Talking about the m-word

Yup. Ministry.

Just abandon all your ideas and what-nots.

Start thinking fresh from this post, cause it's really hard to convey an idea when you think you know where I'm going but really you don't...

..well maybe you do, but still just start with a clean thought pattern.

This Sunday was the conclusion of the 'Ministering' series (I actually didn't notice that it was a series until Jason said, "This is the last part of the series" and I was like, "Oh.. I didn't know that") that we've been going through at New Harvest.

So just a quick catch-up, then
1) Ministering to the Lord
2) Ministering to the people in the church
3) Ministering to the community

A very big point in this whole thing is not to think of your personal ministry as limited to one of those: you need to have all of them functioning at some capacity.

In the book of Luke, more specifically Luke 10:25-..? is a story about a man asking Jesus whats the most important law, or something like that. Jesus asks the man what the scriptures say, and he says, "Love God with [everything] and love your neighbor as you love yourself." There again we see that it isn't a matter of 'serving' or 'ministering to' God OR church-folk OR the community: we are to love everyone in balance.

The rest of that chapter in Luke is a 'parable' (or cryptic analogy-based story with a moral) about a man getting all kinds of beat up and being left for dead. Several people pass by him and no one helps him out, until this one guy comes along and takes him to the nearby hotel. This man, the Samaritan, actually carries this beat up dude to town, pays for his stay and medical bills, and then promises to pay any other bills that might be accrued. And at the end of this story Jesus asks the man "who is the neighbor in this story" - the 'importantest law' man says, 'the man who took care of him' - and Jesus pretty much says, "yeah, so now it's your turn to do the same"

Who is your neighbor? Anyone you encounter.
You are responsible for your neighbor, and your responsibility expands with exposure (to more neighbors)

Jason then showed several pictures of people from our community (and one that we support through World Vision, Kalasinga in Tanzania) and introduced us, also giving some back story into their lives. He explained how we might have not known them, or maybe not even have seen them before, but we now know of them, and that they are our responsibility in times of need.

Loving God doesn't matter if it doesn't overflow to loving others

We've been talking about the Kingdom of God for quite a while now (and hopefully it will become part of daily conversation). We realized that the Kingdom of God is here and now, and that Jesus wasn't explaining how the earth sucks now and when we finally go to Heaven we'll all be happy. Sure theres not gonna be any bad stuff in Heaven, but the point isn't Heaven, it's the Kingdom of God, and all those examples that Jesus gave were meant to be used NOW, not in the future.

Heres a hard part

Matt 25:14-..I think the end of the chapter
It's another parable, this time about 'talents' (apparently a talent was worth more than a thousand bucks). So theres this land owner, and he has several servants whom he gives different amounts of talents to while he goes on vacation. 5, 2 and 1, respectively. When the land owner comes back, the servants present his monies. The one that was given 5 talents made a profit and had 10 at the end. The one that got 2 also made a profit (of 2) and had 4 to give back. The guy that only got 1 talent, though, thought it best to bury it in the ground so no harm would come to it. And the land owner comes down pretty harsh on him about it. It goes like this,

26-27"The master was furious. 'That's a terrible way to live! It's criminal to live cautiously like that! If you knew I was after the best, why did you do less than the least? The least you could have done would have been to invest the sum with the bankers, where at least I would have gotten a little interest.

28-30"'Take the thousand and give it to the one who risked the most. And get rid of this "play-it-safe" who won't go out on a limb. Throw him out into utter darkness.' (taken from 'the Message')

The part thats hard is relating it to our stuff. First, material things we have. Second, physical and mental abilities that we have. Are they used? Or are they kept clean and safe, waiting to be returned later?

God is looking for a good investment. We may say, "Pay off our building, God, please!" - but is it a worthy investment?

The part about making it personal is this:

What can use, that I already have, for God's purpose?

It's not about 'me'

Seems the time of the year has come again where I am required to attend school. I have actually applied more than two days before classes start this year (I'm doing good). Taking algebra and 'college success'.

I always feel bad for not taking a full load, but at the same time I don't think I would be able to (for one I don't have the money and for two [kinda still part of one] I need to work for extra expenses during the year) I'm pretty sure college is designed to make you owe money. You're somehow forced into a college experience so that you'll be able to get a good job, but you are left with a huge debt that you'll get a job to pay off so that you'll be like the rest of the system. Seriously, I understand that you need money (in this modern world) to survive.

I just have this chill in my spine when I think of things like that.. Theres so much confusion when thinking about how Jesus lived in His time and how things happened in His life to shape those around Him. Obviously we aren't there, instead we are here and thus given our own chance at making things right on our time. (I recall a part of the Bible that mentions not owing anyone anything)

In short, I don't agree. Or at least don't think it should have to be that way.

If the whole purpose to living is to pay to keep living, then why don't we all just die and save everyone the effort? I mean, we have people that have debts that were received in order to pay off other debts that would later be established in order to make it possible to 'live'. I suppose the only dynamic in the equation is 'what level of luxury are you willing to extend your debts for?'

Why is it so strange to consider living in a home with more than just your immediate family? I've been talking with Sarah about how much money we'd save if we all joined together.. Look at the price for rent when it's split between three or four people. There are some other things that combine to make things easier. Work around the house is split. You'd also never get lonely. The money saved on rent can pay off other stuff faster. Now look at that same scenario split among eight or more people/families.

If you are already thinking of ways you are going to get ripped off by the other tenants, then you need a mental refreshing. If you are a Christian, then all of your stuff shouldn't mean that much to you in the first place.

I've also been taking life a little less.. fearfully? single-routed? I'm not sure really how to describe it. The idea that if something bad happens then it's part of a plan for life thats bigger than myself. I think thats kinda the point.. it's not about 'me'.