Wisdom in Disobedience: Matthew 2

Matthew 2

The Visit of the Wise Men

Does it sound familiar? Like a song you usually sing around Christmas time? Well forget that for a second.

They are sometimes called the“Three Kings,” though the most literal Bible translation refers to them as 'wise men,' magoi, or magicians, these were learned men: either devoted philosophers, pagan priests or astronomers from the eastern lands of Persia or Arabia. These men were not professing believers in the God of the Bible yet were more aware of His signs than the Jewish priests and scribes. May there never be any misconception: there is one God, any other is a fake and a demon (1 Corinthians 10:20), and God will use whomever He wills to accomplish His purposes. He is not a God in need of people with the right credentials, but the right heart.

The wise men's quest for the “king of the Jews” put them at odds with the man who found his identity in being king over all Judea, Herod the Great, as he we was fond of calling of himself. Historically, this Herod was a paranoid figure, totally willing to kill his own wife and child, if he felt threatened, which was often. So, Herod, knowing he'd have to kill yet another child, attempts to trick these Gentiles into helping him feed his psychosis and keep the throne. Thankfully, the wise men, like Joseph, receive a warning from God and decide to ditch the crazy after worshiping Jesus.

Questions

1. The wise men were seekers of Truth, they found ultimately led to Jesus. How can this encourage followers of Jesus to dialogue with others about him?
2. Herod's lust for power led him to fulfill his dreams in horrible ways. How can the obsessions in our lives lead to unhealthy behavior?
3. The wise men didn't necessarily believe in the God of the Bible yet God was able to led them to Himself, through His creation. If God can make Himself known in this way, couldn't God speak to each of us in ways we understand? What do you think? Can you back this up with scripture?
4. The wise men were willing to disobey Herod when God told them to. Have you ever found yourself at odds with others over something you believe God wanted you to do?

Jean-Marc

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"Who's Baby Is That?" and Withholding Judgement : Matthew 1 cont'd

Matthew 1 Cont'd...

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Now Jesus was born to a young(likely teenage) girl named Mary, the Holy Spirit(God) gave her a baby but it didn't occur at a convenient time for her. Mary was betrothed to young man named Joseph. Betrothal occurred after the engagement but before sexual intimacy, the couple was technically married but hadn't done the official ceremony just yet (ie. Verse 16: “her husband Joseph”). Can you imagine? Your wife showing up pregnant with a baby, claiming that it was from God?

The Bible says Joseph was a “just man”(verse 19), dude, he would have had to be in order to divorce her quietly. Joseph had every right under the law to have Mary put out before the people as an example. They would have dragged her into the town square, exposed her, beaten her and killed her, and even more so on this occasion, as she would have been an adulteress and heretic. Its good to note, that even when he likely thought she did him wrong, he provided her a dignified way out.

But then came the angel of the Lord, warning Joseph that Mary had not betrayed him—this was a God thing. And Joseph believed what God said, marrying her without a prenuptial agreement.

Questions

1. Consider how Joseph initially responded to Mary's news of being impregnated by God? Are there times when judgment should be withheld?
2. Consider the time period Joseph lived in, and imagine you were his sibling and he shared Mary's story, how would you have advised him(honestly)?
3. Both Mary and Joseph had to show great faith, a belief that God is telling the truth, in their situations. What do their stories show you about true faith? How dangerous is true faith?
4. When you believe that someone close to you has done you wrong, how do you react? How would you like God to help you change in that regard?

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Last thoughts on a Plane Colliding with Infinity

Something I regularly practice whether in a plane or car, is dying--I know it may sound morbid, perhaps it is, but it blesses my soul.
I'm flying at 36,000 feet and somehow the plane's wing starts tipping and--KA-BOW!--the right propeller-engine thing blows out. Galeforce winds send it straight for my section: 31D. The young woman two seats down (that gave me the dirty look) is gone, however, I still hold on.
The jet's nose plunges, breathing heavy negative space, we're traveling too fast for words: cloud, tower, tree--gone. Am I ready for that? I ask.

Can I let go of my dreams, my will...I think I can.

The only thing that matters about me in the moments before I cease, is my eternal soul. Every funny joke I ever made, every dollar I ever earned will fade from relevance.

All I have in that breath are the two things that have ever mattered: my God and my soul.

May our time on this earth be spent with a disproportionate focus on both.

In Him,

Jean-Marc


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The Upside-down Kingdom: Matthew 1

Matthew 1

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

Let's be honest off the bat shall we? This was likely the part that made you question why you in the world you even tried to read the book of Matthew in the first place, but there really is a lot of good stuff going on here.

You see, Matthew's intended audience was the Jewish people we referred to earlier, they were no newcomers to Scripture or God for that matter. Matthew immediately starts off his gospel by calling Jesus “the son of David” and “the son of Abraham,” both of these men were common figures in Judaism. In ancient Palestine, your faith wasn't just a weekly ritual thing but an imbedded reality of life: it affected what you wore, celebrated, ate and who you hung out with, so these men were icons. Abraham was the spiritual father of Judaism (read about him from Genesis 12) and David was their great and powerful king (read about him from 1Samuel 16). So what Matthew does here is give Jesus major credibility with the people, something he'll need to present him as the expected Messiah, or king.

Matthew also uses it to introduce the running concept of the Upside Kingdom, the Kingdom of Heaven, where once conventional wisdom doesn't cut it any more. Women, once regarded as second class citizens, are here, given equal footing with men...and not necessarily the best of women. Of the five women mentioned, two were harlots (Tamar and Rahab), one an adulteress (Bathsheba) and one was a Gentile(non-Jewish,worldly) (Ruth). Matthew chose to associate them with Jesus, the Son of God

Questions

1. Grace is God's undeserved favor and forgiveness. How does Matthew's genealogy demonstrate that?
2. Answering that, think of a current or past sin and struggle in your life(only mention it if you feel comfortable), do you ever find it difficult to accept God's concerning it? How so?
3. Though Abraham and David are held up as godly examples here, the Bible also shows that Abraham lied regularly and David not only lied, but had an affair and had the woman's husband killed. What implications does this have for our own sins?

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Gungor:God Is Not A White Man

This song blew my mind when I first heard it, but its so basic!

Francis Chan: I Dare You to Pray This

I Dare You to pray this indeed. How it so goes against everything I've been taught and aspire to!

When Its Not All Sunshine and AppleJacks

….............

Have you ever felt an anger too real for words? One you couldn't even express if you wanted to?

I get worse than angry sometimes...livid when I doubt God's goodness.

I don't want today to be one of those, I would rather be steel, typing 'Hallelujah' after every word littering this piece with words like 'victory' and 'assurance,' but I feel neither.

I mean, I could lie and tell you its all Sunshine and Apple Jacks on my side of the beach, but I won't.

What I will tell you is that no matter how badly people discount your very existence, God affirms it.

Jesus doesn't ignore your prayers, His answers are Yes, No and Later.

When your doctor refuses to see you for lack of funds, count it as joy and his loss.

When security gives you the extra up and down, remember that yours is the Kingdom of Heaven.

And when you don't a fancy comeback to the question “What do you do?” Be encouraged. God already knows what you're going to be, and that's perfect, a perfect reflection of His Son Jesus Christ. Maybe not today, but soon.

“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
-Romans 8:22-39

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Robbing Ghetto Dwellers: An Intro to Matthew

A PROLOGUE TO MATTHEW

The Gospels: An Exclusive Sneak Peek

Also known as the“Good News,” the Gospels are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, their focus: following the earthly ministry of Jesus from inception to culmination at the cross. The common misconception is that these books were primarily written to spread the message of Christianity: Jesus being God, modern research cries foul. The truth of Christ's teaching and resurrection lit up the continents, a hungry blaze built in the souls of men and women, which the apostles could not feed alone. There was no way they could physically teach all these converts in all these new places, the New Testament text and its reproduction became a necessity. The Bible would last longer than the apostles ever could.

What about Matthew?

Do you ever find there's this soul-sucking side to you, this jerky person that uses people to get what you want, gladly justifying said behavior? Well that was Matthew 24/7. Matthew, one of Jesus' original disciples wrote the book of Matthew , but that doesn't mean God was always at the center of his life...he was once after shinier things. Matthew was a young Jewish man working as a tax gatherer on behalf of the Roman government.

Tax Collector...Not So Bad Right?

Uh...it kinda was. By 167 B.C. the Roman government had become so wealthy off its profits from Spanish mines, it didn't charge taxes to Italian landowners, though everyone else suffered.

In the 400 years between the last Old Testament book Malachi and the first New Testament book Matthew, God had been silent, and his people, the Jews, had been oppressed by four different regimes, Rome made five.

Abraham's children had already been forced into the lowest paying jobs, but that wouldn't keep the empire from using them as an ATM Machine. Provincial governors encouraged tax collectors to glean their holiday bonuses from the people's sweat: loaning money with high monthly interest rates and corroborating with local officials to buy out the food source of grain only to sell it back to the needy many times the original price during a shortage. Their evident class earned them the designation: traitor and sinner

The people of Israel were fed up, they were still praying and offering sacrifices, but no God-action. They reread the Hebrew texts several times over, hundreds of prophetic assurances that had turned out to be useless. Among them, Malachi 4:1:“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts” What happened to that? Where is the Messiah-King that would slaughter the Roman horde?

They had no idea God Himself was coming down to use it all for His glory: Roman despotism, the religious lost and a greedy little man were all about to have their world rocked forever.

Welcome to the New Testament. Welcome to the Book of Matthew

Jean-Marc

P.S.-More to Come...

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Stop Loving:Learning to Kick the People Habit

There is dark side to love, its rarely talked about, but its there. In Christianity there is a tendency to love things into oblivion, though we don't always know why or how that looks.

One day in high school, I awoke to find my older brother asleep on the couch downstairs. My home, having always been a shelter and community center of sorts, always gave me plenty of random roommates. I regularly found myself sleeping on the floor, the couch was a lucky break.

I made my way into the kitchen with a few others, right next to where he slept, out cold, the typical mean-spirited teenage banter ensued. We weren't aware of what we were saying, therefore we could not be offended, but he arose, incensed, on our behalf apparently.

“You guys need to love!” The angry words were hard to decipher from the grog of recent dreaming. “You guys need to learn how to love!” Power so richly emanated from his fists, a fireball would have been overlooked. “You're so angry and mean!” His knuckles pounded what his words failed to express, the wall again suffering for our familial rage. We laughed about this one for years. Its truth only now touches me.

He felt half crazy: another person, another day.

“I can't stand them anymore,” said the young disheveled artist as we scurried the city streets, he had to be more extroverted than I was. “I like them, then I get them to like me,” he sounded like...a people addict...like me, “then they love me, they invite me everywhere,” he looked miserable, “and then...,” I waited patiently, “I can't stand them anymore.” His world was so dependent on what others said, it drove him mad.

Dependency is real, it occurs right at the moment we'd rather die than offed someone, rather smile than speak out, rather condone than correct. Its no fun. One learns to seek approval at the hands of people, like a pup seeks kibble. Its demeaning. And its not who Jesus was.

The same Jesus that asked us to turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39) also turned over the tables of thieves at His Father's House (John 2:15).

The solution is to love in context of the Gospel, to express grace and truth with balanced strength, to speak softly when comfort is needed, but pound your fists when its time for folks to wake up.

May we be prepared to hug or kick at all times.

“I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

-Matthew 10:16 

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Why Waste Your Time With God?

Why God?

Let's start from the beginning: you are a human being. You have a sense of self:your personality, why you love what you love,etc.--this is called a soul, without it, you'd be a toaster. Now with it, you have a sense of right and wrong, most call this a conscience.

This is where the debate begins, because different people in different places define morality differently right? Not really. You see, there is no society on the planet living without a system of morality. The best way to think of it is that we are all attempting to fulfill the same list of virtues but just define them differently.

For example, two men from two different cultures could find themselves at war with one another. Though when one is surrounded by the enemy, he quickly takes his life, while a man from the other culture will choose to endure imprisonment. Both men show the virtue of Courage, neither wishing to be labeled a coward, the wrong they wish to avoid.

The Truth About Right and Wrong

The idea of right and wrong could be easily explained as some evolutionary instinct if it didn't inconvenience us or endanger our own well being. Imagine a women in her 90s, slowly pushing a shopping cart full of groceries down the sidewalk, as you drive your sports utility vehicle. As she struggles to push the heavy cart, she trips over an untied shoelace. Her cart launches into the street, groceries spilling all over the pavement, as she falls directly into the path of your vehicle. Do you brake or drive on? Do you stop to help or take a detour, with the fallen woman in your rear view? Regardless of your choice, there is an inner confirmation that you did right or wrong. Stopping to help, provides you zero benefit, in actuality, it makes your life more difficult. Why is that want to do good there?

The same reason, the universe exists, it was put there. The best science we have confirms that our universe began in a great explosion, emphasis on the word began. You know, the same sort of thing happens when a car starts, a mysterious explosion brings the engine to life but there must be a key and a hand behind it. God is the reason the universe (and you) exist.

So what's the problem?

The problem is that humans can't do good all the time...its utterly impossible. Don't agree? Sure you do. When's the last time you felt safe walking the city streets alone or going to sleep with the front door unlocked? Unless you live on some family farm compound in the middle of utopia, probably never.. Anyone who's attempted to follow a fad infomercial diet, realizes there is a gap between what we want to do and what we actually do.

See, God created the world perfect but,where things go well, you can always expect haters. Satan, God's jealous ex-employee, decided he would devote the rest of his life to corrupting everything God created, and that includes all of us. By tricking us into thinking that rebelling against God would be to our benefit, we did, and now rebel instinctively. Even the good we want to do gets corrupted by selfish motives. That stuff we do against God both knowingly and without knowing is called sin.

But God is a personal God. He talked to men and women for thousands of years, trying to develop relationships with them so He could set them straight. God even came down to Earth as the person of Jesus Christ, to complete the deprogramming process.

Jesus is God.

Why Should You Care?

Because as we've discussed, Jesus opened this establishment called Earth. Its full of folks that try to listen to what he says and those that refuse. Any store or business owner that finds visitors behaving inappropriately: wrecking their stuff, cursing them out and hurting others, has the right to take action when necessary. God has refrained Himself for years, sending multiple representatives to warn the rabble-rousers to listen up before they get in trouble. He has been kind in handing out warnings for centuries, but soon, He'll close shop and oppose them to their faces. God will reward the ones that changed their ways with a paradise called Heaven, however, sentence those that thought he was 'full of it', to an eternal pit of torture called Hell. He would rather not send folks there, but their abuse will no longer be tolerated.

As a part of God's current grace, He provides us a handbook for living called The Holy Bible.

Why Study the Bible or the New Testament?

Because God Wants To Love You: God doesn't just want you to obey Him, but to know Him. The Old Testament was God's way of introducing or revealing Himself to humanity, and the New Testament is the story of the crazy lengths to which God will go to save humanity from sin, death and themselves.

Because of its historical accuracy: Of course Christians would back up the Bible as true, but what about those that have not accepted Christ's message? For the last two millenia, much of the Bible's historical data has been proven true by non-Christians: atheist archaeologists like Sir William Ramsay who spent 25 years investigating the book of Luke and Acts, the ancient Jewish work the Talmud and ancient historians Josephus, Tacitus and Pliny the Younger (Ramsey became a believer by the way).

For the New Testament alone, there are over 5,000 manuscripts in Greek, 8,000 to 10,000 in Latin and 8,000 more in other languages such as Slavic and Armenian, totaling to about 24,000 nearly identical manuscripts. When compared to ancient works like Homer's Iliad, with 650 manuscripts or the writings of Plato with 30, the New Testament remains the best attested writing of antiquity.

Because folks couldn't make this up: The Bible has some good things in it, though often relates some messed up stories. Why? Simple: God knows people are messed up, and He wants to show humans that messed up people change when they follow Jesus . No one has to stay God's enemy, we can now choose to be His friends.

"No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you."

-John 15:15 

In Him,

Jean-Marc

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I Make A Horrible God

I awoke to a call for prayer so urgent, the inquietude exorcised me out of bed.

My first thoughts of the day were apprehension. So I prayed, for cousins led astray, learned in the dark arts of spiritual ignorance, luminaries of stupidity.

They couldn't see they were driving glass cars, twenty miles over the speed limit into a forest of brick trees. To be frank, I was certain they would all die soon. I prayed indoors, until driven into the open air.

I petitioned to Heaven, while occasionally staring at the mess which was the front yard: a patchy dry assortment of dead greens and rusty browns, its crowning shame a dilapidated tree-bush hybrid thingy centerpiece. It would conform to my shears in a few hours.

Have you ever been consumed by some activity for a reason beyond yourself? I snapped branches with a fascinating ferocity some would mistake for passion. And why was I passionate? Because I wish people were like this tree: that they would just stand still and let me fix them already.

I have a Savior-complex. Don't you?

My yen is to be the harbinger of their success, the answer to their problems, I really wanted to be their god.

I wouldn't be very gracious, but I would a good god, maybe, at least I think so...OK...OK...I would be a horrible god...and that's the point.

We aren't saviors, just support for the real one, Jesus. We don't ensure the warranty, we're just customer service. So when the problems of others consume you, remember, you are there to help, but God does the healing.

God help us to remember, we aren't you.

“As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.”

-Luke 3:15-16

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To the Guys Smoking Night Herbs Outside My House

Part 1

They're sittin' in a circle on their driveway, puffin' away white clouds into the night sky. You can see Cumulonimbus exclusively next to my house. This is just another day in a minority neighborhood.

“Oh great,”I mutter under breath exhausted at their sight, and I just came from an awesome class at church, my thoughts moan.

“I won't even look at them,” and upon that note exit my car, shut the door behind me, pop the trunk, retrieve my school bags from it, slam the trunk shut and scuttle up the familiar brick driveway.

Halfway, to the door, I consider what we talked about earlier in class: what in life makes us feel acceptance, that on which we pride ourselves—all the concepts were so illuminating.

And then I asked a dangerous question concerning my loser neighbors:Why can't I stand them? Sure, the inconsiderate parties until dawn and the ridiculously loud music throughout the day don't help...but is that why I disdain the sight of them? Then truth tagged my brain like a toddler off Ritalin: I dislike them because they remind me of everything I'm not doing.

I've dropped gospel-bombs on that driveway and their impact has been unimpressive, thank God for that, because if they actually showed interest in the gospel, I might have to befriend them.

Oops.

Part 2

I'm a sunny person by disposition but my family has historically struggled with depression (even that was hard to type). So being who I am, I've made it my crusade to pull them out of it.

It's like I'll have these moments when I think I've got a good hold on them before they're completely consumed by this pit, and then they slip right through my phalanges.

“Why do I feel so bad about them feeling low?” The second hard question of the same night. “Because I find my acceptance in being their savior.” God pats me on the head.

“You couldn't save them if you wanted to,” He explains.

“But...you might drop them Lord” I justify.

“That's where you're wrong, I do the heavy lifting, you're here for support. He ends the conversation, there will be no discussion.

I will have my faith in God's strength tested over the next few months.

Please pray for me.

Part 3

By the second watch of the night, I'm humbled out, like a pup put in its basket.

My cell phone vibrates violently.

An email from another publication to which I've submitted my writing: “We would like to thank you...,” your typical denial letter: way too long. They don't seem to get that a two page long “No” is still a “No.” They could've just saved us both time.

I reply back to the e-bag man: How could my submission be improved upon—don't even think that's grammatically correct.

He graciously responds, though my instinct is not to respond with grace, but I do, by God's grace.

To build your life upon men, means your comfort moves when they do.

But God is not comfort: He is more than that.

God is the soundtrack of grace that is to play in ours ears each day, reminding us that big good things are coming.

For all the “no's” and rebuke I received last night, I received three big BIG “Yes's.”

To write them out for you here, right now, would be foolish, but, essentially, EACH of life's major questions have been answered in one night.

And that is the kind of God we serve, one that makes pleasure out of our pain.

You aren't going to drown, you're just in the perfect place to consume the glorious flavor of God's new wine.

And it is Good.

“Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons.Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”

-John 2:6-11

In Him,

Jean-Marc

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Invisible Men Show No Tears

Europe 2007. I didn't believe the train ticket machine when I read it: Payment not processed. Stupid bank card.

You ever wanna beat up a card swiping machine in a public place? I was past that point. The only money I had on me was two American dollars...useless. I strolled over to the ticket booth to an actual person...that couldn't care less.

“Um, do you know how far the airport is from here?”

The attendant's eyes widened, a portly English bloke carelessly stuffed into the uniform of a much smaller man.

“Thee aeroporte? Whi, that's fa frum thiss traan station,” said Euro Santa sans beard, rosy cheeks and all. “Whi doo yoo need too go thair?”

“All of my things are at the hotel, I took the train to get here but I can't get back...my bank card isn't working”

My eyes basically begged it: Please help me...please.

“Yoo shood cawl yor banc mate”

I turned from that booth feeling like an orphan, like Matthew 9:36 when Jesus saw the crowd as helpless and harassed. I felt invisible.

I ended up being cheated out of the rest of my money, money changers too willing to levy unreasonable rates on the tourist, I needed to start begging...my pride wouldn't let me.

I stood there immobile, mentally debilitated, a schizophrenic sneaking awkward glances at busy people passing by with their busy lives: carrying shopping bags, laughing with children in tow, cell phones plastered to their faces while mine had been dead for hours. I hated them.

Payphones were a joke back home, I used to giggle about those past collect calls made after basketball practice at the civic center, I never paid.

'At the tone, say your name'

'Beep'

“Itsjeanmarcpickmeupnow”

A young man finally connected the dots as I tapped the payphone change flap for the numberless time, in the hope money would appear. My mouth refused to beg, so my eyes had to.

We long to feel solid and whole, so we build ourselves up with all these things: women, occupation, education, fame, money—the only problem with that is your sense of self disappears when they do.

Sports stars cry when retiring from a great professional career because they are loosing their identity, not just their paycheck, a reason to matter, to be seen and recognized.

God is the only one looking for us invisible people. No struggle or person is invisible to His sight.

“And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied.”

-Mark 6:35-42

In Him,

Jean-Marc

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How To Have A Woman Friend (Without Benefits)

It always presents innocuous at the start. Then the question.

“So I had wanted to ask you something,” her eyes ran away, fleeing the conversation, darting right as her neck crooked all swan-like in my sight.

We were sitting, two friends, in a diner—which one—I won't say as one can never be sure who's reading and what their intention may be. I'm an exhibitionist not a masochist.

“What is it?” I know what this is about, I've been here before, but curiosity makes even death seem inviting.

“No, it's nothing,” she wanted me to know, she didn't want to be the only with this secret—I played into it like a doof.

“What is it?”

She shrugged away my attempt at prying, like a pro, a boxer readying her strong hand for a hay-maker.

“You have to know by now...Jean-Marc...I like you”

Crap. Boom.

I chat on...to my own chagrin, “What...do you mean...as a friend?”

At points like these, we're reminded why community exists: to keep us from foolishness like this. Doesn't sound foolish yet? You didn't live the next few months of it: awkward pauses, me playing a broad range of ambiguous attraction, frustration, Frustration, FRUSTRATION, lies, slipping...slip...ing...FALLING.

Boom. Crap. Phone call:rudeness.

“I don't know where this is going,” well duh, neither did I. And that's why marriage is the goal ladies and gentleman, because it implies intent. What is “dating” or “talking to someone” and where does it begin—but I digress.

How To Have a Woman Friend and Keep it Friendly(by God's grace):

1. Know Yourself, Know Your Intentions
   -Know what you want and stick to it. Are you in it to date or not. Questions to ask yourself: Would my blood boil if I saw her kiss another guy? If you want to be the only man she talks to either slow down or step up.
2. Alone Time...Seriously?
   -Being alone with a female you want to treat as a godly friend and sister in Christ is like loading your refrigerator with cheesecake when you're trying to lose weight.
3. Be Real With God
   -God knows what's happening inside of you anyways, so you might as well be forthright and confess it to Him, its good for the soul
4. Pre-Fabricate Boundaries
   -After this mishap, I began setting up boundaries for OSFs (Opposite Sex Friendships): no phone calls after 10PM, limiting touching, etc., and surprise...no slipping!
   Don't trust yourself, because your emotions are malleable, Instead trust in God and ask Him for help in making you look like Him.

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.”

-Proverbs 4:23

In Him,

Jean-Marc

Luke: Mark Driscoll Goes Off On Men

Mark Driscoll in his classic railing on men mode. Hey,in a world where pastors and church staff ignore men, at least someone's doing it!

Speaking of Singleness Without Sounding Pathetic

“Our look was as if two lovers, or deadly enemies, met unexpectedly on a an overgrown path when each had been thinking of something else: a clearing blow to the gut. It was also a bright blow to the brain, or a sudden beating of brains, with all the charge and intimate grate of rubbed balloons. It emptied our lungs. It felled the forest, moved the fields, and drained the pond; the world dismantled and tumbled into that black hole of eyes. If you and I looked at each other that way, our skulls would split and drop to out shoulders. But we don't. We keep our skulls.”

-Annie Dilliard, Living Like Weasels

When folks talk about relationships and singleness, it typically sounds pathetic (Sorry). Like that one guy on Facebook that asked all the girls he knew what they were looking for in a man and what kind of wedding ring they want (GAG!) (Again Sorry). Single life is actually pretty cool.

I was born single, though I have not always been that way, I was un-single before.

What I disliked most about attached-ness was the lack of expectancy. Y'know what I'm talking about? That pre-roller coaster drop sensation, that “let's just keep driving and never look back” feeling, like ANYTHING can happen (Don't you love that phrase?).

In my experience anything happening is a good thing.

Wow, I was just convicted. Do I hold more excitement in my heart for meeting the lover of my life than I do for the lover of my soul. Ouch, that stung.

Deep, deep in me there's this desire to be like Moses, to be captivated by the Awesome that is God but somehow that expectancy wanes in the day-to-day. I need—we all need—a regular jolt of expectancy in our sensory diet—only Jesus can do it.

So I pray that over you and myself: that we would find our spouses on this earth (or love them better), and that we would be espoused to the heavenlys , that we would carefully watch the skies for activity.

Because...Anything Can Happen.

“This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods,and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. “

-1 Corinthians 7:29-31

In Him,

Jean-Marc

Mercy is Strength Upside Down

There is a true story told of a very athletic young man that rode a bus one day. Behind him were two rowdy men harshly behaved.

He was brown-skinned, they were pale and this was Pre-Civil Rights Movement.

The two harassed him throughout the entire bus ride: taunting and mocking him anyway they could imagine. By the time the athlete had reached his stop, he'd endured much verbal assault.Before stepping off, he reached into his coat pocket and handed them his business card.

It read:

JOE LOUIS

Professional Boxer

Real strength: showing mercy when you can just as easily crush someone.

Wielding strength for your own good is kind of like driving an SUV, it can be very easy to do—just run people over. But as followers of Christ, we have two major mandates: Love God and Love People (Mark 12:30-31), demonstrating appropriate mercy does both.

In 1 Samuel 24, David, the prophesied king of Israel, is running for his life from his former boss, Saul. Saul has thrown spears at him and threatened his life on numerous occasions. One day David finds Saul by himself, just minding his own business—an easy target. His fellow warriors tell him its just God 's favor. But instead of giving himself an easy victory and way out of stress, David shows Saul mercy, he even falls down before Saul on his knees!

“May the Lord judge between me and you, may the Lord avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.”

-1 Samuel 24:12

No matter where you are today, there will always be people below you and people above you, in some aspect. The tendency is to destroy the lowers to show off to the uppers, but that's not how Jesus Christ did it.

Follow Jesus.

Welcome to the Upside Down Kingdom.

In Him,

Jean-Marc

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Men: God Saved Your Pants As Well

“When God saved you, That included your Pants”

-Mark Driscoll

I could tell you that I live near Orlando, FL and you'll think Disney World.

You probably don't think of porn but you should.

Orlando, FL is most recently, the greatest consumer of pornography in the United States of America.

Maybe you don't by that, the happiest place on earth being the center of smut.

Ask the women that live here. I did.

“I was walking out of the campus library one night,” as she began relating the story, I could feel my fists clench. I had no idea where this was going.

“I could hear rustling coming from some bushes nearby, and then a man came out.” At this point my heart is fearing for her safety.

“He begins walking after me, and then another pair of footsteps, and then I walk faster, then they follow faster”

I am silent.

“Somehow, I make it to the parking garage and get into my car. The men walk away”

Her university is infamous for its staggeringly high rape count. After that night she bought pepper spray.

When something other than God becomes the most important thing in your life, it will always change you for the worst. If sex is what you worship as God, then people become an object of sacrifice to your idol. Ask me about it, I was there, but God, in His Grace released me before I could ruin another person's life with my idolatry.

“They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, "Do not do as they do," and they did the things the LORD had forbidden them to do”

-2 Kings 17:15

God will free you from the weight of your sin:

1.just admit your wrongdoing

2.ask for forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ

3.and the power to never make sex an idol again.

Let me know if I can help.

In Him,

Jean-Marc

A New Heart, Any Day Now

What is Christianity anyway?

“Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD”

-Psalm 31:24

Yesterday, all throughout the day, the school was of one mind and one accord. Every class period began with the usually taking of prayer requests...

Raised hand.

“There is a student on campus getting a heart transplant today, I think we should pray for her”

The rest of the class nodded in agreement, as they had all witnessed her testimony the other night. This frail eighteen year old woman shared her story of being sick most her life, her heart was failing. Since the age of seven, she had been confined to her hometown, unable to leave, in the hope she would receive the phone call that would change her life: “You're heart is ready, we have a heart for you”

It wouldn't take much after a speech like that to milk her condition for all it was worth. But then, I am told, she stared her classmates in the eyes with a supernatural beam, and said the following:

“Don't feel sorry for me, I know God WILL give me a heart, any day now”

She received the call within hours.

In studying the original language of the passage above, you will find that the Hebrew for “heart” can be translated as “will” or “mind”. So in other words, “Have your minds strengthened, you people waiting on God”

What is Christianity?

Christianity is the continued of process of being strengthened by God to make a difference for God.

He strengthens our hearts for the fight, and our patience when He takes over the fight for us.

Congratulations little sister, on the new heart.

In Him,

Jean-Marc

The Quest For Manhood

And a man sat alone.
Drenched deep in sadness.
And all the animals drew near to him and said:

"We do not like to see you so sad...
"Ask us for whatever you wish and you shall have it."
The Man said: "I want to have good sight."
The vulture replied: "You shall have mine."
The Man said: "I want to be strong."
The jaguar said: "You shall be strong like me."
Then the Man said: "I long to know the secrets of the earth."
The serpent replied: "I will show them to you."
And so it went with all the animals.

And when the Man had all the gifts that they could give...
...he left.

Then the owl said to the other animals:
"Now the Man knows much and is able to do many things...
"Suddenly I am afraid."
The deer said: "The Man has all that he needs."
"Now his sadness will stop."
But the owl replied: "No."
"I saw a hole in the Man...
"Deep like a hunger he will never fill...
"It is what makes him sad and what makes him want."
"He will go on taking and taking...
"until one day the World will say:
"I am no more and I have nothing left to give."

- Apocalypto, The Man

I spent the afternoon with a brother in the faith, we began share our troubles and anguish in searching for manhood. We came from different view points, though were able to nail a few characteristics to it:

It must be a chest at the bottom of the ocean,
A hostage on the other side of a fist fight,
It was probably candy red with wheels,
or maybe nicely pressed and draped,
with a corner office add-on,

But then we we came to our senses.
We could search forever, or realize we had everything we needed.
The world's manhood=more.
Real manhood=might,
and only God can give that.

“Together they will be like mighty men trampling the muddy streets in battle. Because the LORD is with them,”
-Zechariah 10:5

In Him,

Jean-Marc

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