I love being outside. Something about it is magical, holy, - being in creation reminds me that this world is better than the movies and the media make it out to be, that there is still some beauty that we have not ruined.
I think I also love it because being outside reminds me that the world is so much bigger than me. It is enormous, a vast expanse that I cannot control and that will do what it was created to do whether I am there or not. The rocks will still be massive, the trees will still be moved by the wind, the flowers will still bloom, the grass will still whisper quietly…Being in creation reminds me that it is all not ultimately about me.
It is this perspective that helps me when I listen to reports about the healthcare situation. How did we get to the point where we think it is a valid argument to say that some people should not have even a basic level of coverage because the quality of our’s might decrease? What makes my life more important than my neighbor’s? How did this mindset become so pervasive? It is not ultimately about government control vs. my control, my personal finances, my ability to decide what I want – it is about human life. The message of our world that I am the most important has poisoned our thinking to the point that now we would deny mothers and their children even the most basic treatment simply so that I can have all that I “deserve.”
“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” – Isaiah 1:17
If we all realized that there is more to this world than us, that we are held to a standard that calls us to take care of the poor, the widow, the fatherless, the child that can not care for himself – then I think we might think twice about arguing against providing for these people. There are some standards that apply to ALL of us – no matter our personal views, lifestyles, or callings.
Jesus tells his followers over and over in His Word that the way He would recognize if they truly know Him in their hearts is by the way they care for others. Matthew 25 makes it clear that if we truly know and love Jesus, we will love and care for the poor and the oppressed around us. In the book of James, the author says that pure religion is one that visits orphans and widows (James 1:27). Later on James says that if one truly has faith, good works will follow – and what is the first thing he lists as these good works that should follow faith? “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled.’ Without giving them the tings needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:15-17).
How can we say the politically correct, “War is bad, help the poor and needy, love everyone, etc…” and then in the next breath deny our neighbors even the most basic form of healthcare? The Church can be one of the most powerful tools in this world to bring Christ’s love and salvation to people – if the Church speaks up, the government will listen. Helping provide basic coverage to our brothers and sisters is a means to provide the “clothes and daily food” James is talking about! Spreading Christ’s message of salvation goes hand in hand with showing Jesus to those same people – telling them they should know Jesus while at the same time telling them they are not worth basic health coverage is blatantly contradictory and, really, not the true Gospel. We are called to live out the love of Christ, to show Jesus while we are preaching His name. Let’s examine our lives and make sure we are doing that in our every belief and action – are we truly living like we know this world is not all about us?
Monday, March 22, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Prayer
I pray that this is my prayer every day when I wake up, and that it becomes the prayer of the Church around the world, so that we are constantly living in Christ's vision to love and redeem this world:
"Dear God, give me the courage to live and work for a new heaven and a new earth as Jesus did. Give me the freedom to be critical where I see evil and to offer praises where I see good. Most of all, make me faithful to the vision you have given me, so that wherever I go and whomever I meet, I can be a sign of your all-renewing love. Amen." - A prayer by Henri Nouwen
http://www.ijm.org/justicecampaigns
"Dear God, give me the courage to live and work for a new heaven and a new earth as Jesus did. Give me the freedom to be critical where I see evil and to offer praises where I see good. Most of all, make me faithful to the vision you have given me, so that wherever I go and whomever I meet, I can be a sign of your all-renewing love. Amen." - A prayer by Henri Nouwen
http://www.ijm.org/justicecampaigns
A really bad trend....
In an age where political correctness reigns, there is an important trend that must be noticed:
As the demand for “acceptance” has increased, actual compassion for people has decreased. Care, grace, and love for others has lessened in our modern world of simply “accepting” how people are and moving on without taking the time to find out who they are and why.
This ultimately stems from selfishness. Selfishness has exploded. We do not even notice it anymore – it is a permanent mindset that we must consciously fight if we are to see Reality. Our culture tells us we deserve whatever we can get, that this world exists to serve our purposes, that life really is all about me. Why shouldn’t I do what I want, take what I can get, assume that everything I have is mine?
But the reality is, in fact, that I am not the center of the universe. There is more to this life than me being happy, than the world running on my needs and desires, than me having and doing and being all that I want. My nature, my corrupt being that is exaggerated by this self-focused culture, tells me so strongly that this universe revolves around me that I find myself in a selfish state of mind constantly. My first thought after a friend tells me about something going on in her life is “How will this affect me?” My first thought after I read Scripture is “How does this help me?” My initial reaction even after a humanitarian event or human rights talk is “How will it look for me if I am involved in this?” Because of the work of our great God in my life, it now only takes me a couple seconds to catch myself and even less than that to be disgusted with myself.
Being married for the extremely extended period of one week has shown me this nasty part of my nature even more. I love my husband more than anyone else on this earth and it is through him that God has helped me see what selfless love looks like: I want to give up more of myself for him. I want to see him elevated above myself. I want him to have more than me, to live longer than me, to receive more praise than me (because he definitely deserves it!) I decided not to do a job that I’ve wanted to do for several years now so I can help him more with his job and just serve him better. I woke up at 6 AM this morning to go into his 5th grade classroom and help him put papers together for his students. I love doing his dishes, washing his clothes, and making him food. Things that I never thought I would want to do for someone, that are opposite of what my selfish nature tells me I should be doing - that are opposite of what my selfish nature tells me I deserve – I love doing. God has already used this marriage relationship in extraordinary ways to show me what it looks like to love someone more than myself.
Even in this relationship I have to fight against my natural instinct. My nature tells me I should have slept in, I should have done what I wanted to benefit my future career and my interests. But the Reality is that the more we focus on ourselves and the more we are motivated by selfish interests, the worse this world will become.
I think it is a pretty popular thing today to say “The world needs to change.” A lot of people, especially a lot of people in my generation, say that the world is not perfect and that a lot of things need to change. There are many people who have set out to “change the world,” myself being one of them. And it’s completely true: the world does need to change. But attempting to eradicate poverty, homelessness, disease, war, etc will not change the world. It might on the surface for a while, but the root causes of these evils will still be there, and will generate them again before long. It is humanity’s self-focused, hardened hearts that need to be changed. Until we are made aware of our selfish nature and are constantly fighting against it, the world will not change much. The politically correct position of acceptance will continue to grow and compassion for people will continue to decrease – even as humanitarian organizations grow and non-profit work continues to be the fad. As long as the mindset of self is taught, emphasized, and allowed in our culture and in our homes and in our classes, we will say we want to change the world and then in the next breath complain about how we need more money to live the lifestyle we feel we are entitled to. This is a disconnect that must be remedied.
Every day we must fight our natural instinct and tune out the voices around us that tell us to focus on the I, the we, and the me. Maybe we should question more what is right and normal. Maybe we should question what we deserve. Maybe we could not think we are entitled to every penny in this world. Maybe we could give more – maybe we could even give some money, time, and possessions that are “rightfully” ours. Maybe we could look at other people, no matter their race, gender, or economic situation, and consider that they deserve just as much as I do. Maybe I could actually change something about the way I live to better the life of someone else.
“…many who are first will be last, and the last first…” (Matthew 19:30). When Christ walked this earth, He introduced an “upside down kingdom” that messed with people’s heads – He challenged man’s inclination to help himself first, and even asserted that the actual Right way to live was to put all others before yourself. His message was one of service, grace, mercy, compassion, and selfless love – a message that He lived out with every part of His being when He put all of humanity first by giving His life for our’s on the Cross.
It is this selfless mindset we must seek after today. This nature of mercy and grace and peace must daily be put on and sought after as our first inclination, as our outlook on the world. When this is our view, when we are second and other’s first, when we know the love that Christ offers and are therefore able to offer it to the world – it is then that the world will truly be changed.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” – John 3:30
“The world is overcome not through destruction, but through reconciliation. Not ideals, nor programs, nor conscience, nor duty, nor responsibility, nor virtue, but only God's perfect love can encounter reality and overcome it. Nor is it some universal idea of love, but rather the love of God in Jesus Christ, a love genuinely lived, that does this.”-Dietrich Bonhoeffer
As the demand for “acceptance” has increased, actual compassion for people has decreased. Care, grace, and love for others has lessened in our modern world of simply “accepting” how people are and moving on without taking the time to find out who they are and why.
This ultimately stems from selfishness. Selfishness has exploded. We do not even notice it anymore – it is a permanent mindset that we must consciously fight if we are to see Reality. Our culture tells us we deserve whatever we can get, that this world exists to serve our purposes, that life really is all about me. Why shouldn’t I do what I want, take what I can get, assume that everything I have is mine?
But the reality is, in fact, that I am not the center of the universe. There is more to this life than me being happy, than the world running on my needs and desires, than me having and doing and being all that I want. My nature, my corrupt being that is exaggerated by this self-focused culture, tells me so strongly that this universe revolves around me that I find myself in a selfish state of mind constantly. My first thought after a friend tells me about something going on in her life is “How will this affect me?” My first thought after I read Scripture is “How does this help me?” My initial reaction even after a humanitarian event or human rights talk is “How will it look for me if I am involved in this?” Because of the work of our great God in my life, it now only takes me a couple seconds to catch myself and even less than that to be disgusted with myself.
Being married for the extremely extended period of one week has shown me this nasty part of my nature even more. I love my husband more than anyone else on this earth and it is through him that God has helped me see what selfless love looks like: I want to give up more of myself for him. I want to see him elevated above myself. I want him to have more than me, to live longer than me, to receive more praise than me (because he definitely deserves it!) I decided not to do a job that I’ve wanted to do for several years now so I can help him more with his job and just serve him better. I woke up at 6 AM this morning to go into his 5th grade classroom and help him put papers together for his students. I love doing his dishes, washing his clothes, and making him food. Things that I never thought I would want to do for someone, that are opposite of what my selfish nature tells me I should be doing - that are opposite of what my selfish nature tells me I deserve – I love doing. God has already used this marriage relationship in extraordinary ways to show me what it looks like to love someone more than myself.
Even in this relationship I have to fight against my natural instinct. My nature tells me I should have slept in, I should have done what I wanted to benefit my future career and my interests. But the Reality is that the more we focus on ourselves and the more we are motivated by selfish interests, the worse this world will become.
I think it is a pretty popular thing today to say “The world needs to change.” A lot of people, especially a lot of people in my generation, say that the world is not perfect and that a lot of things need to change. There are many people who have set out to “change the world,” myself being one of them. And it’s completely true: the world does need to change. But attempting to eradicate poverty, homelessness, disease, war, etc will not change the world. It might on the surface for a while, but the root causes of these evils will still be there, and will generate them again before long. It is humanity’s self-focused, hardened hearts that need to be changed. Until we are made aware of our selfish nature and are constantly fighting against it, the world will not change much. The politically correct position of acceptance will continue to grow and compassion for people will continue to decrease – even as humanitarian organizations grow and non-profit work continues to be the fad. As long as the mindset of self is taught, emphasized, and allowed in our culture and in our homes and in our classes, we will say we want to change the world and then in the next breath complain about how we need more money to live the lifestyle we feel we are entitled to. This is a disconnect that must be remedied.
Every day we must fight our natural instinct and tune out the voices around us that tell us to focus on the I, the we, and the me. Maybe we should question more what is right and normal. Maybe we should question what we deserve. Maybe we could not think we are entitled to every penny in this world. Maybe we could give more – maybe we could even give some money, time, and possessions that are “rightfully” ours. Maybe we could look at other people, no matter their race, gender, or economic situation, and consider that they deserve just as much as I do. Maybe I could actually change something about the way I live to better the life of someone else.
“…many who are first will be last, and the last first…” (Matthew 19:30). When Christ walked this earth, He introduced an “upside down kingdom” that messed with people’s heads – He challenged man’s inclination to help himself first, and even asserted that the actual Right way to live was to put all others before yourself. His message was one of service, grace, mercy, compassion, and selfless love – a message that He lived out with every part of His being when He put all of humanity first by giving His life for our’s on the Cross.
It is this selfless mindset we must seek after today. This nature of mercy and grace and peace must daily be put on and sought after as our first inclination, as our outlook on the world. When this is our view, when we are second and other’s first, when we know the love that Christ offers and are therefore able to offer it to the world – it is then that the world will truly be changed.
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” – John 3:30
“The world is overcome not through destruction, but through reconciliation. Not ideals, nor programs, nor conscience, nor duty, nor responsibility, nor virtue, but only God's perfect love can encounter reality and overcome it. Nor is it some universal idea of love, but rather the love of God in Jesus Christ, a love genuinely lived, that does this.”-Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Different
There are no words to describe the beauty, the holiness of marriage – the sacredness of knowing I am one with another person, that for the rest of our lives it is us together, living in God’s brilliant plan for this world.
What God has already reminded me of so much just through one week of marriage is that we are DIFFERENT. We are ALL meant to be different.
Just through one week of marriage God has shown me so much more of Himself and His incredibly massive vision for this world. It is grander than anything I could imagine, bigger than my little life. God, by His grace, wants to use Stephen and me to join this glorious adventure, this vision that has been the same since Adam and Moses and Esther – this vision to save the world. And it’s going to look so different - more amazing - than anything I could ever imagine.
The magic of being united with Stephen has helped me see that. I think our human habit is to fall into routine, into what it comfortable. It is to follow prototypes and examples of what is “right” that have been laid out before us by other “good” people. But there is no “prototype” for the unearthly, beautiful dreams of God. The heartbeat He is molding our hearts to feel is to a rhythm unlike any other. We are called to close our eyes and believe something bigger, something greater than we have ever seen before.
I completely believe that we should look to those that have gone before for wisdom and guidance. I believe wholeheartedly that there are some that are called to follow certain paths. But I have seen that taken to the extreme and abused, and have seen passionate, fiery people “calmed down” by the mold they were forced to fit. Get married, have kids, go to church, maybe work in youth ministry….none of these things are wrong, but if they are done simply because it is what is expected – because it is what is “good” and comfortable – and not because it is the calling of God to bring His glory and salvation into the world, then it is wrong. I believe there is more, there is something different and beautiful and fascinating that God has called each of us to that will blow our minds if we would believe that He wants to use us in this amazing huge vision. The girl crying in the brothel, the boy with no food, the parents who don’t talk anymore, the man in your office who gets quieter every day – God wants to change their lives with His love and make this world different and wants us to wake up everyday believing it can happen and believing that just like Moses, God desires us to stand up and declare FREEDOM for His people.
For some reason, God has given me a passion for government and the power it has to bring about real change if used in the right way. I have a deep interest in politics and advocacy and helping God’s people through these avenues. But I also love working with people, discussing theology, counseling others, and helping guide them to know more of God and His purposes. The past few years as I’ve been praying for God to show me His will for my life, I’ve though, because the world has told me, that I had to choose one path or the other, one passion or the other. But through my relationship with Stephen and God opening my eyes to more of His incredible, mind-blowing purpose for us in this world, I am realizing my life is supposed to look different. Just because I like working with kids, being around people, and having deep conversations doesn’t mean I have to have kids at age 23 and work with youth the rest of my life. I believe with my whole heart that God has given me a passion for government, advocacy, and political change for a reason. I believe He wants to use that just as much as He wants to use my love of people to change the world. But that doesn’t mean I can only work on Capitol Hill the rest of my life either – God is bigger than black and white, one or the other. And I believe He led me to a man who perfectly balances out the gifts He has given me with his own passions and talents – a man who perfectly completes the vision God has for us.
It’s scary because that vision is so beyond me. I can’t understand it and I don’t know how it will look. The path Steve and I are called to take is different. I am a political science major with a passion for politics who is working at a summer camp. I am married to a teacher who knows more about how to teach people than anyone I have ever met. We feel led to China, Scotland, the inner-city, the streets of Capitol Hill, the halls of nursing homes, churches, classrooms, seminaries…..
And all of it is for His glory – it is part of a wider, deeper, and more glorious picture than we will ever know. But we are called into it. We are not called to live our lives just for the sake of living them, or to fulfill a certain role or goal for ourselves. I am not called down a certain path because that is what I “should do” or because that is what makes the most sense or makes Stephen and I look the best. We are called to a higher way, a holy perspective. Everyone should look DIFFERENT. All of us should go down a path forged by a fiery passion for the vision of the redeeming love of Christ being brought onto this earth, a vision of His saving glory making this world the way God intended it to be before time began.
It is this vision that should drive us. It that leads us to a pretty normal looking life, then praise God – if the perspective is right then it is RIGHT. But nothing – nothing different or “normal” should be done with the motive of self, of comfort, of normalcy. We are called to empty ourselves, and we are called to this for a reason: the less we think of ourselves and the more we look to the throne room of God and desire His glory on this earth, the more we will pour out His love that is consuming fire, and the faster it will sweep over this pitiful, dying world. The more we desire His Way and keep the vision of Moses, Isaiah, and Paul, the vision that we are created for something more and live for something more – the vision that brings salvation – the more we let this be our perspective, the more we will look DIFFERENT. We can have PEACE in His greater plan, even though we may never see the whole picture ourselves. His love “surpasses knowledge” (Eph. 3:19), but we can LIVE it.
What God has already reminded me of so much just through one week of marriage is that we are DIFFERENT. We are ALL meant to be different.
Just through one week of marriage God has shown me so much more of Himself and His incredibly massive vision for this world. It is grander than anything I could imagine, bigger than my little life. God, by His grace, wants to use Stephen and me to join this glorious adventure, this vision that has been the same since Adam and Moses and Esther – this vision to save the world. And it’s going to look so different - more amazing - than anything I could ever imagine.
The magic of being united with Stephen has helped me see that. I think our human habit is to fall into routine, into what it comfortable. It is to follow prototypes and examples of what is “right” that have been laid out before us by other “good” people. But there is no “prototype” for the unearthly, beautiful dreams of God. The heartbeat He is molding our hearts to feel is to a rhythm unlike any other. We are called to close our eyes and believe something bigger, something greater than we have ever seen before.
I completely believe that we should look to those that have gone before for wisdom and guidance. I believe wholeheartedly that there are some that are called to follow certain paths. But I have seen that taken to the extreme and abused, and have seen passionate, fiery people “calmed down” by the mold they were forced to fit. Get married, have kids, go to church, maybe work in youth ministry….none of these things are wrong, but if they are done simply because it is what is expected – because it is what is “good” and comfortable – and not because it is the calling of God to bring His glory and salvation into the world, then it is wrong. I believe there is more, there is something different and beautiful and fascinating that God has called each of us to that will blow our minds if we would believe that He wants to use us in this amazing huge vision. The girl crying in the brothel, the boy with no food, the parents who don’t talk anymore, the man in your office who gets quieter every day – God wants to change their lives with His love and make this world different and wants us to wake up everyday believing it can happen and believing that just like Moses, God desires us to stand up and declare FREEDOM for His people.
For some reason, God has given me a passion for government and the power it has to bring about real change if used in the right way. I have a deep interest in politics and advocacy and helping God’s people through these avenues. But I also love working with people, discussing theology, counseling others, and helping guide them to know more of God and His purposes. The past few years as I’ve been praying for God to show me His will for my life, I’ve though, because the world has told me, that I had to choose one path or the other, one passion or the other. But through my relationship with Stephen and God opening my eyes to more of His incredible, mind-blowing purpose for us in this world, I am realizing my life is supposed to look different. Just because I like working with kids, being around people, and having deep conversations doesn’t mean I have to have kids at age 23 and work with youth the rest of my life. I believe with my whole heart that God has given me a passion for government, advocacy, and political change for a reason. I believe He wants to use that just as much as He wants to use my love of people to change the world. But that doesn’t mean I can only work on Capitol Hill the rest of my life either – God is bigger than black and white, one or the other. And I believe He led me to a man who perfectly balances out the gifts He has given me with his own passions and talents – a man who perfectly completes the vision God has for us.
It’s scary because that vision is so beyond me. I can’t understand it and I don’t know how it will look. The path Steve and I are called to take is different. I am a political science major with a passion for politics who is working at a summer camp. I am married to a teacher who knows more about how to teach people than anyone I have ever met. We feel led to China, Scotland, the inner-city, the streets of Capitol Hill, the halls of nursing homes, churches, classrooms, seminaries…..
And all of it is for His glory – it is part of a wider, deeper, and more glorious picture than we will ever know. But we are called into it. We are not called to live our lives just for the sake of living them, or to fulfill a certain role or goal for ourselves. I am not called down a certain path because that is what I “should do” or because that is what makes the most sense or makes Stephen and I look the best. We are called to a higher way, a holy perspective. Everyone should look DIFFERENT. All of us should go down a path forged by a fiery passion for the vision of the redeeming love of Christ being brought onto this earth, a vision of His saving glory making this world the way God intended it to be before time began.
It is this vision that should drive us. It that leads us to a pretty normal looking life, then praise God – if the perspective is right then it is RIGHT. But nothing – nothing different or “normal” should be done with the motive of self, of comfort, of normalcy. We are called to empty ourselves, and we are called to this for a reason: the less we think of ourselves and the more we look to the throne room of God and desire His glory on this earth, the more we will pour out His love that is consuming fire, and the faster it will sweep over this pitiful, dying world. The more we desire His Way and keep the vision of Moses, Isaiah, and Paul, the vision that we are created for something more and live for something more – the vision that brings salvation – the more we let this be our perspective, the more we will look DIFFERENT. We can have PEACE in His greater plan, even though we may never see the whole picture ourselves. His love “surpasses knowledge” (Eph. 3:19), but we can LIVE it.
Friday, January 22, 2010
less than a month...
So I’m getting married in less than a month – crazy! A lot of people have been asking me if I’m getting cold feet yet. If I’m nervous, scared, anxious. But it’s so different than that and it’s so hard to explain why. These last few months have actually been so GOOD. But not good because it’s fun or easy – good because this time is PREPARING me. Preparing me to be a WIFE. The more impatient I get, the more I am reminded of how crucial patience is in a marriage. The more annoyed I get at the little things, the more I am reminded of how essential grace will be in my marriage. The more I see how selflessly Stephen loves me, the more I realize how desperately I want to love him like that – every second of every day. So yes, I’m grateful for this time. Grateful that I have the time to be sanctified, to seek Christ every day and learn more every day how to be like Him. He has already changed me so much – I’m not doing the job or internship I’ve desired to do my whole life, because for the first time I’m beginning to want to serve someone else more than myself. I want to be there for Stephen more than I want to have my own career. Through Stephen, God is showing me how love works: loving someone more than yourself is so much BETTER. For the first time, I am not worried about the future, what exactly I’m going to do with my life and how I’m going to “change the world.” What God requires of me is to love Him with my whole heart, and then love others. And through my relationship with Stephen, He is teaching me to do that. And because I’m actually beginning to love someone more than myself, I’m so much more at PEACE – I know God will use the love, grace, and partnership Stephen and I share to do so much more in this world than my meager little plans could have ever done. It really is loving others that changes the world. And all we have to do is look to the cross, to the life and death of Christ to see what it looks like to truly love. And I’m so excited for God to continue to train my eyes to look to Him, so that in marriage I can be the best example of Christ’s love that Stephen will see on this earth.
Friday, November 6, 2009
"We love because He first loved us"
Let’s be different this Christmas season. (yes, the commercials are already starting…)
As a college student, I am completely aware of how hard it is to do anything that actually feels like we’re making a difference. We don’t have a lot of money, and we’re at college to get a degree, so realistically school work takes up a lot of our time.
But as Christians, it doesn’t matter whether we’re college students, busy, or don’t have a lot of money – we are still called to be holy, or “set apart” for Christ. That means we should look DIFFERENT from the rest of our culture. Not only by our words should His love and salvation be proclaimed, but in our every action and in our very lifestyles His Gospel should be seen. Even in our self-centered, money-driven, materialistic culture, we are called to live a life that is instead focused on Christ and His purposes, on living selflessly for others, in living simply and giving more. We are called to become like Christ and live out the grace we have received from Him. As a college student living in this culture, I have wrestled with how to do that. And God has shown me that it is so much more often about the little things than the big: how I talk to people, what I spend my money on in the day to day, my priorities. And this upcoming Christmas season we have a chance to live differently for Christ in the little things.
We have a chance to make Christmas what it is really about again: not a holiday to celebrate how much money we have and how many presents we can give, but rather a holiday to celebrate Love coming to earth, salvation incarnate, Grace born in human flesh, the embodiment of a merciful God. So this Christmas, please join myself and others in the Advent Conspiracy (watch this awesome video at www.adventconspiracy.org). Give up the money you would spend on just ONE family member or friend (just one, although if you feel led, please do more!) and spend TIME with that person instead. Have a conversation with them, hang out with them, show them LOVE. Then take that money and BE the Church. Give it to a person, a cause, a place that truly needs it this Christmas. Live out the Gospel – sacrifice something in yourself and in your life to give to another. Through this, who knows how many will be able to see Christ through your actions and hear about Him through your words.
Many of us will be donating our money to strengthen the fight against human trafficking, and if you wish to join us in that, facebook me or go to www.ijm.org and donate your money there! But if there is another person or cause that you are passionate about, give your money there. But make sure you’re not just giving away money – change something in YOUR lifestyle this Christmas season! Spend time with that family member you haven’t really talked to in years, or that friend that hurt your feelings a while ago, or that brother that is going through a really hard time right now. Show CHRIST this season.
Then come join us on Wednesday, November 18 at 7 pm in Jepson 100 at the University of Mary Washington and help us spread this revolution! Join the Justice Team of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship as we show IJM’s new documentary, “At the End of Slavery,” and work to raise awareness about human trafficking! There will be a guest speaker from IJM who will be talking about the issue after the documentary and leading a discussion time, and then we’ll have the opportunity to write to our senators and ask them to join us in fighting human trafficking. We will also be asking everyone to join us in living more simply this Christmas season and donating some of the money that they would have spent on presents to IJM! We’ll also have a chance to talk about the hope we can have in Christ despite human trafficking and other evils that exist in this world. So come help us be the hands and feet of Christ as we show His love and hope! Let’s live like HIM this season.
And who knows how this may carry on after Christmas? Maybe instead of spending that $10 a week at Starbucks (I am speaking directly to myself here…) we could give it to that human rights group we’ve always wanted to be able to support or a friend going through a really hard time. Maybe when you go buy groceries every week, spend an extra $5 on food that you donate to the homeless shelter every week. It is the little lifestyle changes sometimes that do the most to change our hearts and the world….
Live differently. Love because Christ has loved us and given His life for us. Let’s be moved to ACTION by His GRACE.
“We love because He first loved us.”
-1 John 4:19
As a college student, I am completely aware of how hard it is to do anything that actually feels like we’re making a difference. We don’t have a lot of money, and we’re at college to get a degree, so realistically school work takes up a lot of our time.
But as Christians, it doesn’t matter whether we’re college students, busy, or don’t have a lot of money – we are still called to be holy, or “set apart” for Christ. That means we should look DIFFERENT from the rest of our culture. Not only by our words should His love and salvation be proclaimed, but in our every action and in our very lifestyles His Gospel should be seen. Even in our self-centered, money-driven, materialistic culture, we are called to live a life that is instead focused on Christ and His purposes, on living selflessly for others, in living simply and giving more. We are called to become like Christ and live out the grace we have received from Him. As a college student living in this culture, I have wrestled with how to do that. And God has shown me that it is so much more often about the little things than the big: how I talk to people, what I spend my money on in the day to day, my priorities. And this upcoming Christmas season we have a chance to live differently for Christ in the little things.
We have a chance to make Christmas what it is really about again: not a holiday to celebrate how much money we have and how many presents we can give, but rather a holiday to celebrate Love coming to earth, salvation incarnate, Grace born in human flesh, the embodiment of a merciful God. So this Christmas, please join myself and others in the Advent Conspiracy (watch this awesome video at www.adventconspiracy.org). Give up the money you would spend on just ONE family member or friend (just one, although if you feel led, please do more!) and spend TIME with that person instead. Have a conversation with them, hang out with them, show them LOVE. Then take that money and BE the Church. Give it to a person, a cause, a place that truly needs it this Christmas. Live out the Gospel – sacrifice something in yourself and in your life to give to another. Through this, who knows how many will be able to see Christ through your actions and hear about Him through your words.
Many of us will be donating our money to strengthen the fight against human trafficking, and if you wish to join us in that, facebook me or go to www.ijm.org and donate your money there! But if there is another person or cause that you are passionate about, give your money there. But make sure you’re not just giving away money – change something in YOUR lifestyle this Christmas season! Spend time with that family member you haven’t really talked to in years, or that friend that hurt your feelings a while ago, or that brother that is going through a really hard time right now. Show CHRIST this season.
Then come join us on Wednesday, November 18 at 7 pm in Jepson 100 at the University of Mary Washington and help us spread this revolution! Join the Justice Team of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship as we show IJM’s new documentary, “At the End of Slavery,” and work to raise awareness about human trafficking! There will be a guest speaker from IJM who will be talking about the issue after the documentary and leading a discussion time, and then we’ll have the opportunity to write to our senators and ask them to join us in fighting human trafficking. We will also be asking everyone to join us in living more simply this Christmas season and donating some of the money that they would have spent on presents to IJM! We’ll also have a chance to talk about the hope we can have in Christ despite human trafficking and other evils that exist in this world. So come help us be the hands and feet of Christ as we show His love and hope! Let’s live like HIM this season.
And who knows how this may carry on after Christmas? Maybe instead of spending that $10 a week at Starbucks (I am speaking directly to myself here…) we could give it to that human rights group we’ve always wanted to be able to support or a friend going through a really hard time. Maybe when you go buy groceries every week, spend an extra $5 on food that you donate to the homeless shelter every week. It is the little lifestyle changes sometimes that do the most to change our hearts and the world….
Live differently. Love because Christ has loved us and given His life for us. Let’s be moved to ACTION by His GRACE.
“We love because He first loved us.”
-1 John 4:19
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Live It Out
just wanted to share two great examples of people living out the faith God has called us to. The first is a pastor named Genesis from Cameroon who truly lives out the Gospel in every area of his life - beyond the four walls of the church building, he shares the love of Christ through priding clean water for his town, job opportunities, and computer training, among other things. check out his website: http://cfs.hintonline.org/
the second is International Justice Mission, an organization that believes God's heart for justice is a central part of the Gispel and live out this belief by working to redeem this world. it's amazing what the love of Christ can do:
http://www.ijminstitute.org/?utm_source=IJM&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=HomeAds
read these and be encouraged. God is MIGHTY to save and wants to use us to help show that!
"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save." - Zephaniah 3:17
the second is International Justice Mission, an organization that believes God's heart for justice is a central part of the Gispel and live out this belief by working to redeem this world. it's amazing what the love of Christ can do:
http://www.ijminstitute.org/?utm_source=IJM&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=HomeAds
read these and be encouraged. God is MIGHTY to save and wants to use us to help show that!
"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save." - Zephaniah 3:17
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Interesting thoughts on the abortion issue....a more creative solution....
Jim Wallis Supports Common Ground Measures on Abortion Debate
WASHINGTON, DC – July 23, 2009 — Rev. Jim Wallis, progressive evangelical leader, author of The Great Awakening and president of Sojourners, the largest network of progressive Christians in the United States, issued the following statement outlining his support for Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Tim Ryan’s “Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act.” Wallis also commented on the issue of federal funding of abortion within the current proposed healthcare reform.
Rev. Jim Wallis Statement:
In a nation as prosperous as ours, all Americans should have access to quality, affordable health care. Reasonable people may differ on how best to accomplish this goal, and I welcome a rigorous policy debate about it, but it should be a moral priority for all of us. We must work together to find common ground that will provide quality, affordable health care to all Americans.
At this point in the debate, abortion should not become a wedge issue that could doom the chances of any legislation passing. For too long, abortion has been a contentious and ultimately divisive debate between simplified and polarizing positions of “life” and “choice.” A far better approach is to advance a common ground dialogue with both sides that results in real solutions.
Federal funding of abortions is prohibited by current law, and that prohibition should be maintained. Any final legislation should make clear that no private insurance company will be mandated to pay for an abortion, nor should they be prohibited from paying for an abortion. These provisions would maintain the current status quo, and demonstrate how sensible common ground can bring people together.
On the issue of abortion itself, Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Tim Ryan’s “Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act” addresses both how best to prevent unwanted pregnancies and support pregnant women who desire to carry their baby to term. It also makes adoption easier. The bill demonstrates how searching for common ground can lead to higher ground, in ways that both sides of the debate can embrace without compromising their core principles.. It could lead to genuine progress in reducing the number of abortions and improving the quality of life for women and children --all by addressing the real issues that often lead to abortion. Abortion is legal in the United States, and although Americans are divided on its moral status, most feel the tragedy of abortion and believe that we currently have far too many for a healthy society.
Tim Ryan and Rosa DeLauro are wise public servants who are trying to unite us around the new common ground of abortion reduction, one that people on both sides of the debate can agree to. Helping young people to delay sexual activity, preventing the pregnancies that people don't want, economically supporting low-income women to give them a real choice about having a child, and encouraging adoption will all work to reduce abortion in America; and who could be against any of that?
We have a great opportunity to advance our shared values and common goals at a crucial moment in our country’s history. Sojourners and I strongly support this good and wise piece of legislation and applaud the creative solutions it offers for real action.
Jim Wallis Supports Common Ground Measures on Abortion Debate
WASHINGTON, DC – July 23, 2009 — Rev. Jim Wallis, progressive evangelical leader, author of The Great Awakening and president of Sojourners, the largest network of progressive Christians in the United States, issued the following statement outlining his support for Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Tim Ryan’s “Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act.” Wallis also commented on the issue of federal funding of abortion within the current proposed healthcare reform.
Rev. Jim Wallis Statement:
In a nation as prosperous as ours, all Americans should have access to quality, affordable health care. Reasonable people may differ on how best to accomplish this goal, and I welcome a rigorous policy debate about it, but it should be a moral priority for all of us. We must work together to find common ground that will provide quality, affordable health care to all Americans.
At this point in the debate, abortion should not become a wedge issue that could doom the chances of any legislation passing. For too long, abortion has been a contentious and ultimately divisive debate between simplified and polarizing positions of “life” and “choice.” A far better approach is to advance a common ground dialogue with both sides that results in real solutions.
Federal funding of abortions is prohibited by current law, and that prohibition should be maintained. Any final legislation should make clear that no private insurance company will be mandated to pay for an abortion, nor should they be prohibited from paying for an abortion. These provisions would maintain the current status quo, and demonstrate how sensible common ground can bring people together.
On the issue of abortion itself, Rep. Rosa DeLauro and Tim Ryan’s “Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act” addresses both how best to prevent unwanted pregnancies and support pregnant women who desire to carry their baby to term. It also makes adoption easier. The bill demonstrates how searching for common ground can lead to higher ground, in ways that both sides of the debate can embrace without compromising their core principles.. It could lead to genuine progress in reducing the number of abortions and improving the quality of life for women and children --all by addressing the real issues that often lead to abortion. Abortion is legal in the United States, and although Americans are divided on its moral status, most feel the tragedy of abortion and believe that we currently have far too many for a healthy society.
Tim Ryan and Rosa DeLauro are wise public servants who are trying to unite us around the new common ground of abortion reduction, one that people on both sides of the debate can agree to. Helping young people to delay sexual activity, preventing the pregnancies that people don't want, economically supporting low-income women to give them a real choice about having a child, and encouraging adoption will all work to reduce abortion in America; and who could be against any of that?
We have a great opportunity to advance our shared values and common goals at a crucial moment in our country’s history. Sojourners and I strongly support this good and wise piece of legislation and applaud the creative solutions it offers for real action.
The purpose of the Church...
"The purpose of the church is not to be socially agreeable; it is to speak robustly to the state on behalf of those who cannot speak effectively for themselves."- Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister, http://blog.sojo.net/2009/07/15/a-prime-ministers-conscience-is-pricked/
The Australian Prime Minister states so clearly what I feel many of us today simply just don’t get. As the Church, Christ commands us to "love our neighbors as ourselves." That is His greatest commandment, after loving Him first. It's funny that He considers loving others so connected with loving Him that He says the two in the same breath, yet the Church today seems bent on focusing so much on the first command but not the second. Why is the Church today so concerned with our personal salvation, personal well-being, personal image, when what Christ actually commands throughout Scripture is to be concerned with OTHERS? His Gospel is one of such selfless, saving love that, when truly known, can not help but pour out of us to others. Jesus actually goes so far as to say that if our faith isn’t outward focused, then we don't truly know His Gospel (Matthew 25:31-46). If we know Him, we will plead the cause of the afflicted and needy (Jeremiah 22:15-16). We will feed His sheep (John 21:15-16). We will help our brothers and sisters in need (1 John 3:16-18). We will spread His Gospel to all people (Matthew 28:18). His love brings us salvation and, living in that love, we will bring salvation as well.
His love transforms us to be more like Him, so that we begin to truly be able to love God and then others more than ourselves. As we die to ourselves more and more everyday and grow in Christ, we begin to see more of His vision of selfless faith. As our minds are renewed in His Spirit, the connection between His love for us and our love for others strengthens. When we become more like Him, His love in us increases to naturally love others like He loves them. We realize that our faith is anything but just about us. We are called to be transformed into Christ - which means we are called to hurt like He hurts, to feel compassion like He feels compassion, and to actively love others out of God’s great love in us (Romans 12:2).
Like Christ, we are called to be a voice where no one else will. In Christ, we see how to be this voice: “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8). We see how we are to "learn to do right" by seeking justice, encouraging the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, and pleading the case of the widow (Isaiah 1:17).
As theologian Carl F.H. Henry said, "If the church preaches only divine forgiveness and does not affirm justice, she implies that God treats immorality and sin lightly. If the church proclaims only justice, we shall all die in unforgiving sin and without the Spirit's empowerment for righteousness. We should be equally troubled that we lag in championing justice and in fulfilling our evangelistic mandate."
Being a follower of Christ means loving Him AND loving others. He has saved us by His amazing grace, and the selfless love that led Him to give up His life for us now fills us and enables us to do the same for our brothers and sisters. When asked why we should care about what the government does, what happens to people in other countries, about the homeless man on the street, etc, we should without hesitation respond "Because God loves me." If we believe in the love of God, then that love should lead us to love others. “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) Through His Spirit in us, we can love our brothers - it is not the whole Gospel of Christ if we don’t. (1 John 3:17) Christ has given us salvation, and He has given us His Holy Spirit so that we may bring this salvation - His love and justice - to others. THIS is the Gospel. He calls us to be a part of His redemptive work. So let’s BE the Body of Christ and live in this selfless love.
The Australian Prime Minister states so clearly what I feel many of us today simply just don’t get. As the Church, Christ commands us to "love our neighbors as ourselves." That is His greatest commandment, after loving Him first. It's funny that He considers loving others so connected with loving Him that He says the two in the same breath, yet the Church today seems bent on focusing so much on the first command but not the second. Why is the Church today so concerned with our personal salvation, personal well-being, personal image, when what Christ actually commands throughout Scripture is to be concerned with OTHERS? His Gospel is one of such selfless, saving love that, when truly known, can not help but pour out of us to others. Jesus actually goes so far as to say that if our faith isn’t outward focused, then we don't truly know His Gospel (Matthew 25:31-46). If we know Him, we will plead the cause of the afflicted and needy (Jeremiah 22:15-16). We will feed His sheep (John 21:15-16). We will help our brothers and sisters in need (1 John 3:16-18). We will spread His Gospel to all people (Matthew 28:18). His love brings us salvation and, living in that love, we will bring salvation as well.
His love transforms us to be more like Him, so that we begin to truly be able to love God and then others more than ourselves. As we die to ourselves more and more everyday and grow in Christ, we begin to see more of His vision of selfless faith. As our minds are renewed in His Spirit, the connection between His love for us and our love for others strengthens. When we become more like Him, His love in us increases to naturally love others like He loves them. We realize that our faith is anything but just about us. We are called to be transformed into Christ - which means we are called to hurt like He hurts, to feel compassion like He feels compassion, and to actively love others out of God’s great love in us (Romans 12:2).
Like Christ, we are called to be a voice where no one else will. In Christ, we see how to be this voice: “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8). We see how we are to "learn to do right" by seeking justice, encouraging the oppressed, defend the cause of the fatherless, and pleading the case of the widow (Isaiah 1:17).
As theologian Carl F.H. Henry said, "If the church preaches only divine forgiveness and does not affirm justice, she implies that God treats immorality and sin lightly. If the church proclaims only justice, we shall all die in unforgiving sin and without the Spirit's empowerment for righteousness. We should be equally troubled that we lag in championing justice and in fulfilling our evangelistic mandate."
Being a follower of Christ means loving Him AND loving others. He has saved us by His amazing grace, and the selfless love that led Him to give up His life for us now fills us and enables us to do the same for our brothers and sisters. When asked why we should care about what the government does, what happens to people in other countries, about the homeless man on the street, etc, we should without hesitation respond "Because God loves me." If we believe in the love of God, then that love should lead us to love others. “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) Through His Spirit in us, we can love our brothers - it is not the whole Gospel of Christ if we don’t. (1 John 3:17) Christ has given us salvation, and He has given us His Holy Spirit so that we may bring this salvation - His love and justice - to others. THIS is the Gospel. He calls us to be a part of His redemptive work. So let’s BE the Body of Christ and live in this selfless love.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Election Day
So check this out: http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=3166. Tomorrow is election day and we have such an opportunity to bring CHANGE to the US and to the world. If you have some time before you vote, please read this article and really pray about what our voting priorities should be, and how to vote in a way that reflects those priorities and brings about the change we desperately need.
Also, this is a really short but really good article that speaks to the current economic crisis and how we, as Christians, can view this whole situation. Or how we SHOULD view this whole situation: http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=2705.
Throughout the Bible we see those with much turning away from God and the life He intended them to live. And we see God humbling His people, even using economic and social crises to humble them and turn them back to Him. Maybe God is going to use this whole economic crisis to wake up the American Church. Maybe it will remind us where our confidence should lie, and maybe it will remind us of the life God desires us to live and the way He desires us to use the blessings He has given us. Maybe this whole crisis will help change America and the Church for the better. And at this time, with the elections coming up and the chance to actually make our voice be heard and help bring about that change, I pray we step up and DO IT.
“Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord – that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.” –Psalm 83:18
Also, this is a really short but really good article that speaks to the current economic crisis and how we, as Christians, can view this whole situation. Or how we SHOULD view this whole situation: http://www.sojo.net/blog/godspolitics/?p=2705.
Throughout the Bible we see those with much turning away from God and the life He intended them to live. And we see God humbling His people, even using economic and social crises to humble them and turn them back to Him. Maybe God is going to use this whole economic crisis to wake up the American Church. Maybe it will remind us where our confidence should lie, and maybe it will remind us of the life God desires us to live and the way He desires us to use the blessings He has given us. Maybe this whole crisis will help change America and the Church for the better. And at this time, with the elections coming up and the chance to actually make our voice be heard and help bring about that change, I pray we step up and DO IT.
“Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord – that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.” –Psalm 83:18
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