Here I was creating a new campaign for a small non-profit organization. The idea was to use the word radical to inspire people to “radically” support this organization.  New?  No!  Could it work yes.  However, in my friends opinion this would be just the same old thing.  After some time of reflection I wondered, isn’t all we do the same old thing?  Is this way we might be so afraid to use the word radical?  Are we truly radical?  Is the word radical to mean?  Does it sound to militant?  Is it good to be radical?  Can radical people have friends?

I could go on [probably] but [probably] should’t.

The question remains: Are we afraid to be radical, and if so, what the heck does it even mean?

You see, Jesus was radical!  He challenged the system, didn’t he.  But which system?  I, for once, think it is time to figure out what Jesus was so radical about.  I’d really like to figure out what system he fought too.  Because it seems as the few that “say” they have faith, use that to fight [a] system.  Mainly here we can securely agree that the system they try to fight is either the lack of morality in the nation/system of choice, or the lack of social justice in the nation/system of choice.  Is that [though] what Jesus did?  Did he use his radical faith, his radical ability to tell parable after parable,  his radical approach of teaching about God and his Kingdom, to fight the Romans?  Hm, please understand here, as a little intermission, my biggest excuse for my opinion is my lack of  education and Bible teaching. SO far I have not been able to go to Seminary and study scriptures professionally.  I have not been fortunate to learn the “text-book” ways of this, our faith.  But I do believe in this Jesus.  And, taking full advantage of my limited Bible knowledge.  Essentially inviting critics to attack me on the lack of the latter.  I am convinced in my heart that this radical Jesus actually spend quite some time to fight the religious system.  Yes, I did! I said it.  And like it or not.  He might do the same again if he would come today or tomorrow.  He did not waste time in his being radical, to fight Caesar or the Roman Empire, did he?  He didn’t ensemble an Army to wage war against the oppressors or the common people (Thanks Brad).  Common people like homeless people, poor people, gay people, straight people, Moslems, Hindus, black people, white people, all other kinds of people.  Nope, he did none of that!  But he did tell the religious leaders that they have to be born again.  And he told the religious leaders to stop being selfish (Matthew 23:5). 

Now, why again are we afraid to be radical?  Is it because we are actually afraid to be like Jesus?  Or might it be that we are actually afraid to offend someone?  Is it that we are worried about our reputation?  What than is important?  If everything is more important than our radical faith.  If everything is more important than spending time with the “common people”.  If waging war against the system with the goal to legalize morality is more important than living-out radical faith?  What than does it matter to say you have faith?

This might lead us to examine what it truly means to have faith, doesn’t it.  This than will lead us to examine where this faith comes from, which in turn will lead us to examine the whole entire concept we call Christianity.  Which than ultimately will lead us to examine Grace.  That will lead to the examination of salvation, and ……on we go back to faith.

Weird?  Yes, I think so.  Simple?  I do not know the answer to that, although I want to hope that this whole mess of faith, grace, salvation and such is actually much easier to grasp as we sometimes think it would be.  But I suggest that it might all has to do with the beginning.  Where does your story/journey begin?  And, no I on purpose am not continue to write and where does your story end/lead?  Because I think that is part of the deception we have.  The destination, that is.  Am I suggesting that the destination of your journey does not matter?  Hm, maybe be! To find out about that, I invite you to read part 2 in a few days.

Growing up with a strong catholic background, “converting” into a non denominational, or some might say, evangelic Christian, I was almost startled at the possibility that I might not yet know the answer to this question!
Of course, I know what churches do. I know where they are, how they look. And I, meaning this most sincere, almost know how to do church. But still, I am wondering, do I know what church really is. Do I know it’s purpose?
And better yet? Do you?

Again, easily we can tell all the good churches have done for generations, as well as the bad. We all know the different kinds of churches, right. There is the Catholic church, Lutheran church, Baptist church, America Baptist, Southern Baptist, non Baptist, Episcopal, and so on. I mean seriously, sometimes it seems as there is a church for everyone. And that seems kind of strange, doesn’t it? It almost makes me wonder if I am the only one who doesn’t seem to know the answer to the question. Or am I?

Maybe I am just weird.

Or maybe it is weird all together.
In a world where everything is explainable. Everything instantly verifiable, [well....], it probably should be normal to have a church for everyone and everything, everywhere. And here, in my opinion, we come closer to the reality of church.
Church should be for everyone. It should be everywhere, and it certainly should be for the purpose of everything. Everything here might also consider God himself and Jesus. I feel I have to remember us of the fact that God and Jesus are essential to the Church. Now, I know, that is weird as well, as a statement left alone. But, I won’t leave it alone for long.
So could it be that the sole purpose of the church is to worship God?
Or could it be that the sole purpose of church is to worship Jesus?
Jesus is God, you’ll say (or not if this is not your kind of faith conversation). And rightfully so. But the interesting part is this, if I may allow myself a purposely provocative question:

Is that it?
Is that all?
Is the sole purpose of the church to worship the Godhead and …., well , let’s just say, that’s it?

Weird, again, right. But surely the church purpose is not to secure someones salvation. As a matter of fact, in all honesty, one probably would not need the church to be born again or saved as long he confesses in Jesus as his savior.
Don’t need the church for that one, just a disciple or committed believer who was at the right time and place to tell me about Jesus, right!

What is the purpose of the church than?

I still don’t know, and I don’t think I might ever, but for now I am satisfied with the idea that church is wherever one prays with someone. Church exists wherever 2 or more come together in his name. Church will be, where faithful lovers of Jesus go and serve the once suffering. And church is all around you and me. We sometimes might not see, but that will not stop the church. We sometimes will not feel, but that will only strengthen the church.
Church is, where people truly pay attention to the gospel of Jesus, according to God the father, breathed into the world though his breath and into the minds and hands of his chosen apostles. Church is, where believers in “the way” strip (just for a second) themselves from the history and truly belief that this God they worship speaks to them through the word that was given to them. This might be different for me and you, as I believe that the Bible is alive, and because of that it is not limited to words.
Church is people like you who read this and disagree being loved by people like me, who read this and think it’s extremely weird to even write this. And church is, for those who suffer (wherever) to know that someone will come soon to help, because someone else sitting in a church, praying to the same God, will surely follow the words, not merely listen to the words, of Jesus.

Do I have it figured out? No. Am I strong in my faith in Jesus, oh, you betcha! Am I strong in my theology, I hope not. Because with so many unknowns, so much to learn, and so much in store for us, I can only hope that there is more to come. God asked Adam to co-create with him. I think we, being the church, should imaging the “ought to be” and start creating the future with God, though Jesus!

I mean, seriously, would you?

Is this the life you want to leave behind?
Is this your legacy?

Recently I saw this woman speaking about faith, and she spoke about a girl that was sitting across from her at a place somewhere in east Europe. After she told her all about Jesus and how awesome God is. How much he loves the world, and her, the other girl leaned over the table, looked her in the eyes and ask “…so if this your God is so awesome and loving, and if you love him so much, and if you are supposed to do all these things this Jesus did, than,…. how can all this injustice happen on your watch?”
When I heard this I was struck. Pierced with a knife , right into my heart. “how can you let all this injustice happen on your watch?”, seriously, why did the girl not say the usual “if God loves us so much, why does he let all this things happen?” question. But know, not that, she made it personal.

GOOD FOR HER!

Because, you see. It is dam personal. Everywhere.

27000 children, dying everyday from starvation. That’s being really hungry. You know,like 10000 more feeling hungry as the last time we actually used the word.

1 Billion people are without access to clean water. Think about that the next time you take a 20 minute shower.

1.7 Million children are currently estimated to be sex slaves i the world.

and I could go on, but I will spare us for now.
But the question is the same:
How can this happen on our watch. Aren’t we supposed to be the light in the world that brings hope. Are we content with the motion that we can’t “fix” everything? Are we?
Are we so comfortable in our cozy church chairs that we are OK with this?

I don’t know about you, but I can’t be.
When I read the bible, I feel like I have to try to be more like Jesus.
And screw me, but I think that that means I actually have to do what it says.
And not only the convenient parts.
That means I have to love EVERYONE, no matter what. And by the way, I am supposed to love them more than myself.
I am not sure if I can yet. But I will ask God to show me how.
Will you?

What if?
What if we all find a way to love the once we actually hate!
What if we find a way to go to our enemy and say: you know what, you can blow me up right now, but I am going to love you even more when I am in heaven!
What if we all just pick up the good old WWJD and actually do it?

What if?

Imagine!

Pray!

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

This is why we actually have a holiday on thanksgiving. Isn’t it funny, that everywhere the Christian faith is under attack, and pushed away….
That there is no religious education in public schools, ….
but it is ok to observe a religious holiday…
How about we start to remember God this years just a little more…..
even in public schools.

Remember?

It is time to dream again! Let’s not be satisfied with the status quo. Let us be better, be brighter, be wiser, be more and let us become the change.

This year when we look at the holiday season approaching. How about we love them like Jesus. If not for who Jesus really was, than maybe just because he was so good. Lets love them like he did.

Who is them?

THEM: Neighbors, Spouses, Children, Homeless, orphans, and every one else who is in need. Maybe, just maybe we try that love thing this year, and besides supporting organizations financially, we also go and help out in reality, by volunteering.

What do YOU think? Are YOU up for it?

We are in the process of creating a strategic plan, plan our first projects, and plan fundraisers, etc. So much time is spend on planning. I like to plan! I do, it’s awesome to assume that what you have planned will fall in place, and it is even better, when it actually does.

But are we prepared? Are we ready to move, when we are called? Are we able to leave things behind to follow the desires of a God given call, calling us to go and change the world?

Well, I don’t know? How could I know? I am planning on  though!

How about you? are you planning to be ready? Are you willing to be ready and to go when your time comes? Are you ready to fly?

Well if you are, and if you know that all your planning is so important, but still so little of importance! Than let’s go. Join in, as The Kitchen Project starts to change the world, one heart at a time.

Awesome,……..indeed!

The same happens easily in humanitarian aid. To often all those great efforts, awesome dedicated hard work, is only a drop, a small stream, that over time will develop into a river, a river merging into a deep ocean of un-feedable need.

How so? Intentions are good. Provisions are made. Help gets to the needy. Many Donors give immense amounts of money each year, how come that we can’t bring an end to suffering and hunger?

Maybe the unintentional wrong doing lays in the way we help.

Maybe, by adjusting our mind, listening to the needy, maybe than we can answer the question.

In my travels I recognized a consistent tenor from amazing people I met. A tenor so equal across the different countrys, regions and areas, it fascinated me, and still does. Almost radical and abusive it would sound if I am going to suggest that we should stop building primary schools in Africa, or a secondary school for girls in Haiti. So, as much I would like to, I won’t do that, because I know the need is great.

But for a second, a moment in time, lets stop the clock, lets look at the boy from the massai village close to Arusha, Tanzania, who made it trough primary school. His grades where ok, just ok. He now has to decide to go to secondary school. He already knows, he won’t be able to go to college because his grades are not good enough and there is no money to pay for it. Where is his motivation?

Lets imagine that orphan struggling on the streets of Nairobi to find shelter. No school, no education no chance of college, After he finished primary school and started secondary school he listened to the voices from the street, telling him, “what is you future, boy-you will be back here, with us soon” .

And the sad think, they are right, he was!

In the US, we now pay students rewards for good grades, some are as high as $50 for an A, wow {I like to go back to school here]. $100 for a perfect report card!

Oh, I forgot to mention, that this money is not paid from the parents, but from the school district.

Question! How can we only believe, that we can motivate a street kid in India to get educated without a future or reward, if we don’t even believe in our own youth to be motivated just by the reward of getting into good schools?