“They are all chasing a great dream. They are all looking for answers. But they don’t realize is that they have found it already. They have found it in one another.”

Diego Luna - in the preview for the upcoming movie Mister Lonely

We, as a people, need each other. But, we’ve conditioned ourselves to believe that we need our independence. We define ourselves by who is the most independent. If I don’t need anyone, then I am self-sufficient and if I’m self-sufficient then I’m more capable than the next guy. And if I’m capable, then I seem strong and in control. Though now, if feel capable, I also begin feel alone. The tragedy here is that only through interdependence will we find wholeness. The Lord intended it that way (see Matthew 18:20 or Acts 2:46-47).

We’re all off running our own ways, working so hard so grapple for control, but we can’t escape this feeling of emptiness. It never goes away. Why can’t we dream together and chase these dreams together? That’s how we will find the answers… that’s how we should purse the Lord… that’s how we were meant to live.

“…unconditional and unlimited love is what the evangelist John calls God’s first love. “Let us love, he says, “because God loves us first (1 John 4:19).”

” To live a life that is not dominated by the desire to be relevant but is instead safely anchored by the knowledge of God’s first love, we have to be mystics. A mystic is a person who identity is deeply rooted in God’s first love.”

Henry Nouwen - In the Name of Jesus

So are you a mystic?

Jesus said…”Let anyone who is thirsty come to me! Let anyone who believe in me come and drink (John 7:37-38). Come to me, all you who labor and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentile and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls (Matthew 11:28-29).

Anyone thirsty? Anyone overburdened? Anyone? Bueller… Bueller… Buller….

I’m back from our Burger Odyssey and it was amazing. I’ll blog about it tomorrow.  As I was catching up on blogs I’ve missed out on for the past few days, I stumbled upon this by My Derbe…

The “hedge of protection” is an Old Testament thought. Our protection isn’t a hedge. Our protection is Christ, Who is far greater than a hedge. We are hidden in Christ.

I’ve always found the “hedge” statement odd when I heard someone praying. Mainly because it reminds me of landscaping, but also it evokes this idea that God is ADD and forgets us. You know… “God I need you now! And now. And now. And in a few seconds. And also now.” If we are covered and walking in Christ AND if Christ is in us… do we need to keep asking for him to do what he already said he would do? Just a thought.

What are your thoughts on the hedge?

I feel like I’m hearing the same conversations and the same arguments about the same things lately. I’ve gotten ear fulls. And it’s always about the same two things. The two things that have been making me sick are: religion and politics. Needless to say, I’ve been pretty cynical lately. Then, I heard some quotes from founding father, Thomas Paine, over the radio today that only spurred me on further.

Thomas Paine on Politics:

Society in every state is a blessing, but government, even in its best stage, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state an intolerable one.

Thomas Paine on Religion:

All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.

So, I’ve come to these two conclusions: 1) religion and politics just don’t work and 2) there’s not much difference between the two.

They’re both about conviction, power, control and being right. Both involve pushing forward a certain dogma of beliefs and practices. The problem with both is that they’re all too human and easy to define. They both seem to boil down to “what we can do.” And the more I follow after Christ, I find out that life has less and less to do about me. It’s not about power or control, but giving those things up. The more I walk, the more I find myself being farther and farther from those two things. So I could care less about religion and politics, thank you very much.