There is a place in Luke where Jesus tells his disciples what they must do when a brother sins against them.

Luke 17:4:

“if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent’,’ you must forgive him.”

Most of us believe this, but get a lump in our gut when we think about what that situation might actually look like. How do you forgive someone who continues to wrong you? It’s hard to do. Most of us give people three or four chances before we give up.

But the disciples heard this, recognized how difficult it was and responded to Jesus’ command. It’s telling, isn’t it?

“Increase our faith!”

Have you ever had a brother or sister in Christ wish to give you a gift, or take you to dinner, or something like that, but you knew that it wasn’t something you needed? Or perhaps you knew that there was a “better” place for their resources to go? I know that I have and I’ve always felt a sense of discomfort about it. What we don’t realize is that even though it seems selfless, it can actually be more selfish to refuse the gift.

As I read in Philippians tonight, though it was something I knew, it occurred to me again that accepting that gift is often times a way to serve them in return.

Philippians 4:14-17:

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.

Paul didn’t seek or ask for the gift from the Philippians. But he knew that they desired to serve God by serving him with their resources. So he graciously accepted their gift as it would be a service to their credit.

I would like, in those times, to realize that it may be self-centered to not accept a gift given in the Lord’s name. But perhaps the most selfless thing is to accept and appreciate their the love their showing me and God in contributing to my good.

In a previous discourse, Paul had been rough with the Corinthians. He had revealed and called out their sin. They were broken by it and brought low. In his letter, Paul comments on their reaction.

2 Corinthians 7:8-9:

For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

Paul, though he had ‘hurt’ the Corinthians, felt no remorse for doing so because the ‘hurt’ they felt was only temporary and lead to their repentance from the sin which he called out. Which, in turn lead to their greater experience of God’s grace and greater joy therein. Not so much unlike the way that God disciplines us for our ultimate good—which often times hurts.

Though it’s absolutely crucial that we check our own hearts and motives in this, I think we should remember Paul’s conduct with the church in Corinth. There are some times that we withhold from our brothers and sisters what they need to hear because the issue may be sensitive. We may know that it will ‘rough them up’ a bit for it to be brought to conversation.

Yet, where the Gospel is concerned and clear, we should be willing to inflict ‘pain’ on those we love in order that they may have a better chance at Joy. Yet, we must keep close in mind, that if the heart isn’t right, this is null.

And, likewise, we should remember that when our brothers and sisters hurt us in the name of the Gospel, though it may be some time before we (or they) understand it, it leads to joy. When we are hurt by our brothers and sisters, we need to stay our anger and wait to see what God will produce from that pain.

Above anything else, I’m a Christian. More important than any other aspect of my life is that God has given me grace in Jesus Christ. My life, in spite of all its imperfections, can never be the same. For all intents and purposes, I cannot divide my faith in Christ from any other aspect of my life. If my life were water, Jesus would be the spout that delivers it to my glass.In fact, Jesus would be the glass also.

But, along with that comes a challenging tension that I have not yet understood or learned to balance. Though I’ve heard quite a lot of ideas—none really seem to be the whole answer.

See, I am also an artist and a business man (if those two can indeed coexist). My art is photography, and my business is in the wedding and portrait industry. Both of these are highly social in nature. As a photographer, both artistically and professionally, my ‘survival’ relies on making and maintaining connections with people wherever I meet them. If those connections do not exist, neither can my business or my art.

But that is also true of my faith. I am called to be a witness to the world of God’s grace in my life. When I meet someone, speak to someone, engage with someone in virtually any capacity, this fact cannot, does not, escape my mind.

How do these two live in tension with one another? How do I run a business and create art that glorifies God without driving away those with whom I hope to engage? I have yet to hear a simple answer.

  Today, as I sat with friends, I learned for the first time how to use Twitter to grow my business. It’s a remarkable tool that puts you immediately in touch with a vast number of people talking about all kinds of interesting things. Of course, you probably knew that already. I admit, I’m joining the caravan a bit late.

After learning to use the networking tool, it took no time at all for me to discover that, here too, I would face this challenge. A major element of Twitter is simply connecting with people over everyday endeavors. Where you’re going, what you’re doing, who you’re reading.

For me, those things are almost always connected to, if not wrapped up in, my faith. If I use the tool as most do, then I keep a world of potential clients, and more importantly potential believers, at arms length. Much like wearing a t-shirt that says, “Beware, I’m a Christian”. At the end of that day I’m engaging only other Christians and doing business almost exclusively with them.

But, on the flip side, if I don’t vocalize the ins-and-outs of my faith, I essentially deny the very foundation of virtually everything I do.

It’s a conundrum to say the very, very least. I haven’t yet found a satisfying answer to these questions. But I’m eager to hear the thoughts of friends who find their own ways to strike this tension on a personal and professional basis every day.

It’s the final day of 2009. Normally I wait too long to post my best-of lists and reflections on the year gone by. But this year, with a bit more preparation, I’ll reflect now while there are still a few hours left of the 21st centuries first decade.

So, here we go. A shotgun blast of my reflections on 2009.

Movies

I think 2009 was a good year for movies. I spent less money and time at the movie theater and instead was more careful in choosing what to spend my money on. That been said, however, I still directed most of my viewing to Hollywood blockbusters and less pursing independent works. Here were some of my favorites.

Other Notable Movies: Although I wouldn’t put them at the top of the list, there were a number of other movies I really enjoyed. The Watchmen, Terminator Salvation, District 9, Zombieland, The Road and I Love You Man were all really stellar flicks that I have every intention of watching again.

Movies I really hated: There were of course a couple moves I absolutely hated and wish I could get my 9 bucks back on. Most noteably, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Public Enemies—which had my hopes high and severely let me down.

Music

I love looking for new music. In 2009 I discovered the extreme usefulness of Last.fm in this endeavor. Their tagging system allows you to find music based on abstract ideas, like a word or feeling. Just try searching Last.fm for the word ‘happy’ and you’ll know what I mean.

Here are a few my notable discoveries from 2009.

1. Mika: Awkward, theatrical and painfully catchy pop-music from Europe. Mika is my favorite of the new music I’ve found, with what seems like an endless stream of addictive, well written music.

2. Iron & Wine: Okay, not new. But it was in 2009 that I finally developed a taste for Iron & Wine’s particular brand of slow-folk-rock.

3. Cinema Rock: Groups such as Corner Stone Cues, ES Posthumas and Globus were discovered in 2009 and I’ve fallen in love. Music that sounds like it should be in a movie, but is never officially attached to any particular theatrical release is right up my ally.

4. Rosie Thomas: In close collaboration with Sufjan Stevens, Rosie Thomas’s album These Friends of Mine is beautiful. It’s difficult to decide whether it’s solemn or simply melancholy, but either way it’s one of my new favorites. Especially worth checking out is her duet with Stevens titled Say Hello.

5. Damien Rice: Not a new name, but prior to this year, I’d never given him much attention. Damien Rice’s albums 9 and 0 are sweet and sad set on the backs of catchy, slow melodies, it’s a wonder I didn’t find him sooner.

Other Notable Music Stuff: I also rediscovered my love for the work of Pedro the Lion, Bright Eyes and The Rocket Summer.

TV Shows

I’ve spent more time watching TV shows this year that I normally have. In 2009, I watched the entire Friends television series, finally saw Freaks & Geeks, Entourage and It’s Always Sunny in Philedalphia.

But two stand out as most notable shows.

Business

In 2009, Petruzzo Photography finally began to blossom. I shot nearly three times as many weddings in 2009 as I’d shot in my entire career leading up to that point. With referrals spreading and me honing my understanding of the business world, the possibilities are expanding fast and I’m excited to see what will happen in 2010.

In 2009 my business website was hacked and completely destroyed. Most likely as a result of a (since patched) hole in the WordPress software, which the website is built on. The damage forced me to rebuild the site almost from the ground up. This time geared more toward my target wedding market.

The redesigned website also paved the way for me to begin accepting credit card payments.

Family & Personal Life

My niece turned 10 this year and is fast approaching teen years—for which I should leave the worrying to her parents—but I take the concern upon myself anyways. My nephew turned two just weeks after we all got the news that my sisters is pregnant again, so before he’s three there will be yet another niece or nephew in my life.

Hobbies & Personal Endeavors

It was this year that I discovered Hookah, or Nargile. A middle-eastern tradition of smoking a molasses soaked tobacco, called moassel, which is filtered through water. I’ve fallen in love with the social aspect of the hobby, but also found a perfect companion to private study and recreational reading.

In the end of 2009, I officially and finally took the plunge in to AT&T’s cell phone network which has finally allowed me to use the iPhone. It is by far the most valuable tool I’ve acquired since my Macbook Pro, or Cameras before that. No other piece of portable electronics even rivals the everyday  usefulness of the iPhone.

This year I also made a more pointed effort to learn to play guitar. I failed—perhaps to dust off and try again?

Church Life

In the beginning of 2009, church life was on rocky ground. By the end of 2009 church life in any official capacity is virtually non-existent. A combination of disillusionment with the institution of the American church and an uncertainty about which direction to go has left me, at the end of 2009, between ministries again.

It was this year, in 2009, that I also came to grips with the fact that I have no interest in serving the Church vocationally as a pastor or leader. Though I still find myself kicking against the goads of respected friends’ opinions. This one is to-be-continued.

In Conclusion

2009 was productive, yet not without it’s difficulties. I have a lot of new ideas on the docket for 2010, but to avoid clichés, I will avoid actually using the term “New Years Resolution” in a sentence.

But more on next year, next year.

This year, my family is having Thanksgiving dinner at our sister’s new house. My sister (who is now pregnant with her second child) and her husband moved into the house a few months ago and this Thanksgiving dinner is the first family even they’re hosting.

To make things easier, we’re all brining a different portion of the meal. The picture you see at the top here, is my contribution—two apple pies. Having made a third for general eating, I can say with confidence, these pies are amazing.

So, happy Thanksgiving everyone. Enjoy your time with family if you have it. And, on a more serious note, Psalm 97:12:

“Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous,and give thanks to his holy name!”

I am an occasional poster at a Christian site that will remain anonymous. I joined years ago then only recently began posting again. Upon my return, I’ve discovered something unsettling.

The ads. Here’s a few I’ve come by in one visit.

 

Now, I’m not one to to call out websites for no reason. In fact, this could even be construed as gossip. But I’m not so much talking about the website where I encountered these ads. I’m talking about the church that accepts them.

If the church is wherever believers meet, then displaying ads on a community website for Christians is, in effect, like putting these ads up in your church sanctuary.

Where is the church that she is okay with this?