Jesus is a Punk Rocker

The genre and lifestyle of punk rock has been given a bad rap through the years and rightfully so. As a onetime high school punk poser I can tell you that it had its ups and downs, the good and the bad, and (like everything) its dark sides. By definition it is a form of rock music marked by extreme and often deliberately offensive expressions of alienation and social discontent (Webster’s Online). I’m not going to touch the offensive or alienation aspects, but those could definitely apply towards my points later on. But with the little experience I have being a onetime self-proclaimed ‘punk rocker’ and my affection for the musical genre I believe there is nothing more punk rock than Jesus.

When The Clash asked if they should stay or should they go now, Christ decided to come (Incarnation), go (Passion) and then come back (Resurrection) only to go again (Ascension). As the Sex Pistols sarcastically asked God to save the Queen, God saved us all by the death of His only son.

It’s been known that punk rockers tend to be anarchists following a movement to ‘up the establishment’ and to ‘stick it to the man’ for their self-righteous cause. Common punk ideologies and beliefs are progressive to say the least and include anti-authoritarianism, a DIY ethic, non-conformity, direct action and all the while not selling out.

 

Christ created a progressive movement for salvation that challenged the establish order of the day, it encouraged the participation of women when no one else did and it reached out to the sick, adulters and everyone else society turned their backs on. He gave the big middle finger towards conforming to societal sickness and individual ideologies that were causing a moral decline, while refusing to sellout. His cause was noble and it called for a DIY approach through preaching to the disciples and sending them forth on a mission as we are called to do so two thousand some years later. The message was a clear call for authentic action.

It was about the 1960’s when punk took shape and was seen as an innovative and exciting new genre of music. The music was pure, stripped down, no BS rock 'n' roll. In hindsight isn’t that the basic message JC and the boys set out to preach? Sure a lot of it has been lost in translation through the years and tweaked by the old gray hairs down town and even watered down by evangelists and capitalists, but was the original message not pure and clear cut? The fat trimmed and the BS pulled. That’s what has made it so authentic and inspiring for billions to go into action, while challenged the established order of the day.

It’s fair to say by now you’re thinking I’m off my rocker or maybe you’re completely outraged by what I’ve tossed out. Comparing the Big Guy and punk rock is a bit of a stretch let alone calling God's only son a punk rocker. Maybe my image is a bit too progressive or polarizing and it is. But I got you thinking and challenged the norm and that’s punk rock!


Until next time...

Live with Purpose or Die Trying!

Here’s a fun thought: How do you think you’re going to die?

It’s a fact of life. It’s inevitable. Even though we all live different lives, follow different paths and are dealt different cards we all end up dying.

The other day I found myself at the longest red light in town and began reading the airbag warning. As I read I thought to myself I sure hope that I’ll never have to use them. A couple of weeks ago I was informed of someone who had just been diagnosed with cancer and I began wondering what, if any, form of cancer I might one day get or will I have a stroke, develop a form of diabetes or die in a car accident. Which after any thought like that comes the fearful, but honest thought: How am I going to die? Of course quickly followed by the want to just live in a bubble or compound where everything was sterile and outlined in bubble wrap and no one has any violent tendencies or prone to accidents.

Wouldn’t it put your mind at ease to know how and when your end would come or even decide to live life ‘safe,’ free from any risk or to choose to follow every doctor’s report about eating ‘this super food’ or try ‘that new drug’ so you could prevent X?

The sad fact is that there is nothing more we can do to prevent death or rid our lives of fear except to simply make the most of each day and remind ourselves that if we have the Big Guy in our corner there is nothing for us to fear (psalms 118:6). It’s easier said than done, but if we have a belief in Him, and trust in the Holy Spirit in our lives, nothing will be impossible for us. We can move mountains, live life fully and without having to just lay it up. It’s through the Spirit that we have been given the strength to overcome anything by the spirit of power, love and self-discipline (2 Tim 1:7) that we have been given by God. But it comes into our lives, and into our hearts, when we choose to accept this relationship with God and pray for the Holy Spirit to make us stronger – to be more Christ like in all that we do.

It’s a great thought to reflect on this Lenten season. Let go of our fears regardless of what those may be. Whether it’s the fear of snakes, heights, being shot down by a girl, clowns, complacency, falling flat on your ass or even death lift it up in prayer and move mountains with reckless abandon. It is said that one of the greatest fears is the fear of the unknown, but the unknown is also one of life’s biggest adventures and a loving, fruitful one if you just trust you’ll be safely guided along the way.

Until next time…

Discipleship Doesn’t Mean Crisp If You’re Blowin’ Smoke

As a Spin instructor and self-proclaimed gym rat I have an opportunity to teach and track people’s discipline towards their physical gains. Some folks want to bulk up, train to compete in figure competitions and some are determined to simply lose weight. Regardless of reasons they try tirelessly with early mornings, extra reps and ‘just one more lap’ to achieve their goals…often times coming up short.

 

Two examples come to mind right off the bat and frequent the gym. One is a middle aged man who I’ll name Johnny Gym. Johnny looks like he used to be a Haas back in the day, but years removed from his physical prime he has gained weight and lost his gains from his glory days. He is disciplined on the weights, takes his pre and post workout protein and is attempting to eat healthier now, but his biggest barrier he can’t break through…smoking and drinking. The moment his jacket comes off he smells like the Lucky 7’s he puts away all day long. Then there’s Jeanie Gym who exemplifies more devotion than some competitors. The discouraging thing about Jeanie is that she smells like Crispy Cream donuts. It could be her perfume or the fact that at 5:30 in the morning I’m hungry, but as most people slam a protein shake after a workout you can see her walking to her car slamming a fresh fried lump of dough. A decision, which although pleases our taste buds is not the complimentary move after dominating such a grueling regiment.

 

Johnny and Jeanie's devotion and decisions made me think about our devotion as Christians, especially during the season of Lent. Like most people who attempt to achieve physical success through weights and training in the gym we as believers typically fall short in our spiritual goals as well. I'll be the first to say that I fall into this as well and especially recently. We’ll put in extra time at Church, attempt a few added prayers or grab a hold of hope that we will live a pure and perfect life and that’s completely understandable. But like Johnny and Jeanie we put in all that work to quickly turn to our bad habits and teeter with temptations that take us back a step or two.

 

That’s why during Lent it’s the ideal time to not just put in the extra effort, but focus on further gains. During this season we’re called to prayer, fasting and alms giving. It’s the sacrifices we make, and the surrendering of ourselves during this season that pushes us to that next threshold. Remembering all along during the six weeks of sacrifice that we are called to pray, fast and perform righteous deeds humbly and between you and the Big Guy. We are to make sure we’re not like the hypocrites that the Ash Wednesday Gospel reading (Matt 6:1-6, 16-18) speaks of. Those people who publically seek reward and acknowledgement of their efforts. In common with those making sacrifices in the gym it is important that we remain humble through the process, push hard, focus on form and put off the 'selfies' that showoff the good work you're doing.

 

There is no better time to begin a new prayer routine or cut back on the countless decisions that dilute our discipleship. In a way, Lent gives us the opportunity to refocus our goals, set our sights on the greater purpose and strengthen our weaknesses. Avoiding the setbacks of Johnny and  Jeanie Gym who put in all the work only to resort back to the decisions that keep them from reaching the next level. Now’s the time to put in the extra reps, push harder, stronger and do the appropriate steps…if not, I’ll just expect to see you in class at 5:30 a.m. sitting in the back of the room, getting nowhere!

 

 

Until next time…

The Crosswalk Conundrum

Last night I was riding my bike home from the library along one of the area's busiest roads. Anyone who knows me can vouch that I choose to ride as much as I can to complete errands, work out or just for fun. Although I was crossing the street with the 'walk' symbol, I nearly got taken out by a car turning on red that ironically sported a bright yellow "Look Twice for Bikes" bumper sticker on the back window. I'm not sure what stuck out more about the driver's interest in biking, his cautionary bumper sticker or his bike that was in tow, securely fastened to the bike rack. None the less my near brush with death came from the same tights wearing, Lance Armstrong wannabe who shares the love of the open road like me. A kindred spirit who understands the frustrations and dangers of cycling on the cement raceway of back country roads, yet who failed to practice what his bumper sticker - and ultimately his overall personal belief - preaches: Look twice for bikes.

It's like when you are driving on the highway and a Mom in a minivan comes blaring past you and shoots you a mean glare and a few choice words, because you were only doing five over in the fast lane. Yet as she speeds past you her silver fish emblem on the back of her four wheel chariot stares you down in joyous, loving humiliation and her bumper sticker asks "What Would Jesus Do?". In similar fashion, we all have folks in our lives who broadcast their faith by acting all high and mighty while leading committee after committee at Church, school and in other extracurriculars, but on Saturday morning are the ones going nuclear on the soccer ref because their little Messi doesn't know a goal from a hole in the ground.

Just the other day a friend had mentioned to me how a close girlfriend of hers had been involved in her Church years ago. She said that her friend and her husband had been on committees, helped at Mass almost weekly and knew most, if not all, of the parishioners. Her friend's husband cheated on her and ultimately left her...so did her Church "friends."

The sad truth is we often forget what we have had preached to us and what we preach towards others. Much like the bike enthusiast who nearly drove me off the road in his Volvo, we forget the things we try to live out daily (i.e. Look Twice for Bikes...unless I'm in my own car). We've all heard these stories of reasons why friends or family members have left a Church because the Church turned on them. When in all reality the Church never did anything. The dutiful 'disciples' of the Church did. It's the ol' mentality of "I'll practice what is preached only when it is convenient for me...or else I'll do what I want."

If we are truly called to love one another (John 13:34) and know that love is of God; and every one that loves is begotten of God(1 John 4:7) then it is time to live it. Not when it fits into our schedule or helps us to gain support, but in all circumstances. It's time to live out what we broadcast to others. Live. A. Life. Worth. Loving.

So your bumper sticker says "What Would JC Do?" I'll tell you what he'd do, he'd love always, often and upon everyone. Your JC bling you wear every day broadcasts for all to see your unyielding love and admiration for the guy and that you are not just invested in a lot of accessories, but you're a disciple. Committed to his teachings, a believer in his ways and a lover of all. Great, now live it. And let's say your car sports a bike rack, fancy road bike and a bumper sticker that says "Look Twice for Bikes"...then I strongly suggest you look twice for bikers. Don't preach it when you're on your bike and forget it behind the wheel of your Volvo. It's time for us all to look twice, live once and love always.


Until next time...

You Can Learn A Lot About Faith From Inside A Mosh Pit

If you've ever been to a hard rock concert you know that there are customary things that you'll be forced to endure. First, you're going to see an onslaught of angry, confused looking teens that strive to look different than their classmates, but look just like their best friends, or you'll see twenty somethings still dressing like a teen doing all the same stuff and most likely works at a coffee shop as a barista. Next, you'll feel you walked into a Converse shoes convention with every pair of Chuck Taylors ever made being modeled and that's a guarantee. Lastly, you'll leave amped up, sweaty, partially deaf and of course, there will always be a mosh pit that breaks out...and no mater where you're standing you'll be tossed in.

While I was hiking and (responsibly) drinking my way through Denver we went to see the band Trapt play a show. For those of you who don't know who Trapt is, or you're having a flashback to high school and the late 90s,they were a hard rock band that had three big hits when I was about 15. The show was only 10 bucks and a unique way to enjoy the final night in the city that captured my heart. Song after song the pit grew larger and a bit more vibrant. As the rambunctious group of rockers continued to flail about and push each other around one brave soul walked around the center of the madness and scoffed at what was happening around him. This big dude just stood tall amidst the festivities of the pit, stayed his course and did his own thing. The best part...no one dared to bump into him as he walked among the madness.

I respected the crap out of him for doing that. If that were me, I would have been knocked down the moment I stepped in. But he went about his business and did his own thing. What I saw stuck with me. Here's a guy surrounded by chaos and disorder, but it didn't phase him. The fear of being knocked down or humiliated didn't stop him. On the drive after the show I admired the Denver skyline as much as I did this cat as I reflected of what I saw.

Every day of our lives we struggle with the stessers we face and we falter to our fears, all the while making it so damn hard to stay the course. It's like we're stuck smack dab in the middle of a mosh pit, being pushed around, taking elbows to our pride and frequently getting knocked to our knees. Some times it's a chore to find the motivation to just pick yourself up. It's at those times I wish I could be more like the Hulk-asourous that braved the pit and all the painful abuse that surrounded him. It becomes such a spiritual struggle when you are constantly being pushed around and faced with constant gut checks. It's those times we have to remind ourselves that we have the strength to take on everything that is thrown our way because we are empowered through Him (Phil 4:11). That when we struggle to walk tall among the ruthless 'moshiness' that is all around us we must rely on the Big Guy and His mightiness as we seek Him through it all(1 Chronicles 16:11).

Watching that guy during that set inspired me. I know, I know, it was just some dude at a rock concert. For all I know he could have been driven by beer muscles or be a bully looking to fight or just straight up dumb, but he manned up and stayed strong with everything around him. Most likely not afraid to be bumped around or knocked to his knees. If you're like me, that's my fear. Being knocked to my knees and taking the initial hit and then the hit to the pride, but it's not so bad. I can think of someone else who had fallen to his knees, not once, not twice, but thrice. He was able to pick himself up and keep going. Just like I should and how you should.

May we always be strong in our faith and steadfast in our ways. No matter the amount of craziness surrounding you in your life, may you walk tall. And let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9) no matter how hard we are knocked down or how often we take the hits.



Until next time...

The Garden of Weedin'

This spring I took on a new endeavor of getting a plot in a local community garden. After cooking all winter with 'fresh' veggies and herbs from the store I would have a trash can full of wrappers and a recycling bin piled high with cans. Then it hit me that it would be so cool to take on a garden...until I stood at the edge of the garden for the first time and had to weed the damn thing.

When I visited the plot after some time away an entire forest of greenery had grown around my plants. I knelt on the hard, cracked dirt to pull weeds around my 'harvest.' As I fought off the discomfort of kneeling for a couple hours on a thin piece of foam it dawned on me how unbelievably frustrating this whole thing seems. In the grand scheme of things a 20x20 plot is truly nothing, but doing it alone - and without a clue of what I'm doing - seems damn near impossible.

The ground was tough to break through and the dense weeds appeared to stand taller, as if sticking its chest out in the air to boast that it had beaten me. The moment that I thought I was making progress I looked beyond the three foot radius of my initial assault on the annoying agriculture only to see that I had another 391 square feet to go. It was discouraging, demoralizing and worst of all, painful. I felt alone on a tiny dirt island of doubt thinking that maybe I had taken on too much as I was surrounded by a sea of green leafy weeds.

Near the end of my late afternoon’s work, I arrived at my final plant. A hot pepper plant, standing nearly one foot tall. On it, hidden underneath a flawlessly shaped leaf, was the tiniest little thing that almost resembled a miniature pepper. A pepper that two weeks ago did not exist and around that plant was the intoxicating aroma of the spicy cilantro from nearly three feet away.

When I had finished weeding I watered the little guy and the other sprouting veggies, herbs and melon surrounding it. Then it hit me that maybe, just maybe, all the sweat, pain and sun could be worth it. That even through the pulling of the weeds (that will grow back in a few days) and muscling through the man eating garden spiders and laughing off the old retired men at the plots around me laughing at my attempts to garden, just maybe this will be blossom into a bountiful harvest. An end of summer reward for all the long hours, hot days and frustrating fun in the sun.

Our faith is a lot like my garden endeavor if you think about it. In order to have a great harvest you can't just sprinkle a little water on your plot every once in a while and expect a great outcome; much like you can't pray every once and again to expect miracles or a relationship with God to blossom in your life. In attempting to grow spiritually you will feel weak and intimidated, lost and alone, doubtful and distraught, just as any true warrior of the top soil may feel taking on the forest of constantly growing weeds. Our weaknesses towards certain temptations creep up as quick as those weeds; that no matter how many times you pull them, and no matter what you do to treat them, they always seem to creep their way back.

In Matt we read that the harvest is “abundant but the laborers are few (Matt 9:37).” There is so much goodness for us to receive in our own lives as long as we are following the righteous path and living a life full of love, but so few willing to take on the task. The harvest can be daunting, overwhelming and lonely, much as it was when I first stepped foot in the plot overwhelmed by what stood before me. I went into the task of gardening knowing that I’d pull some weeds, water some plants and boom…I’d have food. But it’s not that easy nor that simple, just like our faith. In our own lives we know exactly what it is we need to do (on paper) to be happy, to love and to get into Heaven, but we still become overwhelmed by the realization that we actually don’t know how to do it properly. The Bible, just like a Gardening for Idiots book, explains to us what to do along the way and how to overcome many different challenges, it’s just a matter of us properly following what has been shared and then applying it daily.

Even the best of gardeners and farmers have a lousy harvest from time to time and even the most disciplined of theologians struggle spiritually. It’s just a matter of us trying to keep those pesky weeds and weaknesses at bay by getting to them at their roots. And to do more than just sprinkle a little water from time to time or pray when we only want something. We must overcome the weeds in our lives and love daily, even through the hate, the disgust and the pain. It is then, and only then, that along our path we may see the fruits of our labors and see how truly abundant the harvest truly is. It just takes overcoming one weed at a time.



But we must always remember that no matter how many weeds surround our harvest and no matter how much we must endure to see the fruits of our labor

Temperance Can Kiss My Assisi

I led a small group during a high school retreat earlier this year consisting mostly of freshmen guys and gals. We had an exceptionally spirited conversation about weaknesses and worries in regards to our faith.

“What is keeping us from growing in our faith?’ I asked the group.

Everyone shared text book responses just barely skimming the surface of the topic. Then out of a nowhere came the most profound statement that stopped the conversation in its tracks. This young man - a shy, sometimes awkward freshman boy - interrupted and shared with what has kept him from growing in all aspects of his life.

"I think the biggest thing keeping me from growing personally and spiritually in my life is temptation," is how he began. I figured he was going to list off all the big ones I've heard time and time again on retreats. The same old anger towards parents, lust, contributing to rumors and gossip, pornography, the list goes on. He continued, "Not just temptation as a whole, but the temptation to wait until tomorrow."

Bam, this from a fourteen year old who hasn't even experienced the roller coaster ride of hormones, testosterone and strife most adults have to endure to achieve such deep discernment. Like most people, I drag my feet and push the important items to tomorrow or the weekend. For example, the application for grad school that I’ve put off since January and the three years of discerning that prolonged it all. The second round edits to my manuscript that I’ve put off for a few months now to send to potential literary agents.

"I think the worst mistake we can make in our lives,” continued the pimply faced preacher, “Is to give into that temptation where we think we can 'do it' tomorrow, whatever it is we put off. For me, it's deepening my relationship with the Lord."

We all have our own personal struggles and weaknesses. Some of us have our own demons that we wrestle with daily. The simple truth is that we are all faced with our own temptations and we fall victim to them more than we’d like to admit.

It was said that St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, the environment and being a complete bad ass, was just like any male who struggles of suggestions of impurity. At times of weakness he would roll around in the snow to fight off falling to his temptations and if wasn't winter he'd just toss himself unto a thorn bush. Although I respect his discipline, I'm not sure I'd ever cause physical harm to myself, or risk pneumonia, to avoid losing the mini battle to temptation, but in order to fight temptation we need more than just good intentions, because even those grow weak.

The steps he took were a tad hardcore, but truly inspiring. In order for us to fight the good fight and win against temperance we must start by taking a page out of his holy play book. Find that motivating factor that keeps us strong at those moments we feel the weakest.

St. Francis was a simple man, with a simple mission, to walk in the footsteps of Christ. Yet he still struggled with his battles with temptation. We all do. We’re only human. What is it that you’re struggling with and tempted by the most? Once you can accept your weakness and can consciously agree that you want to persevere then you need to kick its Assisi and not be tempted to wait until tomorrow.

I'm Not Worthy That You Should Enter Under My Roof...But How About A Beer?

I found my mind wandering at Church the other day thinking about something during the part of Mass when the congregation says the prayer before Holy Communion: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. These are the words straight from our buddies Matt (8:8) and Luke (7:6), where the Centurion spoke to Jesus and we recite them every Sunday as we prepare ourselves to receive Him in the Eucharist.

While we were praying this prayer aloud, I caught myself saying another prayer: Lord, I am certainly not worthy enough to have you enter under my roof – although I have a nice apartment that’s typically tidy and have a fridge full of healthy snacks and home brews – I surely am not even cool enough to be in the same vicinity as you, but only say those simple words and hopefully, hopefully, my soul shall be healed.

It came to me during that portion of Mass that it would be so cool to have the big guy come down and chill with me for the day in my apartment. We could catch a game, drink some wine (heard he knows quite the party trick that folks still talk about today) and share some laughs. We could discuss things like the meaning of life, faith, love and maybe even have him help me pick numbers for next week’s lotto or help choose players for next year’s fantasy football team. I’d ask him things like, why He let my Grandma die while I was so little and my brother die so young? I’d ask Him why he hates Cleveland sports and why He was nonexistent in my middle school years; why I didn’t know Him better in the toughest years of my life? I’d demand answers to how he could allow events like last week’s tragedy take place. And I'd have to ask him the ever so popular icebreaker question, if he could meet one person, dead or alive, who would He choose (cuz he can't say himself, like nine out of ten people)? If he came into Casa de Lofy, I would totally tweet about who I was hanging out with, I’d update Facebook minute by minute, and of course, see if he’d wingman me downtown for the night. The list goes on…

All joking aside, as I prayed this in Mass it made me think of two questions. First, what would I do if he did enter under my roof (see above for my thoughts), and secondly, who is worthy?

The answer is no one. No one is worthy of such an experience. But we should try are darnedest to become so. Striving to become so pure, so disciplined and become more Christlike in all that we do. And maybe, just maybe, one Sunday, when we pray aloud our prayer, we will be able to say: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof - and I know this, but I am striving to be more like you: Courageous, loving and compassionate - but only say the word - and I hope one day you'll say those words, oh how I do - my soul shall be healed.