FOR THOSE WHO DARE TO...

*** warning- this is intended for those who dare to read & then think & then act. It is not enough simply to store up head knowledge about such important matters of the kingdom of God!***

God doesn't look at us & see something lovely. Instead, he looks at who we are, accepts us, & loves us UNTIL we become something lovely.

This is why Jesus hung around the ranks of (what we would call) swindlers, thieves, adulterers, racist, gender-benders, drug-addicts, alcoholics, glutenous people, greed soaked people, selfish people, & even those stuck in religiosity.

Even as this is the case, we often can be critical of those Christians that are "caught" associating with "the wrong types" of people. Jesus teaches that there ARE no wrong types of people. In fact, there is ONE type of person. This type of person is called a SINNER! If we saw a doctor with a room full of all types of sick people, we would call him a good doctor & yet we often call Christians BAD when they hang around the "spiritually sick". Jesus said, "I have not come for the righteous, but for the sick." The question is: Are WE going to the sick? Are we living with the sick? Are we dinning with the sick? Are WE conversing & forming community with the sick?

Fellowship is sometimes more important than freedom! Are we willing to give up some of our liberties in order to see that those who are looked upon as "undeserving of liberty" come to liberty.. in truth & in spirit?

Jesus loves sinners! Let's look at {Luke 19: 1-10}- (you can follow the link and read it here)
-------> http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2019:1-10&version=ESV

No doubt, many of us (okay, almost all) have heard this story as children. Now here's the thing: WE hear a lot.. but do we really hear it? Jesus said this to the religious as well. Do we really have ears to hear this? Do we really have eyes to see what Jesus is meaning through this Biblical example?

Well, one thing this account can remind us of is Jesus command to us. Jesus tells us to GO and make disciples. He doesn't say "when you go" or even "if you go". He simply says for us TO GO! Now many of us can get caught up in the cycle of foreign missions and nothing is wrong with that in and of itself. However, I will say something here that applies to us all. What are we doing for our neighbors right down the street? See, Jesus shows us in this story that something as simple as a community group or small bible study can lead to a HUGE witness for his kingdom and eventually the conversion of thousands of souls! You may think it is far fetched, I do not.

What about the heart? Zacheus was a very greedy man. He would have been one of those that the religious leaders scorned Jesus for hanging out with. However, Jesus eats with the man! Now in this time separate "denominations" wouldn't have even dined together. There was a striving for all different sects of Christian thought to keep there blood-line pure. This is, no doubt, a corrupt concept. However, it still went on. (just like many of the practices that we allow in our day to day lives which have nothing to do with the bible or what Jesus said about living life)...

Jesus did something for Zacheus that allowed Zacheus to be opened to the gospel. Jesus was generous towards him. He was generous in talk, thought, and action. This just goes to show you that even a "party" can be a witnessing tool. We can invite people who are not Christians into our homes and be generous to them. This can open doors into conversational community. You would be surprised what a total stranger would even share with you once you share that you care about their humanity!

Now in return for Jesus example of generosity, what does Zacheus do? Well, first we see that he wants to become like Jesus. How does he first strive to become like Jesus? Well, he wants to show others the same generosity he was shown through Jesus example! This is why we hold a very powerful tool in everything we do as Christians. Even the little things (or especially the little things) hold the power to open souls to the soul transforming, mind bending, heart changing power of Christ love!

This is why it is okay for us to make friends and even become close to sinners. Christ has not called us into a commune on the mountain away from the world! Christ has called us into community, and that community is one that is inclusive of everyone.

Let's look at {Luke 5:27-32}- http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%205:27-32&version=ESV

Now in this, we see Jesus motivation for how he treated Zacheus later on. WE see that he treated Levi the same way. This shows us that Jesus is not just a "one time" or "when I feel like it" lover of people. This is very important (in part because of all the stereotypes towards Christians today-- most of them earned). In living this one small example even, we hold power to demolish some of the world's reasoning for not wanting to be like Christians! In this we hold a power to throw away "religiosity" and move towards "true love".

Anther issue is that many people may be more open to Jesus in this type of home setting.. or a small group. Many of the people talked about in Luke 5 wouldn't have been the "church going type". However, they were open to meeting in other ways. We can learn a lot from this.

A poet's song of love (appelez-ainsi le amour)

I wrote this in a matter of minutes.. hopefully I'll have a simplistic guitar part that doesn't overpower the meaning soon. I will post a video with my flip video recorder soon! :) Get excited, loves.

Vous êtes amour ; appelez-ainsi le amour. Elle est amour ; elle est toute que j'ai besoin.

(translation)-- You are love; so call it love. She is love; she is all I need.

V1: You were a bird & I was absurd
For falling for the notion that two trees should fall in love.
You were a bird & I, a sycamore
& in the breeze you built your nest on me & called it love.
You called it love.
appelez-ainsi le amour

V2: The sky lights Jesus along his way
To call Zacheus down from the sycamore that perched our love
For all the pearly gates.. to sit & stare upon..
For all the pearly gates .. to sit & stare upon..
& call it love
appelez-ainsi le amour

{Chorus}-
& we are different, but difference complements
& we are different now in spite of all the silly times we think alike
& our hearts may beat as one, but we are one bird & single tree to fall in love.
appelez-ainsi le amour

V3: You were a bird & I was absurd
To think that simple aerodynamics could stand in the way of beauty’s flight.
You were a bird & I a silly grounded tree with nothing to inspire me.. until your love
It swooped its crown on me.. & in time it could transform a simple liar.. into a flyer .. with passion fire

so call it love
appelez-ainsi le amour
So call it love.. dum dum dum dum
So call it love.. dum de dum dum dum
So call it love
appelez-ainsi le amour

{Chorus}-
& we are different, but difference complements
& we are different now in spite of all the silly times we think alike
& our hearts may beat as one, but we are one bird & single tree to fall in love.
appelez-ainsi le amour

{Outro}-
So call it love..
appelez-ainsi le amour
So call it love..
appelez-ainsi le amour
So call it love..
appelez-ainsi le amour
So call it love.. cause you are love!
vous êtes amour