Slobotski.com: June 2007

It's the night before Logan's 2 month birthday and he's taking his first plane ride tomorrow. Cayden is 2 1/2 tomorrow and it's his 100th flight. Amazing how time flies, literally...

I've been dealing a lot lately with the issues of simplicity. How does it look for someone in middle class America who has a good job, good home and a good family. How can one live out "simplicity" where we're at, and how does that differ from someone else in the inner city, say the Camden House, The Simple Way or other similar groups.

I'm getting closer to the position that God calls us all to different lifestyles, but it's what we do with our resources and how tightly we hold them that is the true issue. I've found myself ready to clean my office and closets over the past few weeks, but then realized two things---what is my motivation for doing so? Am I truly doing it out of a giving and sacrificial heart or to "check of the box" and feel good about myself.

The second thing is I realize how materialistic I really am as when I pick something up I can find a reason to justify why I can't give that away---point proven.

I really got to thinking more after reading Joshua's post over here:

http://www.thelongbrake.com/blog/2007/06/12/the-essentials/

He seems to have it right---at least in the mindset...oh well. Pressing forward for a busy week...and trying to do my best to keep my eyes on Him and off of me.

Timing

I've read before that every nail Jesus nailed in as a carpenter was as much doing the will of God as each nail He was nailed to the cross by. A trembling thought.

When Would Jesus Do? When God said so.

Freedom

Awesome post on RelevantMagazine.com right now...

Freedom—I want to be free.

I want to hold back the hands that cut, unlock the prison doors, dance in the sun rise and swim in the waves. I want to scream truth louder than the lies, give the hungry, thirsty, homeless and poor everything they need to meet every single need they have and will have. I want to not be crippled by my past and shortcomings. I want to encourage rather than gossip. I want to bring healing. I want to comfort those who mourn. I want to proclaim victory. I want to lead the way to freedom. Where children can laugh and dance and be embraced by their parents. Where the poor are rich and the last are first. Where addictions are weak and chains are broken. Where the only blood that will be shed has shed and cheeks know not the touch of tears. Where hearts are confident in love and community thrives in fellowship. Where slavery is nonexistent. Freedom. Freedom. Freedom.

I really believe on a deep level that you are reading this, and you agree. I really believe on a deep level that this desire is written on our hearts that beat and long to be intimately known and intimately loved, reverberating with souls craving intimate acceptance and intimate freedom. The rocks don’t need to cry out. Our hearts are loud enough.

I don’t claim Jesus of Nazareth because I think it makes me better than you on any falsely-determined level. I don’t claim Jesus of Nazareth because He told or forced me to. I claim Jesus of Nazareth because He didn’t just say these needs needed to be met and someone should do something about that. I claim Jesus of Nazareth because He rose up and met them, because He broke addictions, because He ended slavery, because He conquered evil, speaks only truth, comforts those who mourn and grasps every starving heart and holds it to His. I claim Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ because He proclaimed freedom to prisoners and liberty to captives.

I cannot offer you that kind of love. I claim the man who can.

Verily, today there is freedom.