"The Irresistible Revolution (living as an ordinary radical)" -Shane Claiborne

Okay, well, this was the title of the most recent book we were suppose to read for DTS. I was really excited to start it from looking at the cover but as we all have been taught, "Don't judge a book by it's cover". It was a lot different than I expected. I was somewhat disappointed but I can't say that it was a waste of time either. I'm glad I read it and got to see through someone else's glasses for a little while. I don't think that I've ever really read a book where I didn't agree with it and the ideas so much as with this one. Not that I disagreed with everything or maybe even the majority? but to not agree 100% or 90% was different/refreshing!

The book is written by a man who has had the guts and the radicalness to go against the norm and live on the edge. He has a real heart for the poor and those who are hurting and for that I think the church definitely has something to learn from him.

Once I got into the book I really was liking it. He talked about how in college him and some friend would go hang out with homeless people. He told about how he was able to contact Mother Teresa and go and work with her in India. What they did there was really cool. One of my favorite ministries that they did was to take soap and first aid stuff and set up a cleaning/medical place for street kids to come to. There they would just take the time to wash kids, play with them, love them, and clean their cuts. He said that sometimes the kids would scrap themselves on purpose so that they could be taken care of. Wow, I believe that this is what Jesus was talking about when He said when you do something for the least of these you do it for me.

Then I got to the middle of the book and it wasn't so good anymore. First, I started disagreeing with things that he had to say about our armed forces and then it became bored with his stories and repetition.

There is a story in the book that I strongly disagreed with. It was the way he went about getting his message out about being concerned for the poor. One time when Bush speaking at a Republican National Convention he went dressed in a suit complete with an elephant pin but underneath he had a homemade shirt on. He had written some bible verses on the front and back of the shirt."Woe to you who are rich.... but blessed are the poor." (Luke 6) "Woe to those who deprive the poor of their rights." (Isaiah 10) After Bush got there and everyone stopped applauding he proceeded to rise, tear off his outer layer to reveal his shirt, and began quoting scripture at the top of his lungs! This makes me mad to know that he did this. Not just because it's disrespectful but because I don't believe this gives Jesus or Christianity a good name. What did this accomplish? Well, it gave secret service something to do and him a good story. Whether anyone actually thought more about the poor from what he did or if they were just turned off from this rude demonstration only God knows. I feel like this was definitely a lack of good judgement and showed no respect for the authority he is commanded to respect (in the bible).

Towards the end I started being more interested again. He has a different take on the story of the mustard seed Jesus told that I had never heard before. He explains it more in the context of how a Jew at that time would have viewed it. It's very interesting and makes sense.

Okay so the ending conclusion is: I agree with some of what he says and I think his heart is in the right place. He has lots of good ideas and has a heart for the poor and points out flaws in the church and american mindset. I think that at times his execution is poor and lacking but I applaud him for believing something and going after it with every fiber of his body! If you are looking for a book to make you think, then this is a good one for you. Just remember when you get to the middle don't stop but push through and finish it; you'll be glad you did.

aloha

Here's some pics from HI. Cliff diving was amazing but I paid for the fun with 5 days worth of headaches. I'll be posting a update this week :)

The Call

"I don't know what to do with my life. I've never had a call." "What? You've never had a call? You mean you've never heard the call!"

This quote is found in a book called "Making Jesus Lord" and is another one written by Loren Cunningham. This book also contains many stories about YWAM "Is that You God?". However instead of being so much about the story of YWAM it challenges it's readers to lay down their life for Christ.

There's many stories of the power of God. For example: there's a story of a cult and their Guru that YWAM comes into contact with and God shows His authority. YWAM did nothing but follow God's leading even though it didn't necessarily make sense to them. Even after they did what God asked not everything made immediate sense. But as we see in life, God's timing is not always our timing but not far down the road God showed His power! They also mention the Roman government vs. the early church. At first, many Christians died for Christ but ultimately Christ won out and the very thing the Romans were trying to destroy, their government embraced in the end.

It says in the bible

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matt 16:25

The book mentions this verse and how Jesus was the ultimate example of this. It's so true, His example helps us to more fully understand what this means by looking at His life. Jesus gave up everything and now God has exalted Him above all. To "lose your life" or "hear the call" isn't going to mean the same thing for everyone. For some it's going to mean staying in America, other's going overseas, and still others doing both of these. But first it's all about having Jesus as Lord and growing in our relationship with Him.

It's official

INDIA HERE I COME!

HIV/AIDS

If you know me well, you might know that I used to not want to go to Africa partly because of my paranoia about getting AIDS. I was very scared that I would get AIDS that I didn't want to be anywhere close to anyone who had it. There's a certain lady in the town that I'm from who has AIDS (of no fault of her own). God has miraculously kept her alive for years now. One thing she does is make scarfs and give them away. We received one of these once but I was fearful to use it. I didn't know if I could get AIDS since she touched it.

Since this time, the God has been working in my life and heart to make me more open and willing to be around people who have this disease. I think that He has been working on me so that if the occasion arises I will be willing to reach out with His love without hesitation. When there is fear then satan has a foothold. AIDS is horrible yet not hopeless. I think that this disease has been made worse than most just by the shame, seclusion, hopelessness, and loneliness that comes with it. Sometimes we fear just because we don't know; we fear what we don't understand.

I find it interesting that for one of the topics we are suppose to research for homework here is HIV/AIDS since I have seen God freeing me in this area and this has just helped continued the process in my heart.

Here are some lies that people believe surrounding the HIV/AIDS virus:

~ “The HIV virus is found within saliva. Therefore, it is possible to get HIV from
kissing.”

~ “Having sex with a virgin can cure HIV/AIDS in a person.”(Common in parts of
Africa and has resulted in the rapes of many young girls.) (satan uses this lie to infect and ruin more people's lives.)

~ “HIV/AIDS only occurs in gay men”

~ “HIV/AIDS only occurs in sex workers”

~ “HIV/AIDS only occurs in injection-drug users”

~ “The CIA created HIV to kill the African population”

~ “HIV can be transmitted through day-to-day contact with an infected person” (such as sharing a glass or food, hugging, coughing, etc) (This is a important one I think. This lie keeps us from reaching out.)

~ “It is possible to contract HIV from giving blood”

~ “Mosquitoes can spread HIV”

~ “Women with HIV can't have children”

~ “Women can't pass HIV to men”

~ “A person can not get HIV from having sex just one time”

~ “HIV and AIDS is the same thing”

~ “There is a cure for HIV/AIDS”

~ “A person can get AIDS from a toilet seat”

~ “All people who get HIV will get AIDS”

I know that God is going to keep helping me work through this issue in my own life. I hope that this was beneficial in yours if you struggle with this like I do. When the time comes I hope that I reach out to whoever it might be with arms filled with Christ's love.