I am finding as we move that we have too much stuff. While packing I’m realizing that what used to make me happy is now just a silly item. And the clothes that I will never fit into again, I have to just let go. And I have to agree, the amount of shoes i own ARE excessive! But they match…everything! I’m so excited to move, life is amazing and I praise God for every waking moment. Woohoo!
The Cost of Living
So, as we think about what it means to dive into intentional community I am immediately drawn to the reality of the Cross…the literal implications of the resurrection and the call to live a life of worth-giving (worship) to the one true living God. I have found that people often feel attacked by the world of Christendom, so whenever they are asked, Do you know Christ? (a bad place to start a conversation by the way), they assume they know where you are going and immediately shut you off. The sub culture of Christianity becomes ostracized. Which, believe it or not, is OK. BUT, it must not end there. Christ is the innovator and finisher of our faith and with that introduction of something brand new (new life), there has been an echo of change throughout the heart of humanity. Maybe there is hope? Maybe there is new from the old? Maybe ‘it’ wasn’t my fault? Maybe….
The cost of living for Christ, unashamed, is in reality a call to death: the death of all of me, daily. I cannot tell one person to not do ‘something’ while dismissing my errors as “a part of the culture I live in and am thereby shaped by” (sound familiar?) I must not limit God’s strength in me with fear…no amount of self inflicted pain or criticism will empower you as only the blood of the resurrected Lamb can invigorate His passion in you.
With intent, Christ left the heavenly glory, took on the cancer of our sin, embraced the abuse of religion, and then killed death for the Father’s glory and for our salvation! That is our example of love, of living.
When I see a tragic accident how do I respond? Do I rush to help (if able) or stand to the side? Maybe even look away?
When some one, a stranger, asks for money, do you mock them with assumptions or leave the results up to someone else?
How about the times when you do act with kindness towards someone, are you focused on their betterment or just passing through the moment?
The apostle Paul wrote, “To live is Christ and to die is gain…” but isn’t it easy to die for Christ or at least say you will (Ex. The Apostle Peter in Matthew 26.33-35 ). It takes a different understanding of whole hearted – heart broken and restored commitment to live for Christ. The cost of living is the perpetual death all things outside of Christ.
Living intentionally is birthed from the reality of the empty tomb. In the wake of resurrection our hearts are being made new rather than being left in the chaos of destruction!
{soli deo gloria}
-reflectivecho
Rainbow community
As I’m lying in bed, wishing I could sleep, I look over at the clock and realize its 10:15. This time tomorrow my beautiful wife and I will be deep in the woods surrounded by the rainbow community, or children of the living light, its our first time out. It’s a different kind of intentional community then what we have at anastasis house but it is a community, and one of the first. I’m excited as many of my friends have went for years to feed people the bread of life as well as the bread of the earth. They’re known as Jesus camp, Jesus kitchen, etc. I’ve been studying up a little, as much as the internet can tell me about the alternative to “babalyon”, as they call it. At nationals and regionals thousands gather in the name of peace, religion, unity, and just to feel close to others. My personal goal is to learn the culture, love the people and be open about my God. To tell them about what he’s done for me. I don’t want to sound corney or like a over zealous Christian wing nut, but I do love Christ, I cling to the cross and I try to remember what all that means and what it looks like daily. It is my crutch because I’ve tried to hold myself up and I was given enough wisdom to see where I was headed. Anyway, this doesn’t exactly relate to our home bit it does have something to do with community, so I thought I would let everyone in on my life and what I’m up to.
Sincerely yours,
MistaMoody
Hurry up and wait
Between the time we decided on a home and moving into that home is about the most exaustive excitement we can endure. Our time is primarily filled with hopes and dreams and…packing.
Packing: to place your entire life in a box and send it somewhere else.
When I was younger my mother and father decided life would be better if they didn’t share housing, since that time I have lived in at least a hundred houses and attended 9 schools throughout the asheville area. I am no stranger to packaging tape and cardboard boxes. I’m an oddity in that I enjoy moving. To me the idea that I get to rearrange my room, Plan new color schemes, Find socks, Are exciting. One job I have never had is the professional mover, I’ve been offered this job and chuckle every time someone mentions it. No thank you, I’ve been doing this my entire childhood and every year after I moved out. But I enjoy it. What I do not enjoy is that it has either rained or snowed every time, without fail, up until the day I was married. Then all the stories myself and my family have played up for so long fall to ashes. Thanks babe, wished you were around when I was 17, we’d have a lot more furniture.
Overall, I want to say I’m overjoyed. Encouraged and excited to share a home with these three that I have grown to love.
Mista Moody
Greetings from afar.
Upon resolution of dispatched thoughts, a common thesis was created. We’ve been charged with community of the first degree. Intentional union, intentionally. Unified. 4.5 to divide homeship. The city there of shall be, upon reconciliation of those mentioned, decimated by love. All acts rendering thoughtfulness and hope shall include and promote a sense of being. Wrestling with and struggling through will commence in no less then 15 days. Until then, I shall be known only as MistaMoody.
The Anastasis House 