FTB

"There's that someday talk again!"

I've come to know this sentence rather well lately. It seems that a lot of my conversations these days include the word someday. I've been noticing it so much in my conversations that I've gotten to the point where, when I realize that I'm talking about the future again, I just say, "There's that someday talk again!"

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to focus on either what you intend, want, strive for, or need, or on what you had, were, saw, felt, experienced, or knew? The present is a scary beast. He requires a lot from you; he seldom gives you time to prepare; and, he often finds a way to throw you off course. Usually it's just plain easier to dance down memory lane or sing the hopes of tomorrow. Most of the time, we'd rather face the "false" reality of yesterday or tomorrow than of now. Now if a powerful word with many implications requiring all sorts of things.

My first year in college was meaningful for a ton of reasons. But, one thing that I vividly learned realized near the end of my first semester away from home was the power of the present. Me and three of my closest heart-friends came up with a sort of pact/motto for life. You might have heard of it! Actually, you probably haven't. But, we used to say "feel the band." FTB came from two girls and their determination to always be willing to experience God, love, joy, and happiness in any and every situation that their crazy, dysfunctional, and often painful lives brought in front of them. For me, FTB was all about learning to let go of my regrets, put my goals and checkpoints aside, and simply feel- something I have never been great at.

Well, now life is much different than it was then. My responsibility, relationships, roles, and risks have changed. But, "feeling the band" is still something I'm learning to do. Right now, FTB means letting go of things that are no more (not in some sad-pitiful way, but more in a switching playlists on your iPod kind of way), choosing to accept gratefully what I've been given (both physically and spiritually), and simply living here and now-in Charlotte, NC; in the spring; in a four bedroom house; in a steady "hard" labor job; near my brother and his awesome family; with my beautiful family (my joy) and our two cats (Meena and Andrew Zellers).

This is where I live now. So why would I ever try to live somewhere where I know I can't be right now? Live here, live now, live well-feel the band!

Powerless powers

I am definitely not a political person. Anyone who knows me, knows that I don't loose any sweat over who's in office or who's running for VP this term. I don't think there's anything wrong with caring about politics and government; on the contrary, I think it's something I need to work on.

My brother Josh is more politically educated than me. He watches more news, has more conversations about politics, and just is more versed in who's running and who's "good" or "bad." Since we work together, I'm getting to learn and talk more about politics.

If you're one of those people who know me, you also know that I have or can establish an opinion or preference on almost any given subject rather quickly. That being said, me and Josh can talk a long time (or rather I talk/banter a long time and Josh listens!!) about politics, even if I really don't know what I'm talking about! HA! Classic Jake!

Some hot topics (from my politically under-educated self's point of view) in the political world recently have had a lot to do with the riots and increased awareness of the US's overspending habits, and, more recently, the US's involvement or avoidance in international justice issues such as the recent hot topic of Kony and his role in the tragic injustices happening in Africa.

Obviously, these are not isolated issues nor are they by any means the only issues happening in our world. Materialism, hatred, violence, persecution, racism, slavery, pride, selfishness, and so on are just a few things that seem to plague the world we live in today. My guess is that these same things have always been an issue. Whether or not the world is worse now than in the past, really isn't the issue I am writing about today. So let's just say that "sin" has always been and will always be a huge problem.

So...
Here's my take!

I strive to hate the evil that plagues our world just as much as the people on the tube, or the youtube, or the news, or the streets of New York, or anywhere. One thing that bothers me though (now he's getting to the point, cause Jake wouldn't be blogging unless he was criticizing something!!), is the way that people respond to these issues mentioned above or most issues that have been "hot topics" over the years of my short life. I'm not assuming foolishly that all people respond in this way; rather, it's a way that a lot of the people that I am aware of respond to these issues.

In life, when we feel powerless to control something, whether it's a government gone shopping at the mall with a credit card they can't pay off or a guerillan leader oppressing and abusing the rights of children and other people, we look for help. At least that's what people who really really care do. We (people who care) don't just move on; we definitely don't just say "Oh well, that's their problem." We ask for help.

Here's what bugs me to the core! Why are we asking our government to help with an issue that they can't really fix. We are asking a powerless power to exude and execute her power in a realm where she has no weapon, no shield, and no ability to change anything about the battle.

Sin is the disease. The gospel is the cure. The church is the nurse who's supposed to pick up the medicine that the doctor prescribed and give it to the patient.

I'm definitely not saying that government, military, or international organizations doesn't, shouldn't, or can't play some role in the aid of the patient. But, let's stop running to the wrong people for help. You don't call the florist when your poop is too big to get past the toothbrush your son jammed down the thunderbox! You don't call the librarian when your friendly neighborhood squirrel family chewed through your RG-6 coax cable drop outside of your house! So why would you call the government, especially a government that is by no means currently "acting" in accordance to the mandates of a "Holy nation," when worldwide sin finally makes itself known by giving you a notification on the news feed of your iPhone app?

Dare all the more to deliver the cure that's readily available to both be delivered and received!