JESUS IS NOT SAFE

Resurgence reposted an article by Perry Noble about how following Jesus does not mean you will live a life of safety.

Living in the inner city for the past year has been many things, but "safe" is not the first word I would choose to describe it. Trying to live a life that is glorifying to God may not be pretty and perfect and actually will likely be messy, dirty and full of sacrifices. But even though Jesus (and following Him) is not safe, Jesus is GOOD, and I would ask nothing more for my life.
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    I remember hearing about The Chronicles of Narnia when I was just a        kid. Little did I know that the author, C.S. Lewis, would later come                back around to me after I received Christ and have such a profound              impact.

In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Susan and Lucy ask Mr. and Mrs. Beaver to tell them about Aslan, the lion in the story who is the Christ-figure. They ask if Aslan is a man, and Mr. Beaver replies:

Aslan a man? Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the woods and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion—the Lion, the great Lion.”

“Ooh!” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”

“That you will, dearie, and make no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver, “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”

“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about being safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

That conversation is loaded. Please get the last line. He’s good, he’s the King, but he isn’t safe.

THE WRONG PICTURE

We’ve done a pretty bad job at trying to paint a picture of Jesus in today’s society that is safe. His hair is always perfect. Did they really have product back then? His teeth have obviously been either whitened or capped. His robe never has any wrinkles and is always the whitest of whites. I guess the dust and dirt in Israel simply refused to stick to his clothes. And he never becomes irritated, upset, or does anything that might offend anyone, despite what we read in Matthew 12:1-4, Luke 4:28-30, Luke 11:45-54, Matthew 23 and John 2:13-17 (just to name a few!).

Make no mistake about it. He is good, but he is not safe! Following Jesus doesn’t ever lead to a safe, comfortable, and predictable life. How in the world could we ever expect the guy who said what he did in Luke 9:23 to ever lead us towards safety?

TAKE UP YOUR CROSS

Jesus didn’t say that if we wanted to follow him, we needed to take up our mattress, but rather take up our cross! If you are going to follow Jesus:

• You are going to upset some people (Matthew 10:34-36).
• He will bring out changes in you (Luke 19:1-10). We cannot meet him and stay the same!
• He is going to challenge you to look straight ahead and notbehind, no matter how good or bad it may have been (Luke 9:62).
• You are going to have to lay some things aside (Mark 1:18).
• He will impact every area of your life (Romans 12:1), and you cannot pick and choose your areas of surrender when you are abiding in him.
• You are going to hear his voice clearly and accurately (John 10:4).
• You are going to experience abudant life, and your life will not be wasted (John 10:10).
• You are going to have to stop messing around—literally (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). In fact, following Jesus may make your dating life seem quite “boring” to others.
• You are going to have to surrender your wallet (Matthew 6:19-24, Luke 16:10-13).
• It is going to take a willingness to change the way you think (Romans 12:1-2).
• It is going to move your heart to care about and reach out to people that he deeply cares for (Matthew 28:18-20). I cannot say I am a follower of Christ and be unconcerned with the things that concern him.

GOD IS GOOD

Sanctification is not always a pretty process and following Christ isn’t always the easy or safe thing, but it is always the right thing. With all of this in mind, do not forget that Jesus is good that's the comfort in all this.

Scripture talks over and over again about the goodness of God. When I do not understand, agree with, or even see what he is doing, I can know that Romans 8:28 is true. God is good and he works for the good of those who love him.

So what will you do today? Play it safe or follow Christ?

PHILLY EATS!

Who loves food?!!

ME TOO!!

You're in luck; N. Philly has compiled a collection of our favorite recipes that will fill your belly without draining your wallet!

I know you want one!

You won't regret it.

Letting Go.

One of my lovely roommates shared this spoken word during devotions last week. 

What are you scared of?

In what areas of your life do you need to slow down?

What in your life do you need to let go of?

In what areas of your life do you need to be more faithful in prayer?

“To say that ‘prayer changes things’ is not as close to the truth as saying, ‘Prayer changes me, and then I change things.’ God has established things so that prayer, on the basis of redemption, changes the way a person looks at things. Prayer is not a matter of changing things externally, but one of working miracles in a person’s inner nature.”

 – Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest)

Snapshots.

I realize it has been far too long since I last posted on here. So if you are reading this, I thank you for continuing with me on this journey. 

Here are some snapshots of my life for the past few months. 

we tie-dyed shirts.

i went to New York.

we celebrated birthdays.

we made Emily our personal hairstylist.

i skyped with a turtle.

i went to Michigan for spring break.

we went to the art museum. and enjoyed the city lights.

we indulged in oreo-filled cookies topped with brownie batter.

i enjoyed talking to my mom on May 4th.

Emily came to work with me. she is practically the Principal.

we appreciated meals with fruits and veggies.

we grew a sting ray. 

And in the midst of the all the small things there is always so many things to be thankful for. 

Many, Lord my God,    are the wonders you have done,    the things you planned for us.None can compare with you;    were I to speak and tell of your deeds,    they would be too many to declare.

Psalm 40:5

The Justice Conference

The Justice Conference came to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, from February 22-24. 

We had the privilege of volunteering at the conference and as a result we got to participate in the sessions and peruse the exhibits. 

Here is a glimpse of my experiences on the weekend:

I listened while Ken Wytsma told the crowd of 8000 people that we may not be able to fix the world, but we can change it. People were convicted when he said the temptation of this age is to look good, but not be good. And for those who cannot wait to pursue what is right and what is just he assured us, it is not about being heroic, it is about being faithful.

I agreed with Noel Castellanos when he told us we need a paradigm shift. The poor should not be our “target” of our mission.  Instead we need to embrace the poor as the launching pad for reaching the world for justice he said. 

I was challenged by Brenda Salter McNeil’s “messy” theology. She walked us through Luke 10, the story of the Good Samaritan and a man in a messy situation. She asked us: What do we think about God when we find ourselves in messy situations, that we may not even understand ourselves? While reminding us that Luke 10 does not address how or why the man ended up in the messy situation that he was in, she encouraged us to find a new theology. A theology that does not blame “messes” on people, or on God or one that exonerates us from getting involved.  In looking at all the reasons the other men may have walked by the man on the side of the road without helping, McNeil voiced many people’s greatest fear. Part of us fears that we are not good enough. But she assured us, while we can’t do everything, we can do something. 

I was convicted when Eugene Cho (like Ken) told us we might be more in love with the idea of changing the world, than actually changing the world. There is always a cost to justice, he said. But there are also many tangible things ordinary people can do every day. Be generous, he said. Bless others with your blessings. Carve out time to pray and listen and fast. Look people in the eyes. Be responsible in your story telling (Africa in not simply a continent that can be characterized by swollen-bellied children; it is so much more than that). Go deep. Be informed. Be tenacious. Be committed for the long haul. And no one can take your place in self care. 

I sat exhausted yet comforted by Gary Haugen’s words about love and justice. He told us we need a love that overcomes monotony, fear and tediousness. Because justice is a long and tedious work. If we are to have any hope, he said, we must not only recover justice, we must recover prayer (out of desperation more than discipline). 

I shouted with Stephan Bauman and Cyprien Nkiriyumwami, strength and together. (do-coon-may, zon-yah)

I was reminded of the importance of forgiveness when it comes to justice by Dr. Nicholas Wolterstorff.  Forgiveness is going beyond what justice requires. 

I mourned the loss of 60 million missing females in the population today along with Sheryl WuDunn.  Women and girls are not the problem, she said, they are part of the solution.  

I found hope in Shane Claiborne’s words about non violence. He said, when Jesus disarmed Peter, he disarmed all of us.  And while there may be things worth dying for, there are not things worth killing for. Because grace has the power to dull even the sharpest swords. And even during those times when we buy into redemptive violence it is important to remember that none of us is beyond redemption and none of us is above reproach.  

I rejoiced with Chai Ling when she exclaimed “God is so awesome” despite her heartbreaking past and journey.

I was encouraged and motivated by the wise words of John Perkins. He once said, our mission, as a church, is to open the doors and invite pain and suffering in. 

Give a man a fish he'll eat for a day. Teach him to fish he'll eat for life.--That's a lie! We have to think about who owns the pond. They determine who can fish!

love, N. Philly

I am truly blessed.

Valentine's Day.

Valentine's Day is a unique and special day. Romantics run around full of joy and excitement, pink and red find their way onto every food, flower, and candy bar in the grocery store, and (together) friends mourn their singleness (often not realizing that while they may not have a "date," they are not alone).  

Overall though, Valentine's Day brings people together.  People begin to think about the things they love. And the people they love.  

Love is great. It is important. It makes life worth it. 

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends."  (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a)

This year I loved getting to witness those around me acknowledge the things and people they love.

I loved hearing the stories of a couple exchanging sweet gifts; I loved receiving a cute Spider-man valentine with an awesome tattoo from a kindergartner; I loved wearing all black, eating ice cream and watching sad movies with my roommates.  I loved being reminded to love the small things. I loved being reminded to appreciate the big things. I loved being reminded that there is SO much to love. 

And as I am constantly reminded by a dear friend: God is love. And love is real.     

Love well my friends. (Even when it is not Valentine's Day).

Confessions of a Contemporary Christian Colonialist –by: Josh Kaufman-Horner

Confessions of a Contemporary Christian Colonialist – By: Josh Kaufman-Horner

I've always wondered what Jesus said to Zacchaeus during their visit recorded in Luke 19. Whatever it was must have been good, because Zacchaeus got excited. “Look Lord,” he said, “half my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything I will pay back four times as much.” Jesus’ response was simple and joyful. “Today salvation has come to this house.”

I bet Zacchaeus was even more excited after that.

But what if Zacchaeus had said "no" to Jesus? What if Zacchaeus kept on defrauding people until he died, and then left his wealth as an inheritance to his children? And then…what if Jesus had dropped in to visit Zacchaeus’ children after their father's funeral?

Would Jesus have said, “Look, your father accumulated some of his wealth through unjust means. I told him how he and his household could be saved from this sin, but he refused to repent. But don’t you worry about all that. By inheriting unjust wealth it is cleansed of the fraud by which it was acquired. Enjoy your good fortune.”

Or might Jesus have let the children know that his continuing invitation to salvation involved their use of some portion of the inheritance to set right Zacchaeus’ wrong doing? Might Jesus have told them that true reconciliation with their father's victims required they produce fruits in keeping with repentance? 

I’m guessing the latter. I’m guessing Jesus would have invited Zacchaeus’ children to offer restitution to their father's victims. Moreover, I’m guessing that if the ill-gotten wealth was passed down to the next generation, Jesus would have offered the same invitation toZacchaeus’ grandchildren as well.

At no point do I imagine Jesus saying to a member of Zacchaeus’ family, “We both know some of your fortune comes as the result of fraud, but don’t let that trouble you. Your awareness of Zacchaeus’ misdeeds doesn’t make you responsible in any way. Live it up! Today salvation has come to this house.”

I can’t see it. When ill-gotten resources fall into the hands of an innocent person, that person does not become responsible for their benefactor’s fraud or injustice. However when a Christian becomes aware they are the beneficiaries of prior wrongdoing it certainly becomes their responsibility to do what they can to set things right. Neither Jesus, nor common sense, could allow them to ignore their legacy or offer them cheap grace.

Moreover, instead of grudging personal reparations that only do justice, Jesus calls his followers to the irrational-without-resurrection joy of generosity that surpasses justice. Jesus, as the embodiment of God's justice-surpassing generosity (a.k.a. grace), incites Zacchaeus to go beyond justice and joyfully give half of his possessions to the poor!

Of course, as a white American, Jesus' invitation is both an opportunity for joy and a big headache for me. After all, it requires little education in United States history to realize white Americans are generally the beneficiaries of at least two monumental injustices. First, this land I live on was often taken from the Native Americans by means of broken promises and military force. Second, African men, women, and children were brutally enslaved in order to provide cheap labor for many of the new landholders. Unsurprisingly our secular government has never offered a formal apology for these abuses. But, as a Christian, I live with an awareness of needing to seek to make right the reality that some inestimable, but not insignificant, portion of my resources are the legacy of these injustices. I'm hereby not overlooking the significant part of my resources that are the result of generations of hard work and thrift, nor am I seeking to grovel in disabling white guilt, instead I'm trusting that amidst the struggle with these truths Jesus will set me free. Like he did Zacchaeus.

So I've taken to recognizing myself as “The Child of an Unrepentant Zacchaeus.” 

This is the third phase of my adult scriptural self-identity. For years I sought to follow Jesus while only giving out of my abundance (Luke 21:1-4). Then growing awareness of Jesus' message about caring for the least of these led briefly to my heroic identity as a good Samaritan intervening to save the day (Luke 10:25-37). Now Zacchaeus has helped me recognize that part of why I get to play Good Samaritan is because my forbearers were such efficient robbers. It has been humbling to embrace this more honest identity and struggle with what it means for me.

Like an unrepentant Zacchaeus, white Americans – our parents and grandparents, and their parents and grandparents – generally turned away from the complex costs of doing justice with our unjust wealth. They, and I suspect we as well, often feared Jesus' invitation to conversation. As much as we want to hear Jesus say, “Salvation has come to this house”, we resist wrestling with the origins of some portion of our resources.

This legacy of resisting Jesus now falls to this generation. Will we pass it to another? Will we ignore what we know to be true? Will we act as if this is all the government's responsibility, rather than wrestling with personal repentance and restitution? Will we continue to build upon these foundational injustices by enjoying new luxuries provided largely by the corporate exploitation of people and resources under authoritarian governments?

Still I look around our home and find I am unrepentant. Like those who came before me, I daily choose to treat the privileges and resources I have inherited as though they were entirely untainted by my nation’s original sins. I carelessly enjoy the endless array of cheap consumer goods produced by the victims of oppressive governments to whom we've outsourced slavery. I overlook unfair labor practices if they make my retirement portfolio rise. I prefer discussing racial reconciliation and poverty exclusively in the legitimate terms of personal responsibility while setting aside the consequences of these legacies.

I want to walk with Jesus today while holding on to unjust privileges the past affords me.

But then I remember. I remember Zacchaeus did repent, and I remember he celebrated his salvation with Jesus.

I want that too.

Jesus, please show me the way.

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- Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury.  Many rich people put in large sums.  A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.  For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.  - Mark 12:41-44, NRSV

- Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus.  “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”  He said to him, “What is written in the law?  What do you read there?”  He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.”  And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”  Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.  Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them.  Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.  The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’  Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?   He said,  “The one who showed him mercy.”  Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” - Luke 10:25-37, NRSV

- Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it.  A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich.  He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature.  So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way.  When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.”  So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him.  All who saw it began to
grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.”  Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.”  Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man came to seek out and save the lost.” - Luke 19:1-10, NRSV

California

A few weeks ago I was able to visit my dear home in California. Here are a few snapshots from that blessed time:

hanging lights with the father.

decorating the tree with the sister.

hiking Runyon.

enjoying the beautiful view of L.A.

seeing these amazing parents. 

(this should be their Christmas card next year)

becoming a proud new owner of SF Giants gear.

playing Settlers with this girl.

meeting the dwarves. 

breakfasting with this dear friend.

having a (pitch) perfect evening with a bestie (& gummy bears).

laughing at my dad's garage-remedied headphones; 

yes there is a piece of wood on his head.