Hey guys. I guess I have not been writing too much interesting stuff for some time now. I'm so very sorry for all of that. I have been so confused these past few months... I think I have made some internal decisions and am confident that I am ok. Well, I guess I have had quite a few idea bouncing around inside my soul and I feel like sharing them with whoever reads this. I don't even know anymore. I added a hit count down on the bottom left side... About 100 hits in two days. Not bad. Well, here goes...

(I don't think I am good at this writing thing)

I have been reading through the Book of the Exodus recently. I was inspired to revisit this fantastic narrative by a traveling songwriter some time back (a member of the modern-day Psalters) He and I were talking about departing comfort and moving into the unknown. It was a good conversation and we were able to share many similar stories (particularly when I lived in Kentucky and was in communion with several homeless men) Our exchange resulted in me asking myself, "Would I leave the comfort of what I know to be in a constant state of mystery?"

Our faith (Judeo-Christian) has a history of Yahweh God calling his elect people (individual and gathered) into the Unknown. One needs only to survey the entirety of the Holy Scriptures to see this. God called Noah to build a gigantic boat in the middle of flat land and put animals on it. God called Abraham to leave his country, against all rationality, and follow him into a new land. God called Joseph to interpret strange dreams for the world's leaders, dreams that would decided the fates of both himself and countless others. God called Moses to challenge the highest political power in the world to let the elect people of God become slaves to a new master. God called the prophetsto do strange (even disgusting) things to bring his people back to their Lover. God called a young teenage woman to bare his imminence; to give birth to the anointed messiah! God called a radical, zealous, conservative pharisee to be the Apostle of an amazingly subversive, liberal, egalitarian gospel of reconciliation and restoration. And his calling never ended.

But do we follow that voice?

Do we build communities of exodus and resistance? Leaving the dead ways of our former selves (greed, pride, slander, despair, etc.) and following the still small voice of God (as heard in our liturgies, our prayers) into un-comfort: the truest humanity possible. Do we, in our faith-communities, resist the urge to return to our apathy, our sin of ignorance and un-care?

We have grown accustomed to not knowing what it's like to be compassionate. We have forgotten how to be human. We would rather be numb. We would rather not know what that bag-lady does for dinner and bed each night (even though we see her diving in the dumpster for recyclable plastic bottles and scraps of half-uneaten foods) We would rather not know what those methane bubble rising to the surface of frozen lakes has to do with our North American cities (even when we wonder why we are in such a crazy drought, at least in Idaho, and why the summer seems to get longer each year) We would rather not know how our sisters and brothers (they're only kids!) in third-world countries fare in light of wars, famines, and diseases (A dollar a month seems justification enough for our piggish greed) We would rather not know. It's better that way, right? Shit happens. Rain falls on all our heads. Right??

I ask myself, what can be done to make this place a better world? How can things be set to rights. Exodus. We must leave what we know and enter into a new mystery, a world of bold faith in the God who saves, the God who loves, and the God who desires reconciliation with the whole of his creation. We must side with those crazy hippies who want to put plastic in one bag and metal in the other. For God and the kingdom. We've got to fund the work of mission agencies to bring water to the thirsty and healing to the unwell. To heal ourselves. We've got to remind ourselves of our redeemer and dedicate our selves to that great love wholly as co-creators, slaves, and servants. To be fully human. Restored.

We must resist "every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God" and serve only the One. The powers of death and evil have already been taken care of by our servant-leader. They have no hold on those who are in Him. But they do their best to make it hell while they can. These powers are many (empires, propegandas, "technocracies," religions, politics, corporations, spirits, etc.) but one. And that one is the enemy of all who seek truth.

I don't have all of the answers. I have more questions than probably any of you who will take the time to read this through. But I do know this, our God does not let down. He will restore the world to what it once was and what it again will be. He will move his people into a new place. A world without poverty. A world without war. A world in which God and his creation are in perfect communion. Another world is possible. But we must act.

Pray with me that God will lead us out of wherever we may be that is not in line with his program for the restoration of all things. We must do this together, as the church. We are those who have tasted what a perfect reality could be. Pray that we will leave and never return to our sin. Our hearts must break at the sight of injustice. We can't remain calloused.

Until all things are restored; be the church.