I was traveling home from Cleveland and noticed an article on Aston Kutcher in the in-flight magazine. Though this popular movie star has the dubious distinction of being the most followed man on Twitter, the interview wasn’t the usual fare of celebrity worship.
In the article, Kutcher stated that the social Web is “the most extraordinarily valuable communications device ever invented in the history of man.” A huge claim, but true. And that is one reason we started this blog. We hope to engage you in a conversation about what ordinary people can do for orphans and widows on a continent halfway around the world–because God is in the mix.
Kutcher also went on to say that whether he’s on the Web, or acting, or even being a husband, his aim is to generate what he calls “thrash.” It has to do with creating movement in a disruptive kind of way. He describes the wake made by a boat saying it’s moving toward something, some kind of goal. It’s not thrash for the sake of thrash. “Occasionally, you have to be forced outside your comfort zone, right? You just gotta have thrash,” he says. Of course his show, Punk’d, is an example of thrash, but came with mixed reviews when his elaborate pranks almost brought Justin Timberlake to tears. But Kutcher maintains, “If everyone is happy, you’re not doing anything.” I finished the article, but the thrash idea stayed with me a long time.
Creating movement in a disruptive kind of way.
A few nights later, we watched our son play varsity basketball. It was senior night, and our team hoped to have a win after a losing season. One senior played his best game but fouled out in the fourth quarter. We had seen a lot of bad ref calls, and this kid was clearly frustrated as he headed to the bench, tears streaming down his face.
Then, the coach of the other team made an unexpected move. His entire team flowed like a stream of blue uniforms as one by one, each player came over to our bench to shake this kid’s hand. It was a creative move and it disrupted our fierce competitive mindset. In the end, our team won, but the thrash effect of that coach’s decision took my breath away.
I thought about the how the thrash effect could describe the life of Jesus 2000 some years ago…and also now, as God reaches out to a broken world. God’s ways are creative. They produce movement and are also disruptive. He does not color inside our lines. And if His Spirit is in us and we are in sync with what He’s doing–our lives should have a measure of thrash too.
And frankly, that just what happened eight years ago to my husband, Duncan Hill. He heard Heidi Baker speak on poorest of poor in Africa and was wrecked for anything else. After being a stockbroker for sixteen years and a business owner for five, he was ready to leave it all behind. He went to Uganda with only one contact and created a wake, moving toward a goal and disrupted the status quo of our comfortable Christianity. Now almost a decade later, over a thousand orphans have been rescued.
What about you. Has the thrash effect ever impacted your life? Does following God in essence pull you out of your comfort zone and take you on a thrash adventure? You gotta have thrash…
I am all about thrash and spontaneous ventures, obviously since I booked a ticked to Tokyo and Beijing 3 weeks before I departed, and booked my hotel in the airport on my way. I love things out of the ordinary, people you can meet and say one thing to about God and his love, despite the religion can change their whole view of God. Just yesterday I was with Tiera, my friend in Tokyo. We met these french boys through a friend of Tiera’s. They live in Tokyo and do not believe in God. I told one of the French boys that God is about a relationship not religion. He said “how so???” So I told him of an encounter I had with God in Thailand. Based on faith, I wrote a letter to a thai person named Bat. I received that name randomly. I though Bat was this cute thai boy, or I wanted him to be, but his name wasn’t Bat. I was disappointed. Then my friend came up to me and ask what was wrong. She took the letter walk over to the first “lady boy” that I had been judging before, and his name was Bat! The letter was for him!!!! Amazing. This changed the French boy’s idea of God. He said “I am really glad I talk to you, because maybe I could believe in a God like that!!” Thrash all the way!!!
The thrash effect has indeed impacted my life in a major way and continues to do so! For me, it began when I was living in Manila, Philippines. I entered the rusty gates of small church in one of the city’s poorest slum areas one ordinary Saturday morning. The next thing I knew, I was bombarded with naked, filthy children climbing all over me! Despite how they looked on the outside, God gave me a supernatural love for these children born into poverty. He has since shown me what it means to literally be the hands and feet of Christ, delivering His life, love and hope to the poorest of the poor in this world. There have certainly been moments of feeling uncomfortable and totally ill equipped. But that’s when you know its a true thrashing adventure – when you have to rely on the grace and strength of our heavenly Father to achieve His kingdom purposes. For Jesus himself says, “…apart from me you can do nothing…” (John 15:5) Brothers and sisters, lets keep thrashing–in Him, through Him, and for HIS glory!!
Sometimes God has to afflict our comfort to get us to comfort the afflicted. In my life, it’s been nothing so aggressive as it has been a slow, constant needling to get ME to step out of the boat, little passing thoughts, strange circumstances, like whispers of a deeper beauty to be found if I’ll just take my hands from my eyes and let him point out the incredible shape in the pattern he’s been strategically building for me to see. He has disrupted me, but always, it seems, with careful consideration of just the right pressure to apply, both negative and positive, sowing me the potential of loss if I don’t act, and the great potential for gain if I do. He knows I’m a Thomas who wants to know that he knows, and he always affirms that he values me, even my reticience for the power it becomes when it’s transformed into strong conviction. I don’t find it discussed in many places, this evidence of God’s myriad methods and the individual process he employs with us. Thanks, Susan, for constantly pushing to define it from your perspective. It’s a very, very big God that’s revealed….
This goes out to all those whom, like myself, have felt the thrash, but are not yet sure what to do with it. Is it money? Time? Full-time, part-time? Fundraising? Hands-on? The call is sure. Maybe even the cause is sure, but the “how”, “when”, and/or the “what exactly” is muddled. I find myself allowing too much time to pass while I try to figure it out. So today I am throwing down the gauntlet, denouncing apathy, and taking that first step of faith towards the unknown. Who’s in?
I wish all people would do this kind of thrash.
Jesus created a real wake … or “thrash”… when he told the rich young leader to “sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.” (Mark 10.21) The gospel writers record this conversation happening only once; Jesus didn’t tell anyone else to sell-it-all. For most of us, that lets us off the hook: “oh, that was one man’s calling, which he turned down. I would obey Jesus radically if he told me to sell all my stuff!” Interesting. But Jesus told another rich leader, Nicodemus, “you must be born again.” (John 3.3) The gospel writers record this conversation happening only once; Jesus didn’t tell anyone else “you must be born again.” But we make this a universal principle — rightfully so, obviously! That is the crux of the gospel: we all must be born of the spirit, or “born again.” But why aren’t we making the other command (sell all you have and have treasure in heaven) just as universal in application? Why don’t we assume Jesus wants us to “sell the farm” and reach the world? Why not assume he wants us to open our homes, our families, our bank accounts, and our property by sharing with the poor, the orphan and widow — and then let him tell us what he wants us to keep for ourselves?
thrash meets me everyday, as I drive down the road and have a near miss as I go into the left lane then quickly, just in time, swerve back in my lane, a quick OMG glance, a feeling, and it continues through the day. Today in the form of an invitation to judge an event that is island wide, wow, what a challenge. Where did that come from. Am I up to it? That day just happens to be available, isn’t that strange. No, it’s not and you have to meet the challenge or you will stagnate into the couch and the evening TV shows. Thrash is the invitations that you don’t want to open in the mail, the email that you want to avoid. It is around all of us everyday if we are brave enough to live life to the fullest.
What a powerhouse of a mind and an eye Susan has, and the gift of communication. God will use her willing hands wonderfully in this new approach for UOF. Duncan can take encouragement and shed some of the stress with his wonderful wife by his side in this way. Is this a Jethro-Moses moment, or what?
I am a firm believer in this thrash effect. I think that often times it looks something like walking in the opposite spirit. Dismantling the laws of status quo and stepping out wildly. While many people could find Ashten’s ways offensive or childish, I think it is adventurous. When we choose to live a little opposite of what people expect it ruffles feathers a bit but can be transforming all the same. So long as our heart is to thrash with all the love of the Creator thrashing with us.
Now those are blogs! If you want to use a thrash concept to elude to the Finger of God as He works perfect timing and opportunity through the things that crumble away before us, then I’m down with that.
My favorite parts of these articles are the accounts of persons who make a move because they are taken apart by life but then they change up and grab the ” I believe You God ” stamp, and pound it on the top of the page of their lives even though there will be misunderstandings and MAJOR inconvenience to the stable stuff. Funny, I also think that God puts the subjects of His call into extreme sensitivity training toward the ones closest to them in life. They will be the bruised reeds that He will not break. Reminds me of Matthew’s re telling of Christ entering planet earth. Mary gets a huge bad rep just for saying ” Be it to me as you have said “. Joseph plans to call it off because they haven’t but she is. God speaks to Joseph in a dream. Road trip on a donkey while heavy with Jesus Christ. Barn for hospital. ( gets worse ) herod hacks down all infant through tot to stop the KIng.
NOTHING STOPS THE KING!
May we thrash in His image.
Sweet post.
The Thrash Effect,what a true statement.
I’ve been a good friend of a Pastor from Uganda for going on 3 years. We’ve prayed through so many things, recently with life changing experiences in my own life, and that of my “formerly physically challenged daughter,” Thank You Lord. We began to pray about how we could better serve the needs of our friends, and our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. I’ve always told people in my ministry,the Lord will not take you kicking and screaming to a far off place. He will birth a love for the people and country before you even get there. I’ve never personally experienced that until now, something hit me, as my friend shared pictures of the woman who crawls on the floor because there is no wheelchair for her, or the 13 children whom he rents rooms for because there’s a vision to build a permanent home for them. Not only did the Lord birth a desire, but we can scarcely think of anything else. I am blessed, my daughter 13 now, since she was around 7 desired only to go to Africa and start an orphanage. I recall the the story of Steven Curtis Chapman telling the press how he became involved in adoption: his daughter had been praying for that, without his knowledge. So now,I find myself standing on the shore of a vision, which was birthed by the Lord and most probably the most peaceful time in my life. It hasn’t come without opinions from everyone–”Why Africa”–it’s not often that we are able to just drop our lives, and listen to the call, but it should be. For years, I’ve kept myself “unattached” never really making anywhere home, and have never felt more home in Heaven than I do now. Discouraging at times, as the laborers are few, and the donations are fewer, but with a potential for 50,000,000 orphans in Africa by the end of this year, when do we say Yes? Perhaps, we forget that they are our Brothers and Sisters. Statistically Uganda is over 83% Christian, more people are coming to know the Lord than ever before; there are tent ministries, revivals, miracles and they are praying for the Lord to provide. So,I encourage those to lighten their load, with open hearts to hear the Lord’s call, “Saddle up your horses–we’ve got a trail to blaze.”