Come join us tomorrow night!

Judah Enthusiasm will be at 260 Orange Grove Blvd from 7-9pm tomorrow!  Come party with us as we welcome in 2010!  It's going to be your year of FREEDOM!

(Judah Enthusiasm stirring up some joy at Paseo in Pasadena!  There's more where that came from!)

Pastor Joey at Paseo

http://vimeo.com/7861122 from Michael Taylor on Vimeo.

For the seeker....

By Cherie Goodpasture of "Only Admit One" Copyright 2009.

This image is from an incredible online ministry called Only Admit One. (Blog here.) From their site: Our aim is to help people navigate this crazy, post-modern world of religion, sex and pop culture with their integrity, identity and faith intact.

There's Hope for Homeless Youth!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Hope for the Homeless

Judah Enthusiasm is ministering and serving alongside Hope for the Homeless Youth this Friday, 12/18 @ 6:30pm at the L.A. Dream Center - Christmas Party, ages 16-27.

Park in the lot with the main building and walk down to the Joy Center (can ask for directions @ cafe). 2301 Bellevue Ave, Los Angeles - dreamcenter.org

If you can make it, let us know!

The more, the merrier :D

The Messiah Who Disappoints

"In choosing to be born in utter obscurity, the King of the universe ignored conventional expectations. He celebrated in His own birthday the freedom to be unorthodox. In failing to live up to people's presuppositions ("From Nazareth?" ask Nathanael, "Can anything good come from that place?") Jesus became a stumbling block to many of his contemporaries. The housebroken Jewish imagination cringed at the crib, shuddered at the ersatz salvation of a humble unpredictable God. A King in rags was an insult to the finely honed intellect of the Pharisee and the rational mind of the scribe. Simpleminded shepherds and the rabble who did not know the Law might be hoodwinked, but those who studied the Scripture could not be deceived. There is a fascinating principle at work here in very religious people: 'Messiah, You get our allegiance only when You fulfill our expectations.'"

Do you not just find it amazing that God feels no obligation to meet your expectations? He's not just free to surpass them; He is completely unfettered by them.

"In making decisions, Jesus was called in freedom to ask first not what the Law says but what would the Father have Him do. A free life is often unconventional and surprising because it is available to those creative possibilities and innovative gestures that have been screened out of consideration by standards of acceptable behavior. In opting to celebrate His birthday in Bethlehem in such low-key fashion, Jesus revealed himself free from public opinion, from fear of what others might say or think. Jesus is the incarnation of the Father's freedom."

(From Lion and Lamb, The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus by Brennan Manning)

OH HOW HE LOVES US!

Favorite Child

(Picture called Prodigal Daughter by http://charliemackesy.com)

Shortly after I was ordained, I took a graduate course at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. The professor was an old Dutchman who told the following story: "I'm one of thirteen children. One day when I was playing in the street of our hometown in Holland, I got thirsty and came into the pantry of our house for a glass of water. It was around noon and my father had just come home from work to have lunch. He was sitting at the kitchen table, having a glass of beer with a neighbor. A door separated the kitchen from the pantry and my father didn't know I was there. The neighbor said to my father, 'Joe, there's something I've wanted to ask you for a long time, but if it's too personal, just forget I ever asked.'

'What is your question?'

'Well, you have thirteen children. Out of all of them is there one that is your favorite, one you love more than all the others?'

The priest continued his story: "I had my ear pressed against the door hoping against hope it would be me. 'That's easy,' my father said. 'Sure there's one I love more than all the others. That's Mary, the twelve-year-old. She just got braces on her teeth and feels awkward and embarrassed that she won't go out of the house anymore. Oh, but you asked about my favorite. That's my twenty-three-year-old Peter. His fiancee just broke their engagement, and he is desolate. But the one I really love the most is little Michael. He is totally uncoordinated and terrible in any sport he tries to play. The other kids on the street make fun of him. But, of course, the apple of my eye is Susan. Only twenty-four, living in her own apartment, and developing a drinking problem. I cry for Susan. But I guess of all the kids...' and my father went on mentioning each of his thirteen children by name."

The professor ended his story saying: "What I learned was that the one my father loved most was the one who needed him most at the time. And that's the way the Father of Jesus is: He loves those most who depend on Him, and trust Him in everything. Little He cares whether you've been as pure as St. John or as sinful as Mary Magdalene. All that matters is trust. It seems to me that learning how to trust God defines the meaning of Christian living. God doesn't wait until we have our moral life in order before He starts loving us."

(Lion and Lamb: The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, by Brennan Manning)

Just Checking

I was thinking about the children of Israel. They were supernaturally released from bondage in Egypt, saw God part the Red Sea, saw their enemy’s army destroyed—both horse and rider, and saw God’s Spirit descend upon the mountain while Moses received the Commandments.

And then they decided to create a golden cow to worship.How much more proof of a living God did they need than what they were already given? Why did they have to have something to see, to touch, and something created by their own hands? It seems a deplorable lack of faith. I hope I’m a better Christian than that.

Then again….If a Christian is someone who has perfect faith and who never doubts and never questions, then I suppose John the Baptist doesn’t make the cut. In prison for his faith, for preaching and preparing the way of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to Jesus to ask, “Are you the one, or do we look for another?” Seems like if you weren’t totally sure, ya wouldn’t have risked your neck scolding Herod and getting yourself locked away. It was as if John was saying to Jesus, “Let me just check one more time before I lose my life for You. I just want to make sure. Please reassure me that You are really the one.” I bet he was hoping Jesus would understand, being a carpenter and all. You know what carpenters say, “Measure twice, cut once.”

If a Christian is one who never asks for proof, then I suppose Jesus’ own disciple Thomas doesn’t count. He didn’t believe Jesus was alive until Jesus showed up and said, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."

I don’t sense that Jesus was at all scolding Thomas. Just offering the proof Thomas needed, ‘cause Jesus loved Thomas, and I hear it in such a loving way.

Like when we are on a long trip and I want the children to sleep on the way. Sometimes they seem almost doubtful, as if they might fall asleep and we won’t really arrive at the snow or at Papa’s house. Can a child take it on faith that when they wake up they won’t be back home? I reassure them, “I need you to take a nap. Everyone close your eyes. When you wake up we will be there. Please trust Mommy.”

I find two things very comforting. One, that when my faith wavers I am in good company. And secondly, the fact that I doubt doesn’t send me away from Jesus’ side or cause Jesus to shake His head in dismay and say, “I think I made a wrong choice in choosing her as my disciple.” In the case of Thomas it was exactly the opposite. The question drew Jesus closer with an offer to touch and experience His reality.We are invited by Jesus’ Himself to not just have faith, but to experience Him for ourselves.

All these thoughts have been recently inspired by a song by a friend, Flo Paris. Part of it goes: “But who's to say I wouldn’t pour all of my gold into the fire, just so that I could have God that my eyes could behold? And who’s to say I wouldn’t reach into your side if I had been there, just so that I could feel the wound and know that you are real?”

The whole business of the Christian life, I think, can be boiled down to two things: Experiencing the reality of God for ourselves and learning to trust Him.

The Gift of Dance!