The Actions of Christ

Sometimes, I feel like the actions of Christ speak to me more than His actual words. I was reading in Matthew last night and it happened again.

Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagouges, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him. Matthew 4:23-25

Last night, as I laid in bed attempting to fall asleep, pictures of the events described in these two verses kept running through my mind. I looked something like this:

Jesus walked through the streets of Galilee, preaching of His arrival, the arrival of the Savior of Man, at any opportunity that presented itself. He preached on the street corners, in the marketplace. He even taught in the Jewish synagouges, though he faced opposition from Jewish leaders and was not an ordained rabbi. The Good News, this Gospel of Truth could not and would not be contained by law or custom. While preaching, he walked through the masses, healing all those who were sick and disease-ridden. He placed His hands on the paraplegics, the lepers, the ones deemed "unclean" by society and loved upon them and cured them.
Soon, news traveled throughout the neighboring lands about a man in Galilee who had the healing power of God. People gathered spouses, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and friends and journeyed for days to come to see the man who called himself the Son of God and healed the sick. Thousands upon thousands of the sick and disease-ridden arrived in Galilee, lining up to be healed. Jesus, though weary from travel, placed His rough, calloused hands upon the face of the first person in line. Then the next. And the next. And the next. And the next. He put His hands upon those suffering in agonizing pain, and released them from their bonds of anguish. He put His hands on those possessed by demons, and cast out the evil spirits. He calmed those suffering from seizures. He lifted the burdens of the paralyzed and allowed them to move. Those that society drew back from, Jesus reached out with His weathered hands and grasped onto.
Jesus stayed there for days, healing and casting out demons. The line stretched past the horizon and neared infinity. As more and more left rejoicing and telling of the name of Jesus, more of the sick and needy arrived. Though tired and weary, He did not turn away a single person in need of healing. He stayed and healed every last disease, sickness, and pain in every last individual until there was no one left to heal. Because of His wondrous acts, the thousands that Jesus healed and many, many more followed Him. They formed a sea so vast and numerous that it was impossible to count. They had seen of this man's healing powers and of His love, and were ready to follow faithfully.

This is the Christ whose birth we celebrate on this blessed day. The Christ who ushered in healing, redemption, freedom from pain and sickness, freedom from sin, and an unconditional, undying, everlasting, agape love.

Merry Christmas.


Currently Listening To:
Track- "Again"

Album- "Undeserving"

Artist- mel washington band

Currently Reading:
Rant by Chuck Palahniuk

The Glory of It All

This song has been stuck in my head for the past couple days:

At the start
he was there, he was there
In the end,
he’ll be there, he’ll be there

And After all our hands have wrought
He forgives

Oh the Glory of it all is:
he came here
For the rescue of us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all
for the glory of it all

All is lost
find him there, find him there
After night
Dawn is there, Dawn is there

After all falls apart
he repairs he repairs

Oh the Glory of it all is:
he came here
for the rescue of us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all

oh he is here
for redemption from the fall
that we may live
for the glory of it all
oh the glory of it all
the glory of it all
oh the glory of it all

After night
comes the light
dawn is here
dawn is here
it’s a new day
it’s a new day
everything will change
things will never be the same
we will never be the same
we will never be the same
we will never be the same
we will never be the same

Oh, The glory of it all is
you came here
for the rescue of us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all

Oh you are here
with redemption for us all
that we may live
for the glory of it all
for the glory of it all
oh the glory of it all

Well put Mr. Crowder, very well put.

Currently Listening to

Track- "Glory of it All"

Album- Remedy

Artist- David Crowder Band

Currently Reading

Rant, An Oral Biography by Chuck Palahniuk

Some Christmas Reccomendations

Since everyone else is, I thought I would share some of my favorite Christmas albums and films. They are:

Albums
"Charlie Brown Christmas"- Vince Guaraldi Trio
This is some of the most beautiful renditions of Christmas music I've heard. Guaraldi is a masterful piano player, playing poignantly and expressively. With a laid-back feel, this album was instantly put you in a good mood, at ease, and ready for Christmas Day.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Technically this is an artist, not an album. Nonetheless, they are amazing. Tons of technical electric guitar leads and amazing orchestral arrangements that make you want to head-bang to "Silent Night".

Films
"National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation"
By far, my personal favorite of the franchise of films. Great lines, great slapstick, and one awesome sledding scene.

"The Christmas Story"
A classic, I feel like everyone should see this at least once. A simple story of one kid's pursuit to gain his dream gift, and once again proves the theory that if you put your tongue on a frozen pole/piece of metal, it will stick.

"Die Hard"
Possibly the manliest Christmas movie ever made. Who doesn't want to see Bruce Willis take out an entire terrorist organization in one night? And yes, it is a Christmas movie, just watch it and you will see.

If you haven't seen/listened to any of this, it is imperative that you do so. NOW.

Currently Listening
Track- "Voices"
Album- "Saosin"
Artist- Saosin

Currently Reading
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

Putting the "fun" in dysfunction

When I was younger, I used to think that dysfunctional families only happened on television shows. You know, you have the lovable dysfunctional family of TV sitcoms where everyone still has their problems, but they make you laugh, so it's okay. Or you have you dysfunctional families of TV dramas, where [insert family member(s)] may be dealing with substance abuse, abusive to their kids/spouses, emotionally distant, and the list goes on and on. The issue of dysfunction was something of an abstract concept to me, something that only happened in the world of Hollywoodland. Man was I wrong....

Over the past few weeks I have been reawakened to the frightening realness of dysfunction and the epidemic our world is suffering from. I've been reminded of my own family's history with dysfunction and abuse, and also had conversations with those I never expected to come from dysfunctional families. Last week, I grabbed lunch with a friend one day, and a mutual friend proceeded to join us. The conversation started off light, talking and laughing, but then it became a bit darker. They both began to share about their families and their dysfunctional pasts. Non-supportive parents, manipulative relationships, adultery, lying, hypocrisy were just some of the topics mentioned. I sat there in complete silence, not knowing what to say, amazed with the battles they have to fight daily. However, I was even more amazed by the fact of how good these two people are. How loving they are, the compassion in their hearts, their servant attitudes. (I can come up with a million other things to say, but I'll save you and me both time and keep it short) I was then reminded of the story of a family member, who came from a physically and sexually abusive home and they are one of the most loving and caring persons I have met in my 19ish years. None of it seemed to make sense. I felt like there was a disconnect. I found myself thinking "how can such good people come from such horrendous situations?"

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.- Philippians 1:15-18

(Most of you are now probably wondering why I randomly quoted Philippians. I promise it'll make sense, just work with me)

I was doing a weekly bible study with a friend and we came along this passage. At first, neither of us understood it. "How can good come out of selfish motives?" "How can Christ be preached from a prideful heart?" It seemed like faulty logic. Then, God dropped some knowledge on me like a ton of bricks. This passage is a reminder of God's power to overcome even the worst situations and evil desires to perform His good and righteous will. He can overcome selfish desires, pride and envy, greed, and dysfunctional family histories to create something beautiful and glorious. Heck, He can use selfish desires, pride and envy, greed, and dysfunctional families to produce something beautiful and glorious. This is the power of God. The power of God is not held within the limits of human sin. His infinite power cannot be contained by our finite actions. The moment Jesus sacrificed himself upon The Cross, all boundaries established by our sins were broken down. There is no more wall dividing us from God. It's truly a beautiful thing to realize.


Currently Listening
Track-"Bright and Dirty Lights"
Album- Justin King and the Apologies
Artist- Justin King and the Apologies

Currently Reading
Blue like Jazz by Donald Miller