Didasko: A Sabbath Day

Imagine if we added an eighth day to every week, where there is no work or school... only free time and rest. How would this impact the other days of your week?

In real life, changing the calendar this way would have too many consequences... but the Bible suggests a way of getting the most out of rest, which provides virtually the same benefits. This ancient practice - to guard a special resting day or "keep the Sabbath holy" - is making a lifestyle choice more rewarding than any productivity time you sacrifice.

For Christians, this should be a distinguishing feature of our faith. While Islam and Mormonism promote a tireless tunnel vision toward good works, Jesus offers grace (Hebrews 4)-- inviting us to abide, and to produce fruit out of this surrender. Intellectually, we understand this, but guarding a Sabbath day (not out of legalism, but from joyful choice) should help us to walk in it. Why would we assume our theoretical assent to this doctrine is enough, when the pattern of our week and values of our culture all emphasize our worth through effort?

For us Americans, members of the most overworked country in the world by measure of tracked and untracked hours, we could stand to listen, consider why the rest of the world seems "lazy" in our eyes, and reform our own time spent in relaxation.

Also, as college students, we are under constant threat of our free time being invaded with homework. For as much as we laugh at our own procrastination, it's questionable whether our carefree moments on social media or YouTube are actually rejuvenating us... when we are nagged on and off with guilt and stress that whole time.

From my own experience, I've tested this advice by guarding a weekly time of rest (usually between Friday evening and Saturday morning). I've found this discipline to be immensely enjoyable and a blessing for the following days of work.

If you choose to protect a special day off, the specific activities you do will vary personally, but here is how I've learned to make the most of your rest-- make it liberating, and make it life-giving.

Philosophia: Soli Deo Gloria

Yesterday (Thursday) at 3:30pm, I had a speech due for my public speaking class. It was only 1-2 minutes, had no grading criteria (just that I do it and pass), and the prompt was simply to introduce myself… but I found myself feeling tense through that whole morning and afternoon. I stumbled through rehearsing my outline - written that very day - while pushing through several minor yet acutely nagging physical discomforts. The end result was worth it.

As I stood before my classmates and began to speak, the anxiety melted away, and I had already realized from hearing their speeches that my words could encourage them. Several admitted uncertainty for what they want to do with their life, and regret for past choices. A few expressed an interest in serving their community, or related how seeing third world nations opened their eyes and compelled them to do something.

I chose to share the meaning of my full name: Taylor Charles Lewis, roughly translated to ‘he who cuts, and is manly, and is famous at war.’ I posed the question, “How can a gentle, home-loving introvert be expected to live up to that name?”

Looking back at my childhood, I had a fascination for any story with an adventure… and as I’ve grown, life seems more and more like an adventure. For as much as we try to figure out who we are and what we will do, we honestly don’t know. When my parents had to drag me to youth group 7 years ago and I swore I would never enter it again once I turned 18, I did not anticipate I would be an involved and employed member of said church. Or more recently, when I thought I knew my career path for what is safe and makes use of my primary talents, I could not foresee how my plans would collapse and a new opportunity to receive missions training in Africa would fall on my lap because of it, for however that will guide the course of my future.

I told the class we don’t always know, and that’s okay. It’s what makes life an adventure, if we choose to enjoy it that way. And admittedly, I’m really not who you would expect to be a sword-swinging, manly warrior dude… but the best stories involve an unlikely hero, who is willing to give himself to something greater than his own self.

Now, my classmates clapped enthusiastically and I could see the respect in their eyes. I connected with them through my story, and for that I am glad. I found out that I have several spiritual siblings in my class-- one who was a missionary kid in Thailand, and another who sat beside me this whole time and traveled to the Dominican Republic. I am grateful.

I don’t know if the demographic of my class is skewed, whether by those who willingly embrace public speaking, or by socio-economic background, or by random chance… but I see a peculiar quality somewhere among my generation, offering both hope and challenge.

Hope, because my peers are growing increasingly disillusioned with wealth, reputation, and even marriage (for better and worse). We’re ambitious and longing to take action, yet the American dream and Disney happy ending are losing their grip, causing millennials to look to a global stage for the promise of impact and purpose. I can share a glimpse of my testimony and interest in missions, while still effectively connecting with the religious nones.

Challenge, because although my generation is captivated by the idea of living for a purpose larger than themselves, they still carry heavy shackles against that earnest endeavor. We’re still individualistic by nature; contributing to community is nice so long as it makes us feel meaningful and leaves a lasting legacy, but we won’t serve beyond the limit of obligation, or ever sacrifice our distinct identity for the collective whole. We’re fired up for every noble cause which yields rewarding results... yet numb to the day-by-day need for personal integrity, or the thankless task of guarding rational truth.

The answer is God’s glory, and God’s glory alone. Human compassion will give way to weariness, whether it’s for starving children or lost souls. Social activism, absent of a pure heart rooted in divine reason, will cave in on itself. Only the unchanging, unending zeal for seeing Yahweh honored - as He always deserved, and created us to accomplish from the beginning - will endure the race. When my generation understands this, they will not only be passionate for participating in a story larger than their own… but we will also be radiant, Spirit-filled servants and leaders capable of carrying it out, so that blessings will flow through all nations and glory will return to its rightful reigning King.

Manthano: I'm a Missionary

I’ve begun the realization that I am a missionary, right this moment.

I always have been a missionary, yet my understanding of this truth is deeper than before. There’s a difference between professing that Jesus’ universal commission sends us all out, and allowing that knowledge to invigorate my attitude and interactions in all things.

I’m planning to receive training as a missionary next summer, which definitely kindles excitement and will lend practical credibility to such a claim… yet I still mean something more, unique and partly independent from my upcoming adventures in Zambia.

Friends tell me that God gifted me in multiple ways. When I saw my primary giftings being wisdom and teaching, I thought that a career in writing or editing (with volunteer ministry on the side) would best dispense insight to a mass audience. Now I see in my Spirit-renewed self characteristics such as apostleship to relate and share the Gospel with a variety of people, shepherding to offer sincere care and counsel for the Christian body, and faith for embracing experiences in which my utter need for God is exposed.

Put simply, I see in myself giftings for impacting souls and playing a direct, connective role in the heavenly kingdom. Rather than making a career from my own natural talents and intellectual contributions, I will personally encourage my brothers and sisters, so they can each advance the kingdom in a unique way.

It’s what I want to do. I can always write on the side, as I’ve been blessed to do even for the audience at Geeks Under Grace, and perhaps I’ll even be crafting novels in the eternal new heaven-earth. Serving spiritual needs is a more urgent calling, where I find the greatest reward and passion.

God seems to want me set apart to Him and for building up His bride. I’m going to step forward in faith - whether that means reluctantly adventuring abroad or ministering in the familiarity of my local community - and view each day as the Lord training me toward that end.

Manthano: Plant Friends

This is Barnabas, the Japanese Black Pine. His Greek name means "son of encouragement" and is based on the faithful companion who followed Paul. Brandon gave me a bonsai starter kit for my birthday, two years ago. From that packet of several seeds, Barnabas and his twin sister Ruth emerged from the earth.

Unfortunately, his Old Testament sibling did not survive long after, but Barnabas is nonetheless a resilient and encouraging (if awkwardly spindly) green poofball.

Here's Hoshiko, the Gardenia. Her Japanese name means "child of the star" and alludes to the Biblical Esther. She was green and beautiful with all her intricate leaves when I received her, as a two-year dating anniversary gift from Rachel. However, she's also a very sensitive plant. I watched lifeless brown spread across her branches even as my relationship came to a close, and my well-intentioned yet foolish attempts to nurture her only drowned her roots and deprived her of the sun. I don't know if her roots are rotted beyond recovery or not. Even if they are intact, she won't ever look the same. Rachel told me not to give up, though, so I will carefully water and wait.

I call her Chara, pronounced with the "char" as in burning. She's a really interesting red plant called a fire fern (actually from the woodsorrel genus). Her name comes from the Greek word for joy.

Less than ideal travel conditions and coldness left her with some holes and residue marring her leaves, but I find her to be awesome despite and through that weathering. She's much more adaptable, rotates her leaves to follow the sun, and twitches on occasion.
She blossomed prematurely because of the sudden warmth and sunlight after her sojourn - so that those flowers haven't grown any bigger since - but it's a very cool glimpse of spring. Even if flowers, leaves, and stems are all destroyed, her life is stored within bulbs under the soil, so that she can always regrow and even multiply.

Didasko: The God Who Labors with Men

I think much of our confusion - more, an inability to grasp anything tangible and personal - in regards to God’s sovereignty stems from falsehoods we believe about His character. Particularly, we’ve pitted His attributes into a war against one another, and those omni- traits tend to win out (in our minds) at the expense of what makes Him personal and interactive-- the living God known by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

We worship and follow the same God who wrestled with Jacob until daybreak, allowing this mere human to take hold of Him and match His strength so that a tricky maneuver became necessary for victory. That’s not the abstract, excessively perfect god who skeptics mockingly try to conceive (and rightly reject). He’s the Almighty who is also Abba Father, stooping down into the dust to play with oblivious children.

Or, more practically for spiritual living, we should remember that we serve the God of Joshua. Following the victory of Jericho, Joshua acted on impulse to strike the city of Ai, unaware that one of his men stole from the Lord in the former battle. God let them go out without His direction, and because of His wrath over their camp it ended in fear and shame. I don’t believe this was God being passive-aggressive, but rather patiently waiting and respecting our agency as creatures in His image.

As soon as they listen to their God, He tells the Israelites to get up, remove the sin, and engage in battle through His strategy. There’s actually indication that He entrusts Joshua to work out much of the plan’s detail (beyond that there will be an ambush from behind the city), and what I find most beautiful is how He weaves and redeems their failure into this new victory (they pretend to flee, provoking the enemy to leave their city undefended). At the battle’s turning point, God directs Joshua to hold out His javelin, which times perfectly with His ambushing army taking the city… giving God all the due glory, yet inviting humans to work by His side.

I don’t know the philosophical answers for determinism and predestination, and I wonder if we are never supposed to know. I just see a God in the Bible who blends human agency and sovereignty, remaining unchanging yet curiously reacting with emotion to the choices of His people. I think it’s of utmost importance that we deconstruct our ideas of a purely rationalistic, lofty divine mind… and continually rediscover the God who is exceedingly personal as He is powerful, expecting great things to happen for His Name through us as we interact beside Him.

Manthano: Dreaming Dreams

I dreamed that I made an account with Overland Missions, and once I did, I saw huge contributions on it which added up to 7,000 dollars-- more than enough for my AMT and airfare.

Taylor Ewing gave me 5,000 in the dream. Other people contributed in the hundreds and I think one for a thousand. They offered encouraging notes, and I can't quite recall the names of the others (they were unfamiliar to me other than Taylor) but they were were vivid at the time and somehow are known in our church family.

I was at Clovis Christian as I saw my account on my phone, and for some reason many people of my church family were present, and there for me. They now knew about the account existing, and an older woman confirmed she knew the name of a man on the list... but I don't think anyone knew just how much money had already been provided now.

So I want to stand up and tell them, that I think it's all covered and maybe even them some!!! But some people I don't know/can't all see move up to the stage and begin a worship song. I can't recognize the words, but I think they're saying "glory to God", so I join in and sing my whole heart. The worship leaders seem to be Hispanic, people I've never seen before, and the young woman leading them casts out her hand, causing the congregation in a cone in front of her to sway and fall back. I know it's something I'm usually very uncomfortable with, but in that moment as I fell on my knees I had peace and knew I was overwhelmed only by the Holy Spirit.

Then once the worship service ends, I see everyone is already leaving and scattered. I realize I WANT and NEED to tell them how the Lord has provided and the journey I was considering is imminent reality God is leading me into. I find Sean and Brian Duffy, and I'm just starting to tell them, and then I suddenly wake up.

And then I think about it. I remember I asked God to confirm if I should go, even through giving me a dream. I realize I have the same want and need today, not only for that promised financial provision but for how God spiritually brought me out of broken bankruptcy into a relationship of such riches and redemption. I reflect on how Overland Missions can be an opportunity to tell my story, and become connected with more of Christ's Church (maybe even with an expedition in South America), and to become more acclimated to the seemingly uncomfortable work of the Holy Spirit, and just to go forward in faith even if my account isn't literally donated all the way on the first day... since I now know God gave this adventure into my hands, and pursuing it will be an adventure on its own of growing trust and new friendship.

Apologia: My Creationism is Evolving

My view on this divisive subject is adapting. In many ways, I see ambiguity where I once thought the evidence gave certainty. In a different manner, I feel more confident in my creationist stance, as I shift my footing to more selective grounds for my argument. In all of this, I’m learning that specific positions aren’t the critical matter to faith I once believed them to be… yet I’m even more convinced this is a discussion the Church needs to initiate with humility and tact.

Let me start from the beginning: in high school, evolutionary theory played a key part in my skepticism. This isn’t because any mention of natural selection must stand opposed to Christian belief-- that is a false dichotomy, and I knew even then that many people reconciled the two in their worldview (guided, theistic evolution). Rather, what made evolution significant was the broader intellectual challenge behind it; is believing in a Creator necessary if we solved the miracle of complex life, and can Christians respond in a reasonable way?