Burning Bridges

Hola,

This blog isn't so much inspired by a current event as much as it is me reflecting on one of the more important lessons I have learned in college.

I recently was sitting in on a discussion about the mosque in NY and how that is raising so much controversy and whatnot. The discussion was rather dull until someone tried to attack Muslims in general. Accusing them of takeovers and all having bombs strapped to their chest.

This is the sort of stuff that breaks my heart.

(stay with me for this rant in the next two paragraphs)

I think it is so easy to point the finger and forget to look in the mirror. We understand our view as right, therefore when we are examining another view, whether that be another religion, politics, favorite food, etc, we refuse to examine our own views in beliefs because it is almost assumed in our minds that's its right. For instance, I believe that many people few Muslims as terrorist that are after and hate America. This is true with some Muslims, a small minority of them. I think when we take that statement and step back, we begin to see the real picture and what's really going on, and through that, we can come to respect and understand, and not fear, Muslims.

Terrorism makes news, so we are going to see lots of news about radical Islamic terrorist, and not many about the other 3 billion that aren't doing these things. These few Muslims kill anyone who disagrees, they have attacked other Muslims (during Ramadan no less, which could lead you to argue that they don't really follow Islam at all), not just Americans. I believe saying all Muslims are like that is the equivalent to all Christians being like the Klu Klux Klan. Of course this outrages us, as it should, because they represent such a small, non-biblical, voice in the Christian world.

I say all this just to say that we step on to many toes. When we step back and see people for who they are, we can love as Christ did. Instead of harping on the differences between Muslims, Catholics, Protestants, Calvinist, Lutheran, whatever it maybe. How about focus on the fact that we all want to follow Jesus. We both want to love others and pray to God that loves us?

This applies to everyday life: Someone gets angry at you and insults you. The normal response is to be angry back or to retaliate or hold a grudge. Yet if we can pull back and see times when we were justifiably or unjustifiably angry at someone. Say you have a friend whose boyfriend cheats on her. She has every right to be angry, yet if she can pull back and see when she cheated on him, (Jesus said that to look at another lustfully is the same as adultery, it's just not in the publics eye, but worse, in our heart) and to forgive. This is no easy task and I will be the first to admit that I fail many times at doing this. But that is the kingdom of Heaven, and whether we understand it or not, usually every sunday we pray that "your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven". We are called to live out God's kingdom on earth.

This is how we are different, how we stand out, how we become salt and light. We love like people have never seen. We do this because we have seen this love in our Maker and live to imitate this to people who haven't seen it. It is not easy but from my experiences, it is incredibly rewarding both in my heart and in the relationships that have been mended.

My 2 cents:

Three Cups of Tea, by Greg Mortenson (book)

Vivre dans l'amour et la paix,

drew

Il n'y a qu'un bonheur dans la vie, c'est d'aimer et d'être aimé.

I'm Back?

Hey,

So I think i'm going to be blogging again. Getting my thoughts out there for friends to see and maybe because I find it cathartic. I am aware that I haven't posted anything in years and if this is your primary way of listening in to my life, you have a lot of catching up to do. I won't recap the past few years partially because I wouldn't know how or where to start but mostly because that would be ridiculous.

Where to start then....

Well, I graduate in December. This is something that I have been looking forward to for some time now. I have longed to do something with my life. It has, in all honesty, been a very painful 2 years simply because I can't sit still. I love the classes I have taken and I have learned alot about God and Biblical living and life and relationships and about myself, don't get me wrong. Yet it kills me to sit in a classroom. I feel as if I am wasting life away. I would rather be on an adventure, living out of a backpack, traveling, experiencing new things, speaking to new people in foreign languages, climbing, mountaineering, helping people. I feel as if college has been 4 years to learn about stuff that hasn't really put you in a direction. As if it were preparing you nothing. As seniors in college my friends and I are constantly asked what we are going to do after we graduate, to which we all reply "I have no idea". Shouldn't college have directed us somewhere? I'm sure it has for a lot of people, but for people who don't know what they want to do, and the goal isn't to make money but to live a fulfilling and happy life, college is the definition to purgatory.

Yet, as I said earlier, college has not been a waste. I have met great people and experienced some really awesome things in my life and learned countless lessons on community and life with people. I have learned so much about the God of the Bible, a God who isn't Greek and emotionless, but a God who is relational, constantly with his creation, and deeply in love with idiots. I have studied the world, anthropology, Islam, the Qur'an, Ethnography and how to love other cultures. I have grown in my fascination with the world and the people in it (only spurring my passion to explore it). I have learned about the difficulties of bringing our faith to some cultures, bringing medicine to some cultures, and separating what is American and what is Jesus.

These lessons have caused me to love nature, and love the world around me. It has guided me to my current passions of climbing, slacklining, mountains, languages, and the middle-east. I love these things because the end result is relational. I could love business, and the end result be money, success, fame, power, or pride. Yet mountaineers and climbers are, as Lionel Terray calls them "Conquistadors of the useless". The end result is useless, you gain nothing material from it. The reward comes from learning about creation, about yourself, and experiencing great things with others. Although it can be done, climbing should not be done alone. To be done safely, you need other people, or at least one other: Community.

When I write I try and convey some sort of lesson or something that I have learned to anyone who would read it. I don't think I did with this one and I apologize for that. This blog is an intro back into writing and exposing my life, and so I decided to simply flesh out my thoughts on where I'm at right now.

I plan on leaving you with something to invest in after each blog. Whether that be a book, song, or movie, I will try and expose you to some of the things that have changed me in some way.

My 2 cents:

Movie: 180 degrees south

(you can find and get this movie via netflixs if you have it)

Vivre dans l'amour et la paix,

drew

Il n'y a qu'un bonheur dans la vie, c'est d'aimer et d'être aimé.

Reflections

Well last night I was talking to the beautiful and amazing Mark and Ali, who are back for my birthday (or I would like to think so ; ) ) But as I was summing up the year for them I kind of saw things from a new perspective for the first time.

My year was so stinking crazy. I really wanted my year to be like what I had heard about Chris Rule's years in college; and if you don't know Chris Rule, your missing out, he's a great guy and really has a heart for Jesus. Anyway, I would always get updates about the people going to his Bible Study for the guys in his dorm and how people were coming to Christ. That kind of was my model for my first year of college, and if that was the standard, I failed miserably.

God really exposed the false beliefs in my faith, and really showed me the things I believed in that were "hammy-downs" if you will, just things i took as true that weren't. Through that God really gave me opportunity's to share life and doubt and in the mist of that , faith, to people who had the label but didn't care for the Christian lifestyle of surrender and love. I realized at the end of the year that my audience my freshmen year wasn't the people who were atheist or people who hated God, but people who were lukewarm, and just hadn't experienced how amazing Jesus can be, and how a life with Him is worth it.

Looking back I saw people who God blessed me so much with living life with, and being able to encourage and challenge together. God was good through all things, my really stupid mess ups and sins, and was their when I needed Him feeling lonely and lost yelling at Him in my bed. He let me see that pulling someone from lukewarmness into joy with Christ is just as a miracle and enjoyable as pulling someone from no belief in God at all.

I think last night, for the first time in a while, my soul took a deep sigh of relief, and rested at peace at what was happening in life and how God is faithful; always. We always seem to neglect his tract record for always being their when were are facing a situation and doubting him. I know it seems hard, and like He can't pull through and show us peace, but He can, and I promise He will. I hope that encourages you.

drew


Andrew Music Exchange:

This week is kind of an oldie, and though I really don't like this band that much, i am in love with this song and it hits me over and over again every time I listen to it.

Snow Patrol-- Open Your Eyes

"To much television!"

That was something my mom used to say when i was a kid. I was never one of those kids who just went outside and played in dirt until high school came along. My dirt phase actually started when i was in high school. But nevertheless my past month has been chalk full of t.v. Part of this is because during the day i have nothing better to do.... well that's a lie, i do but i choose instead to indulge myself in my new favorite t.v. show SCRUBS!

I love that show, let me just tell you. I think their are so many funny parts in it and i love all the characters and how they have developed them but most importantly they have some really thought provoking and ethical scenarios that happen at the end. They always make me think and really question my own life.

Some of the stuff i really have been thinking about lately is comfort and my mark. Still sitting on 2 Corinthians 1 which talks about God's comfort and how in our struggle God comforts us and how we in turn comfort others. This is a commandment, just as much as "love your neighbor". It may not be implied in that verse as a command, "who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. (vs.4) But it's is defiantly a part of love your neighbor or love your enemy. But what I have been thinking about is have i done that. Because at the heart of what I want and desire out of life is to help others. If i do nothing other than be a light to those around me, and if people know that Drew is their to talk to, to help, to comfort and encourage, then i feel complete. That is the minimum of what I want to be for people and if I can't, then I really think something is horribly wrong. So that's what I want to be, if you need anything, I want to be that guy to be their and help.


Andrew Music Exchange:

This weeks musician for the week is Ray Lamontagne. He is very folksy and has an amazing voice. My favorite songs are "Three More Days" and "Trouble", but all on his myspace are excellent. I would highly recommend his newest CD, "Till the Sun Turns Black", it is a newer look on music for him but has some great songs.

Bad Latte

One of the things that have been thinking about for a while now has been being lukewarm. Not that I truly fear this, because I know my heart desires God and my life is for Him; nevertheless, I constantly think about what that means. I mean this is a serious question because God cannot stand those who are lukewarm. In Revelations it talks about how he actually spits those who are lukewarm out of His mouth "like a latte that isn't iced or hot, just lukewarm", as Francis Chan puts it. What it truly looks like to be complacent. I mean, if Christ is all that is not lukewarm, how would that translate into today? I don't think Jesus would spend much time watching t.v. or on the computer or facebook. Would He have a job? Would it be in ministry? Martin Luther talks about how a shoemaker is just as religious as the priest. If he wholeheartedly makes those shoes with the all his God given skills, he is doing just as a holy job as the priest.

Maybe I'm ignorant, but I really think their is a flaw in that thinking. I don't think if someone is good at making shirts, he should lock himself in the mountains and make shirts. Life is more than shirts and shoes. As of now, I am not convinced that we can make a shoe for someone, let them take it back, and really please God. I'm sure God delights in our hard work for Him, but if there is anything I have learned this year and summer, is that God is extremely communal. The Bible was not meant to be read and kept to yourself. We are commanded to love our neighbor, love our enemies, pray together, praise togther, and break bread together. Most of the Bible was written for Groups of people, not indiviuals.

I've really been chewing on 2 Corinthians 1 for a while now. I must have read it over a month ago, and I can't keep my mind off of it. It talks about Pauls sufferings and how we share in Christ's suffering and are comforted in our pain through that, and that we are supposed to share our sufferings in order that we may pass that comfort on to someone else who is going through trial. Paul is so raw and real here in the beginning of the letter. The Bible is about living for God together, we are a body aren't we?

Anyway, back to my point: i really, honestly, believe America put us into this indiviual Jesus, true for me, not for you, all ways lead to heaven crap into our heads. Jesus is a challenge, He always has been. God challenged Israel, His chosen people, to live set apart from those who didn't worship Him. The BIG picture of the old testament isn't what God did through moses, or david, but Israel, as a group Beloved's in love with their Lover. Christ was the same challenge, it's clear with all the talk about hating your brother making you a lier to the Gospel (I know that's John, but he got it from Jesus I'm sure) and "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35).

I don't know what Jesus would look like or what job He would have but I know He would love and encourage community, and wouldn't have a room or apartment to Himself, He would put as many people in it as possible, and pay for all of them. He would always want people together, living to love others, along with God. Living the His instructions out, step by step with His brothers and sisters, to encourage them, rebuke them, and teach them. So in order to not be "that latte" that's what I'm going to do. I am no where near perfect, as anyone who knows me; i can be a real idiot sometimes, but I want to live with Him, and I want companions along for the ride.


Andrew Music Exchange:

So my friend are seeing who can come out with the best music each week, his this week is The Robbie Seay Band , they are really amazing. I am going to recommend someone a little different, more for the laid back listeners, not that Robbie Seay isn't that. Andy Mckee is hands down the greatest finger picker of our time and is an amazing musician. "Art of motion", "Rylynn" is also amazing and he is well known for his song "Drifting". check him out and I hope you enjoy!

Thoughts as of late

I'm sorry i haven't written anything lately (even thought i'm really not sure anyone reads this). I have just been really the past month with school and papers and just getting things set for the summer, and now that summer as arrived and my job doesn't start until June, I have all the time world to record my thoughts.

So lately I have really just been enjoying home. I have been sitting around for the most part, just trying to get into the right patterns for the summer like reading my Bible daily and getting in some good time of prayer. It's been nice to not have school to worry about, really anything to worry about for the most part. Also I have been having great conversations with the people around me lately. I haven't even been home a week and I've already had two great night of conversations. One was the first couple hours I was home we started talking about predestination and free will and our own devravity and choosing God. That was a great night, then I had one last night with some of my friends who have graduated or are doing grad work; we talked about just big issues that seem to come up. Changing God's mind (Ex. 30), God's regret (1 Sa 15:11, Gen 6:6-7), God's suprise (Gen 6:5), how God can be omnipotent, yet hell is the absense of God's presence, and the biggest one was talking about whether it was okay for Rahab to lie, which lead us to the question: If you were in Germany in 1941 and hiding Jews and the Nazi's asked if you were hiding Jews, would it be okay to lie.

I really don't know the answer to some of these questions, I have worked them out the best i could, but with some of them I really don't know. Now I have an opinion, but i'm definatly open to that being wrong. It's just been really satisfying intellecually, socially and spiritually. It's just been a great way to be home and those issues have been floating around my head a lot.

Also, another big thing in my life, and if you read this, i would love your input; I am really considering doing stint (one year trip) to St. Petersburg Russia with Campus Crusade in August of '09. Now I know your probably saying to yourself, "drew, that's more than a year away, I really don't think you have to worry about it yet". Well my friend, do i have news for you then. See Tim (my leader) wants to have a core group by August, and a definate number of people by Thanksgiving. That's a major decision to make within the next couple months! So I would ask for your prayer and counsel. I think it would be so awesome, but I just don't know, i have this thing, i don't know how to describe it, holding me back, saying you should just do what everyone else is doing. But i know this opportunity is so rare. I also want to make sure I have the right motives because I don't want to go simply because I love Russia and the people I know in Russia.

I hope to be writing more about what God is doing and teaching me soon, so please keep reading!

Lessons From Brazil

During my spring break I had an amazing opportunity to travel to Manaus Brazil to travel down the Amazon River distributing and giving medical and dental care to tribes along the river. The trip was absolutely amazing and one of the most amazing parts of the trip was one night before we got on the boat, we went to one of the larger churches in the heart of Manaus. Now before I explain to you how amazing this experience was, I have a confession to make. When I was flying from Miami to Manaus I was thinking about the experience that was ahead of me and I was thinking about the spirituality of the Brazilians. I had this spiritual ego that was rooted in my American thought that said that any preaching or sermons I would hear would be watered down and weak. I mean when I think about major thinkers in spirituality I think about C.S. Lewis, though born in Ireland, a gifted writer from Oxford who wrote “Mere Christianity”, or Martin Luther, the radical German theologian who nailed the 95 Theses to the door of the Schlosskirche (Castle Church). My thinking was saying that anyone who really could think about Christ in an educated, challenging way was either in Europe or America.
As the service started all the Americans occupied the first two pews on one half of the rather large church. My mindset was shattered the moment the service started; the pastor welcomed everyone to the church and then asked everyone to get into groups of two or three and pray for the service and for the worship and for each other and the world around us. After about five minutes of prayer they opened with a few songs of worship. As I looked around I saw the congreation in deep fellowship and communion with God through worship, not the typical “just stand their and move your mouth” American church worship, but real, raw worhsip. Then an associate pastor gave his testimony and more worship followed.
Sadly, as the head pastor rose to give the sermon, my mind had not fully overturned it’s prior ways of thinking about the spirituality of the people around me. Then the pastor spoke. I was taken back as he delieved a sermon on a highly controversial message on James 1:19-27 about “Listening and Doing” and pure religion and moved to James 2:14-26 on “Faith and Deeds” and how “without faith it is impossible to pelase God…” (Hebrews 11:6). He challeneged the congreation to act, because if there are no actions, James claims there is no real faith. A real faith in God propells and motivates actions of love in the name of Jesus Christ. He challenged the congreation to recognize the drugs in the community, and the orphans and widows and to love them, and take them in and take care of them.The service not only blew me away but challenged me more than any church I had been to in years.
Afterwards came a few more announcments, one of which was an older women who was announcing a play about Jesus and crying, and begging the congreation to bring their neighbors and the community around them because she believed that the play would have an effect. As she walked off stage we got up for communion and many members of the church came and walked from the other side of the church to comfort her and encourage her. The entire experience was so breathtaking and amazing, and that was just the first 24 hours. My eyes were opened to so much that whole trip through my Brazilian and American teammates on the boat and experiences in the city.
Before I left I was already struggling with the issues in the church of America. We are so split, with so many denomenatnions, what happen to Ephesians 4, “Unity in the Body of Christ”? It bothers me that we don’t open in not only in prayer as a church, but in prayer with the people around us. It bothers me how it’s become so mundane when we sings things like “open the eyes of my heart” or “I’m coming back to the heart of worship and it’s all about you” or “you’re more than enough for me”, we don’t mean it. I don’t understand how we can say such powerful statements and walk away unchanged. As I open my Bible I find that when the disciples got together after Jesus died, among the things they did was devoted themseleves to Jesus’ teachings, to looking out for each other, communion, and prayer and “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” I may not know exactly what we are missing, but until we start seeing these things happening, something is wrong. We need more pastors to speak Truth, to challenge the church to live for Christ, not listen to Him on Sunday. “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourseleves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). We should not run from broken people, broken homes or broken neighborhoods, for we are the “light and salt of the earth!” We need to see the evil but overcome it with light, not shy away, but realize that “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Maybe the reason this is a problem is because we have the “educated writers” and thinkers of Christianity, and not enough leaders of living Christianity. Coming back from this trip, that was the cry of my heart. To stop thinking, I know what the Bible says, it says to “love my neighbor” and I don’t need to look into it anymore. The Greek and Hebrew all add up to the same thing: “love your neighbor”, so why do I not even know my neighbor? “O God let us be, a generation that seeks, that seeks your face o God of Jacob” (Give us Clean Hands, Charlie Hall).