A Tale of Two Quarterbacks

One of the biggest disappointments in the National Football League this year is undoubtedly Chicago Bears' franchise quarterback Jay Cutler (Ooook, fine. So maybe Jonny Manziel is a pretty big disillusionment also, but I mean the kid's just a rookie and has still got quite a bit of time to redeem himself... In fact, some people are saying that it's even good for him to fail so miserably like this in his first season just because that will sack some humility into him and he might start training harder next season*).

Jay Cutler though man, he seemed to have it all.

Ability, athleticism, strong arm, toughness, experience, you name it - some people may have even thought he was actually worth his salt as the highest paid offensive player in the NFL at the beginning of this season (that would be $22.5 million dollars guaranteed, to be exact)...

But no such luck. That $22.5 million would have been better spent paying for Barrack Obama's combined 4 year presidential vacations to Hawaii * than by paying for this guy's embarrassing performances (which incidentally also ran in the $20 million ballpark believe it or not).

But $22.5 million dollars!... can you imagine that? That's probably more money than all of my readers for this blog will make in the next 10 years combined (unless of course this post goes viral).

...And that's just 1 year!  

Now think of this: Russell Wilson, the starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks who is responsible for already taking his team to the divisional round of the Playoff's in 2012, winning the Super Bowl in 2013, and now being well on his way to clinching the number 1 seed for the NFC division title in the 2014 Playoffs; only makes $662,434*.

What?!?

...According to USA Today, that's actually less than what either the second or third string quarterbacks for the Seahawks make themselves*, and if I've ever heard of anything ironic, this would be it.

Cause see, on the one hand you got Cutler - an arrogant, snobby, bad attitude-loser making more money than he can count (while producing nothing with it); and on the other hand you see Wilson - a young, solid, dynamic-winning leader making very little money comparatively speaking; and yet tearing it up completely in the whole NFL.

Now don't get me wrong. I am definitely no Seahawks fan (never have been, never will be), but you got to give it to him - Russell Wilson is really amazing; and the fact that he makes so little money while at it, makes him even cooler still.

...A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to speak at a church's youth group a little ways outside of Bogota, and as I was just getting to know the kids - I decided to teach them how to play 'Scum'.

Duitama Youth Group Playing Scum

The idea in the game is that everyone gets an even amount of randomly distributed cards, and turn by turn each player tries to successively and systematically get rid of their cards as fast as they can until they're all gone.

...It's a fun game, but the interesting part is that at the end of each round, the player who performed the best gets ranked as 'King', and then the player who performed the worst gets ranked as 'Scum'.

That's all nice and well, but what this actually means in practice, is that for the next round the 'King' automatically gets the 'Scum's' two best cards, and the 'Scum' automatically gets any two of the  'King's' cards (which are usually his or her worst).

...So that kind of puts a curious twist on everything, and it also gives quite a significant incentive in the card playing world for everyone to try their hardest and do their best... cause if you lose, you lose what you most need for the next game.

So we played that, right? We played it and then I proceeded to speak on the Parable of the Minas (Luke 19:11-26) where Jesus' underlying message is that those who put the resources that they have been given to good use in the Lord's business - well, they're going to receive even more; and those who do nothing at all with the things that God has given them to advance His Kingdom - well, even what they have will be taken away from them.

Fortunately for Cutler, all his money is guaranteed and so nobody can just come along and take it away from him and give it to Wilson... but yet it is pretty likely that as soon as Cutler's contract is over, nobody in their right mind is going to want to renew it, and he'll simply be left without a job.

But Wilson on the other hand? Well, those $663,000 dollars are about to turn into $100 million.*

...So that's just an interesting real life story to get you thinking.

Because clearly this season Cutler has been a joke while Wilson has definitely earned his two cents, but what about you? Are you effectively glorifying God and exponentially using his resources to expand his Kingdom on Earth?... Or are you squandering the nothing that you have so that even what you do have will be taken away from you and you'll be brought before the Lord at the day of judgement only to be killed before him? (Luke 19:26-27).

How about me? ...Cause I mean I can talk about everyone else all I want, but at the end of the day it's me that I'm going to primarily have to be responsible for.

-------------------------------

Works referenced:

Cutler's Fans Burn His Jersey
Wikipedia - Russel Wilson
Obama's family Vacations
Cutler's Contract
Russell Wilson - Next $100 Million Quarterback
NFL Salary Cap
Russell Wilson Makes Less Than His Replacemente

The Umbrella Movement (Part 3)

That said, to what extent are we willing to fight for it?

I mean it's one thing to take advantage of the salvation that we have in Jesus personally, but what about fighting for the opportunity for others to obtain it as well?

To be honest, I find it really amazing the guts and culture of the young people who are fighting for democracy in Hong Kong under what is popularly known as the Umbrella Movement.

Completely unrelated to the movement - some friends and I sporting an umbrella.

Once numbering within the tens of thousands, the number of protesters have dwindled somewhat this past month, but still – this movement which was once known for its politeness has now become known for its perseverance.

Taking to the streets with umbrellas, tents, mouth covers and goggles; protesters have continued to occupy at least 3 major roads in Hong Kong for a month now while outlasting the police's use of tear gas and pepper spray to scatter them. ...They've braved weather and discomfort while peaceably getting their point across through speeches. images, articles and internet tweets.

Their goal is to ensure free elections in 2017 for their next governing official, and many of them are considering the idea of traveling to Beijing on November 10 in an attempt to crash a world wide economic cooperation forum where Chinese president Xi Jinping will be hosting American president Barack Obama among other world leaders to talk about future international relations.

What Hong Kong youth want is freedom! though, and their revolution is essentially a battle of wits to see who can last the longest in standing up for their interests... the idealistic millennials who cry out for universal suffrage; or the heavy-handed government who heartlessly turns a cold shoulder to their own people's appeals.  

And I'm really impressed... this type of revolution inspires me for various reasons:

For one, the protesters are peaceful, determined and intentional. For another, they make up a grass-roots movement that has arisen and been stimulated with virtually no resources or overhead supervision. It has rather been propagated by use of social media and non-violent resistance, and it is spearheaded by 2 seemingly unlikely leaders such as Joshua Wong and Alex Chow who are only 17 and 24 years old respectively.

Who would have thought that a couple kids like this could shake up one of the world's largest cities? (it's actually ranked 46th, according to Wikipedia)...

I don't know; but if these guys are able to make such a significant impact on their city for the progress of democracy in this specific context –  than I like to think that I too can fight in unconventional and significant ways for an even more important cause in my own city here in Colombia.

...A while back some friends and I went to the left-winged National University here in Bogota to give
out bread and speak about peace in the middle of the 'Plaza Che' to any student who cared to spend a few minutes discussing the teachings of a revolutionary far more important than the infamous Ernesto 'Che' Guevara.

His name is Jesus, and while Guevara's revolution is old news now compared to the Internet Revolution that took place in Cairo back in 2011 or this new Umbrella Movement that is taking place right now in Hong Kong – Jesus' teachings, authority and way of life far surpasses any other leader's movement that ever was or that ever will be in all of history. 

...I fully believe that Jesus' teachings are truly worth propagating, and just like we have started to see glimpses of hope for change in dictatorial countries such as Egypt and Hong Kong (which represent far greater segments of territories deprived of religious freedom and other democratic ideals), perhaps one day these countries in the Middle East and Far East will be transformed and impacted by the gospel of Christ which is even more important than differing systems of government.

How are you going to represent the Lord in your own country and city? How can you start influencing other cities and countries as well - perhaps even in Africa, Asia and the Middle East?
   

Do you have the guts?

-------------------------------------

"It is impossible to enslave mentally or socially a Bible reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom." - Horace Greely

-------------------------------------

Works and Pictures Referenced: 

http://goo.gl/2B23QN

http://goo.gl/8c21eT

http://goo.gl/Ga2shf

http://goo.gl/Jt8Xeu

Ven Te Necesito (Part 2)

The question is: what are you going to make your life count for?

It's crazy that when Jesus talked about this, he essentially told us to forget about the money (Luke 12:33), forget about the family (Mark 10:37-38), and forget about our own selves ( Mark 10:39).

Forget about all of that, because sooner or later we're bound to lose it anyway... Why try to make our lives count for something that's so transient?  

Jesus tells us to make our lives count for his kingdom and righteousness rather, because that's something that'll last forever (Matthew 6:33). Invest in it, dedicate yourself to it, and devote yourself to Christ and his gospel because if you lose your life for him, you will save it (Mark 8:35). 

In theory I understand that, and in my heart and mind I intend to try to live that out in practical ways, but I don't deny that sometimes I get distracted. That sometimes I love my life rather than hate it in comparison to my love for God (Luke 14:26), or that my pursuit of earthly things eclipses my commitment or devotion to Christ. I have at times become complacent, indifferent, or even rebellious in not following through with what I know God wants me to get after.       

And in those instances of faltering faith or superficial spirituality when Christianity becomes nothing more than a religion, it's when you start to crave for something more. You see the emptiness and futility of a life lived for oneself and in the strength of oneself; and you want to get back to the essence of knowing that you were created with a purpose by a God who is very much alive and actively calling you to come back to him... that nothing else really matters unless he's there in the forefront, at the center, head, and base of your life. 

That that's the real issue. That that's the real reason for which we were created! ...To live in a close relationship with our Creator. Everything else, all the nature and people and money and activities in life should only serve to help us enjoy and get to know God more... or to make him known more to those around us, so that they too may enjoy and experience him in all his fullness. 

There's a song that I've been learning how to play recently and it talks about this. About how after getting to know God we can turn our back on him and try to live our lives our own way, and about how, after experiencing the fleeting pleasures of sin that this life has to offer – eventually we find ourselves realizing that that which we left God for is just a false illusion that ultimately leads to pain and confusion... That we're lost without the Lord, and that he's completely necessary in our daily everything... That he's the only one that can purify us and cleanse us, and that we constantly need to be going back to a place of abiding there with him at the foot of the cross.

It's a cool song, and though I don't play it or sing it perfectly, here's a shot:  

-------------------------------

Song credit to Lilly Goodman: "Ven Te Necesito"

11 Men on a Ledge/11 Friends on a Ridge (Part 1)

The picture "Men at Lunch" with the 11 fearless builders precariously hanging out on an iron beam atop of the burgeoning New York City amidst the Great Depression has remained an American favorite for nearly a century. It depicts courage and comradery in the midst of a world of chaos and confusion; and it associates 11 anonymous faces with an ideal for which we all aspire.

…An ideal to be people who are capable of rising above the circumstances below us, and along with a few other friends – experiencing instances of serenity amidst exhausting efforts of constructing something great.

   

I bet that most those guys in the picture above were in their 20's or 30's at the time of the take; and just like the 11 friends from our young adult's group below, they probably had all kinds of questions about their future and worth and relationships and dreams.

  

Dreams of doing something meaningful with their lives, and of making enough money to have a life. Of sharing their lives with people they care about, and of caring for the people that make their lives worthwhile.

Bogota Colombia in the 21^st century is a little different from New York City at the beginning of the 20^th, but young adults throughout every era and in every continent are all trying to make their lives count.

---------------------

Picture Referenced:

http://goo.gl/yGLUxQ

Reggae Reflections

Jeez Lue Weez man, last night I was talking to one of my best friends and he mentioned Magic! and so I checked them out and they're awesome! haha. I really like them, and their music video Rude is pretty solid... check it: 

...The main idea is that there's this guy that has a crush on a girl and so he asks her dad for his blessing to marry her, but all the dad says is "tough luck my friend," and that he's never going to get his blessing till the day he dies...Like never... Ever... never, ever, EVER!... Like never ever ever EVER!!! and so it's just like... whoa! jeez lue weez, that is soooooo... RUDE!!! Why you gotta be so ruuuude? haha. 

Can you imagine that? 

You can't live without this certain girl... the one and only girl that you love and care about more than anybody or anything else in the whole world, and so you try to be nice, you try to be cordial, but all the dad does is say no and throw it right back in your face.

He completely denies you the opportunity to marry her, and so you're like, what?!? Like really? I mean like man alive... why you gotta be so rude like that? That's just so ruuuude!!!

So what do you do?

Well, you marry her anyway. You marry her no matter what he says... You run away with her and become your own family. That's what you do... It's what you do fair and square. End of story. That's all there is to it.    

Do you see how that could raise a little tension?

...Now imagine that tension multiplied a million times over in a tiney little country surrounded by multiple Arab states 650 times your size that really don't like you very much at all, and you just might start to get an idea of what it's like for Israel.... 

Israel is the guy wanting the girl. The girl is the land they're living on, especially Jerusalem. But Palestine, or multiple people from the various Arab nations surrounding Israel, are the "dads" who don't want to give that land away.

...And so the problem is that the land has technically already been given away to Israel, and it was given to them back in 1948 by like the official land and country marriage organization called the United Nations.   

And so this marriage to Israel and their land… well, not only is it officially recognized by most of the world – there’s also a little rumble that occurs there between the brand new Israeli state and the Arab states a few days later... A little rumble that Israel miraculously wins!

Now these rumbles go on and on and on for decades (and the turmoil is highlighted in 1967 with the Six Days War), until about in 1987 when a rather small political organization of Arabs called Hamas is formed out of a previous organization called Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Movement. This group gains momentum, and in the 1990's and early 2000's starts really getting after it on every opportunity they’ve got to destroy the notion of Israel as it's own sovereign state... And Israel, on the other hand, with a surprisingly powerful Air Force and Defence Force - defends themselves from the oncoming attacks while also managing to perpetually retaliate in a semi-offensive way.

And so what does Hamas do? Well they don’t really care too much about all their losses as long as that gets them more sympathy from the public, and so they keep debilitating Israel... They keep attacking – they throw rockets to Tel-Aviv and send suicide bombers into Jerusalem and build secret tunnels especially into the Israeli side of perhaps the most coveted realty zone in the whole world; namely the Gaza Strip.

In other words, to get a better understanding of this whole messy disaster, check out this video that explains the history of this dilemma in a little more detail...

And as a side note, just keep in mind that Israel as a nation with its strategic connection to the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia right along the Eastern border of the Mediterranean Sea is the epicenter of the whole world. And Jerusalem; the great city of King David – is the epicenter of Israel. And Temple Mount; the specific place where the Jews want to build the temple that you can read about in the Bible - that's in the epicenter of this city… and well, just to top it off and make matters even worse – let’s just say that Temple Mount is inconveniently already taken up by a huge Islamic Mosque…

Now if you’ve ever heard of a gnarly situation, I think that this one would definitely constitute itself as being the biggest.

And so who’s to blame for it all?

…Well, that’s where it gets really tough to define because apparently both Israel with their killing of so many Arab civilians; and Palestine with their incessant launching of so many rockets are definitely almost both just as seriously and as equally in the wrong in all of this.

…Maybe we could go back and blame it on Abraham, the ancestral father of both Israel and Palestine, or perhaps we could just stick with SIN as being the ultimate source of it all… The same kind of sin that you and I have; just as much as the Arabs and Jews, and which can only be remedied with the blood of the most controversial Jew who ever lived in those parts… The most controversial Jew who some acknowledge as the promised and long awaited Messiah… the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s, the Everlasting Son of God.

He’s the ultimate Savior that can bring true shalom to the world (John 14:27), and in the midst of all these tears and wars and bloodshed, I think that one of the only things that we can really cling to are the promises in the Bible concerning the final victory of Jesus when all of this will turn around…

Seriously man. And while you're at it, please click play on Matisyahu's song: One Day to hear a spectacular interpretation a Jewish reggae artists's hope for change:

Yeah for Matisyahu! (best song ever).

----------------------------------------------------------

Luke 19:41-44

And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

Luke 13:34-35

 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her broodunder her wings, and you were not willing! Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Other Good Videos Explaining the Situation in Israel:

-----------------------------------------------

Pictures Cited: 
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/05/398512.htmlhttp://www.theguardian.com/world/gallery/2014/jul/24/the-conflict-in-gaza-in-pictures
http://www.islamic-architecture.info/WA-IS/WA-IS.htm
http://www.frontpagemag.com/2014/robert-spencer/hamas-genocidal-technocrats/
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/feb/15/bbc-supreme-court-middle-east-report

Colombia vs. Brazil

Today is the 4th of July, and the USA couldn't be further from my mind.

I know that's a really terrible thing to say, but it's just that with Colombia's most important game today up to date - somehow all my patriotism is concentrated and focused on my native country right now rather than on my ancestral one. 

Colombia is bouncing and buzzing and beaming with anticipation like you'd never believe it, and it makes sense - cause I mean with about 60% of this whole nation's population sporting a yellow jersey - it's like we're all part of some huge bumble bee colony or something... A huge bumble bee colony that's completely united in the tension of knowing that today we either win or lose it all.

glued to the tube

3:00 p.m. is this nation's moment of truth! and everyone alike: friends, families, strangers, and enemies - we'll all be glued to our tubes just waiting for our first goal of glory. Will it ever come? Will it come before Brazil? Will it be complimented with a second or third? Will we clinch the game? ...or will the match just draw out incessantly with our boys fighting tooth and nail for every inch of Estadio Castelão till the wistle blows and we go to shoot outs... It's truly amazing how today in Colombia soccer is really the only thing that matters.

The thing about it though, is that - so it is in Brazil!

All the hype we feel right now here in Colo - well, it's just augmented all the more across the border. 

Today will be the first game for Colombia in this World Cup where there will be more fans rooting for our opponent than there will be for us. We're the visiting team, and as such we'll be wearing red. We're the underdog that's never even made it into the quarter-finals before; much less won five championship titles like Brazil. Everything is on the line, and like I said before - we've got it all to either win or lose.

Colombia team sporting the red jersey

And did you know that spiritually our lives as Christians are kind of like a soccer match as well?

It's an abstract thought, but this is how I view it:

The team: the Church (1 Cor.12:27-29). 

The head coach: God (Col.1:2a).

The team captain: Jesus (Col. 1:18).

The player's positions: different gifts of the Holy Spirit (Eph.4:11-12).

The objective: make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18-20).

The strategy: love and unity (Eph.4:2-5).

The jersey: baptism and the Lord's Supper (Eph.4:5; 1 Cor. 10:16-17).

The opponent: spiritual forces of evil (Eph. 6:12).

The audience: angels and heroes of the faith (1Pet.1:12; Heb. 12:1).

The glory: God (Phil.4:20). 

The outcome: victorious (Rom. 16:20).

So no matter what happens today in Brazil, just remember there's something bigger going on every single day throughout the whole World.  

Are you a part of it?

---------------

Picture Cited:

http://www.eltiempo.com/mundial-brasil-2014/noticias/seleccion-colombia/uniforme-rojo-de-colombia-para-enfrentar-a-brasil-en-el-mundial/14203000

NaIRONMAN Quintana

Nairo Quintana is all that and a bag of chips.

True story man, winning the Giro D' Italia with a lead of almost 3 minutes, Nairo became the second Colombian ever to win a Grand Tour, following Lucho Herrera with his win of the Vuelta a España back in 1987.

Nairo Quintana in Boyaca

Born and raised in Colombia's mountainous department of Boyaca, Nairo's physical combination of having a small body, a robust heart, and a couple really muscular legs give him just the right qualities of being the most tenacious escarabajo* around.

And it's actually super cool to have a new and young national hero rise up from the trenches of poverty and capture the heart of this whole country.

Here in Colombia we like to think of his victory as simply being the precursor for all our high hopes of success in the World Cup.

Winners unify us, they inspire us, and they give us a reason to celebrate, which, if you know much about Latin culture - is something we're always trying to find a good reason for (or any reason for, honestly).

...But in researching Nairo's races in the Giro D' Italia, I've really honed in on his saucy performance in stage 16 where, starting the day in fifth place, he cleverly took advantage of a confusing situation in really wet and nasty conditions, and managed to chase down the lone breakaway rider in a perilous descent when many thought they were supposed to slow down.

Nairo Quintana taking the lead

Then, 2 km into the final 20 km ascent, Quintana attacked and caught up to the leader, finally surpassing him and finishing the day in the lead with the pink jersey.

Colombia celebrated, and four days later Quintana became a national icon as he took the stage as Giro D' Italia's overall first place winner.

...I read a few articles about Nairo, but there's one specifically that really annoys me, and it comes from the most important cycling news website in the world: cyclingnews.com, and in it, the author describes Quintana as "defiant."

I have a problem with that, because words are important to me, and Quintana was not defiant. Defiance is associated with open rebellion or bold disobedience, and there was nothing in Quintana's performance throughout the tour that denoted such things. He was audacious, yes. He was unrelenting, unabated, uncompromising, persistent, and tenacious - absolutely... but he was not defiant.

Lance Armstrong

Defiance is winning 7 consecutive Tour De France titles with the help of any kind of undetectable doping method possible, all the while swearing to the whole world that you've never taken any sort of Performance Enhancing Drug whatsoever. That's what defiance is - it's being a cheat, it's being a fake, it's being a fraud, it's being a sociopath; but being defiant is not being clever or bold enough to take a calculated risk that is completely legitimate even while everyone else is slowing down or falling asleep at the wheel.

...As a missionary I either live or die depending on the words I use to communicate the gospel; and not only that - I have to use them in such a way that captivates people's attention and stirs them to action.

I have to use words appropriately, without manipulation or hypocrisy, or otherwise I'm cheating. At the same time, I should definitely use words correctly, sincerely, persuasively, and attractively so as to save both myself and my hearers (1 Tim 4:16).        

In 2 Timothy 2:5, in Paul's final appeal to his most beloved disciple to carry on in the work of the Lord, he reminds Tim that "...anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor's crown except by competing according to the rules."

Nairo Quintana winning the victor's trophy

The example of one who doesn't (such as Lance Armstrong), serves as a crude reminder of how easy it is to become a fraud, even for someone like me; who has such an obviously Christian profession... However, I believe that the example of Nairo Quintana who legitimately (albeit provocatively), won the Giro D' Italia; serves as an even greater example for us all, of one who "pushed his body and made it his slave," in his drive to be a champ; just like I want to do as well, so that "after I have preached to others; I myself will not be disqualified for the prize" (1 Corinthians 9:27).  

Most defiant and arrogant picture in the history of Twitter

Paul says that at the end of the day, "everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever" (1 Corinthians 9:25), and so I hope that we who know about this "crown" would be all the more *verracos in legitimately fighting for it.

*(an escarabajo is a nickname given to Colombian cyclists who perform extremely well on mountain stages of bike races).

*(a verraco is a word we use here in Colombia to describe an extraordinarily valiant person who is always up for fighting through the toughest jobs).

-----------------------------------

Works and Pictures Cited:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/quintana-defiant-in-the-face-of-giro-ditalia-stelvio-fall-out
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/jun/06/nairo-quintana-giro-ditalia-richard-williams
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jun/01/nairo-quintana-giro-ditalia-victory-stage-20
http://www.radiosantafe.com/2013/07/06/nairo-quintana
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/cycling/cyclist-lance-armstrong-posts-twitter-1430955

Sky Full of Stars

♫Cause in a sky, cause in a sky full of stars, I think I saw yoooooou OOOU♫... ♫Cause you get lighter the more it gets dark♫...

That's basically been the #1 song that's been going through my mind lately since I bought Coldplay's new album, Ghost Stories a couple weeks ago.

I honestly don’t think it’s one of Coldplay’s greatest albums, but “A Sky Full of Stars” is cool, catchy, and techy enough for me to really enjoy it (especially at 2:48 when it goes like: tatatatatoom BAMBAMBAM BABADABADAM), and I also really like the concept Chris writes about of his girl being like a “sky full of stars,” who gets “lighter the more it gets dark.”

That’s cool because Philippians 2:15 says, in relation to working out one’s own salvation in fear and trembling (or in other words producing the works that are the natural overflow of it), that by doing them without grumbling or arguing – then we will shine among a warped and crooked generation like stars in the sky.

That’s pretty awesome, because about stars – it’s like Chris Martin says – they just get lighter the more it gets dark.

Stars are always there, they’re always present in the sky, but it’s when it gets dark that we actually see them. So too, I think that in our service towards Christ, there’s a lot of times that what we’re doing for Him won’t even be noticed by most people, but as we continue to do it, and as we do it with a good attitude – well, everything around us, all the sin and corruption and malarkey in this world, it will all just pale by comparison. Especially as we bring the gospel to more and more un-reached areas, the good work of the Lord will just stand out in starker and starker contrast to everything else.

Are our lives really different from the world around us? Are we honestly making a difference? Are we really shining like stars in the sky? The truth of the matter is that we are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden, and neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. In the same way, let’s let our light shine before others, that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven! (Matt. 5:14-16). 

The Failing Heart of a Missing Flight/The Strengthened Heart of a Saving Faith

Picture of airplane 9M-MRO taken by a plane enthusiast

So whatever happened to Flight 370, no one knows.

And if you're looking for answers, none of the steps that have been taken to find the plane have led to any answers.

Every path has just left us chasing after.

Was it a freak accident? Was it a terrorist attack? Is it a conspiracy?

Somehow we just have to know. I mean we're willing to spend a quarter billion dollars just to find some sort of clue. Anything would be nice.

It's that feeling of losing 239 people who for many are friends and family members and not knowing how to move on. Of being frozen in time, and not knowing how to grieve because there's nothing on which to place the grief... On an accident which would result in sorrow? on a terrorist attack which would result in anger? or on a failure to follow correct safety procedures by mechanics, pilots, and/or air controllers which would result in a demand for compensation?

Either way, I would imagine that the pain of uncertainty is unbearable for those who are close to the friends or family members of those who were on the plane.

And then what happens if say a year or two goes by and then something turns up? What then? Something that you finally learn to leave unknown you all of a sudden have the chance of figuring out but maybe then you'd rather not. You'd rather not because what do you do with the answer? You just open up that wound again and the 3 questions you had to begin with now all of a sudden turn into 10?

I'm not saying that that's the right attitude, but I guess that even for me there's a couple things I've decided that I'd rather not figure out; and I think that the primary reason for that is because if I did - either way I can't do anything about the answer.

And I suspect that many of the disciples, especially Thomas, had some of the same issues going through their minds after Jesus died... And then when Thomas heard that he had risen - well what then? He was just supposed to take someone else's word for that and go on with his life without hearing from Jesus personally?

I think that Thomas needed to know for sure because perhaps he understood some of the implications involved in how he would have to live the rest of his life, if in fact Jesus was alive.

Remember that he was the one who said, ¨Let us also go that we may die with him¨ (John 11:16), when referring to the idea of going back to Judea with Jesus after Lazarus died.

Here we see a man that was ready to give everything to follow Jesus, and I suppose that Thomas knew it was possible for Jesus to rise again (because he saw Jesus raise Lazarus), but he needed that certainty to let him know that he had, just to know what to do next and to have the inspiration to do it.

Well, that command of what to do next was ultimately to go and preach throughout the whole world the things that Jesus had taught the disciples, and to baptize those who would came to faith in him in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19-20).

What we know of Thomas is that he actually did follow through with that. He went all the way to India in his obedience to fulfill the Great Commission, and I think that the diligence he had in doing so stemmed from the certainty he had of seeing Jesus and touching him in his side.

For me personally, I know that I´ve never seen Jesus face to face, but I still believe that he has risen from the dead and so that belief pushes me forward in my drive to make Him known.

I´m not like those who are left in oblivion without knowing the truth of what happened to their loved ones on flight 370. I´m like one of those who Jesus said was blessed because I have believed without having seen (John 20:29)... I´m not like one of those that shrinks back only to be destroyed, but rather I´m like one of those with the kind of confidence that will be richly rewarded. A confidence stemming from faith in the resurrected Jesus Christ, the Living Son of God (Hebrews 10:35-39).

Judging Others

skit we performed in the San Jose youth group back in 2010 

Let's get real for a second.

Fact #1 - there is such a thing as right and wrong.

Fact #2 - we're all inconsistent in our lives in one way or another.

Fact #3 - judging is REALLY risky business.

Fact #4 - churches should be concerned with morality.

I fully believe that everything I just said in the above list is completely true, but with reference to fact #4, I find the question of how? to be super complex.

On the one hand, I explained in my last entry that we shouldn't teach "cheap grace"; and on the other hand, I know that if I'm trying to reach non-Christian young adults, or if I've already started a church with new believers who have somewhat "morally complicated lives"... well - let's just say that things can, and will probably (and actually most definitely) at some point get a little gnarly (or in most cases really gnarly).

So for starters, let me just say that there are two huge differences that need to be taken into account in this discussion: 1 - how we perceive and approach anyone outside the church, and 2 - how we work with and tenderly correct anyone within the church.

I honestly don't believe that it's worthwhile to tell everyone outside the church who is in sin that they need to change, or to try and make them understand that what they are doing is wrong, or to somehow disassociate ourselves with them because of their incorrect lifestyle. Rather, what we need to emphasize is that we've all failed and have been crippled by sin, and that because of it, life is really messed-up, but there's a remedy, and it has come in the person of Jesus Christ who actually really loves sinners, and with whom he not only associated with, but also found his whole life purpose in giving us the opportunity to be forgiven through his death, no matter what.

That's the main point that needs to be talked about with our friends (and even enemies) that aren't part of the church... or in other words, who aren't Christians.

Agreed?

I really hope so, because the idea of judging people who aren't in the faith, and telling them that who they are is wrong (or telling other Christian friends to stay away from them because they're wrong) - I don't know man - I mean doing so is liable to turn us into something like arrogant, irrelevant, judgmental, hypocrites (even though I do understand the danger in being 100% tolerant of everything, and becoming desensitized towards sin, as well as being overpowered by it).        

But, what about for those who are a part of the church but are blatantly living in sin?

Well, let me give you a real-life, unfiltered, really-complicated situation:

The first guy I ever baptized in my life is a guy named Elkin.

I met Elkin while he was living with his girlfriend with whom he has a daughter, and sure enough - after hanging out with him for a while and studying the Bible together - he decided to put his trust in Christ.

I baptized him, because I view baptism as the symbol of salvation - that in Jesus we have died to our selves and been buried with Christ in his death and resurrected through him in his life... I didn't baptize him to say that he is morally perfect in every sense, and that he has his whole life together - but it is to say that he has been justified (legally declared perfect or righteous in God's sight because of Christ, irrespective of his good works or even his recurrent tendency towards sin), and that he's now a new creation.

That's what I was saying when I baptized him (or better said that's what he was saying as he got baptized), and yet here's the catch: now after 4 years have passed (and as he's matured, and grown in his knowledge of Christ, and brought other members of his extended family to the Lord); still, he has not officially gotten married to his girlfriend either by state or church standards (even though they do live together and their relationship has been flourishing a lot).

So that's really awkward because 1: he's a poor role model to young believers; 2: he's a bad testimony to unbelieving outsiders; and 3: he's a bad example to his daughter who may be inclined to think that a lifelong commitment before God, the state, and your friends and family members towards the person you love and desire to live with, is unnecessary.

And that's not all right.

It's not all right, and so the church needs to do something about it.

At the same time though, it's clear that his involvement in the church has benefited him, his family, and other members of the church significantly (including myself), and by 1: forcing him to get married we run the risk of embittering him and having him do something against his will; by 2: judging him all the time and incessantly talking about the issue could make us seem more interested in him signing a paper and going through with an official ceremony than in seeing him grow deeper in love with his girlfriend and daughter; and by 3: dismissing him from the church we are effectively handing him over to the devil who is extremely powerful, and could very well even go so far as to physically take his life away from him (1 Cor. 5:5).

So that's some pretty serious stuff, isn't it?

What's ironic is that many other people who I know from San Jose that at one point were actively involved in the church there, have voluntarily handed themselves over to the devil in a sense, when they arbitrarily decided to leave the church out of their own volition... that reality should sadden us so much, and we should lovingly aim to do all that we can to get them back.

And what's tough in Elkin's case, is that I honestly think that the most Biblically logical way to deal with the situation, is to tell him that he can't come to our meetings until he repents, thereby showing him the supreme importance of needing to be serious about this issue, while fervently praying for him to follow through with the act - and to once again find restoration among us once he has (2 Cor. 2:6-8).

But even better than that, is that I think we should hope and do everything we can to encourage them to separate by mutual consent for a time (1 Cor. 7:5), while still letting them be active within the church, and hoping that in the mean time they would be compelled to officially get married.

Obviously, the way we go about this, and the way we talk about it has to be extremely tactful and loving and sensitive, but I honestly don't think that just having more patience will solve the issue... Even though everything inside of me wishes that I and the elders from the church in San Jose wouldn't have to do this - I think it's time that we be a little more radical about the issue; and hope that God in his infinite grace will work the situation out for his glory.

...And so there's an example of really complicated religion.

However, in going about it (and in relation to EVERY form of judgement), I find Jon Foreman's words concerning religion really apt, so as to keep us in check, when he says the following in his song, "The World You Want" from his Fading West album:

What you say is your religion,

How you say it - your religion,

Who you love is your religion,

How you love is your religion,

All your science - your religion,

All your hatred - your religion,

All your wars are your religion,

Every breath is your religion, yeah.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Believe it or not, according to the British weekly newspaper The Economist, in 2012, Colombia was said to have the lowest percentage of marriages in the world

http://www.eltiempo.com/gente/ARTICULO-WEB-NEW_NOTA_INTERIOR-12587116.html