Monday, August 28, 2006

A Blue Like Jazz Fellowship

During welcome week, Cal Journey, or probably Campus Crusade as a whole passes out a book called Blue Like Jazz. In it, the author gives his views on Christianity in a very non spiritual way.
The author in the book goes to a college that is kind of like Berkeley in how liberal it is. In fact, from how he describes it, the college he went to is maybe even more "heathenish" than Berkeley. The Christians at this college are extremely radical in how they reach the greater student population. They are also pretty unorthodox in their living styles. Miller talks about how one of this friends says that the Bible is best enjoyed with cigarettes and chocolate. There are other mentions of embracing communities that tend to be ostracized by many Christian communities.
In a sense, I feel that Jesus is the person who was able to embrace socially shunned communities. He was able to hang out with the sinners, prostitutes, and the tax collectors. These men and women were able to say, "Jesus is the man. He doesn't hate on me." At the same time, Jesus never let down his moral or purity standards. This really makes me wonder sometime how he did this.
Anyway, the part of this post that relates to the title is after reflecting on this, I started thinking about how cool it would be to have a fellowship on campus that somehow embraced all non-Christians in a way that they felt safe and not judged. For me, I think it is interesting how I don't see many people at fellowship,that after large group, go outside and smoke. Or, why don't people meet together to enjoy a hooka and bible study. I feel that a lot of times, Christian communities give of a 'bad vibe' to non-Christians. Maybe if we were out tabling for a fellowship and smoking a pipe, people would come up and be interested in the seeming paradox of how someone can be a Christian and smoke a pipe. Maybe they would ask, "Hey how can you be religious but still be smoking a hooka." I feel that many non-Christians, and Christians have erected a facade of moral perfection that often separates Christians from non-Christians becuase of feelings that they can't relate. I know any desires I have right now to start smoking a pipe or drinking socially would be purely for image, but again, I think it would be neat to see a ministry that was like this.
For me, I don't exactly know if this would be right for me. In Romans it says that whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. Of course I know that smoking pipes and hookas are not illegal, but maybe this would be bad for my body? or maybe it would be done with the wrong motives.
Anyway, this is something that has been on my mind for a little while.
Talk to me about it.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

a multitude of voices

I had almost forgotten how cool it is to be in the presence of God, singing hymns of praise and being joined with the saints.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Thursday, August 24, 2006

An Update

It has been a while since I have wrote on here. Since then I have gone to New York to do tourist stuff and see my brother off to college. While there we explored Manhattan via subway and shoe.
I left New York earlier than the rest of my family to attend a Cal Journey retreat to prepare for welcome week and this upcomming semester.
On saturday I went home for a day and did some final hanging out in Palo Alto. I arrived back in Berkeley on Sunday via Anthony's car and BART.
Wow, and now welcome week. I feel that God is really teaching me how to rely on him when I'm tired. I guess it is kind of like Nehemiah. "They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, 'Their hands willg et too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." But I prayed, "Now strengthen my hands.'" Nehemiah 6:9.
I think it is pretty awesome how Nehemiah comes to God with prayer in his time of need but but at the same time, it isn't in an eloquent prayer. It is simple, short and too the point. I feel that Nehemiah is so in tuned with what God's will and what will bring God glory that he doesn't have to plead or beg. He just has to ask God for what God already wants to do.
Anyway, I guess this update doesn't include a cool adventure. Not too exciting eh?
Thanks for reading.