Livin' Venti

Lent: A Cup of Water

2011-03-09T22:58:00.000-06:00

Relatively few people I know still participate in lent. I believe that most of us (including myself) might have great intentions, like making a new year’s resolution, but we don’t follow through. Maybe it’s because I’ve honestly never really understood how giving up chocolate or fast food helps me focus on Christ.

Yet a few days ago I was reading a friend’s fb status, which inspired me to think about the possibility of maybe not giving something up but instead focusing on a few small acts that I could do. Even giving a cup of water (or Venti coffee) to someone in need. This would allow me to focus on Christ and what he did on the cross. Remembering his sacrifice by living out the life he would desire for me, one which would make a difference in the lives of those I come in contact with everyday.

For the next 40 days I’ll be posting daily quotes meant to inspire, encourage, and equip us in this journey. To get these daily posts “like” Livin’ Venti’s facebook page (found on the right side of this blog.)

Day 1:

“When God asks us to give him something, he asks us to give him only what we already have. It might take a little work to identify what that is, but we already have what we need to help move others closer to him. The problem is we don’t think that what we have is enough.”

Evangelism Without Additives- Jim Henderson

"It'll Be What Makes Us Different" Human by Natalie Grant

2011-03-03T17:52:00.003-06:00

The reason that I share a weekly song, video, or other media is that there is no need for me to reinvent the wheel when others can put ideas into words much better than I can. Human by Natalie Grant speaks to each one of us and the choices we have in this life. Are we going to live this life without a mission or are we going to make a difference? As she says... maybe if we listen carefully we will "hear the cry of God's children." And than it just takes "A little love... a little kindness... A little light in this time of darkness... It'll be what makes us different... It'll be what makes us human... I'm human, you're human, we are human."

Human by Natalie Grant
Every life has a choice
To rise up to fill the void
Every heart has a mission
And we are called to be human

We gotta do better than this 'cause we only got
One chance to make a difference
We gotta do better than this 'cause we only got
One life that we've been given

A little love, a little kindness
A little light in this time of darkness
It'll be what makes us different
It'll be what makes us human
I'm human, you're human, we are human

We are marked with His image
And we are scarred with indifference
Maybe now we should listen
Hear the cry of God's children

We gotta do better than this 'cause we only got
One chance to make a difference
We gotta do better than this 'cause we only got
One life that we've been given

A little love, a little kindness
A little light in this time of darkness
It'll be what makes the difference
It'll be what makes us human

I'm human, you're human, we are
We are human
I'm human, you're human, we are
We are human

Gotta do better than this 'cause I only got
One chance to make a difference
Gotta do better than this 'cause I'm only
Just one

I'm human, you're human, we are
We are human
I'm human, you're human, we are
We are human

It'll be what makes the difference
It'll be what makes us human

Credits :songwriters: ingram, jason; muckala, dan; sparks, jordin
© sony/atv sounds d/b/a timber pub co-windsor hill music

"No New Friends"

2011-03-01T17:55:00.001-06:00

For most people, a new year’s resolution tends to focus on losing weight, eating right, working out more, getting out of debt, finishing school, etc. Most years I don’t even attempt to make a new year’s resolution, for it typically means the death of whatever I hoped to accomplish. For example, this year I chose not to make a new year’s resolution, yet still decided to coincidentally start counting calories on January 1st. Needless to say, two weeks later I was no longer counting those calories.

A few years ago, I made a different sort of New Year’s Resolution. This particular year, I choose to make the resolution to “make no new friends". Typing that out makes it seem really awful. What kind of person chooses to make such a declaration? How could a person like that have any credibility in blogging about loving one’s neighbor? Honestly, to this day I’m not sure if it was the right decision to make. Maybe it should have been worded differently.

What would lead someone to say that they didn’t want to make any new friends? It may have been because there was a trail of good friends and family who were often pushed to the wayside, when the needs of others took precedent day after day. I wasn’t really loving those neighbors who were closest to me. On the outside people saw this person who would drop whatever she was doing to help people, but was left with friends who were hurt when I double booked myself. And a family who only received the little that was left after I served people all day long.

If any of you read my blog about “I Love You Always, I Like You Sometimes”, you probably wouldn’t be shocked that these happened about the same time. I was so busy focusing on the needs of people I barely knew that my close friends and family were getting the raw end of the deal.

What I saw happening when I reflected on the past year and was looking forward to a new year was that while I was pouring my energy into the many, I had nothing left to give to those closest to me. As we go about trying to love our neighbor, looking at those that we come in contact with on a regular basis, let us not neglect the neighbors closest to us. It’s the perfect place to start, a great launching pad to then continue to open our hearts to those other neighbors who may just be passing through.

Everyday People in Everyday Situations (People)

2011-02-28T21:50:00.000-06:00

Who is my neighbor? Is it only the person who lives in the house next to me or can the definition be expanded?

One day a teacher of the law (kind of like a combination between a pastor and a lawyer) wanted to have Jesus set limits to the definition of “neighbor” and justify his own actions towards others so he asked Jesus ‘who was his neighbor?’ This man did not ask Jesus out of the best of intentions; he was trying to find out how little he had to do to have eternal life. He wanted to hear that there were limits to whom he was suppose to love. This would allow him to check it off his list for the day. Wash up... check. Make your bed… check. Work in the field… check. Worship God… check. Love my neighbor… check.

Yet Jesus’ answer broke through all his preconceptions about who was his neighbor. (The whole story is written at the bottom of this post.) He started by condemning the religious workers for not loving those around them. In the story of the Good Samaritan two different religious workers choose to cross the street and pass a man who had been beaten and robbed and left to die. This almost certainly would have been like a dagger directed at the heart of the man who just asked the question. Nevertheless Jesus took it a step further, with great probability increasingly upsetting the Jews who were gathered around. Jesus continued the story sharing how a Samaritan, a people group despised by the Jews, showed love for his this man.

In this story the neighbor is a man who had been attacked by thieves and left him to die. This man probably looked pretty terrible. He had nothing. He needed a lot of help. He was in great need of cloths, money, care, medical attention, dignity, and without help would probably die on the side of the road.

After the two religious leaders (and probably many others) passed by this man a Samaritan came by and had compassion on him. He was an everyday man. While he probably had some resources to be able to help, to the Jews that Jesus was talking to this would have been a huge cultural barrier to cross.

This man could have passed by as he was obviously traveling from one place to another and probably didn’t have extra time built in his schedule to go out of his way to help another man. We are not told his motivation for helping; we are just told that “he took pity on him.” What we do see is that he treated this stranger with dignity. He clothed him, treated his wounds, brought him to a hotel and paid for him to stay there until he was better. He didn’t do anything extraordinary, nor did he stay at the hotel until the man was better. He just provided what he could and went on his way.

Could we do the same thing? How often do we see people in situations where they could really use a helping hand? I personally don’t think that we have to look very far to see people who have a need. In our daily travels, do we run into others that we have the ability to help?

This unnamed man didn’t get glory for what he did. He saw a need that he could help with and just did so. Nothing more, nothing less.

He was an everyday person in an everyday situation. He saw a neighbor (a very extended neighbor) and realized that he had the resources to do something about it.

I see that the first step to “loving out neighbor as ourselves” is to open our eyes to those already around us, often those that we routinely run into. This Samaritan man didn’t go out looking to serve, he just responded to a situation that was in front of him. These days we are constantly surrounded by people. People at work, in our neighborhood, kids’ school, YMCA, church, mom’s group, running errands, family members, ‘soccer’ moms, or while enjoying various hobbies.

Think through the last few days and how many people with whom you came in contact. It actually becomes overwhelming when we start to think about how many people we interact with on a regular basis. There is no possibility that we can meet every need for every person that we know. So for now just start making a list of who you run into on a regular basis.

My next post will continue this discussion and talk about how can we do something that we are passionate about with those people already around us?

_____________________________________
Luke 10:25-37 (New International Version, ©2010)

The Parable of the Good Samaritan
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

What Is The Loving Thing To Say?

2011-02-16T18:35:00.003-06:00

I hear conflicting advice as to what is the loving thing to say to someone when they aren't making the right choices.

Is it better to vocally question their behavior? Or is it better to not address their actions at all?
Do you draw a fat line down the middle or blurry the edges?
What choices should you address and which ones are better to be left alone?
Honestly, I don't have any of those answers.

But in at least one circumstance Jesus interacted with a woman who had been married several times and currently lived with another man. In crossing culturally normal barriers, with even his disciples questioning him as to why he would be talking with her, he took time to briefly get to know this women. In their conversation he made it clear that he knew everything she had done. Yet the love he showed her was so evident that when he offered her living water, instead of responding 'how dare you condemn me?,' she went back to town and told everyone about this man she met at the well.

Listen to a modern day version of this story (which is also found in John 4). I am still processing this story and especially the line in the video "to be known is to be loved and to be loved is to be known." Jesus' example here is that you can both speak to people truthfully and have them know that you love them deeply? There is something powerful about being known and loved! Now I just have to figure out how to do the same...

I Love You Always... I Like You Sometimes...

2011-02-14T20:43:00.004-06:00

For Valentine’s Day a few years ago my husband and I were going through one of the most difficult times in our marriage. As we were approaching the upcoming Hallmark holiday, I felt obligated to do something but my emotions weren’t really into the holiday.

Not wanting to get a lovey dovey card that didn’t really express how I was feeling, I bought my husband a big stuffed dog and pinned a paper heart to its mouth that said “I love you always… I like you sometimes.”

Isn’t that life sometimes? We don’t always like what we are doing. We don’t like all of our co-workers. Our children drive us insane. And our loved ones are often the ones that make us the most upset. So are we supposed to lie about our feelings, pretending that everything is just grand, or can we have a healthy love for others without always liking what is going on? I think so.

I don’t always like that my husband leaves dishes around the house or that he spends large chunks of time in his man cave. I don’t always like that we don’t agree on how to spend our money. I don’t always like cleaning or being the one to organize the home. Yet, often these are the things that erode the love in a relationship. When I wrote that “love note” to my husband, I was beginning to realize that none of the things that I don’t ‘like’ constitute a reason to not ‘love’ my husband.

I love him because of who he is not what he is or the small details of our interactions. I love my husband because, while he doesn’t always get it right, he tries to make us happy. I love my husband because I know that he’ll stick with me when I’m having a bad day, month or year. I love him because he is willing to work long hours so that I can volunteer to build a non-profit organization. But honestly, when everything seems to be falling apart - when it looks like we will join the statistic of 75% of police marriages ending in divorce - I have to make a choice that while sometimes I may not like my husband, I can still make the choice to love him

I think that when Jesus said “love your neighbors as yourself” this was what he was talking about. It’s not an emotional reaction, but a conscientious choice. It is a choice to love a neighbor even when things aren’t reciprocated. You don’t really like them. They are from a different cultural, economic, religious, or social status. They rub you the wrong way. They are strangers. You think they are making bad choices. You’ve tried to help before and got hurt. Getting involved in people's lives is messy, because people are involved. Real people with their problems, faults, and opinions.

I wonder how many of us are celebrating this Valentine’s Day and while we bought the romantic card from Hallmark, we should really scribble on a piece of paper… “I love you always… I like you sometimes.”

Danny Gokey's "It's Only"

2011-02-10T21:13:00.000-06:00

Running a day late, but I am so excited to share this next music video with you! Milwaukee's hometown hero from American Idol has a song on his new album about this concept of loving ones neighbor. This song has such powerful lyrics that it evokes such strong emotions of love which lead me to tears. "And as much as I've been given... I could never give enough... Don't worry... It's only love...." It goes on to say "When you're lonely, cold and empty... Only one thing to fill you up... And it's only.... love"

I wish that Danny Gokey had an official music video, but for now I hope you appreciate that through simple pictures you can still be left with a strong message.

To Know and To Love Intro

2011-02-10T00:01:00.003-06:00

(I guess since I’ve had my blog up for a few weeks, I should finally get down to business. I’ve never blogged before, so I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. While I’ll probably still write some posts about random thoughts and ideas, for the next few weeks I’m going to try to focus on getting a clearer picture of my capstone project.)

Jesus said that the second greatest commandment is to “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt 22:39) but we are often so busy, self absorbed, or just honestly haven’t thought about how our greatest missions field is what is already between our own two feet. At first glance, one would think that this is an easy commandment to follow. We all like to be nice to each other, friendly; it’s the culturally correct thing to do. As my grandmother would say, “We don’t want to ruffle any feathers.” But is being nice all there is to loving our neighbor? Why would Jesus make such a big point to say: first make sure you love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind…. and then by the way, in your free time love your neighbor, too? No, he instructs those that say that they are Christians to love God, their neighbors, and themselves!

So then that begs the question, why are there so many lonely people in the world? If Christians truly loved their neighbors, what could it look like? I’m not talking about big new initiatives or government programs (although both have a place). I’m thinking about what you and I can do to live out this commandment and make a difference with those who are around us.

The reality is that most of us are too busy to take on something new. So over the next few weeks I’m going to be breaking it down into three areas: people, passion, and purpose.

To really know and love our neighbor, I’m proposing that we take a serious look at those people we already come in contact with on a regular basis. Those people at work, on the side of the soccer field, at your monthly scrapbook nights, your physical neighbor, in your moms group, at the YMCA, at church, at your kids’ school, or wherever you bump into people on a regular basis.

Then I’ll ask you to take the next step to combine something you're passionate about with the people around you. Do you like cooking? Tonight for dinner make two meals and bring one to the stressed mom at wrestling, whom you know always brings her kids to McDonalds after practice. Or if you like to encourage people, take the time to write out a hand written card to that friend at MOPS whom you know is dealing with some marriage issues. If you like children, volunteer to take your neighbor's kids; not just when she needs you, but so that she can take a nap. At work, use your lunch break to sit and listen to the person whose son just made some pretty bad decisions in life. It won’t take long for those that look to find numerous opportunities surrounding you.

I have also found that you won’t continue to live this way for any amount of time without a purpose. That purpose can vary for different people. For some people they help others because they have lived through a horrible experience and they want to help others going through the same thing. For most of us, we may just have to start with being obedient to what Jesus has asked us to do and that is to love our neighbor. Regardless of… if we want to… have the time to… know how to… we are still asked to.

Over the next few weeks I’ll be focusing on more details. But at any point, if you have something that you would like to share, an experience where you were on the giving or receiving end of living out this instruction, please do so. It would be so encouraging to see how people are living out this commandment and hopefully what you share will give someone else an idea of something they can do for others.

Just a fool..

2011-02-02T21:37:00.002-06:00

You're just a fool
Just a fool
To believe you can change the world

Oh the smallest thing can make all the difference
Love is alive
Don't you listen to them when they say
You're just a fool
Just a fool
To believe you can change the world

Carrie Underwood Change

Today reminded me of the reality that “the smallest thing can make all the difference”. A blizzard might have blown through our city, but it brought out the best in people. Neighbors helped each other. Families spent time together. Life slowed down for just a day.

Yet, I guess in the words of Carrie Underwood, I’m a fool. I’m a fool because I believe that not only can I change the world, but anyone who wants to make a difference can. Not just when a large storm comes through, but in daily life.

I’m a fool… because I could build a business and make a decent salary or I could volunteer full time to get a small non-profit off the ground which desires to bring hope in police life.

I’m a fool… because instead of having time to “relax”, I spend my evenings making posters, organizing events, and sending emails.

I’m a fool… because I could catch up on my favorite TV shows or I could read books trying to figure out how God would want me to live during my time here on earth.

I’m a fool… because I make my kids work for their money and then spend it on filling show boxes to send to children who have so little.

I’m a fool… because I cry every time a police officer is hurt or killed in the line of duty, thinking of their families at home.

I’m a fool… because I’m willing to sacrifice everything (my time, money, and space) if I see a person in need.

As Paul says in Galatians 6:9 “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” I go to bed tired every night, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’m a fool… because I honestly believe I can change the world.

How about you?

(Would you be willing to share this post with your friends so that we can see how many fools are out there?)

Stop Making Promises

2011-01-30T21:06:00.002-06:00

daydreaming...
© Michael Jastremski

Did your mom ever tell you not to make promises you didn’t intend to keep? I know mine did. Not those promises that you actually intend to keep but things beyond your control didn't allow you to do so, but those promises that you never intended to keep in the first place.

About 5 years ago I had an International student ask me why Americans’ always say “let’s get together for coffee?” or “I’ll call you later” but never do. She asked me if she had done something wrong because this friend wouldn’t get back to her. I later heard that some internationals would wait in their apartments all day if someone said that they’d stop by tomorrow. As an American I knew that these people were only trying to be pleasant. But to the International student, it was painful.

There is one promise that I see written on facebook, written in cards, and spoken that just honestly makes me mad. Someone has just poured their heart out about an awful situation that they are going through and someone says “don’t worry, God won’t give you more than you can handle.” Really… this person is in the pits of depression… or just diagnosed with stage 4 cancer… or has just miscarried again… they are losing their house… or their child died because they were at in the wrong place at the wrong time…

I’ve sat next to a woman after she received that news that her husband, while doing his job as a cop, just killed man. While he was justified, no one knows how to handle that. Or next to the wife whose husband was just shot...

I’ve sat with a woman, who for 7 years has been trying to conceive. God has given her more than she can handle. There is nothing she can do to just decide one day to get pregnant.

I’ve sat next to a woman who just found out that her husband cheated on her and is moving out to live with the other woman, 2 weeks after she gave birth to his son.

We’ve all been there. So I am so glad to know that God never made that promise!! The often misquoted verse actually says “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13. The verse says that God will not put you into a situation that you need to sin; He will provide a way out for you. Yet, people take it so far out of context. The only place that this verse should be used is to say that when an awful situation happens it does not excuse you to sin yourself.

But God doesn’t just leave us to grin and bear it by ourselves either. Paul writes us in his letter to the Philippians “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7.

I don’t know about you, but I want to live with that peace that transcends all understanding. Pain WILL happen on this earth. Each of us will struggle with those events that happen around us or to us. If we think that God will not give us more than we can handle, we will be left with asking if God really cares! Or wonder if He is really there. If we lead others into the same thinking we have not allowed them to receive what God really offers. That is the peace that comes when we bring our pain, prayers, and struggles to Him.

*****

For some of those who are reading this, this peace is a new concept. For you, google Philippians 4 and read more of what God does promise in difficult situations.

What Love Really Means- JJ Heller

2011-01-26T11:01:00.000-06:00

Each Wednesday I'm going to post a song, poem, or quote
that can inspire us to be Livin' Venti.

JJ Heller - What Love Really Means (Official Music Video)

I'd love to hear your reflections on "What Love Really Means" in the comments below.

Feel free to email me your favorite song, poem or quote
that can inspire all of us to be Livin' Venti: catherine@livinventi.com

Who Exactly Is Created In The Image of God?

2011-01-25T08:01:00.000-06:00

When I became a Christian, slowly but surely I let the thinking slip in that only Christians bore the Imagine of God. I’m not sure when this slipped in. I don’t remember a sermon or book on the subject, slowly over time it just happened. But the ramifications meant that if Christians bore the Imagine of God than others didn’t. I probably would have never said that to anyone, but it’s what was in the back of my head. I loved that thought that in addition to Jesus dying on the cross to pay for my sins, it also made me special. I confess now that it was elitism and it was wrong!

This might not seem like much, but it totally effected how I related with people. I somehow thought that I was better than the people around me who weren’t Christians. Of course, I’d never intentionally say this but it came out in my actions. Who would I take advice from? Of course I would go to a Christian who must give better advice than a non-Christian because they were gifted by God. I liked hanging out with my neighbor, but most of the time I’d call a friend from Church, who lived across town, to get together for coffee when I had a problem. Of course I had friends outside of church bubble, but they weren’t allowed as close to my heart. And if I am going to really be honest, I probably thought of them as “evangelistic” projects.

I cannot believe that I am admitting this, but I see it all around me: an ‘us’ versus ‘them’ mentality. I recently read this quote from “Breaking the Missional Code” by Ed Stetzer and David Putman: “Many evangelicals live in a “Christianized” world where people listen to James Dobson tell us how to raise our children, consult Ron Blue to understand our finances, sing along with Third Day for musical inspiration, choose political candidates based upon Christian Coalition voting guides, and read Tim LaHaye to enjoy some good Christian fiction. We live in this evangelical subculture, this evangelical bubble, and we see all kinds of people just like us (p.37)”.

As I’m not sure when I let the thoughts slip in, I’m also not sure when I began to realize that it was not lining up with what God’s word says about people. At the very beginning of the Bible, we have the story of creation in which God created the sky, land, water, light, animals, and people. Specifically with people “God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness...’” (Gen. 1:26). It goes on to say again, “so God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Gen. 1:27). Confirming what He made, “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good” (Gen. 1:31). And I love it in chapter 2 it adds “Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame” (Gen 2:25).

All this happened before Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God made a beautiful creation, which bore His Image. We are ALL created equal, because we ALL bear the image of God. This includes Christians and non-Christians; all people, from all nations, all tongues, and all tribes.

This picture is painted even richer as we read in the Psalms... “For you (God) created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; you works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me where written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:13-16) I would love to have written the entire chapter, as there is even more written about the depths at which God knows each person He created.

If all the people around us are made in God’s Image that means that they all have something to offer us. As we love our neighbor and as we build relationships with around us, we are actually fitting together the puzzle pieces of what God looks like. I don’t know about you, but I think that is pretty incredible! I get to see more of God when getting to know His creation. I have as much to learn from my neighbor as they have to learn from me. We complement each other. While I do believe that I have a hope in Jesus that passes all understanding, they might know how to teach my children to obey, fix my car, or get through a difficult situation. No longer will I judge what someone can offer me because of what they believe. It is not for me to disregard what God has so beautifully and meticulously created.

Status Quo

2011-01-16T17:08:00.000-06:00

Status Quo: To maintain the status quo is to keep the things the way they presently are.

If the Status Quo is to maintain the way that things are presently. The question you must ask is: the way they are presently for whom? Hasn’t the United States become the most diverse county in the world? And are things the way they are working?

In America the largest group of people living together are couples with no kids (27%), but there are 73% of Americans that don’t fit into that category. The divorce rate still hovers right around 50%, so which half is the Status Quo. Most of us live in a city, but we still need farmers to survive. While white Americans are still the majority, there are over 100 million people other ethnicities in the 50 states. If the average American over 25 makes $35,000; that doesn’t buy a nice house, 2 new cars, yearly vacations to a magical land, name brand cloths, and allow kids to be in every activity imaginable? So the average American is up to their eye balls in debt: mortgage, home equity loan, upside down car loans, school loans, and who can think about their retirement accounts. While most Americans say they are Christians, the weekly attendance doesn’t reflect that.

We are so busy running from one activity to the next that we stop at the yellow arches and then drive to the gym to work out. We’re working 10 hour days, sleeping 6 hours at night, and driving kids around the rest of the time. We die of stress related diseases. We put up fences to have our privacy. We buy big screen TV’s to watch 3 feet away. We don’t know our neighbor’s, we gossip about our co-workers, we hover over our kids, we put our happy faces on at church, we buy toys we don’t have time to use, we join the gym every January, and we are surrounded by people all day long and yet are so lonely.

In such a society can we really live out the second commandment that Jesus gave us? Can we love our neighbor? Can we love our neighbor as ourselves? What does it look like? Should we maintain the status quo and keep things the way they presently are? How can we possibly love everyone? How can we fit it in our already overbooked schedule? Wouldn’t it be better to just leave our neighbors alone? Who exactly is our neighbor? We wonder if we can count it as billable hours. Or will the little I can offer make a difference?

We can no longer lump people into statistics and averages, but we must look at them as an individuals. If we are to love our neighbor than we better know our neighbor. What do they enjoy? What do you have in common and what differs? Where did they come from and what are their future dreams? We cannot guess, because outward appearance isn’t going to allow us appreciate the unique person that God created, who has been fearfully and wonderfully made (Gen. 1:27 and Psalm 139:14).

Over the next few months I will be exploring this topic further. Will you join me in pondering what it looks like to ‘love our neighbor as ourselves’? So with that Venti Latte in hand, please leave a few comments so we can begin this conversation.

Livin' Venti: Loving God Richly, Loving People Deeply

2011-01-13T11:34:00.005-06:00

I choose to be Livin' Venti, as the life we have been given, is too short to live small. With the time given I desire to be loving God richly and loving people deeply.

Jesus said that the second greatest commandment was to "love your neighbor as yourself." (Matt 22:39) But we are often so busy, self absorbed, or unaware. Honestly, we sometimes haven't thought about how our greatest missions field is already right between our own two feet.

Currently, I'm in the middle of working on a capstone project for my Master's in Christian Studies. I've started this blog to help process through my research into the theological content and the practical implications on how we can live out this second commandment in today's busy post-modern society.

With around 3 new posts a week I look forward to entering into discussions with others, hearing people's reactions, questions and comments. I know that we will not all agree, but with respect and love I hope we can have a good conversation.

So grab that Venti Non-Fat Pumpkin Spice Latte and join me as we process what it means to be Livin' Venti.