Tag Archive for 'Head to Fingers'

Looking Alike

Published
by
Justin
on November 15, 2008
in Head to Fingers
. 2 Comments

For some reason the line from Acts 4 ‘they recognized that they had been with Jesus’ has been on my mind a lot. In the context of Acts it was Peter and John’s boldness that provoked this statement. They were ordinary people, fisherman, yet their wisdom was bold and it was apparent that there was something different in these men. 

I’ve been thinking…How is it that we, in our time, display that we ‘have been with Jesus’? Being nice, going to church, talking about Jesus…these things are all good and a good start (if birthed from within). But I’m going to go out on a limb and say that exterior actions are not as convincing as we may think. Because our relationship with Jesus ultimately begins within, within our minds, souls, and hearts, then it is from that place that He lives through us. It is from the good stored up from within us that good things come out. We could say, “It is from the Jesus stored up from within us that Jesus comes out.” 

I’m wondering if there are times that we work too hard at trying to act like Jesus (or how we would think he would act) and not enough time just allowing His teachings and life to really absorb us at such a deep place that we just end up being like Him. I want this for myself so badly…I want to give up contrived efforts…and I simply want Jesus to be in my words, speech, actions, and thoughts without me having to think about it. I want Jesus to be unrestrained in me…

The ‘ouch’ question of the hour is….do I pursue friendship with Jesus to know Him well enough? You know how old married couples somehow start to look alike? Or dress alike? Laugh alike? Like the same food? Speak alike? It’s because they have spent their lives together! Jen and I have been married for seven and a half years now and there are times where we end up wearing the same colors, shoes, and styles on the same day even when get dressed separately! This didn’t happen on day one of the honeymoon…it’s kind of happened over time and we’ve just now realized it. If we started wearing matching outfits on purpose from day one that is just a little cheesy and would look like we’re trying too hard! (which another point could be drawn from!)

I’m not saying that I want to be an old married couple with Jesus…but I am saying that as I spend more and more time with Him I want to start looking more and more like Him without even knowing it…Here’s the scary thing: Jesus was persecuted, followed, beaten, admired, hated, healing, betrayed, loved, and was servant to all…this mixed bag is what following Jesus gets us in this life. Looking like Jesus can be dangerous stuff…but this is the journey of faith that we choose when we choose to follow Him…

Another Imperfect Person is Elected

Published
by
Justin
on November 4, 2008
in Head to Fingers
. 3 Comments

 

No, I don’t know who won the election already because I live further east…I wrote this title in past tense because it is simply a future reality. 

It seems on Facebook that everyone is using their status to communicate something about their opinions on the election, but that’s just not enough room for me! And the thing is…what I’m writing about isn’t entirely about the candidates, it’s also about the voters. 

The truth of the matter is that either candidate is going to let us down in some way. None of their short-comings are going to be a surprise to God. In fact, it is God who allows them the authority they have. Early Christians had to wrestle over this while they were persecuted under a Roman authority that was far more irreligious than anything we’re seeing today. 

The conclusion that I come to is that God must think very little of earthy power! I think that God chooses a different form of influence in the world other than the power constructs that men erect to feel influential or in control. 

As Christians, I think we’re left with a choice: Do we put our faith, hope, and trust in the offices and kingdoms created by man? Or do we put our faith, hope, and trust in the Kingdom of God and its ways? 

Lets just say we choose the first one…

There are two possible outcomes: One is that our person wins and we feel like all is going to be right. We trust that this person will govern in a way that gives us the life we want. How does having this person in office point you to trust God and His Kingdom? Does it mask our yearning for God’s new Kingdom? I don’t believe that God’s top priorities are controlling the kingdoms of this earth. I believe that His top priorities are inviting people to live into His kingdom and it’s ways. So if we get everything that we think we want from an elected official in a kingdom of this earth, do we still pursue God’s Kingdom with the abandon that He calls us to? 

The second outcome is that the other person wins! The other group is rejoicing that they won…the other candidate is enacting policies that we don’t want. They are governing in a way that we think is wrong. And it frustrates us because we need the government and it’s policies to give us the life you want. The joys in our life depend on how man’s elected offices handle earthly matters. Maybe I’m just missing something…but how do man’s earthly policies and government control anything related with the God’s Kingdom, the one we as follower of Jesus have chosen allegiance to? If we believe the policies of man have power or influence over the Kingdom of God, then either we don’t understand God’s kingdom or we think way too highly of earthly government! 

If we are placing our faith in earthly government over the Kingdom followers of Jesus are called to, win or lose we have some issues to deal with. 

So, let’s say we choose the second option from above…

For me, choosing to put my faith in God’s kingdom allows me to be fruitful and joyful in any situation. Ultimately, my fate, the quality of my life, and my hope rest in what I find in the Kingdom of God…not in what I don’t find in the kingdoms of earth. 

As another imperfect person is elected into office, I am choosing not to trust in either of them to give me the life that I want. I choose to only trust in Jesus…I choose to trust that the Kingdom He initiated is where I’ll find the solutions my hearts deepest longings. I choose to believe that God’s Kingdom, truly lived out by those of us who acclaim to it, has more potential to impact this world that any kingdom that man could create. 

I will sleep well regardless of who becomes the next President of the United States.

Remember the days when…

Published
by
Justin
on October 13, 2008
in Head to Fingers, Missional Church and Theology
. 1 Comment

Remember the days when the simplicity of the Gospel was protected, taught, and fought for? Remember the days when leaders would rather stand alone with the Gospel, than stand in a crowed with a shade of it?

I read Galatians this morning and let’s just say…Paul really brings the pain here. Not in a, “You should do this, this, this, and that” kind of way. More in a, “Are you stupid? Why in the name of Jesus are doing this, this, this, and that as if it’s going to change anything?!?” I’m sure it was just a slip of the pen when he said that they were not intelligible, unwise, and foolish…no good pastor would ever say such things…

But here is my favorite rebuke of Paul’s…which would easily be included in a list of top 10 things teachers should say that they don’t/can’t/won’t anymore:

Galatians 1:8-9

Whoever tells you a good news that is different from the Good New we gave you should be accursed, even if he is one of us or an angel from heaven. I’m now telling you again what we’ve told you in the past: I’m now telling you again what I told you in the past: If anyone tells you good news that is different from the Good News you recieved, that person should be accursed.

Not just once, but twice, does Paul make it clear that people who distort the freedom we have Christ (as he explains in the rest of this letter) should be accursed. Some translations say: condemned…one even says ‘condemned to hell’ (I think it’s for a little extra somethin’ even though it’s not in the greek…I had to look, thanks studylight.org!)

I think that if we get past the shock of Paul being so strong here, we can see something else. At this time in the Church, the purity of the Gospel was at stake. The Church’s message in it’s infancy could not be distorted and required protecting. If a corruption were to have occurred at this stage, then every offspring that this message produces would carry the same…wound. So, the message Gospel had to be purified of the untruths put on it.

Are any of view finding yourself asking the question, “uh, why did we ever stop protecting the clarity of the message of Jesus? Shouldn’t this be something that we still do?” I think this is a worthy question. And I think that Paul addresses it Galatians when he says, (1:10)

Am I saying this now to win the approval of people or God? Am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ’s servant.

This says all that I could.

Amongst all the things that Paul says are not important to a true Gospel, he says three things that we should chew on ’till our jaw hurts…I’ll leave you with these:

“As far as our relationship to Christ Jesus is concerned, it doesn’t matter [what laws we do or don't follow]. What matters is faith working itself out in love.” (5:6)

“[Use your freedom to] serve each other through love.” (5:13)

“Certainly, it doesn’t matter whether a person is [following a specific law] or not. Rather, what matters is being a new creation.” (6:15)

Simplicity

Published
by
Justin
on October 7, 2008
in From Out of Nowhere, Missional Church and Movements
. 5 Comments

I’ve been reading through 1 John the last few days. Today this part stuck out to me:

1 John 3:23

This is [God's] commandment: to believe in his Son, the one named Jesus Christ, and to love each other as he commanded us. Those who obey Christ’s commandments live in God, and God lives in them. We know that he lives in us because he has given us the Spirit.

The simplicity of this verse stands in stark contrast to the amount of all that I’ve read, heard, and lived in regards to being a follower of Jesus. My reasoning for this error is that we live a culture that values the pursuit of knowledge above most else. In the story of the Garden in Genesis…what does the serpent tempt Adam and Eve with? Knowledge. Abandoning the simple trust in their God, they chose it.

I wonder: In our pursuit of knowledge about God, scripture, and what we believe is Christian living; in what ways have we abandoned the commandment of God: to obey Jesus, and love each other.

I wonder: How would the world be different if we traded our talk, thoughts, and plans for loving others - for actually loving others?

I wonder: Will we ever be content with the simplicity of love? Or will we continually be tempted to add more to it? …maybe as a justification for our lack of obeying Jesus’ commandment to love?

I’m serious about this choosing love thing. We’ve done the knowledge thing for a long time and it’s gotten us only so far. I say we allow our knowledge to evolve into love and let God have a shot using that for a few generations.

Home…

Published
by
Justin
on September 24, 2008
in Head to Fingers
. 2 Comments

I think that I’m realizing something more clearly now than ever: I miss the feeling of home. I miss ownership of space. I would have thought this was weird more than a year ago, but after this season of life I am finding myself wanting to sit at my own table, clean my own kitchen, sit in my own chair, and sleep in my own bed. None of these things have been a reality for us. All of these things are more of an expression of familiarity, and this is what makes home feel like home. Living overseas adds even more strain to not feeling like much is familiar…and the issues kind of multiply themselves.

Familiarity is not a sentiment I would use to describe our lives. I think nomadic is a much better word. The only things are familiar to me now are the suitcases we have, clothes we wear (which are wearing out quickly), and the reality that the only thing constant has been our little tribe.

I’m at a place now, where I can’t even imagine what it would be like to live in the same place for more than a few months. It will be weird when we settle into a city. The thought of it kind of excites me to be honest. I never would have thought I would hear myself say, “I wish we could just get settled…” But alas. Here I am, wanting and praying that God will make a way for us to find familiarity in the sea of all that is unfamiliar.

Our journey over the past year or so has made me reflect about how spiritually speaking we’re never going to feel like home in this life. Our souls (should) be nomadic, wandering this earth, leaping at anything that resembles what our spiritual home will be. We should carry with us the excitement that one day we’ll get settled, but at the same realizing that God has us in a nomadic place, as hopefull sojourners, to give this hope away to other nomads who don’t have it.

So, pray for our family as we wait, seek, listen, and pursue. Pray that our souls won’t lose hope and that our bodies will quickly find some place familiar to rest.

Nervous…

Published
by
Justin
on July 4, 2008
in Head to Fingers
. 2 Comments

The last few months have been a blur…since deciding to return to Europe and follow God’s call in our lives there we have had a lot on our minds. Easily, the most weighing issue on my mind has been our support. Over the past nine months we’ve lost, oh…just a bit…sarcasm. 

It’s amazing how much ground we’ve been able to gain over the past few months though. We’ve met some amazing people, had a lot of good connections with old friends, and have had to do a lot of explaining about what God has been doing in our lives, which we do with joy because we are excited about where we are heading…and our past is a part of the future. 

We’re coming up on 20 days from when we want to leave. Just typing that makes my stomach go upside down. Not because I’m apprehensive about another cross cultural move, but because there is much ground to gain and many miracles to be seen for this to happen. I am genuinely nervous with expectation. I don’t know another way to say it. I really don’t know how possible it will be for us to go back in 20 some days. I want to so badly, more so than the first time over, but this go ’round with finances has been a lot tougher. 

We were having dinner with some friends last night and Eric asked me, “How much of your time is spent thinking about your finances?” The answer…nearly all of it. His admonition to me was to trust. I agreed, I need to remember that God is ultimately in control. But what I’m bummed out about is the fact that I am not spending this crucial time spiritually preparing to go back. It’s frustrating to be spending some silent time praying and reading only to be constantly fighting the ‘to-do list’ that is scrolling in my brain. Even now, I know that I may have trouble falling asleep because of the things that need to happen in order for us to make our goal of going back for our Staff Conference. I’m sure that if we don’t make it then God has a perfectly legit reason for it! We’re at peace about it, but at the same time it will be hard to not be there. But isn’t ironic that we’re being sent out on a spiritual journey, but my mind is taken over with issues of money. I hate this sad irony. Is it me? Is it the reality of us getting back to Europe? I just wish it was different…maybe it can be. 

I guess I’m writing this mostly for myself. But also to give anyone who reads these words an idea of the struggle that it is for me to truly trust God with something so tangible. If we get to the end of July and are still in the US then we are going to be faced with more questions and I fear that we’ll spend most of our time trying to continue to raise funds instead of becoming more spiritually and emotionally prepared to go. Maybe we should go regardless of the money and see how God provides then? Maybe we will. 

Content being a suburban idealist

Published
by
Justin
on June 17, 2008
in Head to Fingers
. 3 Comments

I love cities…I think it’s because I love people and there is no shortage of people in cities. I love the energy in cities. I love the sounds. I love the bustle. I love the diversity. I love the density. Sure, this can all get old, but for the most part it gives me energy and makes me feel alive. 

In God’s great irony, we’ve been living in the country. You can check out Jen’s last post to hear more about mice and dead goats…yeah we live in the country. I do like it out here…but I don’t think I survive for very long without more people around. But here we are…in the county. Allergies going nuts: sneezing, itching, and nose running.

We’ve been in Portland for a week now and we haven’t been able to get towards the city until today. We’re operating with what I call our ‘wartime rations’ and we’re not about to drive the 20 miles to downtown at 4.25 a gallon…just not going to happen. We got bills to pay…and we’ll be moving into a city again soon enough! I’m trying to enjoy where I’m at…but I’ve never been too good at this. 

I’m cursed with always being a year ahead of now in my mind. This can be a really good thing sometime, but not always. I’m not always the best at being present. This doesn’t bug me too much until I realize how doing this hurts the present and the relationships that are happening now (usually it’s my loving wife that points this out too). For those of us that are a mile ahead, we need to realize that relationship is lived in the present and that it is relationships that are greatest gift we are given. People who knew me in Paris would laugh (i.e. scoff) that this is me saying this because I was guilty of not being present for a long season of our time there….for reasons that I’ve only now come to really get. 

I read a book a couple of years ago called Practicing the Presence of People by Mike Mason. It was a challenge to me. The premise was to slow down and really soak up the presence of another created being and not miss a chance to really see them, to really know them, to really enjoy their quirks, and to really look into their eyes. To realize that every person is a gift…a poem as Ephesians 2 says…crafted by God to bring Him pleasure. When we think this way it changes everything. But trying to do this in my relationships with people has influenced how I’m learning to be grateful for every ‘present’ that I’m in. I’m experiencing that every moment in my life is a gift designed to help me grow or to teach me to humbly receive grace that God has gifted me with. 

God willing, it won’t be long before we’re back living in Europe. We’ll be back to the city. Back to the streets. Back to the noise that became home. Back to foreign languages and foods. Back to metro rides. Back to brick and cement and concrete. Back to hordes of people crowding on the bus. Back to walking for transportation. Back to carrying our groceries home. Back to getting bread from the local shop. Back to small apartments and lots of stairs. Back to the sound of scooters screaming by. Back to the set that my life was meant to be played on.   

But for the next few weeks I am determined to soak up the beauty of the Oregon countryside…some of the most beautiful land on earth in my humble opinion. I am determined to enjoy my friends and family here as much as I can. To not get caught up in the worries that are around every tomorrow…but to slow down and take in where I am at. There is too much beauty, promise, and hope in this place to not enjoy being the suburban idealist for a time. 

I want to be a worship rock star

Published
by
Justin
on May 28, 2008
in Head to Fingers, Missional Church and Posts That Even Make Me Mad
. 5 Comments

I’m in one of those moods. So, forgive me if this is too much pessimism…and if this resonates with you…let’s move from beyond complaining to figuring out some real answers and some real ways to frame worship…enough disclaimer. 

So, my brother-in-law and I were watching some worship stuff on tv by a really well known group of churches. I really like this groups music…I’ve lead worship playing some of the songs I was hearing…I want to be a worship rock star just like them! But there was something really weird about what I was seeing. It felt like I was watching a rock concert. People’s eyes were closed, packed up close to the stage, raising their hands, jumping around…It just looked like a middle class rock concert. The funny thing about ‘worship music’ and the worship phenomena in the Church today is that sometimes we come off as our own version of rock stars. We have our own celebrity worship leaders that charge royalties like in the real world. We have our own worship CD’s with trendy graphics and trendy recording (yes recording can be trendy…listen to how similar all ‘cutting edge’ worship albums sounded 5 years ago…and listen to how they have all ‘progressed’ the same today). Worship has become an industry. It has become another thing to consume. And we do a dang good job of it. And nobody seems to complain…our Jesus music gets better and better, the ‘worship experience’ becomes bigger, the fun factor for musicians goes up, and everybody wins…or do we? I want to be a worship rock star. 

But I have to wonder, was Jesus’ vision of His Church’s worship rock and roll? For me, and many others, Church is no longer defined by gatherings on the weekend, music, teaching, and programs. Church for me is the people of God living out redeemed life together in this world. Talk of being in the presence of Jesus is still there, but it comes through clothing Him, “when we see him naked.” Or by giving Him food, “when we see him hungry.” Or talking with Him, “when we see Him lonely.” I want to be a worship rock star…but not when I’m holding a guitar. 

I am a wanna be worship rock star. In all of my critique of this scene, the irony is that I am a worship leader for Church gatherings. I led worship at a church a few weeks ago. I played guitar in a band at a church in Portland for a while too. And I love good worship music…I connect with God when I sing along with music that I like and when I play guitar to music that is fun. Singing, playing instruments, and worshiping God through song are all found in the Bible as expression of praise…and it is a good thing. But it is not another thing for us to consume…worship in song is only true worship when we expect to get nothing out of it…only to bring focus to our hearts desire to give something back to God. I’ve expressed on my blog before that my fear with some of the trends in Christianity today are that we are just reproducing a young generation of consumer Christians whose palates are more refined than ever to critique every Church experience that we come across. I just get this gross feeling in my gut when I think about all of the times I’ve heard people say, “I didn’t get a lot out of worship today.” *pause while I run to bathroom and lose my dinner* 

I just wonder…How would our world more accurately reflect the Kingdom of God if we spent as much effort, money, and time on missional expressions of worship as we do with music? I think that’s a fair question. Worship through music is generally for those of us who are already believers. Some people will experience God for the first time through our music, but honestly, worship can be polarizing as well. I wonder how the Church would be a more effective agent of global change if we were to serve as wholeheartedly as we sang. I know that if practiced serving as much as I do the guitar I would be changed! The one thing that went through my mind as I was watching this production was, “For all of the emotion, power, and experience that these people were having, how many left truly transformed by the presence of God?” If we really touch the living God in our times of singing, why do we still get caught up in the worries of the world week after week. I mean, if God is who we believe that He is and we spend 35 minutes a week in an atmosphere where His presence is that intense…why aren’t more of us being transformed? Why am I not more transformed when I am the one leading these songs?!? Is it me? God…help me to be changed when you are near. 

I want to be a worship rock star…but I don’t care about experiences where I (and others) are left unchanged…I want to offer God worship that expects nothing in return. That simply desires to reveal God for who He is. That stretches my life…not just my vocal chords.