Rewards. Rewards. Rewards.

     I took a personality test once administered by my lovely wife. When I was done taking this test, it gave Biblical leaders that, based on their accounts in the Bible, had the same personality traits I do. Abram/Abraham was my guy. The first thing that came to my mind, "Oh man, the guy that sold out his wife to the pharaoh.... what guy..... why couldn't I get like, Jesus or something?" 

     

     My curiosity eventually made me eat my own words. I decided a year ago to go a 12 week study on Genesis. Thanks to my wonderful go-getter attitude, a year later, I'm on week 5. Well needless to say it's impossible to study Genesis, the beginning of HaShem's relationship with Creation, without studying the microcosmic story of Abraham. Here's what I have gathered about my kindred leader:

     He's not perfect, neither am I.

     Despite HaShem bestowing glory on Abram by blessing his offspring. Abram was wrought with faithlessness. I know that faithlessness isn't something I should play up, but stick with me. I quickly learned of Abram's short comings. not just his dealings with spiritual pollution in Egypt, but how he raised himself up out of his insufficiencies and reaffirmed his relationship and faith in HaShem and his promises. 

     How can I model this?

     Abram, after he was done in Egypt, did something. He left Egypt, a spiritually dark time for him. It effected his relationship with G-d, even when G-d intervened and brought plagues on Egypt and restored Sarai to Abram, despite Abram not relying on HaShem's protection. Abram then left Egypt he made his way to the Negeb, to the altar that he built for the LORD, and then invoked the name of HaShem, then moved to Bethel, a place that was higher physically than Egypt and more fruitful than the Negeb. Despite dropping the ball, which is something I can get good at, Abram didn't trek on from that failure, he moved back to the last place G-d spoke to him, then spiritually reconfirmed himself. After having restored himself, He moved to Bethel, a better place to be. 

      Abram, didn't take the mistake and built off the mistake, he instead removed it, and built off the firmness of the LORD and moved forward. 

     Abram clung to the promise of G-d.

     Even in Abram's faithlessness (the questioning of the fulfillment of the Covenant) He still clung to the promise given to him. Abram, in the midst of waiting for the fulfillment of the covenant began to lose his way. HaShem, responds by reminding Abram of His aid and involvement. 

     Abram had prepared an offering, which in this culture, was used during the confirmation of a covenant. You would pass between the split carcasses meaning that if you broke this covenant you would be split apart as consequence. Abram noticed that a burning pot of smoke and burning torch passed between the carcasses. Suggesting that G-d was ratifying the covenant. To reaffirm Abram's faith.

What I should remember:

"G-d's blessing and promise do not flow out of Abram's obedience; but rather, Abram's faith and obedience are a response to G-d's lavish promises." 

Goodness and Grace are never the reward for belief, but my faith should always be the response to the flow of Grace and Goodness.

Leadership and Responsibility are not given to me because I deserve them, instead they should be the response to example that has been laid out for me. I should take up my position (no matter where or what that is) not because it is what is owed to me (which it isn't) it should be because G-d has called me to, and has allowed me to do so. Leadership is a response, not a reward. Our Faith in the promise of Christ should not be to receive life instead our belief and faith should be the response to the offer of salvation. I don't want to love because I get a reward, I want to love because I am loved first. I don't want to work to get a paycheck, I want to work because it's my duty.

Genesis 11-16

"If what we call love doesn't take us beyond ourselves, it is not really love." Oswald Chambers

     Last week, in the Ukraine, a deal was reached that is pushing to end a protest that has lasted a month with which has been a demonstration of democracy in the world. Currently in Venezuela there is a student led, nationwide, protest of the government, protesting the Government and it's treatment of violence in the Country. These are just two of the most recent examples of a Government and it's people. We have established governments in order to organize, protect and provide for their people groups.

     But how why do a lot of these governments continue to fall short of their intended purpose? Revolution after revolution have been intended to rebel against a government that can't properly represent all or some of it's people groups. I recently watched a Video where Venezuelan youth are praying for their country and for their leaders. Praying for peace and goodness. This isn't an anti-government post. It's a post about the very thing that makes us Human and not God. Our brokenness.

     When you build a car with broken parts, you end up with a broken car. It's inevitable, when you form a Government run by people, with all their greed, insecurity, hate, malice, selfishness etc... that Government will inherit those traits.

     I don't believe that we are perfect, and I don't believe that I need to present evidence in order to back up that statement. The Word states that all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. In order to attain an eternal life with God, we must adhere to the Creator's standards. What role does or should the Church play in these revolutions and protests against government?

     Our God calls us to pray for our leaders (1 Thessalonians 2:1-3) it's a good thing to do that, even if we don't like them or their practices. There are leaders in Government who's hearts are in the right place and are choosing to chase after the betterment of their constituency every day; however, as is oft the case, the demons will continue to shout down the better angels in government.

     When Jesus comes back, His government will be established, the odd thing is that I don't see government as a positive term, it carries a negative connotation. The problem is that I don't have any experience with a government that is of pure heart, pure execution of it's morals and it's mission.

     I invite you to pray with me, for the coming of Jesus and establishment his government on earth. To bring comfort and healing, to bring an end to the conflicts between brothers in this world. To pray for the governments in place in the world, for wise decisions,  I don't believe this is as much of a political issue as it is a spiritual issue. This isn't a belittling of the actions of brave young people who are taking a part in their government and enforcing the rights given to them by their constitutions. Those are brave people who are willing to stand up, declare injustice, then DO SOMETHING about it. I just wish the Church had the same philosophy sometimes when it comes to the issue of Sin in the world. That we as a church would stand, declare something injustice, then LIVE OUT our lives the way Jesus calls us to.

"Acquire a peaceful spirit, and around you thousands will be saved." St. Seraphim of Sarov

Take the world, but give me Jesus.

Being an American, I don't get to see a whole lot of pomp and circumstance. Which is probably why monarchies fascinate us. We're business. but seeing dynastic royalty, that have order and code. Now that's exciting! Right? I have recently finished season 3 of, the period drama, Downton Abbey. I'm not going to lie, I loved it. (Before you try to strip me of my man card, watch it.) It is clean, it is well written and acted; most importantly, it is fascinating to see such an order, and social structure that’s completely different from ours in 21st century America. 

There's Carson, the traditional butler who lives for tradition, order and respect. There is a spoon, fork and knife for every food. There is a different dress for different parts of the day and occasion. All of this order and routine just to satisfy the obligation of showing the "proper amount of respect" to other human beings. In our lives we go through these same things, they have just tweaked a bit, from little things like saying, "bless you" when a person sneezes, to holding the door open for people at the outlet mall, or using your blinker when changing lanes, shaking hands correctly.[i]  All of these are small but part of current social etiquette. Things that we ,as humans, go out of our way to do out of respect of others.

            There was this guy, well I can’t call him just a guy. In fact, the Bible says this: “He was a mighty man…” a mighty man that the LORD brought up to make victories for his country and king, but (there is usually a but in these circumstances.), “…..he was a leper.” This is a pretty relatable guy. He was a mighty man. He was a nice guy, did things right, didn’t do a lot of wrong. He was doing ok for himself, but. We all have buts,[ii] even the most sparkling of characters contains the inescapable, “except”, “but”, “well….” His name is Naaman. He was a Syrian Army commander; the LORD brought him up in success.[iii] His success was attributed to God, and how he decided to bring him up.

            Back to this boss’s leprosy, the cool thing about leprosy is it is not prejudice. This disease doesn’t discriminate between social status, accomplishments or race. It was an incurable disease that separated you forms society and life. Naaman broke down and followed the advice of slave girl, under his wife, to go see the prophet in Israel.  In Monarchies there are many ways of doing things, there are right ways, and wrong ways. Usually the wrong ways have dire consequences. The king of Syria sent him along with a note to the King of Israel. He went he King of Israel tore his clothes…in comes this man Elisha…

            I really dig the guys from the Old Testament that saved the niceties and just dealt and met with people where they were in life. So Naaman is sent into Israel to get fixed, and he shows up at the king of Israel’s court and hands him the letter and the king gets upset and tears his clothes! But! Check it, it’s such a big deal that Elisha sends the king a letter that says, I heard your tore your clothes. Send your visitor to me so that he’ll know that there actually is a prophet of God in Israel.  

            So Naaman visits Elisha. He shows up with his caravan and his escorts with his chariots and grandeur. Then, here comes the coolest part, Elisha sends out MESSENGER! Ok, so this big deal of a dude, THE commander for the army of Syria shows up to your door step and you send out a messenger?! Wow…burn…. right?! this messenger sends the message for Naaman to dip/wash/cleanse/immerse into the Jordan River seven times. So, to recap, the commander of the Syrian Army shows up, Elisha sends him the equivalent of a text message from inside his house.

Here’s the best part, skin disease is the equivalent of sin. Leprosy[iv] does not discriminate; it does not pick and choose who deserves it. It just comes. Sin also, does not discriminate, no matter who you are; you can be affected by sin. So Naaman, this big and powerful guy that, granted, people were afraid of, had skin disease that made him self-conscious and they’re for incomplete. The only thing that could remove the skin disease of sin was the power of God.

            In this age, the only thing that can remove us from eternal separation and condemnation from sin is Jesus; who is God incarnate, Immanuel, and the only human being to walk a pure life. He’s much more than a decision that you’ll ever make. He’s a relationship. King Jesus exists to walk with you, Holy Spirit exists to influence and be the intimate relationship that we have with God. It’s much more than just condemning sinner, Elisha never condemned, he allowed God to do his work. Elisha chose to get rid of the usual order and rules and just help someone. It didn’t matter much at the time whether Naaman was Jewish. He just displayed the power of God. Why don’t we do that to?

---

[i]  The first web space (the space between your thumb and forefinger) need to make contact, then a firm but not crushing grip must take place then an optional shaking, not to much now! You’re not shaking out demons. Just a subtle shake.

[ii] Haha multi-leveled truth…

[iii] 2 Kings 5:1 “…because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria.”

[iv] Keep in mind that leprosy is the bible is not always Hansen’s Disease. It’s usually some form of skin disease.

Jesus the Nazarene came, lived perfectly, and died dirty. All so we can experience Love that is unlike any other power in this universe.

Evangelism is hard for me to wrap my head around. The Great Commission is plain. "Go, and make disciples of all nations." [i]  except that it does not show me how to do this step by step.  There aren’t detailed instructions on how to approach a human being and give them the love that you’ve been experiencing. There aren’t exceptions based off of whether it’s an old friend, or a stranger; girl or boy; adult or child. We just have to fill these holes ourselves, right? Jesus tells us to do it, we just figure out how right?

We do have the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us who calls us to Himself.[ii] But look, there’s more to scripture than just words. The words are the only things our minds can understand…. In the Book of Luke, it is written (I always feel like this is just a fun way to write….it is written….very stately. Hufflepuff…..) “Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”[iii] This tells us this: Jesus IS telling us the details! But can our carnal finite minds understand the deetz? Nope. I’ll use an extreme. They can’t. It’s like a new language that we can’t understand so it’s translated, however there are terms that don’t quite translate fully.

Ok, coming back to Evangelism. I see it happen. There are ways that I see work and there are ways that I think don’t work well. I believe in relationship. I believe in sharing Jesus. Although, I also believe in sharing Jesus with action and life, rather than words all the time. Personally, I just can’t do Jesus good when I’m sharing Him with words, UNLESS (yes I’m throwing the unless into the ring) Jesus is sharing Himself with me. Wait, that’s an option? Oh, yes. It’s the only option.

            It has to be the only option available. Folks, check it. We really don’t do anything. We just need to be available.  I guess Evangelism isn’t ours to perform at all. In fact, since it belongs to Christ; we are just hollow vessels. Slaves. But, slaves with a gracious master: slaves with stock options.  Why not say this, we are born able to inherit all that our parents have. Christians, we choose to die to our parent’s inheritance, and choose to inherit the inheritance of Heaven. In this choice we become a child of God, pulled into the family of God. Our prize isn’t only going to Heaven(which is a big thing.), our joy comes from this: that we are bonded with Christ and made clean in order to stand before God, the Father, and see Him. It’s much deeper than just the phrase, “Accept Jesus as your personal LORD and savior and you won’t go to HELL.” You aren’t holes punched in our evangelical members punch card. But know this…

Jesus is more than just a guy. God is more than just a mean punisher.

God created this world to be beautiful. We as humans have been poor stewards of this world. We have allowed sin (which is an unholy thing; a un-God thing) to become a staple in our daily life, we are unable to escape this now. We could never do good our whole lives, even if we tried. We will always mess up and make a mistake. But here’s the deal. Since the beginning of time God has made covenants with us. Giving us chances to come back to Him, some using sacrifices and atonements, with Law and order. But being human we weren’t able to do this either. So God, giving us so much of himself; made Jesus. Now, Jesus is the perfect man, He is tempted, but falls not. Keeps communication with God. Since Jesus didn’t sin, He didn’t deserve death.[iv] No sin; no death. Now, as far as these covenant sacrifices were concerned, they were usually blameless things, like lambs or crops or bulls. There would be a blood offering and then a burnt offering. Now check it, here’s where it gets the best. Jesus WAS the offering. When Levite priests would make an offering all the sin from the people’s past would cling to that offering and they would be atoned for. But Jesus was much more. When Jesus became the offering, he not only took on EVERY sin that was committed, He took every sin being committed at that time, and then he claimed every sin that would be committed. Jesus claimed every single piece of dark, dirty, filth that had kept human beings from being in communion with God. Essentially, he paid our bills, debt, and gave us a little something for the afterlife. His death didn’t just break us even, it reached into even our future. Now all that sin, sent Jesus to Hell. Funny thing is. Jesus didn’t stay in Hell. Being God, he just collected the keys got some folks and walked out. He walked out and came back, He appeared to his Disciples. Then ascended (the best word for what happened) into Heaven to sit with God. Believing in this we receive the spirit of God, or the Holy Spirit. This doesn’t make us perfect, for we as Christ Followers still must strive to give ourselves completely to God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, every single minute.

You know what? Sometimes we fail at that. It happens, were in broken earth suits. But we will strive to hit that mark of total and complete servitude every moment, no matter how many times we fall. We stay in communication with our Jesus, and we strive to be like Jesus.(it doesn’t always happen that way) it’s hard. It’s not a box to check, or a thing to put down on a resume. It’s a lifestyle change. It’s a life thing. It involves shutting doors to the old way of life. And going through the open door of true life. This is a lot to take in, however, if you have decided that you would like to know more about this Jesus thing, or this God thing then feel free to contact me. Or I do know this. You can click this link and it will bring you to resources to get in touch with a church body or pastor near you.

Here are some resources to help you find what you need: when looking for a church body, please look for a pastor that desires to serve you, as well as a healthy community of people. You are loved by God so they should love you too.

Acts 29 Network of churches, is a nationwide network of churches.

http://www.acts29network.org/churches/

Southern Baptist Convention is a huge network of churches in America. This is a group of churches dedicated to Jesus and strengthening families.

http://www.sbc.net/churchsearch/default.asp

These are only two resources. Check with your local listings on finding a church in your area that will serve you and that you can serve in! different churches hold different aspects, beliefs and rituals. Find a church and get to know the people.

---

[i] Matthew 28:18 – Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

[ii] The Holy Spirit the third application of God. “it” is God, a part of God, and should be treated as such. In order to be in right with God, we must be in right with Jesus AND the Holy Spirit.

[iii] Luke 24:45

[iv] Sin is a dangerous thing. It’s a word thrown around a lot in common thought. Usually it is meant to alienate someone, either away from their friends, or family, or help. And that’s normal, sin is an alienation. It’s not good, but it’s normal. Now sin has a little progression. It starts as temptation, and then if you give in to your temptation, that poor choice turns into sin. That sin, then does something, it changes the spirit and thus it changes the body; because, God is life, and sin is separation, then we become separated from Life itself. It’s like being grounded from water, you’ll live but eventually the effected will catch up to you. So that sin, then leads to death. 

Take Heart!

Acts 13:51,52

“But shaking the dust off their feet against them, they proceeded to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.”

You take hits, and you take tumbles. And when you are on the ground you will get kicked. Hits and falls are inevitable, right? You can’t avoid what will come to pass. There are great resources out there about picking yourself up by the bootstraps and carrying on. It’s a common theme from old testament themes to WWII the slogan for the British Isles, cleverly, “Keep Calm and Carry On.” I can think of no better motto for ones life.

One could assume that tumbles and falls are associated with a poor prayer life. I beg to differ. Romans 8 talks of suffering and how suffering is life with Jesus. The book of Psalms is full of several accounts of suffering. Now the word suffering is such a general word, why would we want to use that word? It ranges from being short for your bills to cancer and broken limbs. Let’s streamline this entry and just lump every single suffering, tribulation, hard time, challenge etc. into one word and we’ll use challenge, yes challenge. Doing your taxes is challenging, finishing a test is challenging; walking through surgery and cancer is challenging, parenting (from what I can witness and hear) is challenging. Yes, from now on, for this essay, Challenges is the word for everything unless otherwise specified.

How can Christ relate to our challenges? After all, the Bible does say that Christ can relate to our sufferings.  The goodness and glory that is given to us by grace is something that was worked for with blood and pain. Christ suffers with us. Bottom line. Jesus is relatable to anyone in the world with any condition. Tempted and tried like us, except he defeated temptation and trial. [i] The power behind Jesus is great. So great in fact, that when He died, the world changed and life changed, death changed[ii]. So great, even His name is power.[iii] Bottom line, Jesus is the way to true power, more so,  to true life.

Back to “challenges”; our standard, as Christians, has been set high from the time of Moses. The effect of challenges and things on a young adult can be just as powerful as a mature adult. Only, we are learning how to take hits. We aren’t used to them, when we were adolescents our parents, mentors and educators took our hits for us, or at least lessened their blow. Now we take our own challenges. We pay the bills, we get our own credit cards, we make our own money. For the majority of Twenty-something’s in America, life, real life, is beginning. Many of us are getting married and having kids. We are taking the proverbial first flight, cutting our safety net. Gander on into Acts and you’ll find a church that was starting to take on it’s responsibility, you could say that they were starting to pay their own bills, and cut their safety net. 

We can consider it great joy when we face trials, and we can dust ourselves off and proceed with what we are to do, and that’s to share Jesus with those who don’t know Him. To show love to those who are hard to love and to those who will not welcome you. Jesus tells the disciples “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town.”[iv] Community, do not dwell on the things that hurt your feelings, challenges that get the best of you or when you get run out of town. That’s ok, just dust yourself off and try again. God brings grace, and love for a reason.

Bottom Line: Whenever we face opposition, it’s no big deal. Just dust yourself off and move on with Jesus. You cannot let a wall keep you from being able to share Jesus or progress in Life, School, Work, your Marriage etc. Keep Calm, and Carry On....

Matthew 10:22-23

“You will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered. When they persecute you in one town, escape to another. For I assure you: You will not have covered the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”

---

[i] Matthew 4:1-11

[ii] The Jewish view of death is that of Sheol. A time at which even with atonements and sacrifices one could still go to Hades, the land of the Dead, and have to wait for the Messiah to come. When Jesus died, it was finished and He “led captivity captive” Death could not hold Jesus, even covered in every sin in the world and time.

[iii] Acts 3:6-7, When Peter said to the man, “In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazareth…” He walked….. When we do things in our own name[power] we can and will fail; however, when using the name of King Jesus, things get done.

[iv] Matthew 10:14

Do you remember how old you were when you became an adult?

How rebellious is it to be a Christian?

     I am a 25 years young man in a church that is constantly in growing pangs. These aren't always bad things, they expand and contract the Church.

     My biggest struggle is to find my place in this Church. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; about the Church being a body, and every part having it's place, just like body parts. I know I am being built for super cool things; my goal is to figure out what things I have been built for. I know where I'm called and I also know where I am.

     This issue isn't a new one; but it's not like this issue hasn't been addressed. At some point an individual should take on their responsibility and transition into their role as an adult. Given today's culture, the age of transition is in the 20's. This age is a difficult one, forget the teens the twenties are where it's at. I feel like unless a church specializes in the 20 something's then it's hard for these brothers and sisters to find authentic community, in a body that caters to families and elders. Twenty somethings are those that have no family of their own, too old to be young and too young to be old enough. 

     As has been mentioned before, that the twenties are where each individually finds his or herself and really makes their relationship with Christ their own. So in these years, there is such a wide variety of walks and maturity levels. It would seem to be a daunting group to take on and disciple. In Acts, which tells us the history of the church, I would assume the Apostles some of which still had the memories of Christ still fresh in their mind. Were sent out to sow the seeds of what we reap today. 

     Each individual in Christ is part of something bigger than themselves. This body that we are inducted into is more important that our relationship with our friends, family and world. I find it funny that Jesus calls us to be outside of mainstream culture so that we can influence mainstream culture, so we did it; we ejected the church from mainstream culture and made our own bubble, with it's own mainstream, underground and indie subcultures. The problem is we brought along the same unhealthy habits and problems that the world had. Some of these little plagues are problems with our human nature, and thus can creep into our church life.

     Can one say that the church is plagued with the same problems that the world is? The answer is yes, and this is something that I, as a young person, am figuring out. Problems that plague my peers, plague me.  My struggle as a young adult in the body of Christ is finding my place. My role in my church. Until recently I have lived in the future, my career was in the future tense, my marriage is in the future tense... I'm coming to an era of life where everything that was going to happen is starting to happen. I'm ready to start taking on my roles in the Church. My personality is taking shape to start taking responsibility. I'm excited. I have my fears and I have my doubts, but I'm ready to take them on.

     My name is Ryan Hansen, I am a young adult in the body of Christ, looking to take on my role as a leader.