A New Beginning

New Year's Resolutions are usually a bust for me. I usually have one that says losing a few pounds, reading my Bible more and praying more. This year I am going to go through the daily devotional, "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers. I think this will help my prayer and meditation times and my Bible reading time as well. I'm also going to try some sort of push up/sit up regiment that will keep this chiseled body looking incredible (heavy sarcasm).

We always focus on big life altering resolutions like quitting smoking, being nicer, losing fifty pounds. I wonder what would happen if God's people would resolve to draw closer to Him in 2008. Maybe it is a covenant of prayer time, of serving more in church, simply going to church regularly, or doing more to share our faith, but I challenge you to take the next step in your faith journey. I heard a pastor say that the mature Christian is one who is always seeking the next step in growing with the Lord.

I'd love to hear your plans or resolutions for this new year and if you want to keep me accountable on mine that would be splendid.

In the name of the One who makes all things NEW. Happy New Year.

Remembering

I think it has been five years this week since the massive tsunami hit southeast Asia. The devastation is surely still being dealt with. A good deal of money was raised in the initial relief effort, but I wonder how things are going as people continue to rebuild their lives.

Katrina struck more recently, and, while it was still devastating, the location of destruction was miniscule in scale compared to the tsunami's path. Yet it has remained in the mind of the news and the US Church far longer than the tsunami victims.

Don't get me wrong. The Katrina victims warrant aid and relief, as well as the church's attention and love, but is anyone bothered by the apparent lack of continued aid/relief for the people of Southeast Asia? Is it a country like the U.S. who should lead the relief efforts (because of our impressive and substantial wealth and resources?) Or is it acceptable to focus our efforts internally and let others cope on their own? I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Either respond to it from a socio-political governing standpoint or from a Jesus perspective. What does the Mustard Revolution call us to as Jesus followers?

Most Wonderful Time of the Year

How was your Christmas? Shaina and I got up at 5 a.m. to open presents (well actually, I got up...was told not to wake her up until 7, and then covered up the bedroom clock and brought the presents in and deceived her into an earlier present opening time!)

I cannot believe how generous people were this year. Shaina got me an iPod nano, which I'm already throwing all of my music on. Shaina's parents/sister got me a new laptop (I've had quite a bit of computer misfortune in the last 6 months), also a couple gift cards and some Indians Memorabilia.

My mom let me pick out some books from Berean bookstores. I picked out a couple books by Brian McLaren, who is a controversial figure for many in the church. Stay tuned for a review in the next few months of "A Generous Orthodoxy" and "Everything Must Change". Right now I am reading a book by Henri Nouwen, titled "Can You Drink This Cup?" It was the last book he had published before his death. It is an easy read, yet reflectively it is challenging.

Anyways, top off the day with gifts from mine and Shaina's grandparents and I am simply overwhelmed by the generosity. This is truly the most wonderful time of the year...not because I got great stuff, but because people are moved to generosity. Think about that...does it not feel good to give? To bless others? To see the face of the one who is filled with joy because of your gift? Imagine if this generosity permeated the daily life of the church.

What is your favorite Christmas moment? Let me know. Reply to the Mustard.

Merry Christmas

Well, I had some money to spend on myself (from my mom) and so I went to this little Christian bookstore this morning. I understand it is Christmas Eve, so I should have anticipated some chaos. However, I walked out of the store after purchasing a couple books and was crossing the street, when out of nowhere, from a nearby stop sign, I hear a revving engine and this lady is coming full speed ahead at me. I narrowly escaped back to the sidewalk and my thoughtlife was exceedingly sinful at that moment. First, I thought about this "idiot lady" who nearly took me out...Then, I began thinking about what people really think the Holiday Season is about.

Clearly this evil lady had missed the boat and I was much more attuned to the birth of Jesus. Afterall, if she was thinking about Jesus, would she have taken a shot at making me a permanent road fixture? I think not. (I'm laying on the sarcastic self-righteousness heavily here).

Here's the issue. Sometimes well meaning Jesus followers try to 'take back Christmas' by talking down commercialism, consumerism, and the many other 'ism's' of the season. In a sense, we try to go into the local WalMart and flip over the cash registers in righteous indignation. Is this the best way to convey to a lost and searching people that Jesus was born into this world as the revolutionary God-Man that was bringing in this Upside Down Mustard Bush Kingdom? By condemning people and suggesting (either through action/word/or perspective of self) that we get it and they don't?

Perhaps our focus is distorted as the church. We are so concerned with right behavior and forcing the world to 'respect' Jesus, that we forget that love is the center of everything about Jesus. I recently heard about a speaker getting up to speak before a large group and tripping on his way to the platform. He uttered a couple words that probably shouldn't be said by a church leader...his microphone happened to be on. The speaker arrived at the platform and said, "Why is it that most of us in this room are more concerned with what I just said, than the fact that many of our neighbors and loved ones are dying without Jesus?"

May we be less focused about modifying the world's behaviors and instead pray more about God's kingdom being transformed in each and every heart that he has created. May God be born anew in our hearts this Christmas.

This is not about Grey Poupon

Ok, so what is this mustard revolution you ask? It is about a seed that a Jewish man spoke of two millenia ago. He said it was small, but it would grow to the point that birds would nest in its shade. He was talking about a kingdom, but why would anyone want a Mustard Bush Kingdom? That's what Jesus does. He makes the everyday, mundane ordinariness, extraordinary. Do we believe it? Are we convinced that Jesus can make a kingdom out of a mustard seed? If so, what could he do with me?

My name is Ben. I go by 'B-smooth' too, but no one has actually called me that. I am wrestling with what it means to be a follower of Christ, a good husband, a man who is relevant, purpose-driven and authentic. I know there is something to this mustard seed. I know that I am filled with discontent with how 'church' usually goes. I know that there has to be more. So it is...a mustard revolution...nothing big or extravagant...just an ordinary, everyday, run-of-the-mill bush...who longs to be radical. Stay tuned as the seed is planted.