I hope you're hopeful

I think spring is my favorite season. Right now, where I am from, there are people going to bed and looking forward to warmer tomorrows. Maybe it’s just because I hate winter so much, I’m not sure. I just know that when the first day comes that I can wear sandals and a t-shirt, I practically leap for joy. I think it’s all about a new beginning. The world was caught in slumber all winter preparing for this, now it’s time for summer. Let’s get crazy. It’s a hopeful season for the northern part of this rock. So let’s talk about hope.

We all claim to have it. We all love throwing that term carelessly around. ‘There is hope’, we say, with a furrowed brow and concern oozing from our persona. ‘I really hope that he doesn’t do that’, we say, in a sort of flippant cynicism. But I’m not sure we grasp what hope really is. I came across a verse the other day that tripped me out a little bit and got me thinking. The verse I’m talking about is in Romans, but we’ll get to that a little bit later on.

I want to start with this verse.

And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1Corinthians13:13

Straightforward right? Faith, hope, and love are all cool. But love is the best. But what about the others? We love faith. We love talking about it. We love idealizing it. But where are all the over-spiritualized discussions about hope?
I’m learning a little bit about hope and how to be conscious of it, and I’ve been inspired to share this with you. So here goes.

What is hope, Mr. Webster?
Hope is a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Hope implies a certain amount of despair, wanting, wishing, suffering or perseverance — i.e., believing that a better or positive outcome is possible even when there is some evidence to the contrary (wikipedia)

A certain amount of DESPAIR?!?! That can’t possibly be a good thing for my life. Despair, wanting, and wishing. Aha, now you get the verse that I stumbled upon the other day. This is all really simple and maybe I’m telling you things you already know. But it’s fresh for me and that’s the beauty of it.

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Romans5:3-5

So yes, I do believe that a certain level of dissatisfaction is necessary for hope (i.e. I am dissatisfied right now at the fact that I am hungry, and so I am hopeful that I have the necessary ingredients for a grilled cheese sandwich). I don’t know about you, but there is not a lot satisfying to me about the world that we live in. Call me a pessimist if you want, but if you are missing the despair in this place, you must be blind. But I also have hope. Hope that the church will rise up and be the church. Hope that finally, there are some alarm bells ringing for the impoverished. Hope that one day my Lord is coming back.

Here’s the thing about hope that I love. It carries with it an expectancy: a holy fire that burns in anticipation. HOPE IS THE BELIEF THAT A BETTER OUTCOME IS ON THE WAY. A hopeful person is not a person who is easily discouraged (Job 13:15, Prov 23:18, Lam 3:21). A person who is hopeful is a person of purpose. A person of great strength. Here’s the kicker. The big shuh-bang. The ‘oh-my-gosh, this might just blow my mind’...

I think that faith is not possible without hope

Show me a person who has no faith and I will show you a person at the end of their rope. A person so hurt and so broken and so mislead that there is no hope left. On the flipside, show me a person who claims to have faith, but is cynical and does not believe that life can get better, and I will question that person’s faith.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). So if faith is the evidence, then what is the real deal? I say, I think it’s hope. I dunno, maybe I’m just mislead. But I think that we are entirely to unhopeful. I’m quite certain that most of the time, we’re too content with the drudgery of life and our lack of hope keeps us from taking a stand and doing something about it. I think that God has so much more for us. I also think that we are responsible to act on that. To have hopes and dreams and ambitions that are SO HUGE THAT WE CAN’T SEE THE END OF THEM. He is able to do SO MUCH more than we could ever DREAM! (Eph 3:21, paraphrased) So I say that we let God be God. I say we give faith a fighting chance and pair it with discontented hope and a willingness to go to the ends of the earth. We might just change this place.

This is still brewing in my mind's cauldron, so if anybody has any insight...shoot it my way..

It's in progress (or there is hope)

I'm working on a blog (borderline novel) that I think you will find stimulating and quite enlightening. Unfortunately, that is not this one. But soon, it will be coming. Maybe tomorrow.

Youtube browsing yields musical enlightenment

The first on is John Coltrane's Giant Steps, the second is John Mayer and Eric Clapton performing 'Crossroads', and The third is the good ol' DMB, doing 'Ants Marching'

The beauty of grace is that it makes life not fair.

So, the brilliance that you are about to read are not my words. These come from my flatmate. His name is Joshua David Garmon (and no that is not a joke...his dad's name is randy too...talk about weird...there is a link to his blog on the sidebar to the right, you should go check out his stuff...) Anyways, he has been wrestling a lot with grace lately, and has a revelation that needs to be shared. So I'm going to post it here for you to read. Prepare to have your life changed.

So here goes. Mr. Garmon, take it away:

Grace

I believe if you read what I write and take it to heart, your life will be changed.

The Holy Spirit has been stirring this message in me for a while, and I really believe God wants to set people free through me. To those who are reading, open your heart! Unclog your ears from rusty traditions and old religions. Hear what I have to say and be liberated!

We have often heard the word “grace” thrown around, but I believe the depth of what grace is for the lives of believers is far deeper than we realize. God longs to have his children live lives of satisfaction in him and not have to strive!

Some might think that grace is synonymous with mercy. How wonderful it is that God is rich in mercy! But I do not believe that grace is the same as mercy. Many have defined it as something like “God’s unmerited love and favor.” I think that’s much closer. Here’s a working definition I found at this website which was an awesome resource in my study! (http://www.learnthebible.org/q_a_what_is_grace.htm):

“Grace can also be defined as God's sufficiency or God's fullness in the life of the believer.”

He goes on to call grace “God’s enoughness.”

MMMMMmmmmm! Amazing grace how sweet the sound!

Oh friends..... Read this verse and DO NOT tune out because it’s the BIble. Bend your ear to God’s Word:

“And God is able to make ALL grace abound to you, so that in ALL THINGS, at ALL TIMES, having ALL THAT YOU NEED, you will abound in EVERY GOOD WORK!!!!!!!!!” (2 Corinthians 9:8) -Emphasis and twenty thousand exclamation points mine (:

Friends, this is good news! Listen to the completeness stated in this verse! All things! All times! Having all that you need! That’s too good to be true! No it’s not! That’s what God’s Word says, and I don’t know about you, but I stand on nothing else!

We don’t have to strive, friends. God’s grace truly is sufficient. He is SO enough. He’s so much MORE than we need!

I really felt God tell me the other day about grace:

There’s nothing you can do to receive it.

Not as in “It’s impossible to attain,” but rather, “there’s no work to be accomplished to gain it.

“Time out Joshua,” you say. “That sounds just lazy! Surely God wants us to do at least part of it. Are saying that our efforts have nothing to so with our success in life?

Well... YES!!!!!!

Nothing to do with our efforts. Nothing to do with our efforts. Offended? Well, I truly believe that this is what the scriptures say. Now, I believe we partake in God’s will for our lives! I’m not preaching laziness or passivity. God calls us to fight. But the scriptures always show God fighting for us as we step out in faith.

We’ve heard so often things like “God’s grace is so good, but nobody’s going to wake you up in the morning! You still have to try!” However, I’d like to suggest to you that we should do nothing apart from His grace. Not even roll out of bed and read our Bibles.

Please hear what I’m saying, and don’t think about what you’ve been told. Study the scriptures. Tell me if this is blasphemy. But don’t talk to me about what you’ve heard men teach. God is doing a new thing. He is revealing His grace to us in a deeper way! No longer will we trust in our own strength. We’ll trust that it’s true when He said that “...it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Did you hear that? He takes pleasure in working through us to His will!

Let’s talk about Paul. If any man could have preached about being qualified and using our own efforts for life, it would be him. Let’s read:

“If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. (Philippians 3:4-6)

However, Paul didn’t make his ministry about human effort! After his encounter with Christ, He preached the gospel of grace!

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. (Acts 20:24) -Emphasis mine

God used this man who was so qualified in the flesh (which is really no qualification at all!) and used Him to preach the gospel of grace! How good is our God. I think He has a sense of humor! (:

“Alright Joshua. I’ll humor you. Maybe our Christian walk has nothing to do with our effort. Maybe our success IS all about God’s grace. Well if that’s the case, then why do so few believers actually experience this wonderful life?”

I am so glad you asked. (:

I’d like to show you this simple truth that I think –and I believe the scriptures support it!– keeps the grace of God from our lives. Let us read again. This time we shall journey into the Old Testament. Jonah 2:8 says this:

"Those who cling to worthless idols
forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”

Yessir, when we worship idols, we block God’s grace from our lives. “Idol” sounds like a really intense word, but we all do it. Your idol might be a person, or a thing, or a position, or money, or your talent, but we’ve all experienced idolatry. It’s anything that is takes a place that only God should. We are to have no other gods but Him.

“Ah ha! Joshua! I caught you! You’ve already contradicted yourself! You just said grace had nothing to do with our efforts! Now your saying we have to earn it! Sounds like a works based doctrine to me!”

I’m so glad you noticed that. (: I thought the same thing as the Holy Spirit was revealing this to me. Let’s go back to Paul for a second. As a matter of fact, you may have even thought of a verse like this to refute what I just said. Here’s Romans 11:6:

“And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”

I SO could not agree with you more if you believe this scripture. I really believe the Holy Spirit lead me to read the verse in context a bit. Here’s what comes before, starting with verse 2:

God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me"[? And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal." So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

Wow. I would say that certainly supports the Jonah 2:8 theory.

“Joshua, now I am just confused. Do we have to earn it or not?”

Again, I’m so glad you asked! Let me go Jesus-style a bit, and tell you a story.

Let’s imagine a nice person going on a stroll through a lovely, wide-open field. As this man is walking it begins to pour down rain. Absolutely pouring. The man did nothing to merit being rained upon. He didn’t even ask! He didn’t beg...He didn’t pay fifty cents or do a rain dance. It just rained. You get the picture!

Now, let’s suppose this person had an umbrella handy. He opens it up and holds it above his head. He is now blocked from the grace of God–excuse me rain. Even though rain is being showered upon him and all around him, if he keeps the umbrella open, then he will experience the rain.

I’m sure you understand what I am getting at! Friends, God is ready to pour out His grace in our lives! He WANTS to. He is a loving Father, desiring us so excel in EVERY part of life. He is that kind of dad! Basically we have to learn to do nothing, and just be rained on.

HOWEVER, when we serve idols, we keep ourself from the grace of God. When we strive in our own efforts, what idol do we serve? The idol of self! Simply learn to receive God’s grace in your life! He can deliver you from every bondage! In every broken place, every wound, every messed up relationship, every dark place His grace is sufficient. I’m not saying He will change every circumstance, but you better believe He will sustain you with His grace.

Now, I’m not going to temper the gospel of grace with anything, but let me make a few things clear. The Bible is clear that we will face trails and persecutions. Life is not going to be perfect and sun-shiny all the time. You may or may not be wildly wealthy, though I believe He wants to deliver us from financial bondage. There will be hard, dark times. But, I believe that God will give us all that we need to get through them! As Paul learned with a thorn in His side, God’s grace REALLY IS sufficient. We can still have peace in those times. Like James 1 says, we’ll still be tested and refined. But He won’t leave us without what we need.

Oh God is good!

What I’ve been doing is not asking God to give me grace, but saying “God, I rest in Your grace for this.” His grace is already there! We need not ask for what has already been given. Let your prayers be for God’s will to be done here on earth. Simply rest in the grace that is so readily there!

If something in you resonated with what I have said, then you should read the book Destined to Reign by Joseph Prince. As the Holy Spirit has been stirring this in me, I’ve been dabbling in this book at the bookstore at church. It’s absolutely life-changing. He teaches the same core message as what I just shared and I’ve been very inspired by it. But friends don’t idolize any person! Thank God for the revelation he brings through people. Anyway, I really believe that God is rousing this message all throughout the globe! Make no mistake this is HUGE!

It is my hope that this message has inspired you and/or liberated you! I don’t want to keep this freedom and revelation to myself!

I love you all!

-joshua

Easter (or the same difference)

So it's not Easter anymore, as of 57 minutes ago, but this is my Easter post. So sue me. No, actually don't do that, you won't actually get any more rich. Anyways, Easter was great. Church was at Sydney Convention Center. That was wicked cool.

What was really sweet is that I realized that I have now celebrated Easter on three different continents. The first 18 years of my life I was in North America, last year I was in Kenya, and this year, obviously, I am in Australia. Now, I think it's noteworthy that I say this not to gain your recognition as someone who is well-cultured. Although I do fancy myself a well-rounded, understanding, and generally liberal individual, that is not the point of this blog.

The 'point', or central theme, is this. Easter is the same no matter where it's celebrated. Sure the methods differ, but the central message is the same. It would be foolish and ignorant to assume that everyone expresses their celebration and joy in the same way when it comes to Easter. But that's the beauty of it! Each different gathering that I have had the opportunity to be a part of on this sacred weekend has been wonderfully unique. Last year in Kenya, we were ever so privileged to be a part of not one, not two, but five services on resurrection sunday. And while we actually spent more of the day on our bus than in church, not one of those services was the same.

Each and every gathering of Christ-followers so passionately displayed gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ. From the sacrament and liturgy of the anglican church, to the relevance and spiritual encounter of Hillsong and everything in-between, I've found one thing constant - An imperfect people serving a perfect God. No one in the church is trying to be perfect. We hurt each other - if you haven't been hurt by the church, you haven't been going long enough. But hurt is healed through forgiveness, and love is over all.

So if you would be happening upon this and are disillusioned by the church, please know that I was once there. I saw the Jerry Fallwell's and 700 Clubs and George Bush's of the world and wished to never be associated with that brand of Christianity. I still want nothing to do with it. But I'm here to tell you that there is an awakening going on. The global church is starting to rediscover her place as the bride of Christ. She is starting to influence the world. She is finally starting to genuinely care about justice for the poor and downtrodden. She is on a mission to love the world into eternity. Jump on board, we're in for a crazy ride.

Imogen, if you get this, will you marry me?

Musings of a pacifist

I came across a quote today. It was disturbing to the greatest degree. And being as how this week is the 5-year anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq, I thought this to be a pertinent time to share this. The quote is from former first lady Barbara Bush, on Good Morning America just after the Iraq war started in 2003.

"Why should we hear about body bags, and deaths?...I mean, it's not relevant. So why should I waste my beautiful mind on something like that?"
~Barbara Bush

I will tell you, Mrs. Bush, why you should 'waste' your mind on something like that. Because inside of every body bag is a life cut short. Every statistic on CNN is someone's son. Every million dollars buys a group of innocent Iraqis laid to rest. Barbara, I challenge you to make such an ignorant statement when your grand-daughters stop being drunk and enlist for the military. When one of them comes home covered in a flag, will you be so calloused? How can you tell me that the life of a person is not relevant? If I had the means, I would camp out across the street from your house and set up a giant screen and show 24/7 footage of the carnage that your son has recklessly caused.

Even more disturbing to me is this, excerpted from a CNN article published on the day of the 5-year anniversary. This one comes from good ol' GW himself.

"No one would argue that this war has not come at a high cost in lives and treasure, but those costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq"
-George W. Bush

Mr. President, how do you sleep at night? You entered an unjust war on false pretenses, which have cost thousands of lives (I refuse to break down deaths into categories such as 'american lives' or 'american troops'...Iraqis are people just the same as Americans are. And the Iraqi people have paid dearly for the smokescreen politics of GW, just the same as the American people have). These costs are NECESSARY? Ridiculous. The blood of the innocents is on your hands, Mr. Bush.

I could argue until the cows come home (which would be quite a long time, seeing as how I don't own any) about how ridiculous this war is. But I won't do that. All I will say is that my heart is bleeding for the world. For the 98 percent of Iraqis and Afghans who never hurt anyone, for the people of Darfur, for the child-soldiers of Uganda.... the list could go on. Sometimes it all just makes me want to cry.

Open Mic

An open mike or open mic (or open spots ) is a live show where audience members may perform at the microphone. Usually, the performers sign up in advance for a time slot with the host or master of ceremonies. (thank you wikipedia)

^^I'll be participating in one of those tomorrow night. Always a good time.

In other news, beach volleyball is fast becoming one of my favorite hobbies. The combination of sweat, sand, and the resulting chaffing is simply outstanding. But really though, I will be honest, I enjoy volleyball. A lot.

Magic.

If such a thing exists, I'm sure it is contained where the ocean collides with a mass of land. The beach. Where two forces of nature meet. The ocean, which smacks angrily against the sand, and then serenely glides up the expanse of crowded tourists, only to repeat the process. And the land, unmoving against the beating that it takes, seems not to mind the intrusion. Yet, it's all so beautifully serene. The last two days of my life have been spent at this intersection of power and beauty, and I must say, I can't get enough of it.
So I've determined that I must live on a coast. I pay no mind as to where, but as long as I can look out and cannot resolve the edge of the horizon, then I'm good. So to all of you in Ohio, I apologize, but it will take a serious seismic shift of either geography or of my preferences for me to return on any sort of permanent basis. Coastal regions, prepare to have your world rocked.

Also, I'm going to Thailand next December. My friend Patrick is coming too. We found a couple of discounted tickets, so we're stoked about it. If anyone would like to accompany us, get a flight into Bangkok on the 9th of December 2008. It would be sweet if you would let me know as well, although I'm all for surprises.

Sore feet and heavy eyes

My feet feel like bricks.

I'm afraid my eyes may give up hope any second now and I will fall asleep right here on the computer.

I spent the last three days in a 17000-woman cauldron of estrogen that would strike fear in the heart of even the fiercest man.

I have had 12 hours sleep in the last three nights combined.

My body is weak beyond reason.

But my spirit is encouraged to the same degree.

Go change the world ladies.


p.s. I met louie giglio not 2 hours ago. We're basically like brothers now.

Colour Me Blue

Some would say that they are 'blue like jazz'. I would give the following statement to those people:

There is a genre of music that is already defined by that colour, which also shares its name. The blues. I love them. In fact, I live in Bluesville. John is the current mayer, B.B. was the king, there's another John whose coal train comes in regularly. Eric also claps a ton, for no other reason than to honor his friend Jimi. I am but a humble resident. So please, I beg of you, do not redefine me.

This is all I have to say.

p.s. my spelling of the word colour (which blogspot apparently disapproves of, seeing as how they underlined it in 'mistake red') makes me certifiably Aussie. Ironically enough, the word blogspot is also underlined. Someday soon there will be another blog on this topic.