I’ve been exploring Jesus lately. I’ve been trying to strip away most of my preconceived notions and view Jesus in his historical context and how his name has been echoed over the centuries. The next step in my heart was to try and explain this story’s impact on my life and in the lives of so many people in a way that made sense to any average Metilda or Bruce on the side of the road. Here is what I have come up with in this season of my life: My Liberator!

In Jesus’ time everybody was awaiting a said, “Messiah.” This person was going to set the Jewish people free of political and religious (remember, in those days political was religious. . . secular was spiritual. . . the Jewish laws dictated their lives). There were a few political messiahs, but Jesus tried to do something a bit deeper than those Messiahs. Like a bugle call before an epic battle, the message of Jesus was that of liberation from political oppression, religious oppression, and life oppression! He spoke of times to come where people would be valuable in the eyes of their God. Jesus spoke of a God who would not let them walk through life alone, but would comfort His people like a warm blanket fresh out of the dryer. Jesus, unlike the other messiahs of his day, was not going to prove this politically. This was difficult for some of the people of his day. Jesus was going to set people free in a deeper way. He was going to liberate people for all time: past, present, and future!

When I think of Jesus, I think of Jesus Christ, Jesus the Messiah, Jesus my Liberator (all these terms mean the same thing)! He was the one who showed me how to live a life that was well balanced and full of peace, faith, and love towards all people (even those who would try to kill me). The thought of Jesus and His story (the Gospel in Christian jargon) makes me aware of how people feel about their lives. It was likened to an awakening from a death-like sleep. I suddenly have a deep yearning for those around me and the state of their lives. I want to be like Jesus and show others what it is like to live such a balanced life that has global implications. The crazy thing is I don’t want the fame for living such a life. I’m pretty sure I would suck all that applause up and take the credit. I want to point back to the story that liberated my soul to action. Jesus my Liberator!

I pray that the depth of these words pierce your soul and cause you to search out this story yourself from a different perspective.

Peace,
Josh

So I have just had the best muffin I’ve ever had in my life! I didn’t expect it from a place I spent six or seven years of my life. I am speechless!

Aside from that, I check out my church in Marianna yesterday. It was a bit of a surprise for them and for me. I wanted to surprise my parents for father’s day, but I also wanted to explore what exactly it was about that church on the outskirts of this small city that makes it so great and attractive. I wanted to view it from a different perspective.

When I walked in the doors I was greeted and directed by a man who had only been to the church a month or two before I left for Lakeland. He and his wife were involved and excited to greet people into their gathering place! How exciting! When people started to recognize me, I got many different reactions. Most people greet with the high pitched, “Oh, Josh! Wow, you look good! What is that on your face?” One particular buddy of mine I greeted with a hug from the back. He had no idea I was coming to town; when he looked back to see who was doing this to him, he got all excited and gave me a huge hug. Out of nowhere I was picked up by another guy who swung me in many circles. Then he rubbed my face for good luck (people just can’t keep their hands off the beard . . . maybe this could be a good thing!). I looked around and saw the usual faces, but they were not alone. Most of the usual faces brought new faces, new people with new stories and new problems.

Worship was first on the order of service. It was a great, heartfelt expression of adoration toward God. Between worship sets there were the usual video announcements (well pretty unusual for most churches). Right after announcements was “family time.” This was when the entire sanctuary went from an organized group of people not straying from their seats into this huge blob of hand shaking and conversation. Pastor found me during this time and shared in the new tradition of rubbing my sacred facial hair.

The sermon was articulate and excellent. God’s word was expressed to His people in a manner that spoke to them. It was convicting and easily understandable. There was no loftiness of theological terminology to completely baffle the masses of one man’s understanding of scripture. It did, however, challenge the masses to change (more specifically change the way they pray in this service). After the sermon, people were invited to pray with the board members and staff about their struggles and frustrations. It was beautiful!

I can’t say that I could view the service without recalling the years and years I spent in this community. At one point I looked around for a specific person who I admire and pray for constantly. I saw him, and began to cry. I started to question God in my mind about why He lets some stay in the same struggle for years and years. I wanted to know why God didn’t just come through and liberate this man from his environment. Right after my mind had come to rest we began to sing a song about Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross. It was a story of grace and mercy. It contained the story of forgiveness and how a life can be so messed up and twisted can be straightened up and drawn to a new way of thinking and living. It was an amazing moment.

All and all it was a good visit. There were a few bumps in the road . . . but that is a different story altogether. It seems as if no trip to Marianna has been without its craziness; that just makes life fun and exciting.

Peace,
Josh

Imagine with me existence!

The process of becoming, being, and continuing to be.

I was driving away from the Panama City Starbucks [happiness and place of joy] thinking about an interaction in the Bible where a man approaches Jesus for wisdom. The texts doesn’t quite say that specifically, but that is what happens in the end. First he approaches Jesus and states he is a teacher who knows much more than he does. This man coming to Jesus is not a dumb man; in fact, he was more than just a well studied man, but scripture calls him a "ruler of the Jews" meaning he was the smartest of the smartest. This man was part of the elite. He was known to have sound knowledge of not just physical tangible things, but also heavenly things (pretty smart dude). He recognizes Jesus and calls him "Rabbi" or literally "Master." So he knows what he is getting into. Jesus looks at him and says very plainly in a language he can understand, "Hey man, you have got to see things from a new perspective in order for you to see the big picture." I know he didn’t say that exactly, but work with me here. . .

Jesus actually said that he must be "born again." This very intelligent guy could not wrap his head around that (I finally got that. . . wrap head around it. . . put it in your brain. . . it all makes sense now!), so he asks Jesus if he needed to call up mom and have a very peculiar chat with her. Jesus said, "not so much." He makes reference to "water" and "spirit."

"Water". . . in Genesis 1:2. . . the earth was formless and the Spirit hovered over it. . . our bodies are primarily water. . .

"Spirit". . . Essence. . . Thought. . . Intention. . . Vision of things beyond what you can put your hands on. . .

Essentially Jesus is speaking to this intelligent man in a way he could understand what it would be like to be a Christian. He still could not understand mainly because something was still missing in his life. . . the rebirth.

Birth is an interesting process. We spend only a fraction of our life in the birthing process, however, this is where we become whatever exactly it is we are. As we are becoming born, we have no perception of what is outside. I personally have no memories of birth, and I would like to meet someone who does (we would probably have interesting conversation on either side of the state hospital visiting area bars. . . that means they’re crazy). After we are born our minds open to what is around us. . . we are aware! We see there are greater things than the inside of wherever exactly we came from. As we grow up we gain a deeper understanding of life and just a hint of what goes on in this universe around us. Our perception changes over the course of our lives. We go from one perspective when we were a child to a completely different perspective as we grow older.

Jesus said he had to be "born again" before he could actually see and hear and feel and (fundamentally) perceive God! He had to be born physically (of water) and born spiritually (of spirit).

The smart guy still did not get it!

So Jesus says. . . alright, I understand you don’t get it, you’re not quite born spiritually yet so I’ll go ahead and show you the big picture. God sent me to allow you guys to perceive God. You are not alive spiritually, but by the time everything is said and done, I will make a way for you to be awakened and view your actions through my perspective. When you’ve come to that place. . . tell me what you think.

Jesus says here that people who love being dead to their actions (living in darkness) will despise me and people who are curious enough will want to do good and change their life and impact others much like what he did with that smart guy and some sick people and some failures and some prostitutes and soooo many others.

The terminology being "born again" simply invites the thought of a change of perspective: going from no thought at all to actually having thought (doesn’t make too much sense, but read on), going from darkness to light, going from living for yourself to living for something much larger. . bigger. . . grander. . . "God’s Kingdom". . . "God’s Will". . . your specific purpose for existence. . . or whatever you call it.

See you don’t truly exist spiritually until you live for your greater purpose, God’s greater purpose for your life!

Basically you are not even alive if you aren’t enlightened to this purpose.

Enjoy the thought

Peace,
Josh