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Friday, July 04, 2008

Currently Listening
Galactic Conquest
By Eleventyseven
Happiness
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Zacchaeus was a wee little man...

Happy Fourth of July! It's an amazing time of year. Canada Day was a few days ago. It's a pleasant time of year really. Especially when we think about the amazing countries that we live in, and how truly blessed we are to be allowed to live in a time such as this. We have learned to fly, (supposedly as some would say) walked on the moon, and have traversed the depths of space and the sea.

We have so much to be thankful for (especially in a stagnant economic state) just for the sheer fact that we (well, I...) live in a rich nation. To live in a nation that has so many technological, medical, humanitarian, cultural, educational, and scientific (etcetera, etcetera, etcetera) achievements.

I myself am allowed to pray and worship my Lord and Savior with a group of people openly. I take my Bible to work, and read it when I'm on breaks. I sign hymns as I walk down the street (they tend to get stuck in my head. I don't purposely walk down Michigan Avenue singing Agnus Dei). I can wear a shirt that professes my love of the Lord in public. My church and I can have services outside, in the park, during daylight.

My point in mentioning all of those things is this: we live in a nation(s) where that is perfectly acceptable. Where many people can do as they please, just as long as no one's getting hurt, and no laws are being broken. How is it that I am so 'lucky' to have been blessed with these gifts, when so many people around the world have not been? How is it that I, a twenty-one year-old homosexual man can profess (openly, mind you) that I am in fact, a homosexual AND a follower of Christ?

These things boggle my mind. They boggle my mind in the fact that the Lord has provided for you, me, and millions and millions of people around the world. Yet, we are absolvent to the fact that the Lord has not (yet?) provided these things to the other people around the globe.

So, let us this Fourth of July remember America's birthday. Yay, go America! Happy 232nd Birthday! But let us not forget about the tragedies that are being perpetrated around the globe. In places such as Darfur, North Korea, Kurdish regions of the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, and the list goes on and becomes more and more lengthy. Do not forget about those people around the world that most desperately need our thoughts and prayers, especially on this day, the anniversary of our independence.

But, speaking of the Bible, the Word of God, I was doing my daily reading today, and read the bit of Luke that mentions Jesus' interaction with Zacchaeus. And as I've mentioned before, I always pray before I read the Word. I pray that God will reveal something new and fresh to me. Something that has otherwise been a mystery (I read the Bible in sequential order. I don't ask for God to give me a verse to read as I find it doesn't work for me. But, if it works for you, go for it hot stuff).

So, Luke 19: 1-27
Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn't see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.
When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home." Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him. Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumped, "What business does he have getting cozy with this crook?"
Zacchaeus just stood there, a little stunned. He stammered apologetically, "Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and if I'm caught cheating, I pay four times the damages."
Jesus said, "Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost."

While he had their attention, and because they were getting close to Jerusalem by this time and expectation was building that God's kingdom would appear any minute, he told this story:
"There was once a man descended from a royal house who needed to make a long trip back to headquarters to get authorization for his rule and then return. But first he called ten servants together, gave them each a sum of money, and instructed them, 'Operate with this until I return.'
"But the citizens there hated him. So they sent a commission with a signed petition to oppose his rule: 'We don't want this man to rule us.'
"When he came back bringing the authorization of his rule, he called those ten servants to whom he had given the money to find out how they had done.
"The first said, 'Master, I doubled your money.'
"He said, 'Good servant! Great work! Because you've been trustworthy in this small job, I'm making you governor of ten towns.'
"The second said, 'Master, I made a fifty percent profit on your money.'
"He said, 'I'm putting you in charge of five towns.'
"The next servant said, 'Master, here's your money safe and sound. I kept it hidden in the cellar. To tell you the truth, I was a little afraid. I know you have high standards and hate sloppiness, and don't suffer fools gladly.'
"He said, 'You're right that I don't suffer fools gladly—and you've acted the fool! Why didn't you at least invest the money in securities so I would have gotten a little interest on it?'
"Then he said to those standing there, 'Take the money from him and give it to the servant who doubled my stake.'
"They said, 'But Master, he already has double . . .'
"He said, 'That's what I mean: Risk your life and get more than you ever dreamed of. Play it safe and end up holding the bag.
"'As for these enemies of mine who petitioned against my rule, clear them out of here. I don't want to see their faces around here again.'"
So, as I was reading that (the text is from The Message Bible) I was hit with something. Not only do I love the song that I used to sing in Sunday School when I was little about Zacchaeus (when reading the first bit), but also something new hit me while I read the second part of the Word.
What I feel I was being told about that part is this: God has given us our lives and our livelihoods to do with as we please. We have free choice, the ability to choose him, or the ability to decide to renounce Christ. Out of the ten servants at the beginning, only three are mentioned. The master gave them all a mina, which was about three months worth of wages. So, pretty hefty chunk of change. They were to do with it as they saw fit. To operate it, as he said. The first servant put his mina to work and doubled it (half a year's income!). As such, the servant was given 10 towns to govern over. Then the second servant put the mina to work and made it half of it. So, he had (4 3/4s months income) and was given 5 towns to watch over. The third servant didn't do anything with the mina. He put it in his sock drawer I'd imagine. Not getting anything for it. That man's mina was taken away and given to the man with 10 minas (the first servant).
So too are we. We have been given our lives by God. Tim Gun's quote of, "Make it work," applies here in this story and to our modern lives. However, if we squander what God has given us, and don't earn anything on return (i.e. Salvation, Sanctification, yadda, yadda, yadda) your share of the Kingdom will be given to someone who deserves it more than you. Follow the Lord's commandments and wishes. Be fruitful and your reward will be great. Also, by another token (I wrote this in the margins of my Bible for me... but it might apply to you too) If you profess to be the Lord's but you're too scared to do his bidding, to do what he wants you to do, your reward is guess what... nothing!
Until next time, I leave you with this lovely video.
Peace to you, and my the Lord's countenance shine upon you, now and forever more.
-Jordan

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Currently Listening
Yael Naim
By Yael Naïm, David Donatien
7 Baboker
see related
Segundo

I do not typically like to post blogs if I don't have anything to say, so as such, I have nothing concrete to say, so I'll begin typing in the hopes that something will spring forth from my fingers.

Today was an amazing day by the way, it was beautifully sunny, I had the day off from Le GAP, and I got to sleep in until the ripe old time of noon! Can we say F-U-N?! I woke up, did the office for the day piddled around a bit, and then read some things on the interwebs. Round about four in the afternoon I decided that I should probably do laundry as it wasn't going to do itself. This was after I watched it for a good while, hoping it would in fact do itself. Ugh. If only, if only there were a way for laundry to do itself. Or for me to be able to afford a maid. Or even just a laundress... I'd willingly carry my clothes to the laundromat if I had enough money to think that it wouldn't be too much of an expense. But alas, I think that, and I will always think that it's too much of an expense, even if I do some how have a financial windfall.

So, I did my laundry whilst I read my Bible outside. It was really nice to just sit in the sunlight and read the Word waiting on my laundry to finish in the washer. Then I frantically tried to finish drying and folding with enough time to run to church for the Wednesday night service (I hear they're fun). But, of course Rev. Sarah wasn't there presiding over the Eucharist, and so there was just the body of Christ. Not the blood of Christ. Which was awkward. I mean, you've got to have something to wash the body of Christ down with, right? And typically that's the blood of Christ. Duh! Ok, that was sacrilegious, and I shouldn't have said that about one of the holy sacraments. My apologies... haha.

Ok, no, really. Seriously. Sorry.

So, in other news, I get to see my first Cubs game tomorrow with Jacob, Levi, and Sarah. FUN. The only bad thing about it is that I have to be at the game at 120, and then at Le GAP by 6. The game should be over by then, but at the same time... what if it's not? Actually, that was a stupid question. If it's not, I'll leave. Especially since if it goes over nine innings, I don't want to be there to watch it anymore. Especially since I almost always leave games after the sixth or seventh inning. But, that's not to say that I don't enjoy them. Or that I won't enjoy it tomorrow. I love baseball, and I love the fact that I might get sun burnt. Thus bringing my tan up a few shades on my arms (being pale sucks... immensely. Damn Irish genes).

I'll share with you what I read in the "Good Book" today, then it's off to bed for me, as I very rarely go to bed prior to four, and rarer yet wake up before noon. Tomorrow should be well worth it though if I do say so myself. :)

So, what did I read today that is so great, you may ask?

Luke 6:27-42 was a part of my reading for today (I also pray before reading the Word every day that the Lord will reveal something new and exciting to me about Himself that I didn't know before, or cast something already learned into a new light). I typically go in sequential order for the books and chapters. Now I'm at Luke 8, and by tomorrow, I'll be further along, or completely finished with Luke. Whichever.

Either way, that's not important. I've decided to touch on this passage in Luke because it still has meaning to us in today's world, just as it had meaning for those in the early church. With all the differences in doctrines, teachings, and traditions (Nazarenes, Wesleyans, Pentecostals, Baptists, Presbyterians, Episcopals, Methodists, Roman Catholics, and Greek Orthodox churches to name a few), I feel it's completely imperative to remember that Christ is why we do all of these things. Not to further our own agendas, and not to further the goals and missions of an elect few. But to further the work of God in this world. We should be uniting, instead of tearing each other down over petty arguments and disagreements about the way one denomination chooses to worship our communal Lord and Savior. But alas, I digress... (I feel like I've written so much, and that I should wrap it up. But I haven't even started the point yet).

Luke 6
27 through 32-"But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you."
37 and 38-"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you..."
41 and 42-"Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,' when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye."

So, what does that say to us? What is Jesus telling us to do in these bits. Well, in my own life it's telling me to not harbor hatred toward someone. Be it a particular politician, ex-friend, ex-lover, or spreader-of-gossip-about-me. They did what they did, but let it roll off your back (the offering of the other cheek). The Lord didn't tell us to sit idly by and let someone beat us up and blacken both of our eyes. He meant, if they do, you might as well let them do the other side, because it's not like it really matters in the grand scheme of things. If someone hits you, so what? If someone gossips about you, so what? Let it roll off your back and let them do your thing. You're still going to do what you've been commanded. And what we're being commanded here is to treat these people with the utmost respect that they deserve as humans.

Also, let's not be hypocritical (division between churches... *nudge*nudge*). Romans (3:23) tells us, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." AKA, get over yourselves, and actually do something worth while. Do something the Lord your God would be proud of... like winning souls to his kingdom. Or showing the fruits of the spirit in a world that's lacking in that department.

That's my soapbox. I'm totally done now, especially since I have now spent literally ALL day writing this blog.

I hope it didn't read too cursory and too much like a tangent (ha). If it did, I'll break it into two posts tomorrow.

Have a great night, and until next time, may the Lord bless you.

Friday, June 20, 2008

First...

Right, so I go through these phases where I just want to wipe out every thing that I've posted on here and just start over. It's slightly ridiculous, I realize, but at the same time, it's my blog, so I don't feel badly about it at all...

It's the first day of summer, and I've now been in Chicago for almost five months. Which is nice. The weather's getting nicer, and it's just, a better city when it's this nice outside. Quite the difference from North Carolina; weather wise. It's more pleasant, a little cooler, and a lot breezier. So, that makes things really decent. I'm not sure why I'm rambling on about the weather. It's slightly asinine of me.

Either way, I've been in Chicago now for five months, and I've lost my job with United as a result of the fuel crisis. Nice deal, eh? But it works out, because now I'm getting more involved in church, finding my "roots" so to speak in God, and working at the GAP. Which is a lot less stressful. Actually, it's not at all stressful, who am I kidding.

It just hurts your back a little bit.

So, yeah, that's where it's at... I'm going to hopefully be going back to school this fall or spring semester. I need to... I need to get into school and actually do well. It's absurd if you really think about it. I could spout off numerous reasons as to why I don't believe it's my fault, or about how I feel that a school should just give me a degree because of my obvious intellect. However, that's not going to happen unless I light a fire under my ass and get it done. And, so what if stuff has happened to me? Who really cares about all of that? I'm being given a second (actually, to be more accurate, this would be my, what, fourth?) chance. I need to make the most of it. Get a degree and stop lamenting about how I just can't do this, or do that.

Bleh.

I came across a great passage a few days ago in my readings. I mean, I'd known about it, but at the same time, I reread it, and it was especially poignant the other day, given the situations I was in...

Matthew 6: 19-34

This is Jesus speaking by the way,

19. "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moths or rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22. "The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24. "No one can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. you cannot serve God and wealth."

That first passage is obviously saying that you cannot serve two masters. Duh, way to be obvious, eh Jordan? But at the same time, it's specifically talking about God and money. For me, it's talking about God and pleasure. For you it might totally be speaking of something completely different. But you cannot serve both God and ... whatever you're doing.

25. "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?
28. "And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you - you of little faith?
31. "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34. "So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today."

Particularly nice to me... especially since that day, I was really worrying about how I was going to pay rent (I have yet to pay rent for June... just waiting on my first paycheck from the GAP). But, why should I worry about it, especially when I've already given it up to God. He knows what I need.

Alright, so those are my points for today.
Maybe tomorrow I'll have something new for you.

Possibly. Haha.

Also, since this is the rechristening of my "page", I want to make something clear to you. I'm a Christian (if you haven't already gathered that), but I'm also gay. Not through some choice I made (because I would've chosen to be heterosexual... duh), but because this the way that I was made. And God loves me, and everyone else, regardless of what we have done.

I'm not trying to convert anyone else, but perhaps provide an outlet. A way for people who have been marginalized by a church, just as I was to realize that it wasn't God that was doing those things to you. God didn't forget about you, and he didn't forsake you. He still wants to be close to you (don't roll your eyes), and he's sorry that some of his 'followers' treated you in such a bad manner...

Just open your heart to him.

That being said, if I were to convert someone, wouldn't that be suh-weet?!

Until next time,
May the Lord bless and keep you.

Jordan