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The past couple of days I have been reading through the book of Acts. It's an amazing book that always gets me well stoked. Today I was reading chapter 7, which talks about Stephen and his stoning. As I was reading Stephen's response to the religious leaders when they were accusing him of blaspheme, there was something that really stood out to me.
Stephen opens up his speech with the beginning of the history of the Jewish people, his people. He tells the story of Abraham and the faith that he had and goes right down the Jewish timeline to Moses freeing the Israelites from Egypt. Steven Continues down the timeline building up to where they are in that line, a resurrected Jesus and a movement that turning the world up side down.
But when Steven was talking about Moses something really jumped out at me. Steven talked about where God calls moses out of the wilderness to save his people, answer the cry, and he quotes scripture saying,
( Acts7:35) "It was Moses whom they rejected when they said, 'Who made you a ruler and judge?' and whom God has now sent as both ruler and liberator through the angel who appeared to him in the bush."
When I read that this morning it jumped out at me.
I just finished reading a book called "Jesus Wants to Save Christians," by Rob Bell. (I encourage everyone to read it, its an easy read.) In the book there is a continual reference to Jesus being the new Moses. The new person to lead the Israelites, and now the whole world, to freedom from Egypt, from oppressions and addictions.
I also saw on TV several weeks ago something about Judaism and Christianity and all the parallels in our holidays and ceremonies. Many of the teachers, theologians, and priest interviewed would refer to Jesus as the new Moses. They would explain, even the Jewish teachers, how the gospels are written in a way that parallels the Jewish peoples stories. (If you are interest in more specifics ask and I will explain. It's really quite beautiful and eye opening.)
I have also been thinking about the idea of Life. And realizing how God is concerned with Life. He brought a message that many called the Way, because it was and is the way to Life. Just like God was trying to teach the Israelites how to live in the wilderness, Jesus was showing people how to live in exile, in a world that is terribly broken. The gospel is more about this earth and where we are now then it is about death and what happens when we die. It is a Gospel of freedom, it is a Gospel of Joy, it is a Gospel of wellness, it is a Gospel of the Way. Not a gospel of Death.
Right now you maybe be thinking, Chris needs more writing classes so he can learn to deliver his point with out jumping everywhere. To that I say, "your probably right."
So now back to Acts 7:35. When Stephen says that bit about Moses, I realized he was saying something much deeper then a piece of history that the religious leaders were already well acquainted with. I realized that Stephen was showing the religious leaders the connection to Jesus and Moses and that just like Moses led this group of people to "freedom", Jesus is the new Way to true freedom; the One who would lead them out of Egypt, or Babylon, or Assyria, or Roman, or a Deeper kind of oppression and slavery then any of those physical places, a freedom from Sin.
And think the holy job Stephen had was waiting on tables (Acts 6:2). Man what does God want to do in our jobs, in the places we go and hang out. Exciting! If a table waiter caused such a ruckus in Jerusalem and a ruckus that spread to the ends of the earth, what kind of ruckus does God want us to cause in Philly and where will it end up?
It also struck me how often times we think of Jesus as a judge who came with intent of judging us, but really the scriptures say he came to show us a way out because we are already condemned. He was the Scape Goat for us and everyone around us. God didn't appoint Christ as Ruler and Judge, but God appointed Christ as Ruler and Liberator! Praise God for that.
Like Vernon said the other night " I LOVE IT, (leg kick) when I find these parallels!! haha. "
Hopefully if you got this far in my writing it encouraged you or at least made sense.
Any thoughts?
Grace and peace
Chris
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!
First, I want to say that the Thursday night crew has blessed my life so much this past year. It has been a joy to share life with everyone who has either stopped by or come more frequently. I can’t say thank you enough for allowing me to share in your life as well as that’d you’d be down to share in my life.
We started this group unsure of where it would go, if people would come, and with out any idea how it should really look. We just knew we wanted more of God, and wanted to journey with people in a search to reconcile Christ into all things in our life. It’s amazing to see where God has taken us as a community, a tribe, a family. How God has challenged some of us to seek Christ deeper and love others more selflessly. And for others God has encouraged us and spoken even deeper into being who he has made us to be. God has broke down walls for others and brought a deeper sense of peace and freedom to many of us.
My prayer for this next year is that we as individuals as well as a community would go deeper with God. That God would teach us how to lay down our wants for the needs of others. I pray that our lives would be a representation of our Awesome God. As we go deeper, I hope that the Holy Spirit would fill our lives more then we even thought possible, and that just maybe, the Holy Spirit would rub off on those around us, our friends, our family, people on septa with us, people dancing next to us, people passing us on the streets and even the people we don’t really like to much. I pray this year is better then the last, and I don’t mean with “cooler” events, and better jobs, more pay, nicer bikes, easier workload or more comfort, but what I mean is that in this new year we would have a deeper love for our brothers and sisters, the poor, the oppressed, and God. I pray that we will not tire of doing good but will be there for one another when we stumble, when we are tired, and when we come to the end of ourselves with nothing left to give. I thank God for all of you guys, and his grace and peace, and eagerly look forward to partnering with you and the Creator of the Universe in what he is doing in the city of Brotherly love, and the world in this new year.
Who knows what God will do this New Year. He did so much in 08, I’m Stoked! Who knows maybe some of will go to Africa, or Japan, maybe a crew of us will take a trip to South America. Who knows, some of us could start partnering with other churches or starting ministries of reconciliation and peace. God could also be opening doors for us to help and serve already existing organizations. Some of us might move else where in our journey with God. Who knows, God could be inviting us to join Him, in quietly loving those around us, by sitting with them and letting them know we are there for them. It is so exciting what God could do through in and in this group, with God leading anything could happen. So EPIC! But no matter what we do I think Mother Theresa said it best when she said,
“Many people mistake our work for our vocation. Our vocation is the love of Jesus.”
Looking forward to the New Year.
Until then
Grace and Peace,
Chris
So... We haven't blogged in ages (no excuses). But hey now we are back on track. Over the last few weeks after eating and sharing together, we have been dividing up portions of Luke 6 and digging into it, sharing our different perspectives. I think that has been really good, and really refreshing hearing from each other what God has been speaking to us through the scriptures. As we go forward, my hope is that we can continue to grow as a crew that knows God, builds each other up and loves the people around us in real tangible ways. See you guys next week. More to come, As always -Josh
There is no more denying it, Fall is officially here and Winter is coming up close behind. This last week after stuffing ourselves with too many taco's and catching up around the table, we brewed up a pot of Coffee, shared joys and also shared some of the things that God is doing in our lives. We've been walking through the gospel of Luke for the last couple months, and as we have gone through it we've come to realize that we serve an amazing God, who is full of grace and mercy, and who walks in humility. We've been wrestling with this stuff and what it looks like for us as a community to be followers of Jesus. So let's continue as a crew to move forward with God and to go deeper with each other, so that with can be that small chunk of leaven that ends up rising things up and bringing transformation. Thanks for joining us on our journey to turn the world upside down. See you guys soon.
This last week was tight. We gathered together and after having breakfast for dinner and sharing joys, we spent time seeking God and came away with a greater sense of what He is doing in this city. I feel like this is real exciting time for our crew.
This week we will be looking at the Story, and trying to better understand who God is through Luke Chapter 5. Go ahead and read it if you get the chance, so that we can come prepared and encourage each other through what we see in the scripture.
So I know that this was rather a short post, but I am looking Forward to seeing you guys soon. Bring a an empty stomach.
Peace and Love
Josh
This last week was epic. Once again we came from the four corners of our city for food and fellowship, and man was it good. After an amazing dinner brought to us by Greta, we talked about Luke Chapter four, and afterwards did some brainstorming about what the future could look like.
Man I am so encouraged and I think that God is really moving in our midst. I feel like over the last few months we've been getting formed into a tighter crew and that has been really cool. I also think that God has been preparing us for great things. I am really excited that we are starting to dream big and beginning to take steps to walking out in all this stuff that we are learning.
So this week we are going on our first ever Thursday night road trip. We are going out to Jersey for one of "The Legend's" (aka the old man, aka Jon Narr) photo shows. Afterwards we are going to be putting on our dancing shoes and going to the Barbary in Fishtown. As far as transportation goes, I am not sure what the plans are yet, but get in touch with either Chris or I. See you guys then.
So... it has been over a month since we put up a new post here, and for that we do apologize. If you have been holding a secret grudge, consider this your official sorry. Life has been crazy busy, but in reality there is no decent excuse (except that we are lazy).
Anyway these last few months have been real exciting. Besides the food and good times, I feel like God is really building us into a community that hungers for more of him. I feel like he is taking us on a journey, and showing us that we need him in order to bring any real change to this city. I was praying the other day, and got a picture of a crew of people building a house, and i got the sense that God is doing that with us. He is building us into a place where he can come and live.
So I guess I want us to ask ourselves: "How can we help in the building? What are the practical steps that we need to take? How can we join our lives together in such a way, that will help us continue to encourage and challenge each other?"
See you guys this Thursday.
