dchaos628's Xanga

The man without money

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:59:43 GMT

Been pondering a lot about money this week. I’ve been told Jesus says more about finances in the Bible than he does about love, faith, heaven... etc put together. In short, it’s the number one topic in the Bible. What does Christ say about it? In short, give away all your possessions to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. As many times as I listen to such a message, will I ever sell off my 401K (security) and (hmmm, I don’t have much else, iphone perhaps?) stuff and be Brother Teresa? Probably not. But I can learn to live simply, and in doing so, generously.

But the other side of the equation is who we’re giving our money to. Many people have thought that when we give our $5 to the homeless guy, we just lift the barrier for him to buy alcohol. And yeah, it’s probably true in many cases. But like Jesus Christ who knew that the people he died for would use the cross as a means to sin more, or to trample his spilled blood under their feet, we should err on the side of mercy. I believe this when it comes to the personal people we meet on the street. Buy a homeless guy a beer? Sure.

But systemically, and holistically, beer is not the best solution for the homeless. Selling our stuff and exporting our problems/possessions is not the answer for the people we aim to help. Why? Because they have the same fallen nature. The father of the Slumdog Millionaire girl who played Latika tried to sell her after she became worth more. The poor don’t know what to do with the possessions we have any more than we do! Suelo, who lives in Utah in a cave and hasn’t lived off the monetary system in 3 years explains his experience in the peace corps helping out a tribe in Ecuador become richer. As the tribe became richer, they sold their quinoa, potatoes, corn, and lentils for soda, white flour, and televisions. The more they spent on modernity, the worse their health outcomes became. “It looked like money was impoverishing them.”

I don’t want to take this as a call for inaction, but rather a call to pair up the call to end poverty along with the call for a new nature. It isn’t enough to altruistically place the caveman into modern society and money and expect the caveman to be better off. We have to educate the caveman about the new nature he must take on, the responsibility that money comes with. We have to teach the caveman how to live. But when many of us don’t know how to live ourselves, how do we teach them? We have to take the poor into our community. They have to live among us, live with us, so they will stop seeing us as an ATM machine, and we can stop seeing them as a leech in society. And to live simply so that even when we give to them, they can see what we’re giving out of, as an example of how to live.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:48:18 GMT

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pass the below message along!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Vote for "Love Story #2" to help win Dan and Kendra free engagement photos from photographer Wayne Yuan!
They are one of the three top finalists and need as many votes as possible before Tuesday midnight! It will take less than a minute!

Here's how to show them some love with a vote:

1) Go to the contest page --> http://bitly.com/lovestory2

2) Register and make a comment at the bottom of the page voting for "Love Story #2."
(There will be no spam to your email. Promise!)

3) Send this to others who can spread the word to vote for them!
(Your parents, grandparents, neighbors, cubicle mates, pilates class, knitting circle, etc.)
We need all of YOUR friends' votes to win this!

4) To show your support, join our facebook rally event to spread the word. --> http://bitly.com/facebooklovestory2

Go the extra mile...
    * Update your twitter or fb status to "help me vote for love story 2! http://bitly.com/lovestory2 "
    * Change your profile picture to their fountain shot flyer
    * Help your parents register and vote for them!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"We love you all! Thanks SO much for your amazing help!"
~ Dan and Kendra

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Sun, 10 May 2009 23:41:24 GMT

So two girls at my church decided a year and half ago to follow Jesus. No, not accept Christ into their hearts but to really read Matthew and not water it down. This lead them to live in the South Bronx. And not the safest street in the South Bronx but the most violent street in the county. The last census counted 15 white people in their neighborhood and none on their street. Ever.

So here are 2 beautiful NYU students not really having a clue about how to live like Jesus but knowing they want to be with the downtrodden, the marginalized, the poor. Their neighbor is a single mother with 7 kids. 4 of the kids are the sisters, who died awhile ago. She works two jobs to make ends meet and can't be home all the time.

So they do what they do best. Make salsa and cookies. And they would sit outside on the stoop and eat their food and share to anyone who passed by. Gangbangers, single mothers, whomever. They became known around the building and the security guards who worked there as the cookie girls.

The Treyside Blood control the neighborhood. But while the danger is very real every night coming home, they also come by to the girls place to get help studying, homework for the G.E.D., job prospects, anything to get out of the gangs and the only life they know. Contrary to popular belief, violence is not good for drug business and they don't really want to be in it. But these girls are bringing peace to their neighborhood. Just by baking cookies, reading stories to 7 kids when their mom can't come home, being a friend to the teens who have no other shoulder or role model they can see.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the children of God.

Dig wells, not fences

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 13:10:35 GMT

Dig wells, not fences.

In Australia, ranchers have thousands of acres and thousands of cattle. There had to be a way to keep the cattle free and yet within the ranch's boundaries. How do you keep cattle in only one land? Do you have the materials to build fences around your miles and miles of border? Even if you could, how do you patrol it?

Pharisees would build fences to keep the right cattle in, and the right cattle out. They had a dress code, circumcision, diet, behavior modifications,..etc. All these things to brand who was from the Jewish root and followed God, versus who was a Gentile.

Christians and churches have fences, boundary markers to tell who's in and who's out. We have behavioral codes, language, Friday night or behavioral do's and don'ts that distinguish one church Christian from another. We have churches in the past (Certainly not yours!) that have requested their young people cut their hair to an appropriate length so that God could use them more! We have people doing a million little cuts based on a person's sexual past, divorce rate, use of curse words, or even judgemental on being too broad or narrow-minded. (Including me).

Marketers get paid millions to tell us their products are the boundary markers and fences that make you one of the cattle that belong. You are from the herd of the Brooklyn hipster with your tight jeans and neck scarf. You are the surfer with your long hair and never been in shoes feet. If you drink Sprite, you'll quench your thirst more. If you're from New York, you'll like diet Coke and hate diet Pepsi.

You're so entrenched in these boundary markers and culture of the city, the church, the state, that you don't even realize you're part of it. Or maybe you do and just go along since life is comfortable.

A few ranchers thought a better idea than hammering down fences to keep their cattle in and other cattle out was to dig wells. Cattle never stray far from water and ranchers now knew where to always find their cattle. Jesus also gave us boundary markers. But he dug wells. By this they will know that you are my people. That you love one another. Please, put down the hammer. Love the social nerd, the stained lonely guy or woman who slept around, the people who culturally are on the outside of the marketing machine. Love the guy who can't stop saying fuck every other sentence. Love the guy who occasionally has to light up to make it sane through the day. Don't tell him/her that they should stop before they step into your community. Stop being appalled and start learning to see him as a person. May the way you love and your life be a living well that attracts everyone you come in contact with.

Dig wells, not fences.

Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 08:09:43 GMT

Most amazing video (Be sure to check out camera 1 angle too)
Especially if you're a Sound of Music fan like me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6DLGB3uwFU

Dos, two beers, two Mexican beers
Ray, the guy who sells me beers
Me, the guy who drinks the beers
Fa, a long long way to beer
So, I think I'll have a beer
La la la la la la la la (slurred)
Tea, no thanks I'll have a beer
And that brings us back to

Disaster in NYC?

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:49:44 GMT

Wow, haven't blogged here in awhile.

So the person of subject in "The Cross & the Switchblade" just prophesied that an earth shattering calamity will strike New York very shortly and urging everyone to stock up on 30 days of food. This man is the founder of Times Square church and so actually has a lot more credibility than most.

Pastor David Wilkerson's blog (posted March 7, 2009)

As the reader, what is your first response? Is he just off his rocker? Has senility set in? Based on his status and authority should we move from New York to a safer harbor?

If this prophecy rings true, what will your response be? If it's false, what will your response be?

My opinion is that this doesn't seem to ring true. Or maybe I've been deaf and blind but I feel like we're doing a lot of good in New York so why would God want to destroy it? God loves New York. God's heart for New York is to save it, not destroy it. We're started a safe haven for sex-trafficking victims, we have done Reveal 2009, have starting loving people more and showing people money is not the identity of their lives. (not to mention the art, fashion, and great restaurants) But even if God does bring a "thousand fires", I believe that God would tell, even beg us to repent first before his wrath.

I don't believe it was very responsible for Wilkerson to deliver this message however well intentioned without seeking confirmation from other pastors in the city. If it was confirmed, then wouldn't a joint message be much stronger?

I believe nonetheless my role is to stand in the gap and be the intercessor for New York. Not that I am righteous but for the sake of His name, would he stay his hand. Look at the millions of people in New York and stay His hand. Or may His hand come down on me instead.

Exousia & Doxa

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 21:59:44 GMT

Greg, Su, & I got a chance to wait outside waiting for Co. to open up. The newest pizza joint that was really good. Greg says best in the city. We tried the Boscaiola, Ham & Cheese, Popeye and Flambe pizza. I recommend it but I suggest you go before it opens if you want to avoid waiting.

Now that you're hungry, on to my sermon notes...

Tyson had a divine message today, meaning he was prepared to talk about prayer but God intervened, telling him to talk about authority. This intervention happens rarely.

Who has the authority to rule?

Even before Genesis 1:1, there is a backstory that is happening. God has thrown down Satan from heaven. But why? What was going on before man entered stage left? Satan as a creation challenged the authority and power of God and thus was kicked out.

Man enters the picture and God is pleased to "let them rule over the fish of the sea and birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." - Genesis 1:26. God says to Adam, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

To God is given all glory and final authority but it's clear here from the mandate God has spoken that he has called man to rule. God has transferred / delegated authority to man over the dominion of creation. According to Psalm 8, man is crowned with glory & honor. We are Imago Dei.

Satan comes and contests God's delegated authority for man and our image in God's likeness. As Adam and Eve sin, humanity loses it's rule & authority over creation. God is walking through the garden and is looking for the ruler of the garden, who is now hiding! But even then God says to the serpent "He (referring to man) will crush your head, and you will strike his heel" -Genesis 3:15. Man has lost it's authority to Satan over creation, but God promises that Satan's head (his authority) will be crushed by Adam.

Now Jesus enters the scene and in this very familiar passage, we see Jesus being tempted in Luke 4. Satan leads him up a hill and shows him the cities and kingdoms and says, "I will give you all their authority and splendor (Exousia & Doxa), for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to." - Luke 4:6. Jesus does not contest his authority but accepts it even though God is in control of all things. So where did Satan obtain this authority? Man lost it to Satan when Adam sinned.

But Christ came as the 2nd Adam. Christ died upon the cross to take back authority from Satan and give it back to humanity. This does not diminish the significance for the propitiation made for sin and salvation. But on the cross, a new Adam came to fulfill and regain what the first Adam lost. God delegates authority and splendor (exousia and doxa) back to a new humanity. After the resurrection, Christ declares, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:18-19.

So here we find our mandate. Christ died so that we can have Bible studies. No. Though he did die for that as well, he died so that we would make disciples of all nations, being the hands and feet and authority of the redemptive work of Christ. We know enough Bible knowledge as it is, but have hardly lived out to the authority and power that Christ provides.

Authority is the right to rule. Power is the ability to rule.

Authority w/o power is like a toothless tiger. Postively useless.

Power w/o authority is evil. Satan may no longer have authority on earth, but he still wields power to wage war, influence the hearts of men, etc. This is why there is still evil rampant in the world.

Our calling as the church, community and individually is to live in our authority and access the power that is ours to advance the kingdom. There is no neutral ground here. The gates of hell only retreat as far as the kingdom advances.

FTC

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:33:58 GMT

One year ago 4 friends got together and made dinner. This year we completed our 1 year anniversary with

1. Artichoke and butter (Not pictured)
2. Earl Grey cured Coho salmon with potato crisp
3. Quail egg toast with Earl Grey-cured Coho salmon
4. Pancetta wrapped medjool dates filled with Manchego
5. Malaysian Crab Cake with Cayenne mango sauce
6. Poached Bacalao with honey and pecan
7. Winter Semifreddo with Calimyrna fig, cranberry, and candied ginger drizzled with blackberry yuzu sauce

Virgin Births

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 20:05:24 GMT

Virgins births apparently are not exclusive to Mary.

Several other species give “virgin” births. Including Komodo dragons and an Atlantic Blacktip Shark in a process known as parthogenesis. I wonder if maybe Jesus was the first human born of parthogenesis. Except supposedly all offspring by parthogenesis are supposed to be female. There is one induced case of mammalian parthogenesis in 1936 where a rabbit had offspring without help. Just wondering is all… =)

Merry Christmas everyone. As we celebrate Jesus becoming flesh and taking on the very nature of humanity, we still have a reason to hope even in the midst of darkness, of war on borders of nations, ecological disasters, and of worldwide economic turmoil. I pray for His kingdom of peace and goodwill to be the hope of all nations, of restoration to the world, and for us to join in the renewal of all things.

Even if Jesus was born in the summer or whenever, may “Dies Natalis Solis Invicti” really be the celebration of the unconquered sun as we declare Jesus to be the Light of the world.

Interesting cultural Christmas differences:
Italy: Le Befana is most likely derived from Roman goddess Strenia who brought figs, dates, and honey to good children, and coal to bad children. Instead of milk, the family leaves a glass of wine. Looks like a witch and flies around on a broom.

15th Century: Father Christmas usually was associated with getting drunk. Kristin, you would’ve like the guy.

Latin America: Santa gives the presents to baby Jesus, who is the one who delivers them to children. Umm.. didn’t Jesus actually grow up in the Bible?

Belgium: They celebrate birthday of Saint Nicholas on Dec. 6th. Totally different than Christmas. They make a Christmas sweet bread in the shape of baby Jesus… and then eat him!

Hungary: Saint Luca turned into a witch on Dec 13, so people put garlic in their keyholes, made the garlic cross on their doorways. They’d shoot in the air to ward off evil spirits on Christmas itself (blanks I hope).

Russia: Baboushka was an old woman with no family and the magi passed her and invited her to go with them to find baby Jesus. She declined but later regretted it and so packed up a few trinkets and went after the wise men. She is still looking and during Epiphany (Jan 6th), leaves trinkets as gifts to good children.

Happy Festivus to the rest of us!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:48:23 GMT

A. W. Tozer wrote, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. The history of mankind will probably show that no people has ever risen above its religion, and man's spiritual history will positively demonstrate that no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God. Worship is pure or base as the worshiper entertains high or low thoughts of God. For this reason the gravest question before the Church is always God Himself, and the most portentous fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like. We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God. This is true not only of the individual Christian, but of the company of Christians that composes the Church. Always the most revealing thing about the Church is her idea of God."