lifeasmission

One Day = $720 Million Dollars

March 29, 2008 // 4971 Comment »http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2008/03/one-day-720-million-dollars/One+Day+%3D+%24720+Million+Dollars2008-03-29+15%3A37%3A05JR+Rozko

Immediately after I finished my taxes this morning and submitted them online, I caught this video over on Josh’s blog and wanted to repost it.  Of course there are all sorts of issues bound up with a video like this and I don’t mean to oversimplify it, but I find it incredibly convicting in terms of how little thought I tend to give to what my money is going to.  ”Out of sight, out of mind,” as they say.  I wish I could simply rest in the fact that I am getting a full refund of my federal taxes from last year, but something tells me that there just might be something more to it than that – ya think?  

Posted in money, politics

Midwest Missionary:Update

November 7, 2007 // 456No Comments »http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2007/11/midwest-missionaryupdate/Midwest+Missionary%3AUpdate2007-11-07+18%3A53%3A12JR+Rozko

Just a short post to follow up with everyone who reads this blog and especially those who took interest in previous post about serving as a missionary here in the Midwest.

I  need to thank many of you for your emails, phone calls, financial support, conversations, and prayer as I try to figure out what it looks like to live and help others to live missionally here in the Midwest.  As you may have noticed from my blog, I haven’t been able to raise the necessary support to really invest in the ministry of Repeat the way I had hoped.  On top of this, through further communication, it doesn’t seem like what I feel I can add to the overall thrust of the community is what is most needed.  Consequently, while I will still be proactively exploring other options for missional connections, I will not be heavily investing my time in the way I originally thought.

For the time being, I have begun working at Starbucks on a part-time basis and am also working with the Salvation Army for the holiday season.  I will be assisting with their Angel Tree and Adopt-A-Family programs.  I look forward to writing more about these programs in the near future.

I really want to keep this conversation about missional living and engagement in the midwest, so please offer comments and ask any and all questions that you think of.

Peace.

Posted in midwest, missional, money

Big THANKS

December 29, 2006 // 300No Comments »http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2006/12/big-thanks/Big+THANKS2006-12-29+21%3A07%3A57JR+Rozko

Just wanted to say thanks to Alex and Kevin whose donations more than covered the financial damage from my slip up.  I really appreciate you guys and your donations.  Let me know if there is ever anything I can do for you.  Thanks again.

Posted in blogging, friends, money

A Talk With the Boys

October 28, 2006 // 269No Comments »http://lifeasmission.com/blog/2006/10/a-talk-with-the-boys/A+Talk+With+the+Boys2006-10-28+04%3A20%3A43JR+Rozko

So, I got back to the states a week ago now.  I have already managed to take a weekend trip to DC with three good friends to visit another.  I have been spending time with my mom and grandma, and I am slowly, but surely taking the time to visit with former students and families that became dear to me during my time at RiverTree.  The other night I was able to hang out with some of my favorite guys, Josh, Adam, Nate, and Shawn, – and I got to meet two new friends, Matt and Brian (think I got those right.)  I met up with Josh and Nate at Penn Station for dinner and then we joined the others at Starbucks.  Since these guys are some stellar emerging theologians, we ended up having a really great conversation about how Christians in the suburbs ought to understand and use (or not use) money.
   
It seemed like one of their concerns was that if we took Jesus at his word, we would end up communists because everyone would have to be the same by giving up all of their posessions.  I could see where they were coming from, but I was glad that our conversation didn’t end there.  I brought up the notion of the tithe and how the purpose of the tithe hadn’t been to make everyone equal, but rather to make sure that everyone was provided for.  In fact, it was precisely because equality wasn’t expected, that God instituted the tithe.  It was evident that in any given year some people would be prosperous and others would suffer.  Some would harvest large amounts of crops, and others small.  Therefore, people were obliged to set aside a tenth, their best tenth, to, not give away, but share (it’s different in a very important way!).  So, when people came together for fetivals and celebrations, those who had less, though they would still be affirmed in contributing, would be blessed by others – and chances are nearly everyone would experience their time of lack and need.

These are smart guys and I really enjoyed having this conversation with them.  It reminded me just how much ideologies like consumerism, materialism, and individualism invade our souls and distort how we see the world and reality.  It also reminded me of how incredible it is when we truly allow Scripture to illuminate us as to who God is, what He is like, and what His desires for His people are.

Posted in Jesus, bible, culture, money, stewardship, theology