fearless leaders rise up

II Timothy:

⁶For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

⁸So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, ⁹who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.

ITimothy 4:

¹⁴Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

¹⁵Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. ¹⁶Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Often time music speaks to me, not just he music...but I truly believe God likes to use music to speak to me. Because I get it. As an artist it's one of my languages. (Of course, it's not just artists, but most people can relate to music easily.) Has God spoken to you through music...? Listen harder... ;)

Tonight I was listening to Natasha Bedingfield's Wild Horses, here's a youtube w/ lyrics:

Now I believe this song correlates very closely to God's call on our life when it comes to following Him. Think about what Christ asked the disciples to do: "Follow me." Even telling one man, to "let the dead bury the dead". He told them leave everything you know, as Natasha sings "Throw caution into the wind..."

Also look at what is spoken to Timothy through Paul. Devote yourself wholly: fully, completely. To not be afraid. Not be lead by the spirit of timidity but by the spirit of God: power, love, self discipline. Like Natasha sings "If only that someone was me, jumping head first, head-long, without a thought."

RECKLESSLY pursuing the calling Christ has placed over your life.

How often do we - as humans - not do what we feel God is calling us to out of fear. Not obeying God or holding back out of fear is just the same as neglecting the gift. Just the same as not being diligent in the things of God. Just the same as holding back and not giving yourself wholly to Him.

We when we operate in fear and neglect our calling through Christ, we end up in a place, that Natasha is talking about: "Is this my life I'm wondering, it happened so fast how do I turn this thing around. Is this the bed I chose to make, there's greener pastures I'm thinking about, wide open spaces far away..." We end up in a place that is much worse, than facing our fears.

WHY? Why drive yourself to that point. I've done it. I've gotten into my comfort zone, every day I get into my comfort zone and my routine. I remember on my outreach to Vanuatu I walked up to a random lady in the street and said "Hi, my name is Tammy. I feel like God wants me to pray with you, would you mind?" Ummm...now, if I saw a lady in the street I felt God wanted me to pray for I'd probably run the other way, and pretend like I didn't see her!

I think one thing that helps me to step a bit out of this worldly fear, is a bit of what Paul mentions...he says don't neglect your gift. He says "not because anything we've done but because of His own purpose and grace." It's a gift, it's His own purpose, it's His grace. It's not about us, therefore what do we have to fear.

If I'm out with a friend and she wants to ask somebody something, there's something that rises up in me. If she's too shy to ask, a boldness rises up in me on her behalf, because she is my friend I want to help her out. I can easily ask something of someone on her behalf without fear, because it's not about ME and it's about helping my friend. I think in life, daily, we need to remind ourselves of that. It's not about ME, it's about God. What does He need done in His Kingdom today? To act, to ask, to operate on HIS behalf, and live life in that manner, I believe that can lift an enormous weight of fear which so easily hinders us. It's not about us. We need to RECKLESSLY abandon life for our own sake, and live for Him.

I believe we need leaders to rise up like the disciples, dropping everything: their livelihood, work, family, land, EVERYTHING. We need leaders like Timothy, who let go of the fears of this world/culture and stepped out into the place God was calling him. They understood it. It wasn't about them.

Any "elders" out there, lay hands on the coming generation. Lay your hands on them and pray that God would increase the call, increase the gift. That there would not be a spirit of fear that entraps, but the Spirit of God that brings reckless freedom in His Kingdom.

I leave you with Natasha's words:

"RECKLESSLY ABANDONING MYSELF BEFORE YOU (Lord) I WANNA OPEN UP MY HEART AND TELL HIM HOW I FEEL"

Rise up fearless leaders!

A Week Translated into Pictures

FRIDAY NIGHT (20th):

We checked out the ROOTS CAFE owned and run by Jamey Hamm, on 5AVE & 15TH St. If you're in Brooklyn/Park Slope area this is definitely a cafe to check out. We got to chill at the cafe, listen to music, and meet up with our friend Chris - who I staffed DTS at the same time with back in 2005. (Check out the cafe's website for d's: Root's website)

SATURDAY:

We were invited to a party held in a loft apartment. The apartment was deemed "the best kept secret in South Slope", because of it's size and setup. Above pic. : live art. The artist grabbed random party attendees, had them pose, and painted the outline on their face, layer upon layer of faces. I heard the painting was possibly sold by the end of the night.

Live music - 3 bands, and after we left we heard a dj played. The bands had a projector back up their backdrop, some anime, some random pics, some random clips melded together, etc.

More art...not "live art", but art.

Jamey's band The Spectacle's gave a grooving, blue grass/funk with a 1940's style, slammed with some punk/rock. Very fun. Very good.

SUNDAY:

(No picture....) :(

But we did go to church, Andreas joined the worship team by playing the jimbe.

MONDAY:

Spent time praying for GODLY LEADERS RISE UP! in every sphere of society. Science, Government, Education, Arts/Sports, Media, Church, Family, and Economics. Join in every Monday by praying or fasting or however God leads you.

TUESDAY:

Regardless of the Brooklyn/NYC constant drizzle...we set off in the morning for Bay Ridge. The area of Brooklyn that had potential (back in the day) to become "Little Norway". Now the Norwegians who live here either moved here 40/50 some years ago. We checked out Nordic Delicacies (website). A shop opened and run by Helene, who stocks up with various chocolates, knick-knacks, porridge, norwegian cheese - even BROWN CHEESE! woohoo.

The park that gives tribute to Norwegian explorer Liev Ericson who found the USA back in 1000 BC (but was beaten off by the indians - so has the rumor).

Tuesday evening per usual, I attended Contemporary/Modern with Michael Thomas and Andreas attended Ballet with Finis Jhung at the Alvin Ailey dance center.

WEDNESDAY:

We strolled over to Ikea after I realized the sheets I had for our guest sleeper sofa...SHRUNK! Yes, the shrunk. So we bought new sheets, and I found this sweet lantern for just under $5! yay!

Also we went to Atmosphere to practice for an upcoming performance on September the 13th.

THURSDAY:

After working at Postmark Café, we went to an outdoor movie event! They only happen here in the summer, so this was probably our last chance to go. Which means it's our only time attending one of the NY outdoor movie events. VERY well worth it!! (it was a free event at the Brooklyn Bridge Park)

Nice sunset, sweet sail boats!

Dun, dun-dun-dun, dun, dun-dun... Indiana Jones!

Me and the Mr.

post the movie. Pier 1 at the Brooklyn Bridge Park is beautiful, to just chill, hangout, picnic, if you live in the area and you haven't check it out yet....what are you doing? ;)

A call to prayer - Hezekiah

What if??

What if America was never meant to have “freedom of religion” but FREEDOM OF RELATIONSHIP with God. The only religion that exists…that can honestly support and be based on that kind of lifestyle is the one that serves the Living God. Israel…Judah…they were not to be a place of “Freedom of Religion”, but meant to be a place that represented a chosen people. CHOSEN. Chosen by LOVE. Love: A foundational building block in the creation of humanity was the love of the living God. The Abba - Father. He gave us freedom of choice, so that we may CHOOSE Him!! So that we could choose Love, something that always renders from choice.

Hezekiah, a king who did right in the eyes of the Lord, “He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. ” 2Kings 18:4

This was no place of “freedom of religion”, but a place to live in the freedom God offered to his chosen, now which has been revealed as the freedom in Christ extended and granted to all peoples who choose Him.

Hezekiah was a man who did right in the eyes of the Lord. Now what are we doing? We need to be living lives of integrity. Like Hezekiah, we need to be living lives that have full trust in the One and Only: Living God. Placing our lives in the hands of the King of kings, the Lord of Lords, who promises to His chosen one’s, “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse, and all peoples of earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-2

I’ve heard a saying, “…America, the most powerful nation on earth.” I don’t believe America will much longer be the most powerful nation on earth, unless do as was commanded to the nation of Israel through Jeremiah, “Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, ‘Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your fathers’ But you have not paid attention or listened to me.” Jeremiah 35:15

I know…our forefathers of this “most powerful nation” meditated and pondered upon the scriptures of the Bible, when they came up with the idea of a “free” country. A country that could live in the kind of freedom that God offers us, the freedom to love him, the “freedom of relationship” with the Living God. Not a freedom to be abused, or used for selfish desires and false gods.

Not only America but peoples of all nations, may we strive to turn from our selfish ideas, selfish agendas, and our gods. May we put our full trust in the Living God, and seek truth – through the word of God and the Holy Spirit – day and night. May our heart’s desire be turned to the God of mercy and grace, the only one who is worthy.

I believe we need to do as Jeremiah said, and “each of us need to turn from our wicked ways”. If we stop long enough to listen to our heart of hearts, it won’t take long to recognize the “wicked ways” we’ve been living out. We all have made mistakes, and it’s God’s grace that allows us to turn and live with hope and true freedom. Occasionally someone needs another person to point out what he/she is doing wrong, but a lot of times it doesn't take long when we actively chose to be introspective. Be introspective and recognize where our guilt roots from. God is not a God of condemnation, but of conviction, because he is a God who offers a way out: forgiveness (when we choose to change). Why not take advantage of this freedom of relationship he offers?

In addition to continuously placing our trust - our faith - in Christ and being introspective with our mistakes – our sins -, we need to act, we need pray, we need to verb. Verb: a word used to describe action.

Recently God's really been burdening my heart to pray for Christian leaders to rise up in all spheres of society (in government, education, church, science, family, economy, arts & communication). The other night, I had an inkling that we need to pray for leaders to rise up from the coming generations, especially political leaders, who will be like King Hezekiah. Hezekiah “…did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. …There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.” 2 Kings 18:3& 5b

We need Godly leaders. We even need Godly leaders in politics, especially in politics. Let’s pray! (not only for Hezekiahs to rise up in America, but worldwide!) I'll be praying through out the week for Godly leaders, but especially on Mondays. You can do as you feel lead. Whether it's praying in your car on your way to/from work, on your way to the store, at home in the morning/evening, fasting food/music/tv/etc., whatever way you feel God leads you to pray for Godly Leaders to rise up!

more from sex+money

In '08 during my Transformation for the Arts school at the UofN, I did a research paper on sex trafficking. Specifically young girls being sex-trafficked. It took me into a sad world, but a world where some how, some way there is hope.

Many organizations, individuals, groups, even celebrities are getting on board to the fight against the human sex trafficking industry.

During my research I found the following song: Constance by Mr. J. Meideiros

"Sex+Money" represents a group of people who - after having traveled around the world and discovered this profane and alarmingly huge issue - began a journey around the US with full efforts directed to bring this appalling industry to an end.

On YouTube they have been posting webisodes of their journey towards making a film.

You'll hear the song Constance in their latest webisode:

Here's a special note from the team I received last week and thought I'd share:

"The post-production phase for Sex+Money is still moving forward! The "rough-cut" will be ready in October, and the final version (90 min) is slated to be released in January. We are also planning our 50-State Promotional / Distribution Tour for Spring 2011; if you would like to have a screening of the film in your area please let us know!

The film right now is at a financial crossroads.

We urgently need your help to continue working on the project. We invite you to partner with us this week in making a tax deductible contribution."

(for more info: http://www.sexandmoneyfilm.com/)

Weekend blogging

Friday:

Andreas had a "Moving Job" . (That's basically been our grocery money each week.) :) He's had about 5 jobs, from putting up posters around town and advertising on Craigslist.

I spent the afternoon volunteering with Postmark Café (the café our church runs to be involved with community in the 'hood).

Friday night: We went to Australia Sheep Station with some friends for the church. Good burgers, chicken sandwich, and toffee dessert. ;)

Saturday:

Pretty lame...because I tried to shop for work clothes in SoHo. That was a HUGE mistake on SATURDAY - aka Tourist-Field-Day!! Talk about people galore. Sidenote: Look people if someone is looking at clothes hanging on a rack, you wait until they walk away, then you yourself shuffle through the rack.

You don't HOVER over the person who got there first, then start REACHING OVER TOP of them in order to shuffle through the clothes. Hello?? haha. Don't worry, Jesus loves you still - you may need to pray about patience, but Jesus loves you.

Saturday Night: It got a bit more enjoyable/relaxing, a lot more actually. :) Andreas and I headed to Postmark Café's after hours concert. Opening with Frank, Stacey, and Eunji's band: Young People. Guests from Pennsylvania also traveled over, a band and their lead singer: Christina Ward. Closing out the night with her ukulele was Kohli Calhoun.

Young People bring an artsy/rock sound to the speakers. Makes you feel like your visiting somewhere in the family of Swell Season? Some of the instruments used were: keyboard, guitar, xylophone, aaaand a Bell Shaker Stick, that's right: Bell Shaker Stick. :)

Band from Pennsylvania (which unfortunately I didn't catch their "band" name, if they had one since this was their first time working all together). Christina Ward was able to keep her cool even when the sound-speaker went crashing down to the ground mid-song, and she kept rocking it out on vocals and her banjo.

Kohli Calhoun, accompanied by Young People did her thing with her ukulele. Her vocals remind be of visiting somewhere in the family of...Regina Spektor & Feist. In between songs was never a dull moment as she interacted with the audience and cracked jokes. She plans to release an album in December with Pep Pep Records (Frank and Stacy's company).

Sunday:

We made a failing attempt attending Morning Star Church (Sorry Grace, we'll try again next week?). No alarm to wake us up = waking up late, and trains on the weekend...crazy. You have to leave at least 30 minutes earlier than usual!

We found ourselves in Manhattan, no church, and dreary weather = let's go see a movie! The Other Guys. Will Ferrel NEVER fails to make me laugh! The movie, however teeter tottered on goofy-goofy comedy and good comedy (also a few unnecessary "coarse" joking :-P ) Parts of it will make you laugh for sure though. Wait until it's out for rent. (Oh, and clearly anti-"capitalism"/big business bail-outs.)

Sunday night: we headed to "Church! of Park Slope". First time attending the night service. Great sermon about "Holy, Holy, Holy" - how Holy is God?? Holy-Holy-Holy, not just Holy-Holy. . . true story. believe it.

Andreas and I closed up the weekend with a heated game of Phase10. (I win!)

Currently reading:

Is lying OK??

Is lying OK? (Keep in mind what your mom, or mentor taught you as a young child learning about life...Now go ahead you can answer that question: )

The Western World is where my husband and I are from, therefore my pure guess is 99% of the Western world would say: No. It's not OK.

However...Another question:

As a culture have we cultivated not only a positive perspective but also become a people who encourage each other to lie, embrace it?? (Go ahead, read that question one more time...)

Now think...

When I was 18 I traveled to Vanuatu (go look that up on the map). While there with a team of people, we went to listen to a pastor. Sounds pretty mediocre thus far, oh but wait...this pastor had actually died. "What?" Yes. He had died, been pronounced dead, and his wife and child sat beside his body crying and praying to God. About an hour or two later...the pastor came back to life.

This was not some spooky-kooky stuff. This was simply the power of God raising to life someone who's life on earth was not to be over yet. This was not some distant miracle back in 30 BC, this was in the 21st Century. This day and age.

Would you be more comfortable if I said it wasn't true??

Would you prefer me to tell you it wasn't true?

Would a lie make you more comfortable?

If so, why?

There are times when a lie would make me more comfortable. And that's the truth. (Is your mind bending yet?)

Seriously, honestly, there are times when I want to hear something other than the truth. "No I did not get that answer wrong on the test, they must have made a mistake." "I am not the one in the wrong here, it's your fault, not mine." "I didn't forget to pass on that message, I'm not the one to blame."

Lying brings a twisted comfort. But is that OK?

It's a bit of human nature that boils up within us whispering denial that we ourselves are at fault. Denying that we ourselves need to change. Denying that we ourselves did something that's not OK. Denying reality so that we can continue to live in our own comfort zone. To live the way WE want to live. Selfish....Prideful...Vanity...

Why make this point using the story of some guy rising from the dead? 1. It's quite phenomenal, and usually arouses skepticism. Seriously, how many people do you know who have died and come back to life? 2. The idea of "God" + "power" is a little bit of a scary concept, because for most of us that is extremely unchartered territory. (Remember how it felt as a kid, when your parent's put you to bed and turned off the lights?? You were SURE there was some creepy monster/bad guy creeping around your room unexposed because of lack of light).

Now think about stories in the News Media and from our culture, that have created a "comfort zone" outside the realm of truth.

Let's take a look at a Western Restaurant in the Western World, in our culture...the culture where my guess would be that 99% would initially say it's not OK to lie (initially), but whose actions may say something different....

McDonalds (I'm so sorry McDonalds you are the brunt of so much. haha.)

A lady goes to McDonalds, orders a coffee (she is the one who ordered the coffee, no one forced her to), she spills it (she spilt it on herself, no one dumped it on her), and then she sues McDonalds for serving her hot coffee without a warning label.

Spilling coffee on yourself is embarrassing and is no one's fault except your own. But as a culture we've made it an option and a bit acceptable to blame shift. To say "It wasn't my fault, it was yours." <--- is that the truth??

McDonalds...

People in America go to McDonalds, order burgers and fried food AKA "junk food" (they have the freedom to choose to order that food, no one forces them), they eat it (they have the freedom to eat that food, no one forces them), and then "junk food" takes it's well-known, reaction to being put in the body...and becomes fat. Then McDonalds is sued for making people fat??

What you eat is your choice. Making the wrong choice and becoming "over-weight" can be embarrassing (hey! At times I've gained weight that has been embarrassing to me too, most people have). When you've been given the option, freedom, choice it is no one's fault except your own. However we've made it an option and even a bit acceptable to blame shift. "It wasn't my fault...it was them...they made me eat it!!" <--- Is that the truth??

It would definitely make it more comfortable for me if I could do that, if I could blame shift. But is that OK?

Is lying OK??

As a culture have we cultivated not only a positive perspective but also become a people who encourage each other to lie, embrace it?

Is this OK??

NO, it is not OK.

Brooklyn to Bronx to West Village

This past weekend...

Brooklyn: Friday night: We were extremely grateful to attend Swell Season's free concert in Prospect Park (again a part of the Celebrate Brooklyn BRIC concert series). Swell Season is the band made after the movie Once was such a hit - by indie film standards. (check out their most popular song "Falling Slowly" on Youtube.)

For those of you who haven't heard of Swell Season (or the movie Once), go check them out. Glen Hansard (lead male vocalist) is extremely passionate about his music, and it spouts out with great force through his vivacious vocals.

The Bronx: Saturday afternoon (July 31: Declared: National Dance Day by So You Think You Can Dance's Nigel Lithgoe):

After weeks of being in the home land of bboying/breaking, and Andreas not finding any fellow bboys....finally Andreas found online a breakdance jam happening in the Bronx. Old-skool breakdance revolutionaries from the late 70's and 80's put on the jam and were the honorary judges. The event included a three-on-three battle, and a single bboy cypher. Three bgirls did show up for the 3-on-3's which was pretty cool to see some bgirls represent. ;)

Andreas didn't plan on "competing" but decided last minute to, and got 2nd in the cypher. :)

It was a free event, and great to hear some of the "fathers" of bboying sharing the history of breaking in the Bronx and at St. James Park (a park located in the Bronx where bboys used to meet up back in the day to jam).

West Village: Saturday evening:

We were invited to the Marivaldo Project's show at SOB's in West Village by Marivaldo himself. Marivaldo is part of the famous rhythmic "off Broadway" show STOMP. He has his own band: Marivaldo Project that is influenced by the musical culture from his home country of Brazil! He rocks out on the bongos and other percussion, with trumpet player, bass guitarist, electric guitarist, a female vocalist, and another guy from the show STOMP rocking the drums. It was great to dance, enjoy the music, and we even were invited backstage to hang out with the band between sets. Thanks Marivaldo for letting your warm culture generosity/kindness shine through by making us feel so welcomed! :) "This is how we do it in Brazil!!" -Marivaldo (bringing on the beats and the fun.)

Back to Brooklyn: Sunday:

Sunday was the lazy day of the weekend. :) We went to church, chilled with our new friends from church, and I also chilled with some dancer friends aka my "Flatbush Friends" (Colleen and Sonia) ;)

Next weekend...We may be going to enjoy the musicality mixing of DJ Q-tip. Also to a little YWAM "Alumni" get together in Manhattan. updates to come...

Me very seriously (haha)...reading a book about Modern dance in the train to or from a class at Alvin Ailey...