(more than a) Tree Hugger

Somethings things God has been showing me lately, here in Vienna: what He wants in his kingdom and a little about how He wants to use me to help create that here on earth.

I know it's no different than anyone else who converts to Christ-followerness. Supernaturally, through the blood sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus, we have become co-heirs and have responsibilities that go way beyond "take care of the earth" stuff. I mean, that's a no brainer. Every one knows that if we don't take care of the earth, we will suffer the consequences - we are suffering the consequences of wrong doing throughout the ages and what we do now will affect those who go behind us. Here in Vienna, the state has done a pretty impressive job of that. It's nice to breath clean air and for many people to have jobs.

But, I'm starting to understand better about how God wants something more. More than good behavior here on earth. He wants heaven on earth. He wants to be reconciled to his creation. That's why Jesus came: to make it possible for God to call his children home once and for all.

All Christians have something called a ministry. I used to think this meant official church good deeds, but I'm starting to get that it's how Christ-followers act like Christ every day. We show and remind people what our God is like and how He wants the world to love Him as much as he loves us. Man, if we only understood. . .

I read the story of Jonah for the thousandth time Sunday night. I was praying for a two friends who have created a rift between each other, for A. because his mother died, for N. in Haiti, for a church going to South Africa, and for the people who came to my house on Friday... so I was only half reading. But then the end of the story caught me. You know, the end of the story that everyone forgets because it's after the ticker-tape parades in the city that God spared.

Jonah's sitting there expecting the city to be destroyed, even after they repented from their oppressive and corrupt ways, because Jonah didn't like them and he wanted God to take them off the map. They were morally repugnant to him. Plus, he was really annoyed because there wasn't much vegetation where he went to watch the show of Nineveh's demise. God made a tree for Jonah's comfort, but God sent a worm to take away the tree the next day so Jonah wasn't comfortable. (I sometimes wonder why God did that - to give a tree for comfort and then a worm to destroy that comfort. There's a tree motif throughout the scriptures that's a little complex for me sometimes.)

But, then God asks his reluctant prophet, "'Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?' 'Yes,' he replied, 'It is right. I'm angry enough to die.'"

"So the Lord said, 'You cared about the plant, which you did no labor over and did not grow. . . Should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot distinguish between their right and the left, as well as the animals?'" - End Book

God really cared about the people of Nineveh and he was annoyed by this guy who knew the scriptures, knew God and yet didn't understand God's heart. He wanted to spare them, but He also knows what evil can do to his world and was willing to do what it takes to bring balance in the world - even if that means ending lives. Sometimes, I want God to send a lightening bolt after the last sentence to teach JOanh a lesson about insensitivity, but then I realize that I'm a little like Jonah for thinking that.

God wants to show his mercy to the earth. The Bible says that, "creation waits with anticipation for God's sons to be revealed." And it also says that we will be revealed by our love.

So, my job here on this earth is: to aid in the discipleship of people into sons and daughters of God who are known and tested by acting like Him. The best way to do this is to openly live out my own transformation and to explain the teaching of Christ that promoted the the changes and pray that this Spirit would indwell in our hearts and change us from the inside out. I think I'll do that best by doing what I already do, but with a more defined underlying purpose, and take things to the next level when I get the opportunity. Like, I really what to start a new Bible study with some of the people I've met lately who are agnostic or whatever, but are interested in Jesus - and I think it's because they get that creation is longing for Something.


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Am I becoming more:
loving
joyful
peaceful
Patient
kind
faithful
gentle
self-controlled?

Because of God's work, I think I am. But after watching Francis Chan's video about the persecuted church I am more than ever convinced that this is all that my life truly comes down to. My singing may be enjoyable, but only valuable if if points to joy in Christ. My writing may be enlightening, but only if it points to faithfulness and peace with Christ. I want my life to be a reflection of Christ, the redeemer of the world, so that others will come to him and be spared from the falling apart of this world and come to God now and for eternity.

Who We Are

Today, my teammates and I got together to talk about who we are so that we will know how best to move forward together. We each had 7 minutes to explain our essence, how dream job, our love language, or pet peeves, etc. We're a bunch of extroverts who like alone time. Except for those who are introverts who don't mind coming out their shells for the sake of people they care for. Some of our team see themselves primarily by their functions. Some by their aspirations. Well all had different ways of expressing all these facts. Some told parts of their biographies, others had printed out bullet points. One woman wrote her speech out neatly on five note cards. Some finished in 3 minutes and had to be further questioned. I, of course, had to cut my thoughts short.

I'm so glad I'm on this team of people who are similar but different; have the same God but experience Him in different ways; have the same Gospel but express it in our lives differently. But more, I'm so glad that we seem to trust each other. There is a sense of family. Maybe it's our common commitment to help others reach their potential as well as our own submission to the loving will of God, but I feel I can be my best, most abandoned version of myself with these people. I don't say that lightly or to make those who are not in this kind of situation envious. I just want to say that I'm grateful. And that I'm looking forward to the best year of my life so far.