…a new breed of americans.

You will be a new breed of Americans. You will turn the world upside right. ..You are waking up the world to the reality that there is more to live for

– Pastor Johnson.

This vagabond life isn’t what it seems.

We are told to walk in contradiction, remaining in divine tension as we skirt around the world.

We are called to be nomads, living in obedience when the Spirit moves us. We are on the move, and ready for the unknown future, but giving everything we have in the present. We are called to engage in relationships, opening our heart to those around us. When we leave with our few belongings on our backs, we leave pieces of our hearts behind.

We are called to open up our hands to the heavens, expectant of God’s kingdom to fall so we can catch it and bring it to the world. With our hands outstretched above us, when, not if, we fall, we fall hard, we fall big, our hands clutching the kingdom, relying on God’s hands to cushion the ground.

We are called to give away everything we have, everywhere we go. We give it all away throughout the month, to the people of the country God has placed us. Then, we are called to do it all over again, and then again, and then again. Energy, sweat, life, love- it’s theirs for the taking, because we live the model “freely receive, freely give.”

We are told to not store up for ourselves anything, but to expect God to replenish. When we feel tired, defeated, sick, we are told not to trust in our feelings, but on the word of God. You feel hungry; they are starving. You feel tired; they are  exhausted. You feel sick; they are dying.Give, because you have access to the realm where sickness, hunger and exhaustion don’t exist.

We are called to live with open hearts. If you are stolen from, give it away. If you are mocked, love in return. If you are offended, you are in the wrong. The visible world can build walls around their hearts, so when offense comes, it is deflected with the careless “I expected it.” The invisible world calls us to live without defense. We live in a world with only one rock: the living, breathing one of Christ; we have nothing to build walls with. When offense comes, it pierces, it hurts, and we bleed as tears slip down to the mouth that utters “God, show me how you see them.”

The kingdom of God is a world upside down.

You say look and see a lion, and I look and see a lamb. You say look and see a king, and I look and see a servant. You say look and see a ruler, and I look and see a slave. It is Christ, the wisdom of God.

The kingdom of God is the world upside right. It is world that people need.

This is the mantra of an ordinary radical, one who lives to bring transformation because this world isn’t the way that it should be. This is the song of the one who has been pursued, and now lives to pursue. This is the ballad of the warrior who wins by sacrifice.