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?

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"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

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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:  

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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.

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Picture Referenced:

http://goo.gl/yGLUxQ