Aristotle, Friendships and Today

Some thoughts over the past week or so: I have been reading Aristotle’s Nichomachean Ethics. I actually just finished it. In my opinion, it is a work that every individual must read in his lifetime. The timing of my reading this could not have been any better. First of all, I have a disclaimer: the things I will say may be done in a real roundabout way and therefore may be hard to follow. For this, I apologize…hopefully the content will still be good enough to hold an insomniac’s attention.

 

Anyway, timing. Among many of the virtues Aristotle talks about, one of the key ones is friendship and how it leads to a happy life. Now, my dad has a sermon based on this, but I had never really thought a whole lot about friendships. I just figured I had them and it was cool. Well, as many of you know, the past 2 weeks I went on a small tour with some friends whom I play music with. Now that it is over, I realize how little I had thought about how little I see them. In the past couple years (and more recently the past couple months), it seems all the close people in my life have moved away from me. I was always the one moving away from people growing up, so this feeling is strangely weird….and so was that statement I think J My best friend moved to Dallas a couple years ago and that was a huge hit for me. Though I knew I would play music with him still, I knew that I could not spend that quality time that good friends need. Fast-forward to this year: In July, my best girl friend moved to Oklahoma, a girl whom I treated and still treat as my younger sister. Again, quality time is cut short. Now, in a couple weeks, my best friend here in NC is moving to Dallas as well to play music full-time. Again, quality time cut short. Things that all these have in common: I love each one of them very much and am very happy for each one’s special situation. But at the same time, I just thought “well I will get over them not being here and life will go on”…sort of a pessimistic attempt at being optimistic. Oh if Aristotle could read that statement right now. He would most likely yell and scream telling me I am out of my mind for shrugging off their going away so easily. Rather, I should cherish those friends of character, because they are hard to find. You see, I knew that in my head, but due to circumstances (which I thought a valid reason), I did not really believe that. I must learn to be content in the friendships I have and continue to hold them dear. There is some good in this for sure. Recently, I have grown closer to some people at school. I do not know how it happened except that God put these people in my life and I hold each one of their pieces of advice pretty highly. I pause to say thank you to those. In a weird way, what I am saying, is that I will now remember to be grateful for the close friendships I have. I do often wonder though why all my friends seem to move west. I have no idea if I got out all I wanted to say. If not, then I will add to it. Anyway, I hope this helps some people. Just remember to hold your friendships as close as possible and tell people how much you care for them. This is a part of that virtuous life Aristotle speaks of. 

Greater Things in the Cities of America

First few days of school. Yes, this includes work and all the tedious tasks that eventually will be beneficial to us students. But since this is education we are dealing with, I figured I would let you readers in on what I've learned so far in these few days. This lesson comes in the form of a quote by Dr. Finn, my Church History professor. "If you feel called to do church work in North America, I plead with you to go to the cities." 

This is a loaded statement. You see, the school I attend focuses on those students called to ministry mostly. However, many students may not know specifically the call Christ has given them, past the school they are in. Personally, all I know is I am a musician who feels as if the talent God has given me can transcend and speak to an urban culture. Once again, this can be traced back to that class as we talked about the Urban Church, a subject I have heard my dad talk about a good bit. If you know me, it is no secret that I am very much an urban guy who loves cities and really adores anything to do with inner city ministry, even if it's just sitting in a coffee shop downtown and talking to the barista there. Though I do not know what type of ministry I am called to, I find myself holding tight to that above statement by my professor. Paul did not go from the small towns to the big cities, but rather the other way around. There is strength in numbers and the few in the small towns will most likely follow the many in the big cities. 

Case in point through illustration: Apple. Lots of urban people know of the beauty of the MacBook and Iphone. But everyone alive in the US knows what an Ipod is. The idea (a device to play lots of music along with a sleek design) started in a big city and has now bled out to almost every family in the US.

The Gospel is to be like this through us, yet much more effective obviously. If a team for a computer company can make that much of an impact selling products by following that geographical design (big cities to small), just think of what a few believers in the big cities could do with Christ's help. Cities like Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, NYC, Dallas, etc. 

My point in all this? Take a look around in the city or town you are in. With Christ, hat can you do where you live to broaden well-grounded Christianity in America? I use music. But that's one person. Together, something big can happen even in Raleigh, NC. The question is, are you and I willing to take the Lord's hand and truly live in the name that can save? 

...joshreid

Upon whom do you rely?

I have not written in a while. Honestly, I just do not have a whole lot to say at this time. Recently, I went to Florida as many now know. Not only did I enjoy time with friends, but I also learned some good, but humbling things about myself. This may yet be my shortest post ever as I am nearly done. I have one point to this post. 

Just when one thinks everything is going well, that individual tends to rely on himself more and more often. I did this. This sounds harmless. However, the moment something does not go according to plan, that individual will most likely not know how to react, thus often bringing others down with him, making them feel awful. Again, I have done this. So I encourage readers to continue to rely on God, even when at times our human mindset would say even that is too easy. Trust me it is NOT that easy. Then you have to heal whatever relationships have been hurt (which takes a lot of time) if you are not careful to understand how much you need God. 

Okay that is all for now. Another post will be coming soon as I do not know how to put what I want to say right now. Go figure...this proves my point....I am human. 

...joshreid

Beautiful Collision of Grief and Joy

Grief is an interesting noun. Ninety percent of grief is seen as mourning through tears. Lately, due to circumstances above all of us, I have seen much of this kind of grief, and even been a part of it myself. Notice, however, that I said that was only a KIND of grief. Don't worry. I too am a bit surprised that this be the case. 

I have always thought that I must be cold to all kinds of tragedy. I hardly ever cry because of tragedy. This recent event is actually the first time ever that I've cried publicly over anything of this magnitude. But I noticed I didn't cry as much as majority of others. 

Now I can look at this one of two ways: the first way would be to say that I truly am cold to all of this. I mean I really don't cry much (the main way of grieving). Oftentimes, I wonder myself if I care for the incident and people around me hurting and what-not. 

The second way: I am not cold, but rather show grief differently and internally. I have been unable to eat and really get any food down since Wednesday night really. I have had one full meal and ordered another and did not eat it. I had no idea what was wrong with me. Perhaps this is just a strange strange way of grief. That could be, for I am strange. 

So what is the conclusion? I would say for those of you that are like me and do not cry much, do not be discouraged one bit. You are not cold more than likely. You may just be undecided on what to do and how to show it. I truly love Ben and his family. I was supposed to stay with him this week. Perhaps that is why as it is now Saturday, the day I was to meet with him, I have just gotten worse. However, I want to leave all with a song by Phil Wickham called "Beautiful" that echos Revelation 21:1-4, which happened to be one of Ben's life passages. I leave you with this and let you think on it. 

"As we arrive on eternity's shore, where death is just a memory and tears are no more. We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring. Your bride will come together and sing....you're beautiful."

Josh Reid 

As the cliche goes, "one does not know the value of what he has until it is gone." Think about the last time you, the reader, have lost something or given something away only to say, "wow I could use that again." Now you have seen my incredible segue'. 

Today, a friend of mine and of my family went to be with Jesus. I have been numb for most of the evening. You see, I have never quite experienced this before. My immediate reaction was, "there is no way he could be gone." But sure enough, the Lord gives and takes away and this was true in this situation. Just earlier today I had been thinking about giving him a call to see if we could spend time together next week. Obviously that call can wait considering the MUCH better company he is in now (praise the Lord). As my dad talked to his youth pastor to confirm reports, ol' Alvin said something that was quite profound. 

"We are not promised tomorrow." In Christian circles, this is commonplace jargon. Usually, when sharing the Gospel with a non-believer, we say that to make that individual contemplate about his eternal security. Now, to what my dad had to say. He said that often Christians don't think about that above quote for themselves. Insert my opinion here, and remember I am not above reproach and I am guilty of the following as well, hence I write this. 

We Christians can be quite cocky. We assume that since we believe in Christ, we therefore must be indestructible and almost invincible on this Earth. We tell others to realize we are not promised tomorrow while we smoothly shrug off exactly what we just said. Today, I was humbled by having a good friend go to rejoice with the Lord forever with his mother...talk about a family worship time like none other. It was after I heard what my dad had said that I chose to value life for what is. I assure you that if he could come back, my friend would very quickly, loudly, and maybe sarcastically (as was his lovable nature) tell everyone that are not promised tomorrow...and that Heaven is amazing. 

I close by encouraging all those affected by this incident to mourn for a little while, but then rejoice, for our friend and his mother do not want this life back as they are today in Paradise. God bless their family. I cannot wait to see them again in Heaven. God bless everyone and I continue to pray for all those who know him and his family.

"We are not promised tomorrow, for God knows all things." 

...joshreid

Bondage and Freedom

Yes, I have decided to enter the blogging world. This really isn't that big of a deal. But I have been encouraged lately to put my thoughts on paper. For my first blog I want to reflect on some teaching I heard today. 

My pastor JD, taught today about freedom from the bondage of sin. The message was based on Exodus 1 and 2 where Moses was saved as a small child and rescued into the hands of Midian as a man. As I was listening, I was pondering everything that Moses had gone through to that point as my pastor taught. Later on JD made a great point. I quote: "When God seems hidden in our lives, He is still working." As was said, this is obviously true because we cannot see him. But everyone, believer or not, will ask "why is this happening to me?" or "where is God?" I thought on this and realized what my pastor said was totally right and that I had not believed that for a while, even though I knew it was true. 

My bad circumstances are in no way going to throw God off of his plan for me (again from my pastor). You see, Moses murdered a man, and God saw. The Hebrews needed help, and though God wasn't audibly speaking, He was still there. The same goes for today. For me and my being impatient with life, I must realize that God is watching my impatience and shaping me, preparing for what is next. Of course I don't see it and so I assume that nothing good is going to happen anytime soon. 

I want any and all readers to read that previous sentence. It's at that blind moment when God throws me for something spectacular and unexpected. This is the only prosperity gospel I will ever believe...that God is preparing me for something marvelous. However, it may never involve lots of money or anything. But God it STILL can be something awesome and therefore it does involve prosperity. I hope this is an encouragement. I didn't really plan out what I was going to write, so this may be a complete dud for now. But I will get better. Enjoy. 

....joshreid