Category Archives: Uncategorized

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-04-05

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  • Ryan thinks ‘alot’ should be one word and that ‘nonetheless’ should be three words. #
  • Ryan wondering what to do when a steakhouse runs out of steak. Come to outback to find out! #
  • Ryan is trying to clean the house but his kids keep wanting to play with him! #
  • Ryan just learned from his son that God has four parts: Jesus, God, Holy, and Powerful. #
  • Ryan is wondering if Dave Ramsey ever changes his clothes. #
  • Ryan has been to Marcells coffee shop 7 times and has already helped move a cast iron coffee roaster (heavy!)& today ihelped move a washe.. #
  • Ryan is wondering what it means when Scripture says ‘the Lord is your life.’ #
  • Ryan if you want to know a bit more about our church plant you can go here: http://renovatus.com/rybee/our-church-plant/ If you want to k.. #
  • Ryan just watched his future brother-in-law give his life forever to jesus! #
  • Ryan is upset that his toothpaste is not tested on animals. Don’t animals need clean teeth too?! #

Dedicated to Brent

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This one is for you Brentlemen

Twitter Weekly Updates for 2009-03-29

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  • Ryan Is updating his facebook status in the middle of a lutheran worship service. #
  • Ryan is now sitting in a presbyterian church. Check out my blog tommorrow to read my reflections. Downtown.renovatus.com. #
  • Ryan just posted his blog about visiting a few churches. You can view it at http://www.downtown.renovatus.com Got anything to add? #
  • Ryan thinks that the word ‘merchant’ should be used as a name for a merman. As in: Ariel did not marry a merchant but instead gave her he.. #
  • Ryan has decided that potato skins are much more slippery than banana peels…no joke. #
  • Ryan is wondering if you’d rather know the truth and be miserable or be ignorant and happy (as if they’re the only 2 options!) #
  • Ryan is impressed by God and his design of the Bible. God’s pretty impressive if you ask me. #
  • Ryan needs your help. I’ve issued a challenge to gather 107 comments on my blog: http://www.downtown.renovatus.com please comment and make me fe.. #
  • Ryan wants to let everyone know that his March newsletter is available at: http://tinyurl.com/d89vj6 #
  • Ryan is sad that a cat played one of our chickens to death. Poor Pip is dead. #

Dignity and Choice

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Can the teachings of Jesus be simplified to those two simple words? Dignity and Choice. When Jesus touches the leper he instills dignity. When he tells poor people that they don’t have to be fearful or even violently revolt, but instead can break the rules by walking an extra mile carrying the soldiers pack, he is instilling dignity and giving them greater choice. When he teaches a new way that includes blessing for the meek, the persecuted, the poor in spirit, those in mourning he is instilling dignity and offering choice.

Isn’t that what we need? Dignity. You are of value, you were created by the hand of God, you were created to experience and bring greater love and beauty into the world. You are a carrier of the image of God. You are dignified. Don’t we need to live out of that reality?

Choice. Things don’t just have to happen to us, we are not simply victims. We have choice. We have the freedom to choose, the freedom to choose better, the freedom to choose to lift up our head when people try to push us down. When a victimizer slaps you across the face you have the freedom to “turn the other cheek” or, in other words, to stare the straight in the face again and say that you can slap me but you can’t dehumanize me. You have the freedom to make healthy choices, choices that bring greater blessing to yourself and to the world.

I love the idea of starting a church in downtown Vancouver whose foundation is this idea of helping people find dignity and empowering them to explore healthier choices.