lifeasmission

Christian Community Development Association

October 21, 2008 // 764No Comments »http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/10/christian-community-development-association/Christian+Community+Development+Association2008-10-21+14%3A35%3A51JR+Rozko

Leaving this afternoon for Miami along with some other friends for the CCDA conference.  I have been looking forward to this conference for quite some time and plan on blogging and twittering some of my thoughts and experiences through the week as I am able.

There is a Facebook group if you are intereted in joining.

Tomorrow I’ll be in a workshop that has to do with creating urban/suburban partnerships and here’s a list of the speakers for the week.

Posted in CCDA, conference, justice, urban

Justice is What Love Looks Like in Public

July 3, 2008 // 5665 Comments »http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/07/justice-is-what-love-looks-like-in-public/Justice+is+What+Love+Looks+Like+in+Public2008-07-03+20%3A07%3A17JR+Rozko

Caught this over on my friend Julia’s blog.  The same friend who had “until the last lock breaks” tattooed on her arm.  A few years ago I was completely unaware of this global injustice, but my present awareness changes virtually everything about how I understand and seek to live out the good news of God’s Kingdom in the world.

Posted in gospel, justice, kingdom

Sometimes When You Win You Really Lose (but you might still win kinda)

June 17, 2008 // 55614 Comments »http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/06/sometimes-when-you-win-you-really-lose-but-you-might-still-win-kinda/Sometimes+When+You+Win+You+Really+Lose+%28but+you+might+still+win+kinda%292008-06-18+04%3A18%3A00JR+Rozko

I was in California this past weekend.  I was most excited to see my family and friends as well as to remind myself of just how awesome LA is.  However, I was also set to appear in court to handle an outstanding matter.

I first left Pasadena in the summer of 2006.  I left a car in the hands of my house church and asked them to find someone down on their luck who could use it.  They did, and I was thrilled.  Until about a year later when it came to my attention that I was receiving parking tickets on the donated car.  I spoke with the person who assured me that they would rectify the situation immediately.  This past February I flew out to California and was mortified to find out that the recipient of this car had not in fact rectified the situation and had amassed nearly $5,000 worth of parking tickets in my name.  Again, I spoke with this individual – this time in person – and again they promised me that they would do what was necessary to make things right.  A few months went by – still nothing.  So, I was forced to file a small claims court case, which was scheduled for yesterday in Pasadena.

As I guessed, although this person was served with court papers, they did not show up for the court date.  I explained the situation to the judge and he found in my favor.  Translation, “Yes, she owes you the money for the tickets.  Have fun collecting!”

I have not paid for these tickets yet and I am going to try a few other avenues, but the matter remains largely unresolved.

This is not unlike when I came home to Ohio to discover that renters had done $15,000 worth of damage to my home.  There was a judgment in my favor there as well, but I haven’t (and don’t presume I ever will) see a cent.

In all honesty, I am not complaining, just sharing.  I am not really sure exactly what to feel.  It would be easy to play the victim, I mean in reality I suppose I am, but I’d rather not settle for that.  I am trying my best to push through the frustration and financial hardship and ask myself, “What evil must have been done to a person to bring them to a point where they act like this?”  Certainly we all bear responsibility for our actions, but I do not count myself among those who feel people simply act evil impulsively.  I think we act out evil because some sort of evil has been done to us.

So, while not merely excusing the actions of these folks, I am really trying to sympathize with their situation and ask for justice – not just for me, but for them.

Oh yeah, I had my car in the shop while I was away to the tune of $500 in repairs for stuff and then I wrecked it this afternoon when I decided to drive through a ditch and into a fence rather than up the rear end of the lady who slammed on her brakes at the last minute to make a left turn she didn’t signal for.  Evil abounds!  (Yes, I’m fine)

** I almost hesitate to use the word “evil” to describe this sort of stuff – there are far worse travesties and situations in the world that are far more deserving of the title, but hopefully you get my drift.

Posted in family, friends, justice

Violence and The Kingdom

December 12, 2007 // 467No Comments »http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2007/12/violence-and-the-kingdom/Violence+and+The+Kingdom2007-12-12+18%3A48%3A16JR+Rozko

On Sunday I went with some friends to see The Kingdom at our local dollar theater.  I thought so much of it, that I invited some other friends and went back to see it last night.

This was an awesome movie.  Not only shot, directed, and acted well, but an incredibly eye-opening (though certainly not meant to be a non-fiction) film regarding the conflict in the Middle East.  The 5-minute introduction alone, a brief history of the relationship between the US and Saudi Arabia (The Kingdom) was worth the price of the movie.

As I walked out with my friends last night and we were talking about the movie, I lamented that so much of the fighting in this war has to do with 2 competing ideologies, both predicated on the notion that victory will come through the violent elimination of their enemies. 

But, to quote a contemporary prophetic voice, “Peace by way of war is like purity by way of fornication.”  Violence ONLY EVER begets more violence.   I have no definitive answers to some of the very real problems and dilemmas that we face in this war, but I have put all my hope and have put all my trust in the way of Jesus, the way of non-violent resistance, prophetic action and speaking, and sacrificial living unto death. 

These are God’s means of peace in the world. 

As soon as you can check out this movie.  Here’s a trailer.

Posted in justice, kingdom, movies, peace, prophets

The Story of the Missional Church

October 5, 2007 // 422No Comments »http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2007/10/the-story-of-the-missional-church/The+Story+of+the+Missional+Church2007-10-05+12%3A02%3A43JR+Rozko

Thanks to my good friend and esteemed colleague Deb Flagg, I am on a email list with Evangelicals for Social Action. In an email I received the other day, they offered a short article by Stephen Hayner entitled, “The Story of the Missional Church.” It is a very concise article focused on the relationship between church history and the emergence of what we are calling the missional church and well worth your time if you’re interested in missional church stuff. It’s here.

Posted in church, evangelical, justice, missional

It’s Not All About Me and Jesus

October 3, 2007 // 4298 Comments »http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2007/10/its-not-all-about-me-and-jesus/It%27s+Not+All+About+Me+and+Jesus2007-10-04+00%3A35%3A19JR+Rozko

Corrie, a friend of mine, said something once that has stuck with me. “One of the most meaningful moments in my life was when I realized that being a Christian isn’t about making God a part of my life, but becoming a part of God’s life.” But, as evidenced by the picture above (taken today in my home town), Corrie’s sentiment is not universally shared.

The vast majority of my Christian experience has taught me that at the end of the day, what matters most is my personal relationship with Jesus. This, I have been taught, ought to be the core of my identity as a human being.

I no longer believe this, and I was happy to come across a recent sermon by Rob Bell where he articulates the alternative I have come to embrace.

(Speaking of Rob Bell, I just thought I would add to the blog buzz in saying that I don’t believe Rob – or Brian McLaren or Doug Pagitt for that matter – to be a heretic. But, for largely the same reasons as Bob, I am not going to wink either).

You can listen to Rob’s message at the bottom (43 min.), or visit the Mars Hill site directly. However, for those short on time, I will summarize below.

Rob is taking a look at Matthew 23:23-24 and its OT background and trying to make the point that much like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, many of us boil Christianity down to personal piety and morality – the “me and Jesus” mentality. Rob goes on to explain that it’s not that personal piety and morality are unimportant, far from it, but that the Pharisees, and many today, neglect what Jesus calls, “the more important matters of the law.” Namely, justice (living equitably), mercy (showing kindness to those in need) and faithfulness (personally and corporately showing the world what God is like).

I would say, therefore, that in terms of what it means to be a disciple and as far as what my identity as a human being ought to be rooted in – what is most essential is my incorporation into the life of a community which is seeking to do justice, show mercy, and live faithfully. Personal morality and piety have their place in relation to this vision, but only secondarily. To get them out of order is not to get it 1/2 right, but to misconstrue both. This is one more way to begin rediscovering that salvation is not something we either have or don’t have, but is a lived reality, something we participate in with God to greater or lesser extents.

Posted in Jesus, bible, blogging, community, justice, salvation, sermon