Can I seriously be the change. . .

What does it look like? What does it feel like? What does it sound like? What does it smell like?
I’ll tell you what it tastes like. . . chocolate cake! That’s right, chocolate cake. I’m eating it right now, and it is good!

In all seriousness, I have been reading some books that have inspired me to change. The first and foremost would probably be the Bible. Great book! The second would be everything must change by Brian McLaren. I’m not much of an emergent movement fan, but the just of this book is well founded in Jesus’ Gospel message. He proposes that the Gospel was for the living more so than the dead. Being a “born again” believer does not mean that you simply get into heaven, but it does mean that you work to bring the Kingdom of God here to the current day. What does this mean or look like? I’m glad you asked!

A guy graduated school and needed to stay for a week while he got his new apartment in order. Some of my buddies know this guy and ask me if he can stay at my apartment. I trust these guys and welcome him with open arms. The two of us now have a deep and meaningful friendship, and he is currently returning the favor to me by letting me crash at his place while I get my living situation in order. Imagine two guys who have never met are now great friends practically overnight. This is a great example of God’s Kingdom here today. It is a personification of love and faith! I want to be able to provide a place for more guys in his situation. This is how I can be the change here and now. I don’t have to wait until I get into a position financially to give into some well intended ministry (although I still give into many well intended ministries), but I can offer people a practical service here and now.

“The Kingdom” could range from an intense effort to end poverty in your local city to doing something as simple as making somebody smile. We all must find exactly what we can offer our neighbors today. Everybody has something they can do. Do it! Have a conversation with a stranger (be wise who you talk to and what you say)! Take an overwhelmed friend out for a relaxing evening! Make an extra effort to send a buddy a text message that is encouraging or truthful! Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there! You might get hurt, but God offers healing for the broken hearted.

One more thing, let’s not do this for a few weeks or months. Let’s learn what it takes to create true long lasting friendships where you have fun, but you also hurt and get hurt together. Let’s live together! Good and bad. This is going down a bit of a different road altogether, so I won’t run down this rabbit trail.

Guys, I hope God inspires you to do something over the next few days that brings his kingdom here to the earth! Give somebody a piece of chocolate cake (unless they are lactose intolerant, then that would be a bad thing. . . or if they didn’t like chocolate. . . or if they were diabetic. . . you get the point)!

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