{"id":7763,"date":"2012-08-28T09:05:53","date_gmt":"2012-08-28T14:05:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/theamericanjesus.net\/?p=7763"},"modified":"2012-08-28T09:05:53","modified_gmt":"2012-08-28T14:05:53","slug":"guest-post-why-jesus-should-give-me-a-lake-house-by-ed-cyzewski","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/zackhunt\/2012\/08\/guest-post-why-jesus-should-give-me-a-lake-house-by-ed-cyzewski\/","title":{"rendered":"GUEST POST: ‘Why Jesus Should Give Me A Lake House’ By Ed Cyzewski"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

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The following is a guest post from my new friend and fellow CLC author Ed Cyzweski. He\u2019s got a great new book out called \u2018Hazardous\u2019 which I will be reviewing later this week. If you want to pick it up, and you really should, CLC is running a special on \u2018Hazardous\u2019 through the end of the month. So go here and get a copy<\/a>\u00a0for only $9.99! Also, check out Ed\u2019s blog to find out how you can participate in his synchroblog this week called \u2018My Hazardous Faith Story.\u2019<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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I Asked Jesus for a Lake House, but He Sent Me to Prison Instead<\/strong><\/p>\n

Though I\u2019ve never actually said anything like this to Jesus, there are days when I may as well put it like this:<\/em><\/p>\n

Hi Jesus, I\u2019ve been a believer in you since the age of 12, and I\u2019d like you to finally pay up for all the stuff I\u2019ve had to do for you. If you could give me a lake house in the Northeast at your earliest convenience, I\u2019d be most grateful. I may even use it to honor and glorify you!<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not quite sure I deserve a lake house\u2026<\/p>\n

Remember how I read the Bible every day? I also embossed my name on the cover, highlighted important verses, and, this is the really impressive part, journaled a little every day.\u00a0 I used fancy pens to fill fancy journals with spiritual insights.<\/p>\n

Remember how I set up the church every Saturday? I also cleaned the bathrooms\u2014those nasty horrible bathrooms after the Friday night youth groups smeared heaven knows what all over them.<\/p>\n

Remember how I attended seminary? I also worked at a church where we had a food pantry that served the vulnerable and hungry in our neighborhood.<\/p>\n

I could go on Jesus, but you already know all of these things, right?<\/p>\n

And still, there\u2019s no lake house. In fact, you gave me something quite different from a lake house.<\/p>\n

You placed me in a town that had a prison right outside of it.<\/p>\n

You made sure I drove by that prison all of the time.<\/p>\n

I was happy to work on the church newsletter.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t mind greeting visitors.<\/p>\n

But you wanted me to see that prison.<\/p>\n

I would have been happy to serve in the church. I was ready to sign the contract for that lake house. Instead you gave me a volunteer application for the prison.<\/p>\n

Without a lake house, much less a front porch, you sent me off to the prison with an Alpha book and my Bible.<\/p>\n

I prayed with former drug addicts who feared what would happen when they returned to the streets.<\/p>\n

I tried to straighten out some twisted theology that turned you into a slot machine, all the while missing the irony of my desire for a lake house.<\/p>\n

I encouraged inmates who became part of a patchwork family of believers, many of whom were working hard to overcome a past of abuse, poor choices, and addictions.<\/p>\n

In the end Jesus, you tricked me. You brought me so much joy while praying with prison inmates, that I forgot about that lake house.<\/p>\n

I couldn\u2019t pout about what I didn\u2019t have while I praised you for working through me, for showing me the peace and joy someone can have in the worst of situations.<\/p>\n

Some days I still think about that lake house. I\u2019d still like to have one someday.<\/p>\n

But now I\u2019d like to add something to that request. I\u2019d also like for there to be a prison nearby.<\/p>\n

If your past actions are any indication of the future, I have a feeling you\u2019re going to deliver on the prison and not so much on the lake house. The crazy part is that you\u2019ve taught me to be OK with that.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Ed Cyzewski<\/strong>\u00a0(MDiv\u00a0Biblical Theological Seminary<\/strong><\/a>) is a freelance writer in Columbus, OH. He is the co-author of Hazardous: Committing to the Cost of Following Jesus<\/em>\u00a0and author of\u00a0Coffeehouse Theology: Reflecting on God in Everyday Life<\/em>, Divided We Unite<\/em>, and\u00a0A Path to Publishing<\/em>. Ed blogs on\u00a0freelance writing at:\u00a0www.edcyz.com<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and on imperfectly following Jesus at www.inamirrordimly.com<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0 \u00a0 The following is a guest post from my new friend and fellow CLC author Ed Cyzweski. He\u2019s got a great new book out called \u2018Hazardous\u2019 which I will be reviewing later this week. If you want to pick it up, and you really should, CLC is running a special on \u2018Hazardous\u2019 through the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3437,"featured_media":7771,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7763","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nGUEST POST: 'Why Jesus Should Give Me A Lake House' By Ed Cyzewski<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"    The following is a guest post from my new friend and fellow CLC author Ed Cyzweski. 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