Patterns of Evidence: Authentic Exodus

http://www.patternsofevidence.com/en/

Tonight I, and many others across the nation, got to partake in something truly special. A one night showing of Patterns of Evidence: Exodus, a film by Tim Mahoney. Tim denotes that, "for more than 50 years, the vast majority of the world's most prominent archaeologists and historians have proclaimed that there is no hard evidence to support the Exodus story found in the Bible. In fact, they say that the archaeological record is completely opposed to the Bible’s account. This view of extreme skepticism has spread from academia to the world. The case against the Exodus appears to be so strong that even some religious leaders are labeling this ancient account as historical fiction." 

In his quest to find the real or as I would say authentic truth, Tim Mahoney begins with the question, "is the bible just a myth, or did archeologists get it wrong?". Using science and historical data, Tim undertakes this epic question with a rare and quite breathtaking unveiling of real biblical truth. Critics agree that, "the result is the most in-depth archaeological investigation into the Exodus from Egypt ever captured on film". 

Yet what stuck out to me the most was the gentle current of non-biases, fair, and reasonable approach Tim Mahoney took.  Mahoney portrays both sides of the question letting the audience aka me take into account all of the facts (and they are right there in front of your eyes or should I say within history) and decide for ourselves. 

In looking at the historical evidence of Jericho and the destruction or conquest of Canaan, this more than any other part of the documentary rang true to me as a follower of Jesus and a believer in a Creator: God always fulfills His promises. He kept his promise to Rahab. Despite her past, He honored her present, and made a way for her future. For serving Him, for honoring Him, for choosing Him, He protected her. He protected her, He saved her, He shielded her when the ground beneath her feet was shaken, when the great walls of Jericho fell around her, she and her family were spared despite the destruction of every other sector of Jericho. Her house, her quarters were spared. 

Can historians trace the only surviving sector of Jericho's homes on the outer wall to Rahab and her family....probably not. But that is where our faith comes into play. The original truth is this, I believe, God is faithful. God made a way for her because He knew that through her would come the true Passover Lamb...Jesus. 

Here is the beautiful part...the same God that made a way for Rahab makes a way for you and me. The same God who protected Rahab protects you and me. The same nature and character of God to move towards Rahab, the prostitute, the outsider, the foreigner who saves the lives of the Israelite spies moves towards you and me. 

The real question is do we trust Him? Do we trust His promises? Do we trust Him to be faithful?Rahab did. Even when her whole world was literally falling around her she trusted and believed...and she was spared, she was chosen, she was honored for her faith. 

Do you trust Him to be faithful? 

Do you trust Him to keep His word? 

To keep His promises? 

Do you trust Him? 

He is forever whispering, "Do you trust me?"

-Authentically Me

A New Chapter

A new chapter has begun. For the longest time, nearly eight years, there was a rhythm to my authentic life. A three bound cord that held me in place. A strong cord that consisted of me and my two best friends. Two women, two different, two amazing, two wise, two grounded, two leading, two captivating, two loving sisters that I have the pleasure and joy to walk through life with. These sisters have seen it all, bared it all, loved it all and no words can express the depth of security these two women bring to my life. They are the constant in a changing world. But--a new chapter began yesterday. 

An expected chapter, an awaited hope, a promise kept, a prayer answered enveloped are three lives as one made the journey from Miss to Mrs, from sisterhood to wifehood. She is the first of our little trio to bravely with abounding joy enter the covenant of marriage. 

Change, although unavoidable, is never easy. It means altering, it means moving from one place to the next. This can be physically moving from point A to point B, this can mean transitioning from one emotional state to the next, this can be improving, growing, however more so than anything change is refining. Change refines us into a more grounded, more holistic, more authentic person. Although I am not a fan of change and never have been, I find that I can only see my true colors through its process. The good, bad, ugly--it's all there but there is also perseverance, courage, resilience, surrender, lasting hope, and joy. These last six months have been one change after the next. Moving, going to school, starting jobs, diagnoses, engagements, marriages...LIFE is happening all around me...and although it is CRAZY it is GOOD. 

There was a finality to this weekend, a small finality to a chapter closing and a beautiful new one opening. The honest truth is that this weekend, this marriage, is about living life together. Up until now, it was just my friend, her friends, our friends joined together simply living life as authentically us. Yesterday, we all got to welcome a new person into this authentic life and it will be an adventure as we go through this crazy life together! 

-Authentically Me

Authentically Who???

There comes a time in every young person's life where they must decide whether or not to completely freak out. All jokes aside it's a real thing. Ask any 20-something out there and they'll tell you. Scout's honor.

Watch any show about this decade of life and one pure daunting theme is found amongst them all--personal identity. The greatest quest --to find oneself. Oneself, in our current culture, being predominately defined and summarized by a job, a significant other, what power or authority you have, where you live, what you live in, financial security...the list goes on and on.

The crazy part is that some people seem to have it all. The great job, the cool apartment, the good looking significant other, the beauty, the brains, have money will travel. From any vantage point they have the life you want. From any angle they are who you want to be.

But what about the rest of us? What about the outsiders What about the ones who have yet to figure it out or even worse the ones who seem to have lost ourselves along the way? How do we get back on track? How do we do better? How do we be better? More and more resources are detailing the easy steps to living a self-fulfilled life. More than at any point in human history we predominately have the knowledge and the tools at our fingertips to live the life we want to live.

Then why don't we? Why are we so unhappy? Why are we so discontent? Why do we do the things we hate? Why can we not achieve our goals? It's the first week of January and I'm sure half of the world has probably already broken their New Year's resolution (maybe an exaggeration but it's probably a high number).

The truth is we truly have lost sight of ourselves, our real selves, our authentic selves. If this were a cartoon some little cute animal with a snarky face would be popping, rather loudly, the dream bubble over the main character's head. Our entire focus and energy is set on attaining the unattainable. We've somehow deluded ourselves into believing we actually can, and more dangerously should, have it all and be all. It's exhausting, it's depressing, and it's got to stop.

Authentically Me cannot and is not designed to be Authentically You. Authentically You is not designed to be Authentically Me. That is why I need you, and you need me. If we lose sight of this our entire worlds begin to become Authentically Who??? Further more, for all the recovering type-A's and perfectionists, Authentically You is not Unrealistically You.

This is not a shout out to live life un-purposefully or without goals, to be lazy or un-motivated, rather it is the opposite. This is a shout out, a deep desire, for us all to begin being purposeful, to have goals, to be motivated, to be active all within the context of who we truly and authentically are. Authentikos means in congruence, in perfect unity with, the origin. It's no wonder we are struggling to be ourselves, to know what we want, to do what we want, when we are constricting ourselves within the confines of someone else's life or rather someone else's body.

How would are lives be different, how would we be different, how confident would we be if we chose to live life in congruence with who we really are? How would things be different if we chose it, were actually proud of it because we knew that we were unique, we were carefully designed and refined to be that authentic self?

Where does this journey from Authentically Who to Authentically You begin? It begins with grace. If you chose to give more grace to yourself each day what kind of life would you live? If we chose to give more grace to each other what kind of world would we share?

-Authentically Me