JoeTucker’s Weblog

Over the past weekend, I have helped 3 friends move. My wages have been soup, drink, an offer to have my shorts patched up, a shoe rack, and gas money. Over the past month I have helped around a dozen friends move. And I love it. Why?

Let me expound: First off, I enjoy driving my truck, henceforth referred to as the Tucktruck, and moving requires that extra challenge of loading, strapping, and driving with extra weight and objects in the bed. Moreover, I find that like a wedding (which I also love being in, I’m thinking of making a minor career as a groomsman) moving is a new transitional time in someones life. And the act of moving someone into their new house is essentially an invitation from them to me (or whoever the mover may be) to join them in their next chapter of life.

Upon moving  a couch into someones new living room, I can rest assured that I will soon sit there and enjoy the company of my friend. When I haul a tv from the Tucktruck to the house, I imagine that at some point I too shall enjoy a movie from that screen. And I love moving a dining room table in. Because the table goes deep. To share a meal together, that’s something special.

So it was my delight to have a triple round of movings this weekend. I also find that the invitation into someones life extends to the personality of the house and family itself. Whether it is a set of electric candles set to ‘burn’ until peace is seen in the Middle East or a floor mat supporting the troops and celebrating the Iraqi victories, I find that moving (or just being in someones house) reveals much about the personality of a house. What they value (an impressive DVD collection or a well-greased bicycle) , what they enjoy (a pool table {never really that fun to move} or a bookshelf), or just personality quirks (oh the eccentric furniture I have seen) are made evident when moving.

And I’m amazed by the diversity of it all. Why some people stay close to home, others are ‘moving on up’, and a few crazy ones decide to move into neighborhoods below their means. Some dedicate rooms to entertainment, others to socialzing or hosting.

Any point here? Maybe. I guess I’m just excited to move myself. I have been with the ‘rents for the last month, and fun as it has been I am excited for my own house, neighborhood, yard, vision, and house personality. Because having moved many friends and acquaintances myself, I see the value in how a house is set up. I hear what it says about the household and the neighbors nearby.

A journey that I am soon about to embark upon again.

Grace and peace

After 4 weeks back in Akron, I finally returned to the Chapel for a morning service. Pastor Halley spoke on Revelations 3, the church in Philadelphia. The serendipitous connection was clear.

Halley belabored the idea that the Philadelphia church withstood the persecutions of the day by staying true to God’s Name and Word. He cited modern day examples of persecution in other countries, reflected on his own minor ethical choices to follow God, and exhorted the congregation to ‘hold on’ to the faith even in tough times.

Which got me thinking about persecution. Halley had said something that is often said from American pulpits. Something to the effect of, “Thank God that we have the freedom to worship freely here in the States,” and he went on to note the lack of persuction here. Which I wonder about…

In other countries are Christians persucuted solely because they are Christian? For that matter does any sect, faction, group endure suffering solely because it is what it is? I think not, let me elaborate.

Consider the history of race in America. Slavery and segregation did not just happen because blacks were blacks, rather there where economic, social, and political  factors that encouraged and maintained this oppression. Likewise the persecutions endured by the early church were at times financially driven (consider the silversmiths in Acts 16) or politically fueled (consider most of Paul’s imprisonments).

Thus my inquiry as to modern day persecution and the lack of it in America. I wonder what systems are at work throughout the world that fuel violence and suffering against Christians. And moreover I wonder if the Amerian church were to be more ought-spoken against such systems and the many wrongs within our own country if there would not be a little more persucution our way (albeit still not on the level of those worldwide, I imagine)

Hmmm. I’m not to sure on any of this, but I’ll post it anyway.

Grace and peace

I confess that it has been far far too long since I updated. Sorry.

So what is what? Let me fill you in:

I have recently finished my year long service in Philadelphia (Mission Year). I decided to return to Akron, explore community there, commit myself to some organizations that work with the poor, find some part time work, stay close to family, and figure out if this ‘mission year’ life is sustainable outside of a program.

So in lieu of newsletters, I am hoping to post more. I have been back in Akron for two weeks and have thought through a great deal. It is my hope to try to process those thoughts and convey them here as best I can.

So my thoughts,

I recently started attending South Street church. This church is significantly different than any other past church I have attended. It is around 60 members and a significant portion of those members are either low-income, ex felons, wives of ex-felons, homeless, or radically concerned about poverty and the urban area. (I thimk it worth noting that I probably fall into the low-income bracket {and worth noting as well that I did land a part time job teaching math at the University of Akron!!}) I enjoy the church alot. I enjoy the presence of the poor there and the openness we try to all have about our own sin and brokenness.

We were discussing some passages at church and someone mentioned Jeremiah 29:11. This is a pet-peeve verse of mine. Jeremiah 29:11 is “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This is the verse often seen on coffee mugs or graduation cards. We generally use it as a ‘well God has a plan for you, and its a good plan!’ type encouragement. But when reading through Jeremiah 29 you actually find that this verse is smack dab in the middle of Jeremiah’s letter to the Exiles of Jerusalem, this is a letter to refugees. And what Jeremiah tells them is hard. For 70 years (70 YEARS) they will be exiles in Babylon. Their culture will be challenged if not loss. Their names will be changed. They will be forc ed to learn new languages, and customs. Some will turn from God, others would remain faithful.

And in the midst of that future God gives them Jeremiah 29:11. In the midst of an exile, the Jews are given this promise of God’s plan and our ultimate hope in Him. Likewise, I think of the deset of Egypt. And the Jews that wandered around for 40 years before entering God’s Promised Land.

So what does this mean personally for me? I’m not quite sure. Was Philly the desert and Akron the Promised Land? Is God’s plan for me an exile to another strange land? Am I trying desperately to avoid wandering aimlessly like the Israelites?

I’m not sure.

But what I do know is that both of these stories resound within my spirit. Something about them rings true to me. That God brings us out of places of hardship and into places of plenty (and I’m talking Kingdom plenty here) and that God uses the exiles to refine His people; these ideas ring true. And although I can’t allegorize my thoughts perfectly, nor do I have to, these stories remind me of God’s promise.

And I felt that worth sharing.

Grace and Peace