Actually Different

Jesus is a radical. His lifestyle, while engaging to the culture he was surrounded by, stood in clear distinction to the values of the world around him.
Jesus commonly used a phrase like this:  "You have heard it said... But I say to you..." In this way he challenged the expectations in culture and religion.  Like our world, the majority of people listening to Jesus speak had come to accept their perspective as accurate because little challenged them to do otherwise.

He did not avoid culture. He understood it; he communicated using it. People looked at him and connected with him because we was like them. It was this connection that allowed him to be so radically different from them. It is as if Jesus' life was continually saying "I'm like you but I have a better way."

The life of Jesus stands in as distinct of opposition to culture today as it did 2,000 years ago. Over time many have come to accept that this opposition is defined by what his followers do not do. We do not smoke. We do not drink. We do not sleep around. We're different.

Though these things that we choose to abstain from are part of what makes of different, when they become the primary variation between Christians and all others, they create a legalistic and shallow picture of who Jesus really is. (Besides each thing we choose not to do is not about what we avoid, but what we do instead. It's not that we don't have sex outside of marriage, it's that we seek purity in all things. It's not that we don't cuss, it's that we are respectful with our words. The "don't" always comes from a "do.")

Take the beatitudes. In these profound words from Christ he does not so much challenge the actions of culture as the values. He challenges materialism, selfishness, violence, and comfort.

Maybe the things that make us different should be less about what we don't do and more about what we do. Jesus attracted attention because of the good he did in society. Not the good he participated in with his church, but the good he did. He healed the sick, befriended the friendless, and loved the poor, all the while He was preaching hope, salvation, and freedom from sin.

Maybe by choosing to purchase with integrity - supporting justice instead of enabling slavery and greed- we appear as different. Maybe in being generous with our possessions and finances instead of continually looking for the latest model, newest toy, or most comfortable sweater we stand out. Maybe in the way we treat the sick, poor, widowed, and orphaned we look like Jesus. Maybe it is what we value and then what we do, instead of what we avoid that makes us like Jesus.

If you, like me, are beginning down the road to being truly like Jesus here are 2 simple resources.
This sight provides information on the justice practices of many organizations that we buy from regularly. Choose to spend with integrity. http://www.free2work.org/

This site provides a list of simple actions that might help you find a place to start. Some are radical, some are simple. If I'm honest with you, all are intimidating to me because they challenge my sense of comfort. I think I need to be challenged. Maybe we both do.
http://thesimpleway.org/index.php/resources/details/50-ways-to-become-the-answer-to-our-prayers

Anyone Can Change the World

I recently read an article which contrasted the ideas of ambition and meekness. It questioned how Jesus words to "make disciples of all nations" and to do "greater things" than even he did compared with statements about the meek inheriting the earth and the poor in spirit being blessed.

I believe this thinking stems from a flawed concept of change. The problem we face when we think of changing the world is that, most often, the mental picture that comes to mind is a packed sanctuary or a globally recognized non-profit.

In reality neither of these things necessarily leads to change. Effectively engaging culture, while important, is not change. Just because every millennial listens to the podcast, reads the book, or buys the shoes does not mean anything has really changed.

We have seen evidence that even laws, though an important step, do not necessarily lead to change. Just because people have to follow the rules or they'll get in trouble doesn't mean that they care or sacrifice for the cause. Killing people is illegal in most of the world. This hasn't led most of the advanced world to put much effort into stopping the killing that we do not commit or does not effect us. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said that "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act." Making a rule to stop people from doing something doesn't change hearts anymore that ending slavery stopped racism. 

The fact is that lasting change is not legislation.
Change is not business.
Change is not even leadership.

Each of these can be- and should be- used to bring it about and can be necessary for immediate action and justice. But they are not change in and of themselves.

The only way for change to be a lasting and effective venture is to change people. The one's singing the songs, buying the clothes, walking in the marches, and handing out the food have to experience real heart transformation for it to be more than an event.

Change is person to person. When we think of world changers we think too quickly of celebrity leaders and too slowly of nameless mentors working with inner city kids. Jesus was meek. He sought out the poor and lowly. He hung out with the outcasts. He rarely did something to promote himself. On occasion He actually pleaded with people to not promote his name. It was what he did that attracted attention. Specifically, it was what he did for other people. He accepted them, forgave them, healed them, fed them, and then died for them.

Change is life on life. Change starts and ends with people who genuinely experience hope and are compelled to share it. Poor legislation and bad lighting can foster transformation though humble people and servant's hearts. Beautifully written policies and worship albums can cause serious damage without them.

When Jesus told us to do great things and to reach the world He was reminding us to be meek and to be servants because that is how the world is reached. 

Joining God in Beauty

When God created the world he created it with care. He created it in stages. He created it with words.

As he pieced the world together from nothing, he regularly took a moment to look at what he created. When his eyes crossed the world that began in his imagination, there was only one phrase that flowed from his heart: "It is good."
I like to imagine God nearly giggling with excitement as he creates. Every once in a while he stops, looks back over the world, and mutters "yeah, yeah that's good. Haha! That's good!" Then he keeps going.

God created a world full of wonder and beauty. He created expansive plains where life could grow. He invented mountains so mighty that they inflict the significance and vastness of the world on every beholder. He created seas deep to the point that few can understand what is held beneath them.

He finished his work by creating us. Humans. We were the only ones who got an extra adjective. When God created humanity he looked, once again, over creation, and said "now that is very good." There are many reasons why God would think the addition of humanity really puts the world over the top, but I have to believe that one of those reasons is that we can enjoy his creation.

The infinite being who formed the earth created something that could experience his work, share his joy, and benefit from his creativity.

Beauty is close to the heart of God. He is a wonderful artist.

As participants in God's redemption of the earth, beauty is one of the ways that we join his work. Whether it is picking up trash on trail outside of town, expressing ourselves through art or music, helping a hurting person see the beauty in himself, or simply appreciating a sunset over lake Michigan's shore, when we participate in beauty we participate with God.

Let us, as followers of Jesus, make the world a more beautiful place in whatever way we can reach it.

Relationship- 5 Ways spiritual disciplines are like dating

One of the continual struggles for many believers, or at least for me (and I choose to believe I'm not the weird one), is spiritual disciplines.

If most of us are honest, praying for hours is boring, fasting makes us hungry, and reading God's word can be a bit like high school homework. We suffer through it a few times a week. We read a chapter or two, and we occasionally attend a prayer service and praydream (daydream+pray= praydream) our way into feeling better. We even give up soda or candy for lent.

But it still feels like homework.

Which, let's be honest, sucks.

We need a significant re-orientation when it comes to spiritual disciplines. Even the word "disciplines" sounds like being sent to the corner as a child, so we need to see these acts in a whole new light.

The building block for every part of Christianity is relationship. It's the overwhelming theme in scripture. God made. God walked with. God sent away. But then made a covenant with and became friends. God dwelt among. God became flesh. God indwells. God comes back. It's all about people being in a relationship with God. It's about people knowing him, and introducing him to others because that is what we were made for. God looked at us and said "that's real good" because he made us in his image to know him intimately.

All of this means that when we really understand following Jesus we should see that we are not being "disciplined" we are being pursued.  We are being related to. It's much like a dating relationship.

1. We sacrifice time and things to spend undivided time with the other person in the relationship. Being in a relationship means saying "no" to some things that I want in order to say "yes" to being with that person. Ask any married person. They'll agree. It's fasting.
2. We actually talk to people we are in a relationship. We don't just talk about superficial things like the weather and how we could use fifty bucks. When you get to know someone and let them know you it means opening up about all areas of life. It means letting them know what hurts, what helps, what is hard, what is easy, what is fun, what is beautiful, and what you've never said out loud before. It also means really listening. It's praying.
3. We use what we've been given to know each other. We hang out with each others friends. We listen to people tell stories about each other, and we seek to be taught how to know each other better. We tolerate each others music, and serve each other to build the relationship deeply. It's like church.
4. We submit to one another  because we put each other first.
5. We confess to one another and seek forgiveness.

When we begin to see the "disciplines" in terms of relationship it's much harder to find ourselves uninterested. We see that God is not concerned with proving our dedication to him, instead he is concerned with us knowing him deeply.

This doesn't mean that we'll never get bored and zone out in church ever again. It doesn't mean we'll always spend 2 hours praying or read the book of Job every month. It does mean that we'll see the real purpose for all of it, and, even though it's hard, do it because we love a person who truly loves us.

Don't Miss the Cross

Easter has come and passed but the cross never loses it's significance. No matter what time of year may we never let the cross of Christ get too far from our minds.
http://vimeo.com/92291575

2 Reasons Why You Should Go See Noah

1. Because we cannot give an informed answer to anyone's questions unless we have actually seen the movie.
2. Because it's a good movie, not a Sunday School lesson.

Debbie Downer: 3 Ways to not be One

There is always negative in life.

Always.

Bad things should not be ignored completely (healing cannot come without acknowledging the problem) but when they happen the easiest response is usually to spend a few good hours/days/weeks/years enjoying the attention it gets us. It's easy and comfortable to let the negative overwhelm us because it allows us to be a victim and receive pity. It's also deadly because the longer we dwell in the negative the harder it is to see the positive.

Here are 3 ways to avoid being a Debbie Downer.

1.  Be Thankful First: When we actually do the math in our lives we most often realize that our blessings far out way our complaints. In Philippians 4 Paul says to rejoice in the Lord always. Then he says it again... rejoice. This is an interesting statement when you consider that Paul wrote this letter while in prison. Even then Paul found more reasons to rejoice than to complain. He also mentions in the letter that complaining and grumbling are to be avoided in order to be blameless. When we start with being thankful it's hard to end with being angry because it frames our problems in God's goodness.
2. Look For Yourself in People: If we're honest the most common catalyst for negativity is people. We get disappointed, betrayed, stood up, etc and we throw a pity party. The easy thing to do then is to see the other person as an enemy, as different and dysfunctional. It's much harder to hate on someone when you begin with seeing the things you have in common. It very well could be that this person is acting like that because they feel the same stress to succeed that you do and they are doing their best to bring it about. It could be that this person is no later than I was two days ago.
3. Relax: It's darn near impossible to be happy if you never take care of yourself. Even Jesus stopped for a meal, got alone to pray, and hung out with his best friends a lot. If you're tempted to be negative go get a massage, spend time alone in prayer, spend time with your spouse, play a video game, watch espn, go to a concert, read a book, go snowboarding, or take a nap. When we are at ease everything seems easier.

Being negative, like cocaine, feels good at the time, but eventually traps us in an addictive cycle.

Don't be a Debbie Downer.