wedding & funeral

I’m mentally-emotionally exhausted. It’s been a good but hard week. Last saturday morning, my good friend and long time mentor, Gilbert Woo, left this earthly life. It was a strange day for me because on the day I saw him slowly fade into the Father’s full presence, I was a few hours later conducting a wedding ceremony. There was an ironic rawness to everything I did during the wedding. It seemed like everything was tied to a memory or some aspect of my friend’s death. There was a sense of deep urgency; as if Gil was standing next to me telling me to urge people to love God and love people. At one moment during the evening reception, I watched the bride and groom take their first dance. It was a great and beautiful moment. They danced all night. No cares. No worries. Just joy. At the same time, I was certain my friend was no longer in his body or stuck to a future grave. He was already lifted. He had risen. There was a certain understanding that while a couple might dance their way into marriage, my good friend was dancing in the gracious arms of Christ.

12

Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him (Mark 3:14).

I can’t help but reflect on the fact that Jesus chose those who never made the cut to be rabbis to be his new world leaders. Must have been completely offensive to the Pharisees who prided themselves over merit badges and educational training concerning the Torah and laws that followed. I also forget the 12 were barely out of their teenage years. Granted boys became men quite younger in Jesus’ day but certainly Jesus must have known more seasoned individuals that leaders in the community would have accepted after his own death.

In the end it didn’t really matter what their credentials were because Mark says those Jesus called to be his disciples were the one’s Jesus wanted. That’s it. Jesus’ call transcends gender, age, race, culture, education, citizenship, education, etc. They simply aren’t exclusive requirements when Jesus calls people to follow and reach people with the Gospel. The lesson for me today is to remember that while some might fit the mold of what I’ll call a “leader”, Jesus’ choosing of the 12 demands I look at the heart of a person before anything else.

I know I’m not really blogging on anything most don’t already know but I still after so many years of being a Christian feel moved when I say that Jesus pursues the one’s he wants. That he caught my attention. That he called me to something more as I matured in my faith. And that I found his person and work to be so moving that it demanded I give my entire life to him.

missio dei

It’s time to plant a church…

broken stuff

I woke up this morning feeling broken. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way. In the last few months I’ve had friends struggle with serious health issues and personal pain. Disease, poverty, and loneliness seem to be constant themes for so many people I know. More and more I’m realizing these are the products of a very broken world. While I know hate is usually an unhealthy thing, I find myself today angry for the right reasons; certain suffering simply isn’t right:

I hate cancer…
I hate greed and how that leads to poverty and famine…
I hate racism, unequal opportunity, and unfair immigration practices…
I hate loneliness and the frustration it brings into so many lives…
I hate porn and drug addiction…
I hate  spousal abuse and infidelity…
I hate death and war… man’s need to conquer…

I’m grateful for Jesus. That God has come and will come again to make all things right. Until then I’m praying that God destroys these evils in our world and protects so many of my close friends who I believe are growing weary over it all…

But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.
I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill.

- David