williamjonathan

So last week Jennifer and I went to the movies and saw Beginners, in short, a movie about love. It was a good movie full of ideas and agenda’s, if you ask me. Some of which I think hold truth and others well, not so much. I am going to talk about the one that I agreed with, or at least what I drew from it.

For me the film illuminated the fact that there are so many of us today keeping ourselves from love, or living a life that is an illusion and contains no love or at best, a failing attempt at love.

So one of the main characters is a father, who after his wife dies after 40+ year admits that he is a homosexual. The movie takes you back and forth from present to past, showing moments of joy and moments of sadness. Illuminating the difference of his last 4 years of life full of joy and the past 40 full of not only pain for himself but for those that were close to him.

Now before you get carried away this blog is not about sexual preference, but about the idea of love and my personal opinion.

To me, love and lies are two of the greatest enemies. Love liberates. Lies capture. When we lie about who we are and how we love, we are capturing ourself and others that we care about. Throughout the story we see how the main character, the father’s son, has been captured  and confused by  love and relationships his entire life, because of his father’s lies and confusion.

Love is a funny thing, and sometimes even confusing itself. However, it is always meant to be true. Sometimes that is hard and it may force us to make choices and changes that we would otherwise not have to make, but love will never force us to lie. Love should always liberate, but when we lie whether it is to ourselves or others we become bound by that lie, creating something that we must uphold and sustain. The more we lie, the more we create, the more we carry, the more we build a wall keeping us from love.

Yes, there may be time where like in Beginners after a lifetime of lies the truth is made know, but it not only impacts us but those who we love. But what about those times when the truth is never made known, when “love” becomes a lie, or life becomes a lie. In those moments we are keeping ourselves from life completely.

Coming back to love. After lies reach love we must go through truth. And honestly that is the hardest part of it all. Revealing the truth, when you have painted a completely different mask of yourself. But with faith as you reveal in love you will be accepted.

Love hopes, it never fails, it always perseveres. – I Corinthians 13:7

We are all beginners at this and we all are leaning to love in the right way, some moments we succeed and others not so much, but the important thing is that we are striving to love.

I am hear and will listen to who you really are and love you, if you want to talk.

Love.

We have all heard it said that there are moments in life that define you and the circumstances can shape you… My question is where do these moments come from?

A while back Jennifer and I were sitting across from one of friend’s talking about everything that we were “living through”, and to be honest we where letting our circumstance shape us, letting the moment define who we were. Honestly, I have am still processing that conversation and the words that where shared. Which leads me to this thought, what if we didn’t let moments, circumstances, or events shape us, but rather we shaped them. I know it theory this might sound easy, or even confusing, but imagine with me… For myself and a vast majority of my friends we are all at making choices that effect our lives in big and small ways. Which bring about our “moments”.

Tonight I sat at my table with a new friend that is full of passion for what he believes in, so much so that they are willing to give up their life, and go wherever it may lead. We talked few hours, with humility and transparency. We shared stories from our lives, one of theirs, was about how his choices shaped his circumstances, enabling them to have a memory and experience. For me it made me think of how often we would write this as simple happenstance, but the true is they were the one that enabled that moment to take place.

All throughout our lives we are given choices, what shoes to wear, what ice cream to choose, part you hair in the middle or the side… Honestly some of our choices might not have any real impact or bearing on life at all, but the other half of the time we are not only impacting our lives but the lives of countless others. There is a theory know as the Butterfly Effect, that insinuates that something that as small as a butterfly flapping its wings could create a hurricane. Our choices have power, great power. The moment that we choose or decide not to choose we are impacting our reality and that of others, creating circumstances.

Martin Luther, writer of the 95th thesis, had a thought that seemed unimaginable, yet it has changed the world, it shaped that creation of nations. It has brought life and sadly it also brought death. Luther mad a choice, and other men made their own choice on their personal perspective of that choice. Some changed the world in amazing ways, some translated the bible, some founded countries, brought freedom, while some murdered and brought devastation to the world, removing complete generations.

Was that their circumstances, moments in their life time, or them creating them for themselves.

We have the power to change, to love, to foster moments of greatness, or to create circumstances to cripple.

So yesterday was one of the most intense days of my life. There are a few moments in my life that I know I will never forget… The day that I split my head open with a hammer, the day 911 took place, the day Jennifer and I got married, and yesterday(Just a few).

Yesterday. I was at a home birth of a beautiful baby girl. Also it is important that you know this was my first birth that was not at a hospital where I was not in the waiting room, and let me tell you it’s WAY different, like life changing different. I have been trying to put it into words, or a simple statement, and the best thing I can think of is a list of descriptors:  beautiful, painful, uncomfortable, miraculous, and glorifying moment (I could keep going).

I am by no means squeamish, but you know in science class where you have to watch the videos about birth and other thing like that I would always walk out of the class room, but yesterday, changed my perception of the entire thing. There were moments where you are stunned at the shear rage of beauty that a woman can produce. I was in awe.

Jennifer and I have talked about the subject before and I have alway been supportive of doing what ever she wants. As we were talking about it she expressed beautifully her personal perspective on the event. She saw the moment as a time where she would be able to grow in pain through the birth connecting her even more to her child (sorry if your were saying something else babe).

The more I think about this birth(and I am still processing), thoughts and imagination of what it would have been like to be at Christ’s birth in a manger/cave, that would be less of a home birth and more of a yard birth.

Birth is a beautiful and messy event, but it is necessary event. After experiencing it first hand I think I have a better understand on the conversation that Jesus and Nicodemus. Something like birth is hard, painful, but necessary. It take something miraculous for it to come to completion.

I have seen lots of things and witness miracles first hand. Yesterday was a miracle, over 2000 years ago Jesus birth was a miracle, every time we chose to deny our ways and except Christ’s ways, we are birthing his life over our own life it is a miracle.

Births change lives.

Love.

So it has been quite a while since I have posted, there have been many reasons as to why it has been so long. One of which is I am still working out my complete response to love wins, also I have simply not wanted to just write a post to write a post. A few weeks back, Jen said that to me and it really struck me, so I listen to her and I have not written in a while, but I think that I am now ready to write and hopefully fill this void in my life and communication. So we will see how it goes.

For starts there has been quite a lot that has transpired since I last wrote an entry. I am now working full time at Urban Outfitters. Which is a huge blessing and shoving the reality of the way so many other people live in my face, in a good way, and  honestly quite enjoy working there.

Jennifer and I are moving into our new place in August, which can not come soon enough! We are  also getting a puppy! (pictures will soon follow). I was informed today that he need three names because he is AKC. We have a first name but I will take suggestions on the middle name.                         Appa ________ Morgan (yes, its the name of the bison from Avatar the Last Air Bender, the cartoon not the sam of a movie that was put out).

I we are fully plugged into our church(RCC) and loving it! We have started developing great relationship and community with a few solid couple. It’s all good in the hood! I am also getting to know and develop a great relationship with one of the pastors, who is an amazing guy and who I know will be a great voice to go to for advice and conv
ersation.

I have also been growing a beard I am not completely sure about it… What do you think about it?

More to follow soon…

Love.

P.S. please leave a comment. 

Questions, questions, questions. If you have not asked  yourself anything lately then this is the chapter for you. Within the first six pages Bell asks over 50 questions. I know that this is his way of bringing the conversation to life and to draw you in to the book, but by the end of the chapter he has ask well over a hundred question. I know that some of them might be the same question over and over again, but he is asking…and asking. It make me think about about a conversation I had today with a friend, about how some time you have to keep pushing to get an answer. Personally I think that is what Bell is doing here, I think (speculation) he is pushing us to questions and not just the ones that he is asking, but the ones that have been bouncing around in our mind. The big question he is writing on is the idea of God’s Love, but one can help to thing of questions after being asked so many and certain ones repeatedly.

Here are just a few that I found hard to ignore:

Does God punish people for thousands of years with infinite, eternal torment for things they did in their few finite years of life?

Having a youth pastor who “relates better to the kids?”
God choosing you instead of others?

Questions like these are the ones that we(believers) might over look, but are the ones that keep the world starching their heads, pulling away.

How could God do something like that? How could He, a loving God do such a thing?
Well for me it comes to ones understanding of love. For me love is a choice, more importantly, MY choice that no one can take from me, because if is taken then it can never be true. Think about it, think about the person you love the most in this world? For me it is my wife, who I choose to love. No one is holding a gun to my head making me love her, because she would shoot them first, but also because that wouldn’t be love it would be control, forced, and not my own. I think that this applies to this too.

In the first question Bell, God uses the word punish. But could it also be true that it was the choice of the person to not accept?

In the second set of questions, I am still thinking about the first line, while the second line is something that I could never stomach. The idea that God chooses some “elect” and damns the rest. I hold true that God is calling to ALL! We have the choice to either except or reject, simple. Just like a invitation to a wedding, I receive the invite but only I can choose to attend the celebration.

There are two other large paragraphs that I am going to summarize based on the fact that I do not want to type them out.

So it doesn’t matter what type of person you are as long
as have prayed a prayer or believe the right thing?Then believers wouldn’t be motivated to do anything, because one day they are going to be with Jesus. Neglecting this world leaving, starvation and destitution. This might lead to outsiders have nothing to do with them.

True, at least to a point this is the reality of how the world views the  church and how we view the world. Some where along the way for a vast majority of people who believe, this planet is nothing more than a holding tank. A place we “have” to be. When reality is this is the place we are called to cultivate and restore. We are the stewards of the world, it might be time that some of us do a better job.

Do you know anyone who grew up in the church and then left once they were older? Everyone is concerned for them and their spirituality – often they should be. But sometimes their rejection is sometime to what they saw in the church and were taught about Christianity was not right and that is why they left. Because the very things that they were being taught were the things they felt Jesus would reject?

This is something that I can agree with to a point. I hold that one needs to accept the Jesus is the Son of God and ones means for salvation and right relationship with God. But I completely can connect with the reality of someone leaving a church or a group of individual base on what they are teaching/representing. It easy at times to get caught up in perpetuating an idea as truth, when some one else has helped you through your life with that idea; however, it does not make that idea the gospel.

So chapter one some good questions, and some tuff questions. Some a little open ended, but nothing to out there for me personally. I am not claiming to have all the answers, or to be representing anything other than my personal opinion and perspective.

love.

“First,  I believe that Jesus’s story is first and foremost about the love of God for every single one of us.”

I just thought that it would be good to quote the first sentence in the book…  Then right after this Bell goes on to quote John 3:16, you know for God so love the WORLD that He gave His son Jesus.

As far as I am concerned that is the reason for the Gospel, the good news. That Jesus is God’s grace that saves. I see no departure form this idea in the preface.

One thing that I find that I do AGREE with is this idea of the “Hijacked story of Jesus.” I think this is something that a massive amount of individuals agree with. I know that I have plenty of friends, more than I can count with all my finger and toes, that have been offend or hurt in the name of Jesus, who hold Him to be their personal savior.  I know I have dwelt with a few hijackers here and there. I remember when I first live in Charlotte, walking around Uptown with another pastor and being told that I needed to repent and turn to Jesus, because it was “not going to funny when I was in hell”. It took everything with in me not to respond, plus my friend holding my arm. That is NOT the message that I hold to be true. Jesus is not “fire insurance” that we have in a safe so one day when the fire comes we know we are protected. Jesus came so we could have a restored life, the life that we were created to have.

I also think that it is note worthy to make sure you read and understand this part of the book before you move further. Here we see Bell state that this is nothing new, and that he is simply having a conversation, as well as wanting to create conversation about REAL questions that we all have, and others have been having for thousands of years.

I personally think that is the “Big Deal” for some people with this whole thing. That it’s about the questions they have avoided their entire life. Things that they have not wanted to deal with, things that they didn’t have an answer for. Questions they have been sweeping it all under the rug, and have been walking on for all these years, but now someone is lifting up the rug and looking at all that is there, pointing out the things that we have swept under trying to provide ourselves with a sense of stability.

What’s wrong with asking the questions? Are they to big for our faith? Cause I know that they are not to Big for my Savior…

Love.

So I got my book today, so begins the journey of love wins. I am not completely sure what will come out of it, but I am openminded about reading it and what Bell has to communicate.

I know that there have been all types of individuals with just as many standpoints on the book and Bell. I am going to do my best to block out everything that I have heard or read bout the book and come at it with fresh eyes and a fresh perspective. Only carrying the position of scripture with me.

I am going to barrow the words of a great man that has written a fair about on the topics of life, Christ, and theology. He said that he was not a theologian and that he was simply exploring and dealing with things that he fell led to. Thank you for the simple approach Clive.

So with that I begin the journey through a book, from a author, and a christian brother. I am going to try to do my best and post a response to each chapter. I am not by any means claiming to be an authority on the matter, rather a boy with thoughts of his Creator, Savior, and King.

Love.

OK so its late, well later for me. I am sitting up in my bed typing THIS! I have been on Relevant and a few other website and blogs (Emily’s Review). I like the articles and think they give a just in portrayal in presenting the correct image of Rob Bell and love wins.   However I am devastated and enraged  by some of the comments that I have read in response to the Relevant article and on a few of my other friend’s blogs and/or reviews…    The first thing I want to say is READ THE BOOK! It is so funny to see so many comments of individuals that admit to not having read the book, but yet the insist that they MUST speak there mind on the matter. I really want to know how these people function in a professional manner. I can picture them walking in to a business meeting and only seeing the first slide and motioning to deny or questioning their boss on the matter which they have yet looked into.   Second, all these people quoting scripture, one I guess they are in with fist group who have not read the book, or the second option is that the are reading different scriptures that the one Rob Bell presents. For them I have a scripture: “And the second is like it; Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39 I guess they really don’t like expressing love.

I can honestly say that I am counting the hour till I receive my copy so that I can HONESTLY give my opinion for an EDUCATED and INFORMED stand point.

But what saddens me the most is that there are thousands of people in Japan hurt, lost, homeless, or dead and the “christian” community at large seems more concerned on Theology, than the Gospel.

Tonight Jen and I went out to dinner with some of our closest friends and we had a conversation about the book , but we all agreed if Jesus is the center of what you are doing than do it! But if it is about you being right or wrong, it is about you, so get on with it!

The big reason why so many people have an issues with this is not about the book, it is the fact that it challenges or contradicts their personal dogma(s).  Things like this have been said before, ever heard of a guy named C.S. Lewis? or how about his book the Great Divorce? I know this book if fiction, but have you read through some of the ways Jesus communicated the are STORIES!

Ok, I am going to go now and I am sorry if it seems like I am taking this out on you, but I had to do something, even if no one reads this, I had to get it off my chest. I guess that I am just very saddened and frustrated at the way the “christian” community is responding to this Biblically.

Love. (wins)

In life we all go through stuff, good stuff and bad stuff. Some like to compare it to “hills and valleys”: some times you are on the top and some times you are on the bottom. Others compare it to a “train track”: you will alway have good and bad in you life it is just haw you manage it. Whatever you chose to subscribe to is your prerogative, I want to talk about something that is for anyone and everyone, your perspective when you are facing discouraging circumstances, bad stuff, and feel like the world is out to get you.

So many times in life when we go through times we get focus on ourself. We do not think about anything else other than ourselves and what we are feeling and experiencing. In some ways we become self-cernter neglecting others, simply because we are so focused on ourselves. We get caught up in the questions, “Why is this happing to me?”, “What did I do?”, or “Am I such a bad person?” All of these things are centered on ourselves, but what it was not about you.

What if it was about someone else?

Through out history we see examples of individuals going through tremendous difficulties for others.

• Job (Old Testament Biblical Character): This guy went through the ringer. At first He only losses every possession that he has, which was a lot cause he was doing pretty good for himself. But then the guy gets boils all over his body, loses his family, and is brought to the brink of death. He did nothing to deserve this, the Bible says that Job was favored of the Lord. See God allowed  him to go through these things to teach Job and others that love is not conditional. Also I can not tell you how many times that I have look at or heard a message taught on Job’s life. The things that Job went through, have helped believers face things for THOUSANDS of years.
• Joan of Arch: As a young girl she had a vision in a field that she would lead a victory in the Hundred Year War. She was an iconic figure that lead a nation but was not canonized until 1920, several hundred years after she was burned at the stake. She gave her life for her country, which shape her country. She lived and died for others.
• Abraham Lincoln: Live His life for his country, and gave his life for that of others. Not so that one day there would be a monument erected in memory  of his life, rather that people different could fully live their lives.
• Jesus Christ: Gave His live a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). Jesus lowed Himself to our level so that He might glorify the Father and to reconnect us to Him. Jesus in God, yet he chose to lower himself so that He might lift us up. His life was that of True Love, not concerned with what He can attain from the person being loved, rather just to love the person being loved, despite what they can or can not offer.

That being said maybe our questions could be different? What if they were not be solely focused on what we are going through and what the impact is having on us?  What if we also asked what impact they were having on others?

Life isn’t just about what is happening to me or you, and everything we go through isn’t always about us. Sometime it’s about others and how we can help them as we are going through it, or we’ve went through it.

Love.

So this past week I have been working a simple and smart little site for my Brother and Sister In-Laws. They have been married for just over six year! Over the past few years they have tried everything to have children, but Natalie has endometriosis . So they started thinking about adoption. And now they are almost there… but as many of you may know or may not know, this is expensive! Hugo & Natalie are almost there but they are trying to raise the last little bit. So I helped them with their little site to help them raise their last $4,500.

Check out their site!

{And Then There Were 3}

Check out the site!

Love.