Joining the Journey

I'm honored and excited to join Summit Uptown as a fellow follower and learner.  Following Jesus as a disciple called to imitate, literally mimic the Son of God (I fall short all the time, but I strive).  Learning what it means to do this as authentically and holistically as possible in the world that God has called us to live and move.

To my friends who graciously invited me to join...I humbly say thank you and look forward to encouraging, challenging and supporting each other as we grow.

To those who read these ramblings...I pray that these words, articles, and talks challenge you to think more deeply about faith and that they encourage you to know God in a way that creates change in your world and the world around you.

Let the journey begin...

DR Variety Show Videos

These spoofs were for the Dominican Republic Variety Show......the entire show was a knock-off of Saturday Night Live. The show was a huge success!!! We raised $30k to go towards 3 trips to the DR this summer. The first video was used for the opening sequence...it is a knock-off of The Landlord by Will Ferrell. The 2nd video is a classic SNL commercial called Robot Insurance. Our own Andrew Thomas Garbers played the robot......Jared is easily the ugliest old chick I have ever seen and my niece Emma played Pearl. Watch out.....Pearl will get you!!!

What the hell happened to Christianity?

I dugg this article earlier today and thought I would share because I think this short article does a great job at explaining why as Christians we need to start breaking down walls. We've smeared the truth of Jesus by living a life completely outside his teachings. That is what this is about....breaking down stereotypes and serving a God who loves us....all of us.


What the hell happened? Where did we go wrong? How was Christianity co-opted by a political party? Why are Christians supporting laws that force others to live by their standards? The answers to these questions are integral to the survival of Christianity.

read more | digg story

Background of who I am

I am 34 years old, I am divorced and I live in a van down by the river. No, I'm just kidding, but that's the first thing that came to mind when I typed the title.

But my name is Andy Garbers and I thought it was important for anyone reading this to know a little about about what makes me who I am. For now I will briefly share with you my core values and beliefs and that should shed some knowledge about me. (if you do actually care)

I am striving to live my life in 5 different areas. Some may think that I'm far from any of these but as I stated, I am striving to live my life in these areas.

Humility
Obedience
Authenticity
Honor
Respect
Humility
I want to live a life of Humility. I have the outlook that "I don't care who you are or where you're from, you are not better or worse than me." I may do well at some things and be successful in some areas, I believe that God has gifted me then and I am using my talents and gifts to the best ability I can. I also am terrible at certain things and have quite a bit to learn. Those are the areas that I need to recognize and work harder at doing better and being better in those instances.

Philippians 2:1-11
1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
7but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Respect
There is something in me that wants to be respected by others. When I die, if people only say two things about me, I hope that one of them is, "Oh Andy? I really respected that man." I also feel that I want to reciprocate that respect as well. If I first meet you, I will give you some trust and respect. But to have my full respect, takes some time. Not saying that I'm better than anyone, but I don't hold respect lightly and to fully respect someone, to me, means they are a very trustworthy, have a great
heart, treat others with respect and love and are overall a great person. I have a pretty egalitarian belief system. In which essentially, all people are equal. As an example, if you don't treat others with respect as a person, then what respect do you deserve?
Obedience
This is pretty simple. I want to live in obedience to Christ. What does living in obedience mean? To me it's living out the Great Commission and the Greatest Commandment. I am to love God, our Lord and King, and to love my neighbor...any person I interact with. Then I am to tell others about Jesus and his impact on my life and his purpose here on earth. Seems simple enough, but somehow I seem to make it harder than it really needs to be; making myself "busy", distracted, creating higher priorities. This is one of many areas of improvement needed in my relationship with Jesus.
Authenticity
I just recently gave a sermon on this topic. To me this is maybe one of my biggest passion areas. Authenticity, Honesty, Realness, Truth are all things that mean a lot to me. I will be vulnerable with you, if you choose to give me truth and honesty in return. I encourage you to take a look at Ephesians 4:25 - "Put off faslehood and speak truth to each other, for we are all members of one body." Paul speaks about Unity with each other and Christ right before this passage and then talks about how we are to live as Children of God. But like I said, if you know anything about me, you'll know that I value Honesty with the highest regard.
Honor
This is very simple. I want to live a life that is Honoring to God. Honoring God's name. Where I leave this life and others can say "he was an honorable man of God."

That is just a brief synopsis (maybe more than you wanted) of me and who I am from the inside. But that is me. I hope you enjoy this blog and what is to come with it.

Submitting and why I hate it

The word submit is a hard word to accept. Probably for several reasons, but I know for me, it's because it takes away some control that I think I have. Dictionary.com defines Submit as:

1.	to give over or yield to the power or authority of another (often used reflexively).

2.	to subject to some kind of treatment or influence.

3.	to present for the approval, consideration, or decision of another or others: to submit a plan; to submit an application.

4.	to state or urge with deference; suggest or propose (usually fol. by a clause): I submit that full proof should be required.

–verb (used without object)

5.	to yield oneself to the power or authority of another: to submit to a conqueror.

6.	to allow oneself to be subjected to some kind of treatment: to submit to chemotherapy.

7.	to defer to another's judgment, opinion, decision, etc.: I submit to your superior judgment.

The other night when I was asked by a mentor of mine, if I was willing to submit to his spiritual authority, I had my reservations, exactly as in the first time he asked me that 2 1/2 years ago. I had to ask myself why I was so afraid to submit to him. I felt that I was taking some authority or reliance on God away. I felt that if I submit to his authority, then I am in a sense believing in him as a type of god that I will listen to and obey. But submitting is tough to do. Because it takes you out of it. In a sense, you must surrender yourself and allow authority in your life. Authority for someone who knows more and someone you trust. I think it's easy to submit to God, because he's God and we don't physically see him and we don't physically hear him. (most of us don't anyways) But there is something different about submitting to an authority God has placed in your life here on earth. Because it takes some control of yours away. It's just a hard thing to do. I'm sure there are so many things I'm missing but maybe this will prompt some comments or questions that can be dialogged. To me submitting sucks. I think it's good and I definitely believe that you should have an authority figure in your life. Someone you trust in and rely on in all areas of your life. Want an example of why I don't like it. In UFC or WWE, a submission hold...think about it; usually a hold that will snap your arm, snap your neck, inflict some sort of nasty pain that you don't want to endure. Jesus submitted himself to God and he endured a lot of pain and suffering for our sakes. Maybe that doesn't tie in there, but it was a non thought out thought I just had. Submission - as much as I hate it, it is nice to know you have protection and others with spiritual authority praying for you and "protecting" you. It doesn't come free, it requires honesty, love, patience, sacrafice, etc...all the things that Christ is asking of us. We as "Christians" should be used to that by now right? No, we're not, maybe that's because we're not truly submitting ourselves to Christ then?

And So It Begins...

Acts 2: 42-47

The Believers Form a Community

42 All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer.

43 A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity--47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Over the past few years this passage in Acts has come to the fore-front of our minds and hearts. The early church was compelled to love and serve people after experiencing the resurrected Christ and were filled with the Holy Spirit. They surrendered their will and sacrificed all of their possesions so that no one would go uncared for--no need unmet. As we at summit uptown have been learning how to surrendered all to Jesus and rest in His love, we have been compelled to live this way. It is a radical way of life and counter-intuitive to our individualistic North American culture, but we are ready to stop living for ourselves and start serving others. Share in the journey with us as we discover the great joy that comes from serving our Creator and generously serving one another and the community that surrounds us. And so it begins...