Survival vs. Love

I just watched the movie Crash. If you haven't seen it, it chronicles the experiences of various ethnic groups interacting in LA. It shows a raw picture of the feelings and outcomes of racism. It's a well-made, well thought out movie, and I highly recommend it. It will definitely stir your emotions.
However, by the end everything was not tied up in a nice bow. Characters learn some lessons, but in the last scene racism continues to manifest its ugly head yet again, as if to say "it will never end." It's a pessimistic ending. I hardly found any sense of honor or integrity either. Bending the rules was common place and any thought of forgiveness or reconciliation was hardly in the equation (Julia Roberts' character was a small exception). I think what I was searching for and found missing was love. Love. In the midst of racial tension and misunderstanding, no one humbled themselves, no one took the time to understand another's viewpoint, and no one tried to make amends. Instead, each character simply did their best to survive. There was a self-centered justification to their actions. Love. Where was love?
It makes me think about the way of Jesus. I sure hope that Jesus followers are known for their love - not just a lack of racism because they are trying to survive. Trying to survive because that's what society says is best, or because that's what makes them feel good. I sure hope that Jesus followers understand more than anyone else - really anyone else - how precious people are. We should understand that every person has been made by God in His image. And more than that, He showed how precious every life is when He died for them on a cross. Love.
Now in the end, everyone is a racist to a certain degree. I'm a racist. When I look at a stranger, I observe their skin tone, what they're wearing, their language, and body language, and then I make judgments. Stereotypes flow quickly. It's almost automatic. We all experience this. It's a survival technique. But we must go beyond just survival. We must own up to our stereotypes, and then chose the way of Jesus. Love. Every time. Is it hard? Yes. But that's what Jesus did for us...for you...for me.

"Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility to all men. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved up through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. -- Titus 3:1-8

Learning from the Monks

I think that if I was born in the middle ages, I would be a monk in a monastery. I know they had their flaws. I'm not so much attracted to the simple life, but the focused one. Being a part of an entire community where everyone is seeking one kind of life together. When I look at American society, I often hate it. Each person must fight alone - against everyone else for the mighty dollar, or whatever else the individual wants. However, I know that every culture and society is imperfect with its flaws. But what about the church? Shouldn't it be the best society/culture - a different people living within a people? American/Western Christianity is still so individualistic to me. It's believers getting together as individuals - not as a community together focused on one kind of life together. That's what I want. That's the kind of church I look and strive towards.
And so here I am writing about it on my own, personal blog. Ironic?

Not from Brooklyn

So tonight I decided to get some pizza for dinner. I went to the local pizza place, Giovanni's, to enjoy some authentic New York sausage pizza. While I was waiting, the woman beside me was talking with they guy working about her cat that had been lost for a week and a half. I struck up a conversation with her, asking about the cat. We chatted a little, then she asked me where I was from. When I told her I was from Oklahoma, she responded with: "You're not from Brooklyn...so that's why you're talking." So I started a conversation with a stranger - guess I'm not from Brooklyn.
Actually Bensonhurst, my neighborhood, has been really inviting. When you start a conversation, people are really open to talking. It really is a great neighborhood. It's definitely a lot different from life back in Broken Arrow, OK. But like I often say, people are people. It's not like New Yorkers are from another planet or another people group. There are some differences, but in many ways, people are the same as back home.
So I guess the moral of the story (haha)...don't let your stereotypes of people get carried away.

Esther

So I just read the book of Esther in the Bible. It's such a great story. Whether or not you're a Christian or even religious, it is a must read. Today as I was reading it again on the subway, I thought of how fun it would be to read it to children at a library (in the children's version of course). There's love, humor, action, and lots of great irony. It's written like a great legend. I believe that it is.
One really interesting part I noticed this time came at the end(if you haven't read it yet, go and take 20 min. to read it right now!). When the Jews are able to defeat their enemies all over the kingdom, it says that they were given the plunder of their enemies (8:11), but they ended up not touching it (9:16)! What happened to all that plunder??? Well, when Mordecai tells all the Jews to celebrate the two days of relief from their enemies, he tells them to feast, give presents of food,...and to give gifts to the poor (9:22). Where did the poor enter the picture. I wasn't there and the story doesn't specifically say this, but it looks like they would celebrate by giving gifts to the poor, because that's what they did with all the plunder when they defeated their enemies. What would cause these exiles in a foreign land not to take advantage of all the plunder? The followed Yahweh. They were different. God cares about the poor, so they did too (so much that they gave gifts to the poor - others - as part of their celebration! That sounds like a really neat idea - give to the poor when you have a celebration). The Jews are painted as very different in Esther. Mordecai doesn't bow down to Haman. Before Haman's demise, his wife tells him: "Since Modecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him" (6:13). When the Jews were given permission to fight for themselves, "many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them" (8:17). Wow! When the day came for the showdown between the Jews and their enemies, people were afraid of them, and all the king's officers supported the Jews (9:2, 3). The Jews were different. Even though "God" isn't mentioned in the story, He's all over the place working for the favor of his people. I could go on, but what a great story of God's work through his people to ultimately bring our hope, Jesus.
What's your favorite part of the story? Go ahead, leave a comment!

Job

So I went through the arduous 2-interview process of trying to get a job at one of the apple retail stores here in the city and finally found out that I didn't get the job. So I'm still in the search for a part-time job. I know that I could find a job doing just about anything, but I want to be purposeful about what jobs I pursue. Please pray for me that God would provide where He desires, and if I need to, that he would make me swallow my pride.

Haircut

So on Wednesday I finally got a haircut - trim actually. I hadn't been to any places in Bensonhurst (the neighborhood in Brooklyn where I live). But I saw a sign for $10 mens' cuts at a place right by the subway entrance, so I tried it out. There were two women there and then three women working. Just a slight bit awkward. Anyway, while the woman was cutting my hair we had the small talk going on. She had an accent and would periodically speak in another language to the other women working, so I asked her where she was from. Albania! Not just Albania, but Dures, where I went last summer during my missions trip with CIY! They were really excited and so was I. My landlord is also from Albania. Who knows how God has been working and how he will use this for his glory. Please be praying for me that I will be able to make some relationships with people in my building and in my neighborhood here in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.

Ozark in New York City

On September 21-24, 26 Ozark students invaded the big apple. It was great! This was our first group of students to come the the city - Dave Smith's Foundations for Church Planting class.
I remember taking the class in the downstairs of the chapel accumulating Dave's many many many handouts. I remember the class when we talked about the northeast, New York City specifically, and the great influence it has in the world. That's when God first began to prick my heart to come here to plant churches. I hope that God pricked some students' hearts this past weekend again!
They got here late Friday night, and experienced a NY taxi ride from the airport to the mission house where they stayed. (random fact: about 80% of cab drivers speak English in NYC). Early the next morning, we made our way to midtown to the historic celebration of the Fulton St. Revival. Jack Hayford and Henry Blackaby spoke, and then we were able to go to a church planting workshop. That night, the students were able to take the Staten Island ferry and see the whole city. Dave organized a seaside dinner back in manhattan at a great Chinese restaurant. Finally, we heard from the church planter of Mosaic Manhattan church.
On Sunday we were able to go to a new campus of The River, a church on Wall St.! We heard about it at the Fulton St. conference. It was a great, externally focused church. That afternoon we went to the Empire State Building where we used a classroom from the King's College. The students heard from the church planter of a church in the Boston area. We ended the night by watching a Broadway show, Mamma Mia! (my first broadway show).
On Monday, we went to Crossroads Church in Brooklyn to hand out pop tarts to people. Then we heard from the church planter there. Finally, we made our way back to the Empire State Building to hear from the planters of Forefront Church and Church! of Park Slope. With that, they headed off to the SuperShuttle vans that took them back to the airport and back to Joplin, MO. Wow! What an experience.I'm so glad that I was able to help Dave make this trip a success. This class will come out one more time in November/December. Another class will be coming at the beginning of November. So, we'll be getting ready for them. I'm glad that God brought me back to the city to be involved in such a worthwhile and purposeful program. May the Lord of the harvest raise up his workers to bring Good News to this influential city. Ever thought about coming to the city?...