Understanding Gethsemane

Is there anything as frustrating or painful as taking the punishment for what someone else has done?

I remember as a child, my sister would have all of her friends over during the summer days while my mother was at work. Without fail something would either get broken or they would end up doing something stupid like using a cup as an ashtray and not washing it afterwards. Also without fail, my sister would say, "Joe did it." And my mother always believed her. I remeber being so frustrated because there was absolutely nothing that I could do to prove my innocence.

Have you ever been in a situation where you say or do something, and someone overreacts in a BIG way? If you haven't I would be surprised. All of us have had someone hurt us. Most of us have had someone that we love desert us or stab us in the back in some way. Those are the wounds that cut the deepest, aren't they? Those are the ones that seem to linger for years. When someone, who is well-meaning, happens to do something that sparks that memory or puts you in a similar situation, it is EXTREMELY hard not to revert back to the pain of the original instance. This is the kind of thing that can start a fight or even end a friendship. It hurts, and it seems SO hard and SO unfair. Why should I have to deal with your bitterness or pain over what someone I've never met did to you? Why should I endure the pain and the punishment that is caused by someone else's sin.

Right?

On a mountainside, in a lush garden, almost 2,000 years ago, Jesus Christ dealt with this same thing. The difference is, what we deal with is, normally, taking the brunt of the sin of one or two other people. If we are honest, we have sinned enough in our lives to deserve any punishment. We deserve to go to Hell, based on our own righteousness. But this Jesus, was completely sinless and He was dealing with ALL of the sins, that EVERYONE else had committed, EVER!!!

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (I John 4:10) Therein is the definition of love. You can find a good description of love in I Corinthians 13, but it is defined here. Jesus Christ was willing to go through the beatings, the mockings, the crucifiction, the death, not only that, but He was also willing to go through the anguish of taking the blame for what we did. In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus cried out with pain coming out of emotions that we all face when someone lashes out at us or responds to us based upon someone else's sins. "God, do I have to go through this? I didn't do anything wrong here!" But He left the garden resolute in His decision to go through whatever He had to. His love for us was so great. It didn't matter who was at fault, He would take the punishment that would bring us peace. He would be mistreated so that we could see the love of God.

Are you willing to do that?

Obviously, we don't need to die on a cross, but we do need to die to ourselves. This is what I have heard called "Bloodless Martyrdom," it is setting aside your rights and allowing yourself to be abused in order for someone else to be able to see the love of God. Sometimes the people in your life will react to you based on what someone else has done. Are you willing to take it and love them through that? Are you willing to be like Jesus?

You might want to pack a lunch...

...because this survey is LONG!!!!

1) Whats your Name
Joseph Anthony

2) How did you get that name?
Joseph is my father's father's middle name and Anthony was the name of one of his uncles, I think.

3) What is your heritage?
Oh Geez, Italian and Spanish on my father's side (which I take after the most) and then there is my mother who is a Euro-mutt (English, Scottish, Irish, French and Dutch)

4) What was your name going to be if you were born the opposite sex?
I have no idea

5) What did you get in trouble for the most as a kid?
Nothing specific, my mom would just get high and paranoid and beat the heck out of me

6) Are you closer to your mother or father?
I'm not really close to either of them, but I guess my father

7) Are your parents still together?
No

8) If not, how old were you when they split?
About 2 years old

9) Have you known both of your parents for your whole life?
I saw him before that, but I didn't really know my father until I was 16

10) How many of your grandparents are still alive?
3 actually, and they are all over 85

11) Where did you go on family vacations as a kid?
We didn't go on many, but when we did, my mother would drive us up to Manhattan and her brother would share his "stash" with my mom

12) What do your parents do for a living?
My mother is an assistant manager at 7-11 and my father is on disability retirement from the theater (Broadway)

13) When did you graduate high school?
1996

14) What was your rank in your class?
I think I was like 62 or 63 (out of 112)

15) Did you get any scholarships?
LSU offered me a scholarship

16) What was your dream/first choice school (college)?
UNC (Chapel Hill)

17) What was your first major?
Biology

18) How many times did you change your major?
Ha ha, uh, 4

19) What was your favorite class?
Sensation and Perception (VCU) and MusculoSkeletal Anatomy (VST)

20) What was your least favorite class?
there were so many, uh, let's just say "all the Maths" (VCU) and Physiology (VST - because of the teacher)

21) Did you have a job while you were in college? If so, what was it?
Yes, Parking Security, Pizza Hut delivery driver and Certified Massage Therapist

22) Were you in a fraternity/sorority? If so, which one?
Not unless you count Chi Alpha (a Christian campus ministry)

23) What was the absolute best part of college?
The friends I met there

24) If you could only give one piece of advice about college to a first semester freshman (that you cared about), what would it be?
Find out what your professor really wants (despite what he asks for) and give it to him/her

25) What was your first job out of college?
Well, I'm still at VCU, but my first job out of VST was Assistant Trainer for the Richmond Renegades (which consisted of me giving pre-game massages to the players)

26) What is your favorite fruit?
uh, probably green seedless grapes

27) What is your favorite veggie?
cut Green Beans

28) What is your favorite meat?
Chicken

29) What is the meal that you are famous for, amongst family/friends?
Jambalaya (with sausage or chicken)

30) Do you have a sweet tooth or a salt tooth?
Salt

31) Who is the most beautiful Hollywood actress?
Oh wow, uh, Stacey Dash

32) Who is the most handsome (or to help out the guys, who's the coolest) Hollywood actor?
I don't know, Denzel Washington

33) If you could have a major part in a movie (lets say, the third name mentioned) who would you want to be the first two actors/actresses? Will Smith and Sanaa Lathan

34) What is the next DVD you are going to buy?
I'd like to find Blackula :) but probably Remember the Titans

35) What was the last DVD you bought?
The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

36) What is your favorite TV Show?
Smallville

37) Given the choice, what ethnicity would your spouse be?
Black

38) Which war in US History do you believe was the worst?
The Civil War

39) Who is the funniest stand-up comedian in your opinion?
Larry Miller, although Jim Carrey was pretty good

40) What is the worst kind of movie?
pornographic films

41) Other than bills, what do you spend the most money on?
going out with friends

42) Who is the fist person you go to when you need advice?
Jesus

43) For you Christians, insert other than God and answer that one again:
ha ha ha ha, you got me. Chris Lee

44) What was your first pet?
Tiger Striped Siamese cat named Claws

45) What do you do to waste time?
waste? watch TV or play a game of Madden

46) What do you do when you are bored?
I usually go for a drive or call a friend

47) What do you do for work right now?
I am an author as well as a Certified Massage Therapist

48) If you had billions of dollars, what would you do in the place of work?
I would open a ministry house that helps college aged Christian men get on their feet financially and disciples them and trains them to be Godly husbands and fathers

49) What is the one movie/book that has shaped the way you view to world?
The Bible

50) For you Christians, insert other than the Bible and answer that one again:
Got me again! Uh, "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" - it put into clear verbage what I had been feeling about the way dating worked.

51) Do you show your loved ones how special they are to you as much as you should?
I think I do a pretty good job, but there is always more I could do. I've actually been described as someone, "who loves you beyond, even, your ability to receive it"

52) How do you receive love the best/ what is your love language? Put an X in the box next to yours:

[X] Words of Affirmation
[] Receiving Gifts
[] Quality Time
[] Acts of Service
[] Physical Touch

53) How do you show love the best/ what is your love language? Put an X in the box next to yours:

[X] Words of Affirmation
[X] Giving Gifts
[X] Quality Time
[X] Acts of Service
[X] Physical Touch

(I checked them all because I try to love people the way they receive it best)

54) What are your favorite pizza toppings?
Pepperoni and Black Olives

55) What is your favorite style of dance?
Salsa

56) What is your favorite type of music?
It depends on my mood, but it has to be God-honoring

57) What is your favorite clothing material?
cotton for shirts and pants - mesh for shorts

58) What kind of deodorant do you use?
Right Guard

59) What kind of cologne/perfume do you wear?
Aspen

60) Where did you grow up?
Richmond, Phoenix, Flagstaff, Manhattan, St. Francisville (I shuffled to and from all of those more than once between 3 and 18)

61) What was your favorite place to live, while growing up?
Good question... Copper Spring apartments in Richmond

62) How many times have you moved in your life?
38 times

63) How many time zones have you lived in?
3, Eastern, Central, and Mountain

64) How many cars (trucks, jeeps, etc) have you owned?
7

65) How many accidents have you been in, while driving?
Every one of them :) 3 (T-boned in 1998, Fell asleep and hit a tree in 1999, and a lady did an illegal U-Turn and I couldn't stop in time in 2002)

66) How many tickets have you gotten?
2, one for speeding up at a yellow light in 1998 and one for a broken tail light in 2003

67) Why is your best friend your best friend?
When I met Chris, I felt like God was showing me a part of myself that I had been missing.

68) How many scars do you have?
3, Left Knee (fell out a tree when I was 6); Left Eye (Barbed Wire fence (I think I was 5); and Right Shin (Stab Wound when I was 18)

69) How many tattoos do you have?
None

70) How many piercings do you have?
None, but I used to have my tongue pierced

71) How often do you exercise?
4-5 times a week

72) What is your favorite weight lifting exercise?
Leg Press

73) What is your favorite cardio machine?
The Stairmaster

74) Would you rather hike up a mountain or go white water rafting?
White Water Rafting

75) Would you rather swim in the ocean, a river or a pool?
a pool

76) Do you prefer a sauna or a hot tub?
Hot Tub

77) What kind of massage do you prefer, light rub down or deep tissue?
Great question for me :) I'd like deep tissue, but only if the giver can control the pressure they are giving.

78) What is your favorite sandwich?
Philly Cheesesteak

79) What is your favorite Mexican dish?
probably soft tacos with ground beef, Cheddar and salsa

80) What is your favorite Chinese dish?
I usually get steamed chicken and broccoli with rice

81) What is your favorite Italian dish?
Linguini Marinara Caprese

82) What is your favorite American dish?
Bacon Cheddar Burger with Tater Tots

83) Which of those would you prefer to have at your next meal?
uh, the next meal is breakfast. But I had a cheesesteak for dinner

84) What is your favorite animated film?
Shrek 2

85) In which foreign language would you like to be fluent?
Italian

86) What kind of computer do you have?
A Dell Latitude (laptop)

87) How much free space is there on your hard drive?
a little over 8 GB

88) What is taking up most of your hard drive space?
Music and videos

89) What kind of Internet connection do you have?
Cable Internet

90) How often do you check your email?
depends, but at least 3 times a day

91) Which of your friends/family members sends you the most email?
Doc Reed :)

92) Which website (besides MySpace) do you visit the most?
sports.yahoo.com/nfl

93) Why is your favorite book your favorite book?
It is the Word of God, spoken to me :)

94) What time of day were you born?
about 2:30 AM

95) Do you like chest and/or back hair on your spouse?
yikes, no :)

96) How tall are you?
5'7"

97) How tall do you wish you were?
I don't know, I used to want to be 6'8" - before I broke my back, my doctor told me I was going to be 6'1" - but God has allowed me to be 5'7" and I am happy with that.

98) Do you prefer cats or dogs?
Dogs

99) What kind of cat or dog is your favorite?
uh, Black Labs

100) Do you prefer carpet or hardwood floors?
Carpet

101) Do you prefer to dance or sing?
Sing, but I love to dance

102) Does that change when you are in front of people?
No, I still prefer to sing when I'm in front of people

103) Do you consider yourself a good person?
ONLY because of what God has done in my life

104) Can you name all 10 of the Commandments in order?
1. No gods before God
2. No Idols
3. Don't use His name in vain
4. Honor the things of God (keep the sabbath holy)
5. Honor your parents
6. Don't kill anyone
7. Don't commit adultery
8. Don't Steal
9. Don't lie
10. Don't envy

105) If the person before you hadnt listed them, would you have been able to do that?
Yes

106) How many of the 10 Commandments have you broken?
All of them

107) If you were judged by that standard would you be innocent or guilty?
Guilty

108) If you were judged by that standard would you go to Heaven or Hell?
Hell

109) What is your favorite saying?
"Never trust a big butt and a smile. Does she love Jesus?" (Proverbs 31:30 in the GIV)

110) What was your favorite song as a teenager?
I don't really remember... uh, "Never Gonna Get It" by En Vogue (at least I remember REALLY liking the video)

111) How many questions do you think this survey has?
Oh my goodness!!! I hope not too many more, I'm tired!

112) What is your favorite Slurpee flavor?
Cherry

113) When did you have your first girlfriend/boyfriend?
2nd Grade

114) How old were you when you had your first kiss?
13

115) Who was your first love?
Rebecca Kay Dreelin

116) Who was the first friend you had a sleepover with?
James Nygren

117) Who was the first person you ever got in a fight with?
Leroy Jones (he started it)

118) Who was your best friend in Middle School (Grades 6-8)?
James Nygren

119) Who was your best friend in High School (Grades 9-12)?
Chris Emery, Brandon Carter and Donna McCune (all in their own right)

120) Who was your best friend in College?
Chris Lee, Joshua Griffin, Matthew Mason, and Adolph White

121) Who would you/ did you choose to be your Best Man/Maid of Honor?
Chris Lee

122) Do you have a personalized license plate?
No

123) If you had/ have one, what would it say?
either " RU GOOD" or "U DCIDE"

124) What is your favorite exclamation?
Hallelujah!

125) What is your cell phones ring tone for when your best friend calls?
"Summertime" by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

126) Do you prefer a house in the country, the city or the suburbs?
Probably the Suburbs (I want to build a big one - I have the plans in my head)

127) Do you want children? If so, how many?
Yes, as many as God gives me - I just plan to keep trying!

128) Do you prefer miniature golf or bowling?
OH!!! Tough one... Mini Golf

129) In a restaurant, do you prefer a booth, a table, or sitting at the bar?
a table

130) Would you prefer a manicure or a pedicure?
Pedicure

131) Would you ever get anything waxed?
Only if my wife wants me to

132) How would you change your hair if you could (or if you wanted to)?
I'd make it stop growing back!

133) In the summer, do you roll down your car windows or crank the A/C?
Roll down the windows

134) Do you prefer to take the highway or back roads?
depends on how far I'm going and how fast I need to get there, but generally back roads

135) On the highway, do you weave in and out of traffic or stay in one lane?
Normally stay in one lane

136) How often do you get sick?
about once every other year

137) Do you know anyone with HIV/AIDS?
Yes

138) Do you know anyone with Cancer?
I know people in remission (sp?)

139) Have you ever spoken with a drug dealer or a prostitute?
Yes, both

What's so "good" about Good Friday?

I offended God...
I was rebellious...
I broke all 10 of the Commandments...
I deserved to die...
I deserved to go to Hell...

He humiliated Himself....
He lived without sin....
He was rejected...
He was beaten....
He was killed...

FOR ME!!!!

THAT is why this is GOOD Friday!

Thank you Jesus!

Extremely Strange & Random Survey

Learn 50 things about me, and then fill it out and let me learn 50 things about you!

1. How tall are you barefoot?
5'7"

2. Have you ever smoked heroin?
No

3. Do you own a gun?
No

4. Rehab?
Physical Therapy after injury, does that count?

5. Do you get nervous before "meeting the parents"?
I didn't before, I don't know how I'll do in the future

6. What do you think of hot dogs?
Beef only (preferably Hebrew National)

7. What's your favorite Christmas song?
"Emmanuel, God With Us/O Come O Come Emmanuel" by Point of Grace and "Christmas Time" by Da Truth

8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning?
Coke

9. Do you do push-ups?
sometimes

10. Have you ever done ecstasy?
No

11. Are you a vegetarian?
No, but some of my favorite things to eat were :)

12. Do you like painkillers?
no

13. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex?
The life of Christ shining through me (hopefully, it isn't so secret)

14. Do you own a knife?
Plastic ones. I own a sword, does that count?

15. Do you have A.D.D.?
No

16. Date Of Birth
10/30/77

17. Top 3 thoughts at this exact moment:
-I need to pop my back
-I need to get ready to go see Butta's play
-These surveys are so dumb

18. Name the last 3 things you have bought:
A loaf of Potato Bread, A bottle of Hawaiian Punch, and a case of bottled water

19. Name five drinks you regularly drink:
Dr. Pepper, Cherry Coke, Hawaiian Punch, milk, water

20. What time did you wake up?
9:30AM

21. Current hair?
Stubble, I need to shave

22. Current worry?
God is faithful, I refuse to worry. When I look back, His faithfulness has always been the same!

23. Current hate?
the devil

24. Favorite place to be??
home or at a friend's house

25. Least favorite place to be?
the mall

26. Where would you like to go?
Capri Island, Italy and anywhere on a cruise

27. Do you own slippers?
no

28. Where do you think you'll be in 10 yrs?
I'll be working as a Doctor of Chiropractic and living with my wife and children (wherever God wants us)

29. Do you burn or tan?
I tan

30. Last thing you ate?
a pistachio

31. Would you be a pirate?
only if I could be an Oakland Raider :)

32. Last time you had an alcoholic drink?
2/10/99

33. What songs do you sing in the shower?
whatever is in my head

34. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a kid?
my mom getting too high and deciding to kill me

35. What's in your pockets right now?
nothing

36. Last thing that made you laugh?
myself

37. Best bed sheets you had as a child?
Scooby Doo sheets - I also had GI Joe and Dukes of Hazzard :)

38. Worst injury you've ever had?
Broken back, 10th grade (Complete fracture of the transverse processes of T6 and L3)

40. How many TVs do you have in your house?
1

41. Who is your best friend?
Jesus and then Chris Lee, and I have about 4 other brothers who could fall into that category

42. Who is your love?
Jesus and my real family (those who do the will of the Father)

43. Does someone have a crush on you?
That's a good question :) Anyone have a clue about that one?

45. what is your favorite book?
Besides the Bible, Mine!!! :) "The Perfect Wife," by Joe Capri

46. What is your favorite candy?
Probably Peanut Butter Twix

47. What songs do want/ have played at your wedding?
I have no idea

48. What songs do you want played at your funeral?
I'm not sure I want a funeral, but "Be Like Him" by 1NC

49. what were you doing 12 AM last night?
Talking with Pete, I'd just finished working out and stretching

50. Do you love the pain a tattoo brings?
I am a stranger to it, but I doubt I would

Embracing Rejection

My attitude about rejection has to change and IS being changed...

In my life, I have been rejected A LOT and I have allowed it to affect me. I have never really cared if someone I didnt care about rejected me. The painful rejections came when my heart was open and attached to the person rejecting me (my natural mother and father, my maternal grandmother, my paternal grandparents, my spiritual father, the leadership at a past fellowship, and ex-girlfriends). Those rejections affected how I viewed the world and how I reacted to the people around me.

As I have sought the LORD, I have allowed Him to cleanse me and I am at a point in this process where I now feel like He is scraping the sides of my heart to get the final little pieces of the bitterness that comes from the pain of rejection. The picture Im seeing is someone trying to get the last little bit of peanut butter out of the jar.

Where do I still behave and/or think like someone who is embittered by rejection? What I saw, when I asked myself that question, was a little scary, to be quite honest. I want to be like Jesus and I saw some things that are not like Him at all!

***I saw myself become upset when someone does something inconsiderate when driving.

***I saw myself becoming offended when someone ignores part of the Bible, just so they can continue to do what they want to do.

***I saw myself become upset when I saw "Christians" not seeking God.

That kind of stuff upsets me, it really does! With the exception of the driving thing, I could easily explain those away or quote a few Old Testament Scriptures to prove why I am justified in being upset by those things. "Come and see my zeal for the LORD," right? WRONG!!!

Jesus took all of my rejection and purchased my life during His "passion."

He, during His incarnation, took MY pain and MY shame and was despised and rejected by men for MY sake so that I could be justified (Isaiah 53). Therefore, when I gave my life to Him, MY rejection became HIS rejection and it is something that He has already borne on the cross. Jesus OWNS my life, He purchased it at an extremely high price! "...you are not your own; you were bought at a price..." (I Corinthians 6:19b-20a)

All of the rejection that I might have claimed is now His. This is the case when someone rejects part of the Word. (I Samuel 8:7) This is the case when someone I share the Gospel with rejects it. (Luke 10:16) This is the case when I feel like Im the only one who is really seeking God. (I Kings 19:14) These things are not a rejection of ME, they are a rejection of God, and I have no reason to feel rejected. God has accepted me (I Peter 2:4-10). God has loved me (I John 4:10). That is really all I need to know.

I have no life, except for my life in God

I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, it is Christ that lives in me. (Galatians 2:20) I died, and my life is now hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3) I am a new creature, because I am in Christ. The old things have passed away, and all things have become new. All things are from God. (II Corinthians 5:17-18a)

I am commanded to not be affected by rejection and bitterness

I am to clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility and love. I am to forgive any grievance and be patient with everyone (including inconsiderate drivers) and do it all with the attitude that I am doing it for the LORD and not with a focus on the people. (Colossians 3) Jesus said to not resist an evil person, but to actually turn the situation around and bless them beyond what they would have even asked. He said to really LOVE them and to count yourself blessed when you are treated poorly for His sake. (Matthew 5) I am commanded to view any hardship as discipline and discipline is a gift because God wants me to share in His holiness (without holiness, no one will see the LORD). He also wants me to be trained by the hardship because at the end of the training, there is a harvest of righteousness and peace (Hebrews 12)

If I am not obedient, I am in rebellion, which the LORD calls witchcraft (I Samuel 15:23) and witchcraft is an act of the sinful nature of man - "not good," to be mild J

Obviously, my soul is affected by those things right now. This is the process... I must strive to bring my emotions, thoughts and will into a place of obedience to Him. As I do that, He will change me so that my desires line up with His. This is salvation of the soul. (Philippians 2:12-13) which is the goal of our faith (I Peter 1:9).