uses this avenue to teach them a better way to live...which is as Al the Painter says, "To LOVE your enemies." Apparently you can be a boxer and still love your enemies, which I find fantastic. He teaches them boxing but teaches them how to live right by loving those around you, even your enemies, and forgiving those who wrong you. Al the Painter is also a Christian.
Is this just a small difference in beliefs? Is this on the same par as "well this Christian just does hymns at their church but that one has a full band at theirs".
How can Lil Old Lady and Al the Painter both claim to be Christians but yet hold such STARK differences on something as big as how to handle our enemies, both on a national level and on a personal level? (Al the Painter does not support war btw I asked him...he said that loving your enemies thing, he feels, applies to our national enemies as well).
I was very encouraged by Al the Painter.
So, what does Jesus say about our enemies? And what does His example tell us?
First off, in Matthew 5:43-48 which is the Sermon on the Mount (Christianity 101) Jesus says,
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (note that the word "perfect" here doesn't mean without blemish it means UNCONDITIONAL)
Pretty self explanatory i'd say...why do we make excuses that as a Christian it's okay to actually kill/hate/slander our national enemies and those who have wronged us in our own personal lives? Are we not to take the words of Jesus serious? or are they just not "realistic"? When Jesus was standing before His enemies (those that were sending him to the Cross to die) Pilate asks him what is it that he had done and he (Jesus) responds, " My kingdom is not of this world, if it were, my servants would FIGHT to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders, but my Kingdom is from another place."
We are called (as Christians, followers of Jesus) to live by the rules of another kingdom. Not when we get to heaven, but NOW. We are called to bring "His kingdom to Earth as it is in Heaven".
I've seen bumper stickers that read "Who Would Jesus BOMB?" These are an attempt to get people to think about the absurdity of that question. Can you really see Jesus flying over a country and unloading bombs over those people below him? Or looking through the scope of a sniper rifle aimed at another human and pulling the trigger? No, absolutely not. Are we not called to Follow THIS example? Now matter how much it may defy common sense? Jesus kingdom is, after all, NOT of this world...it may not makes sense to us (neither does a perfect God taking on human form and dwelled with us only to die for us make any sense but we believe that don't we?)...but it may be the only hope we have to actually make this world a better place.
So what do we do about these pesky terrorists then?
Honestly i don't have answers BUT I have hope...
It starts with a shift in our thinking as Christians. Someone actually told me once that sometimes the best way to love your enemy is to KILL them.
Really?
What happened to Paul's beautiful poem about love in 1 Cor. 13 where he says that "Love does NO HARM". We have to stop thinking like the world and think with the MIND of Christ that has been given to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. MAYBE once we start believing that and we actually take Jesus words seriously about LOVING our enemies, then maybe we'd be forced to start using the CREATIVITY that God gave us ( in making US like HIM-In His image) and begin to think of radical non-violent ways in making this world the world God had in mind. After all if we are IN CHRIST, "there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is ALL, and IN ALL" Colossians 3:11 (in today's words that could mean, there is no Christian, Jew, Muslim, Terrorist, Catholic, Homosexual, Untouchable, etc--there is no border to God's love and grace) We have to start seeing people as God sees them! Then maybe we'll start getting somewhere.
This is more than just about loving our national enemies. it's about loving those around you no matter what they've done to you. We deal with this everyday. Someone who said something to you that pissed you off or talked to someone else about you and tainted your character or just rubs you the wrong way when you're around them, someone who may have actually hurt you physically or emotionally, or even spiritually....this is everyday stuff. And we are called to unconditionally love these people. That is the way of Christ. That is the ONLY way this world is going to be the place God dreams it to be. God's given us the tools necessary and it's up to us to use them. May we work together to use them and in our everyday lives may we work to "overcome evil with GOOD" Romans 12:21
Grace and Peace
-Ty
As I'm working on Lil Old Lady's toilet (eww, i know) I notice a lot of spiritual decorations around the house so I begin to talk to her about Christianity. Once she realizes that I too am a Christian she proceeds conversing with me in great excitement because "we just need more Christians out there". I agree with her but she continues by saying, "because it really is us (Christians) verse the Terrorists (she also called them Muslims at one point)...Whether it be in my day or not sooner or later we're gonna have to fight all of them off to protect this great country and uphold it's values" Now I know we all have different opinions when it comes to this but you will soon find out mine because...well..let's just say I wanted to throw up.
Can I say that?
I had to bite my tongue so hard and just nod my head as she continued telling me why Christianity was going be the victor over the Terrorists by us wiping them off the face of the planet. Needless to say, I finished fixing her toilet and left, heartbroken, onto my next job....where I met Al the Painter.
Al the Painter is a guy in his late 30's and boy is he a talker. I could barely get any of my work done. I had seen him around on other job sites before but today it was just me and him. We began talking about what we do (outside of our day job) and I find out that Al the Painter is a boxer. A dang good one. And he teaches inner city kids in Peoria how to box. But it's deeper than that because he's a mentor to these kids too. He said it's sad because most of the kids come in wanting to fight so they can beat kids up but he uses this avenue to teach them a better way to live...which is as Al the Painter says, "To LOVE your enemies." Apparently you can be a boxer and still love your enemies, which I find fantastic. He teaches them boxing but teaches them how to live right by loving those around you, even your enemies, and forgiving those who wrong you. Al the Painter is also a Christian.
Is this just a small difference in beliefs? Is this on the same par as "well this Christian just does hymns at their church but that one has a full band at theirs".
How can Lil Old Lady and Al the Painter both claim to be Christians but yet hold such STARK differences on something as big as how to handle our enemies, both on a national level and on a personal level? (Al the Painter does not support war btw I asked him...he said that loving your enemies thing, he feels, applies to our national enemies as well).
I was very encouraged by Al the Painter.
So, what does Jesus say about our enemies? And what does His example tell us?
First off, in Matthew 5:43-48 which is the Sermon on the Mount (Christianity 101) Jesus says,
43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (note that the word "perfect" here doesn't mean without blemish it means UNCONDITIONAL)
Pretty self explanatory i'd say...why do we make excuses that as a Christian it's okay to actually kill/hate/slander our national enemies and those who have wronged us in our own personal lives? Are we not to take the words of Jesus serious? or are they just not "realistic"? When Jesus was standing before His enemies (those that were sending him to the Cross to die) Pilate asks him what is it that he had done and he (Jesus) responds, " My kingdom is not of this world, if it were, my servants would FIGHT to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders, but my Kingdom is from another place."
We are called (as Christians, followers of Jesus) to live by the rules of another kingdom. Not when we get to heaven, but NOW. We are called to bring "His kingdom to Earth as it is in Heaven".
I've seen bumper stickers that read "Who Would Jesus BOMB?" These are an attempt to get people to think about the absurdity of that question. Can you really see Jesus flying over a country and unloading bombs over those people below him? Or looking through the scope of a sniper rifle aimed at another human and pulling the trigger? No, absolutely not. Are we not called to Follow THIS example? Now matter how much it may defy common sense? Jesus kingdom is, after all, NOT of this world...it may not makes sense to us (neither does a perfect God taking on human form and dwelled with us only to die for us make any sense but we believe that don't we?)...but it may be the only hope we have to actually make this world a better place.
So what do we do about these pesky terrorists then?
Honestly i don't have answers BUT I have hope...
It starts with a shift in our thinking as Christians. Someone actually told me once that sometimes the best way to love your enemy is to KILL them.
Really?
What happened to Paul's beautiful poem about love in 1 Cor. 13 where he says that "Love does NO HARM". We have to stop thinking like the world and think with the MIND of Christ that has been given to us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. MAYBE once we start believing that and we actually take Jesus words seriously about LOVING our enemies, then maybe we'd be forced to start using the CREATIVITY that God gave us ( in making US like HIM-In His image) and begin to think of radical non-violent ways in making this world the world God had in mind. After all if we are IN CHRIST, "there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is ALL, and IN ALL" Colossians 3:11 (in today's words that could mean, there is no Christian, Jew, Muslim, Terrorist, Catholic, Homosexual, Untouchable, etc--there is no border to God's love and grace) We have to start seeing people as God sees them! Then maybe we'll start getting somewhere.
This is more than just about loving our national enemies. it's about loving those around you no matter what they've done to you. We deal with this everyday. Someone who said something to you that pissed you off or talked to someone else about you and tainted your character or just rubs you the wrong way when you're around them, someone who may have actually hurt you physically or emotionally, or even spiritually....this is everyday stuff. And we are called to unconditionally love these people. That is the way of Christ. That is the ONLY way this world is going to be the place God dreams it to be. God's given us the tools necessary and it's up to us to use them. May we work together to use them and in our everyday lives may we work to "overcome evil with GOOD" Romans 12:21
Grace and Peace
-Ty
10.21.2008
Do "this" in remembrance of me
Jesus says this at Passover referring to his body and blood. In Rob Bell's new book Jesus Wants to Save Christians (yes, read it) he suggests that the "this" refers more to his lifestyle and example he gave us then actually the breaking of bread (communion/eucharist/mass/whatever you want to call it). His "broken" body (the bread) reminds us to live in humility, to live out of our brokenness to serve others, following the example he gave in all he did. The blood of Christ (wine) reminds us that our sins have been taken care of for good and so has everyone else's so live without boundaries and accept EVERYONE, love everyone as Christ did (your enemies, your family, friends, people that have wronged you. people that you've wronged, people different from you, people from other religious groups, social status, people with different political ideas, theological ideas) and give yourself, your BLOOD sweat and tears for the cause of the kingdom. Do "this" in remembrance of Him. Then the world would look much different...it becomes more than a ritual...it becomes a way of LIFE. so may we REMEMBER Jesus daily by following his example. Yes, take the wine, eat the bread but when doing so remember what matters...live HIS lifestyle and do THAT in remembrance of Him.
Grace and Peace,
-Ty
Grace and Peace,
-Ty
8.27.2008
The FloBot Revolution...
"But if you feel like I feel like about the son of man ...We will overcome"
Recently I've been listening to the Flobot's CD and it's amazing! It has become an anthem for me right now, fueling within me a revolution of HOPE that I so desperately need! The songs are very political and social and full of meaning and pack quite a punch to the USA and what our country has done in the past and what we are becoming now. The fact that one of their hit songs "Handlebars" is on the radio is enough to give you goosebumps if you actually listen to what the song is saying. It just goes to show that there is hope that if people listen hard enough, want it badly enough, they can find and be a part of an underground insurgency for change. Much like in Jesus day when His message was being ridiculed and threatened by the religious establishment, You won't find it in many churches today and the few that have are only beginning to scratch the surface, but the revolution in all it's glory is happening behind the scenes, deep within our souls, within little communities of people in cities in states all across the country and world. If you want it badly enough you can find it and be a part of it.
These feelings of dreaming, of not giving up, not being satisfied with the status quo, wanting more, desiring change, are all coming back to me and I LOVE it! The question is will you be a part of it? Will you give into the status quo? Or will you stand up and make a statement by how you live your life, how you act, what you believe, how you treat people and talk to people, how you care about the earth, how you vote or don't vote, etc? Are you willing to go against what your family, friends, country, dare I say church, tells you is "good" or "true"? And will you follow the steps of Jesus, forgoing any common sense and resisting natural inclinations, to do what it takes to understand how He tells us to live? I mean, this is the one man who if taken seriously can actually make a difference in the world around us! Oh, and even better He actually lives within all those who claim to follow Him making it even more possible to make change! We can do this! We can bring heaven to earth! There can be PEACE, there can be FOOD for the POOR, we can END RACISM, we can FORGIVE our OPPRESSORS, we can LOVE our ENEMIES, show GRACE to the BROKEN, bring HEALING to hurting SOULS, and it can all happen now...if we believe it.
Life and all its CRAP has robbed me of this REALITY for too long and I am not going to let anything get in the way of DREAMING of seeing God's Kingdom being brought to EARTH. I will overcome. I will not be moved.
"...We shall not be moved
Except By a child with no socks and shoes
Except by a woman dying from the loss of food
Except by a freedom fighter bleeding on a cross for you
We shall not be moved
Except by a system thats rotten through
Neglecting the victims and ordering the cops to shoot
High treason now we need to prosecute
So Stand up
We shall not be moved
And we wont fight a war for fossil fuel
Its times like this that you want to plot a coo
Put your hands up and I'll copy you
So Stand up
We shall not be moved
Unless were taking a route we have not pursued
So if you've got a dream and a lot to do
Put your hands up and I'll copy you..."
Recently I've been listening to the Flobot's CD and it's amazing! It has become an anthem for me right now, fueling within me a revolution of HOPE that I so desperately need! The songs are very political and social and full of meaning and pack quite a punch to the USA and what our country has done in the past and what we are becoming now. The fact that one of their hit songs "Handlebars" is on the radio is enough to give you goosebumps if you actually listen to what the song is saying. It just goes to show that there is hope that if people listen hard enough, want it badly enough, they can find and be a part of an underground insurgency for change. Much like in Jesus day when His message was being ridiculed and threatened by the religious establishment, You won't find it in many churches today and the few that have are only beginning to scratch the surface, but the revolution in all it's glory is happening behind the scenes, deep within our souls, within little communities of people in cities in states all across the country and world. If you want it badly enough you can find it and be a part of it.
These feelings of dreaming, of not giving up, not being satisfied with the status quo, wanting more, desiring change, are all coming back to me and I LOVE it! The question is will you be a part of it? Will you give into the status quo? Or will you stand up and make a statement by how you live your life, how you act, what you believe, how you treat people and talk to people, how you care about the earth, how you vote or don't vote, etc? Are you willing to go against what your family, friends, country, dare I say church, tells you is "good" or "true"? And will you follow the steps of Jesus, forgoing any common sense and resisting natural inclinations, to do what it takes to understand how He tells us to live? I mean, this is the one man who if taken seriously can actually make a difference in the world around us! Oh, and even better He actually lives within all those who claim to follow Him making it even more possible to make change! We can do this! We can bring heaven to earth! There can be PEACE, there can be FOOD for the POOR, we can END RACISM, we can FORGIVE our OPPRESSORS, we can LOVE our ENEMIES, show GRACE to the BROKEN, bring HEALING to hurting SOULS, and it can all happen now...if we believe it.
Life and all its CRAP has robbed me of this REALITY for too long and I am not going to let anything get in the way of DREAMING of seeing God's Kingdom being brought to EARTH. I will overcome. I will not be moved.
"...We shall not be moved
Except By a child with no socks and shoes
Except by a woman dying from the loss of food
Except by a freedom fighter bleeding on a cross for you
We shall not be moved
Except by a system thats rotten through
Neglecting the victims and ordering the cops to shoot
High treason now we need to prosecute
So Stand up
We shall not be moved
And we wont fight a war for fossil fuel
Its times like this that you want to plot a coo
Put your hands up and I'll copy you
So Stand up
We shall not be moved
Unless were taking a route we have not pursued
So if you've got a dream and a lot to do
Put your hands up and I'll copy you..."
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