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Anonymous

Posted on by jaredmontgomery

This weeks Friends of Jared guest blog post is a first: My guest has chosen to remain anonymous! Enjoy these two pieces written by an anonymous friend of mine.

I Do

Maybe the melody of my house is the same as many in this world
Crescendoing yet mumbled accusations behind closed doors
The breaking sound of distrust and strife
The sing-song cliche problems of husband and wife

Your love for eachother is real you say
Yet I am confused by it again another day
Because – how can your muffled discrepancies happen every night behind that door
However, love making and tender caressing be joined just as before

Before when everything and everyone else in this world was invisible
Before the weight of change bore heavy on your shoulders

You two are each other’s wish and fear
Year after year you pour meaningless conversation into each other’s ears

What happened to laughter over Saturday Night Live
What about becoming better at loving and life
Instead you two seem to try and become better at fights
Choosing the act of flight
Flying away from what you feel is the problem
But forgive me for being harsh
The problem is inside yourself
You can only ever fix your single heart
Never the other persons
Start somewhere but please stop starting it here
You beg me to lend an ear
How long do you really want me to hear
Do you realize it’s not even freeing each of you from the other
It is dragging you down
Pressuring you to continue to want to fight
To hate

Love is powerful
But if what you two display is power
Then it scares me from ever falling in love

Regardless of these shared tears, passing years, and heartfelt fears
I love you both
Really
…
“I do”

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I feel completely naked when I see this picture
Raw
Vulnerable
Entirely aware of the guilt I feel
Truly upset with the pain this bed will and has caused
For more than just the owner of this window view
The owner of the pillow that has my hair on it
Though my presence on this bed was enchanting
I will not say it to be false love
Or pointless love making
I do fear those memories to never disappear
It proves in a very allegorical way that a part of you is left behind with every person you invest in
This picture is completely sacred to me
It is harsh reality
Painful beauty
I am always leaving a part of me behind
Eventually there will be none of me left
And I hope I won’t be dispersed among countless beds
I hope to find one bed to share
And one person to wake up and see my random strands of hair on the pillow beside them
Maybe I am silly to care.
However…
Dear owner of this window view
I am sorry for what I did to you

Listen to the Ginger!

Posted on by jaredmontgomery

No, this blog is not about my sister… Sorry Tara.

As I sit watching Thursday Night Football on a Saturday (strange huh?), I saw a commercial that inspired me. What I’m going to say will make more since if you’ve seen it, so watch it now:

This commercial of misfits, whitey-tighty wearers, express lane cheats, parallel parking failures and the like, show that they earned something by doing nothing. As they said, “WE DID NOTHING!”

This might be silly and a tad-bit ridiculous, but it is the Good News…

Like this commercial, mankind is full of:

1) The do-gooders: Those who fold their underwear.

2) The do-wrongs: The express-lane cheaters.

This commercial shows humanity. A bunch of average Joe’s doing average things, some good and some not so good. Yet, in the end, they all earn the same reward by “doing nothing.”

We live in a culture of “earning.” It’s the American culture. Hard work = success. You get what you put into it. This has been engraved into our psyche from a young age. That is why I believe it is so hard for us to accept the Gospel. It’s too good to be true. Nothing is “free” we say. “Free” makes us suspicious. So, we go on believing in earning instead of receiving freely.

This is how it is in our schools with our grading systems. Do good = teachers/grades reward. Do bad = Teachers/grades punish.

This is how it is in our relationships with friends and loved ones.

This is how it is with our careers.

This is how it is with our religion. Do good = God rewards. Do bad = God punishes.

The Gospel (which used to be referred as the Good News, because it was GOOD News) is not based on you doing anything! It is all based on what Jesus did on our behalf.

Jesus did it all and gave us abundant Life… freely. Now we can say confidently, maybe a bit perplexed, but full of joy “WE DID NOTHING!”

Love says “Come!”

Posted on by jaredmontgomery

Love
We all search to be accepted.
We all hope for affection.
Love is something to live for,
Love is something to die for,
Love.

I believe God is Love.
God’s love is unconditional.
Love without conditions
Love without limitations
The love of a parent to their children.
Unconditional love.

Unconditional love.
A love that is absolute.
There is nothing you or I can add to it.
There are no balances or score cards involved.
I am loved. You are loved. We, the world, are loved by God.

God so loved the world (all people, races, genders, religions, and cultures) that he gave his son.
His son absorbed the world into himself with his love.
The world was absorbed in his death.
The world was included in his resurrection.
The world was absolutely crucified with God and made new in God… by God.
God absolutely loves the world.

Religion that excludes, does not reflect the unconditional love of God.
God is the all inclusive vacation, including everyone.
The good news is that everyone has already been invited to this all inclusive resort of love.
You have reservations with your name on it.
God says, “Come! Eat, drink, and be merry!”

I apologize for those who have mislead you.
I apologize for those who have not included you.
I apologize for those who have hurt you.
I apologize for those who have treated you as less than human.
I apologize for those who have treated you as the enemy.
I apologize for those who have made you feel like the outcast.
I apologize that they did this in the name of God.
I apologize if I was one of them.

God is Love
You are loved
You are included
You are invited.
So… “Come! Eat, drink, and be merry!”

Feelings

Posted on by jaredmontgomery

I’m a white male in America. So, in many ways, I am the face of the oppressor….

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Yet, I met a Jewish Man 15 years ago that transcends race and gender. This Jewish man’s defining aspect is not being Jewish, or being male, but it is in being love. He taught me that love is greater than race, hate, socio-economic status, politics, religion, or anything else. Love brings life. Love stands with the oppressed and the hurting. Love stoops down in the dirt, to stop stones from being thrown. Love is sacrificial, even unto death.

I have not been the best at loving my neighbor, much less those closest to me. There have been times when I shined with love and acceptance for all. There are also times where you find me selfish, hurtful, and walled up against anyone and anything. I’m not writing this to say that I have it all figured out or that I am the best example of loving your neighbor. I’m not Saint Jared. I’m writing this, because I feel there is still hope in a world in which we can live in harmony. A world where love wins. A world where race, gender, politics, religion, and status do not define us. A world where everyone is valued because of there humanity. The humanity that is full of the divine.

What has recently happened in the NYC case of Eric Garner is heart breaking. The loss of life. The loss of a husband. The loss of a father to his children.

Here was Eric’s final words:

“Every time you see me, you want to mess with me. I’m tired of it. It stops today. Everyone standing here will tell you I didn’t do nothing. I did not sell nothing. Because every time you see me, you want to harass me. You want to stop me [from] selling cigarettes. I’m minding my business, officer, I’m minding my business. Please just leave me alone. I told you the last time, please just leave me alone. please please, don’t touch me. Do not touch me. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe.”

I hope that moves you.

The heart break continues in seeing the insensitive nature of man (most with fair skin), in the social media sphere. I could say a lot here, but I really do not want to point fingers. I do urge you to put yourself in the shoes of our African-American brothers and sisters. Be compassionate. Stand with them. Sit with them. Cry with them. Pray with them. Mourn with those who mourn. Be sensitive. Love your neighbor.

I want America to know, I want all races to know, I want my friends and family to know, I want my nephews and nieces to know: #blacklivesmatter

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Yes, white friends, all lives matter, but in this moment, let’s make it clear, black lives do indeed matter.

Romans 12:9 “Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.”
Further reading and viewing:

#BlackLivesMatter a very GOOD article!!

The video of Eric Garner 

The Gospel of Nemo

Posted on by jaredmontgomery

Religion is great at classifying things:

Us vs. Them

The sacred and the secular

The sinner and the saint

The Bible vs. Science

The list goes on and on and on…

I know many religious people who won’t listen to what they call “secular” music. They believe you can only be a Christian if you vote Republican. They literally believe in a 6,000 year old universe. They see things as black and white. This or that. Welcome to the Bible Belt ya’ll. This form of religion has hurt many people and has left many open questions.

BUT…

What if sometimes “this” is actually “that”, but sometimes it’s BOTH! I believe there are a lot more mysteries to it all, yet we feel we have to have all the answers.

I do not have all the answers. I believe things, but I am a lot more comfortable saying “I don’t know” these days than ever before. I believe ALL things are in God. The universe, the earth, and you and I are IN God.

Picture this:

God is the Pacific Ocean and the whole universe as we know it is found in the ocean. Let’s say you are Nemo and I am Dory. (My wife and friends would actually say I’m one of the turtles…) We live in this HUGE universe, too big for our little fins to explore.

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That universe (the ocean) is found in God. God is the body of water in which all life is found. His life, this water, permeates the universe, gives life to the universe, and to every living thing in that universe. Let’s say Nemo is a “Christian”, Dory is an “Atheist” and the turtles believe in whatever category you want to place them in.  Nemo, Dory, and the turtles are all covered in God, they live in God, they laugh in God, they cry in God, they eat, drink, sleep, work and live in God. They cuss, cheat and steal, in God. They fall in love and marry in God. Their whole existence is in a good God who unconditionally loves them all. As Paul puts it, “For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’”

So for me, there is no sacred and secular. No “us vs. them”. God is everywhere. I can see him in all things and in all people. We are all his offspring (which literally means his kids, who spring off from him, made from him, by him, and like him).

So enjoy your life and “just keep swimming!”

Much love,

Jared

PS- My friend Jonathan Bowles just had me on his podcast this week. You can listen to our fun little conversation right here: Interview with an Ex-Youth Pastor pt. 1 http://www.slingshotshow.com/episodes/

What’s REALLY Going On?

Posted on by jaredmontgomery

Hey ya’ll!

It has been a long while! Just wanted to drop in to share what’s going on:

UMKC

School is going well. Just trucking along with classes, homework, and A LOT of reading. I have changed majors. I am now pursuing a degree in Creative Writing. I love to write and this gives me a lot of practice doing what I love! Roo Up!

The KC Royals Post Season:

The Royals have recaptured the hearts of my beloved city. From the end of September to the end of October was nothing less than a wild ride. I lost a lot of sleep in October, drank a lot more than usual, and had the time of my life watching the Royals take the Pennant and taking the Fall Classic to game 7. Let’s just say, October was not a good month for my UMKC schooling.

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I even got myself a new hat…

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My Life

There are a lot of things going on in the Montgomery house right now. Dreams are being discussed and pursued. 2015 has a lot of big things coming. 2015 (the year I turn 30…) I believe will be the best year of our lives! I’ll keep you posted on all the fun and how you can even be involved! Everything is more fun when you do it with friends!

Help Me, Help You And In Turn Help Me Too:

Well friends, I am very excited to be involved in a huge project right now. It’s a business opportunity for me and it can really help you out as well. You can get 1%-19% cash back on your favorite brands AND it’s totally FREE. Signing up for FREE will benefit you to get cash back for your online purchases and it really helps me out too! Just go to this sight and sign up for FREE today (Yes, it really is free): http://www.get-free-cash-back.link

This is perfect for the Holidays coming up and Cyber Monday!

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**For anyone wanting to make an extra money or are interested in the business side that I, myself am doing, email me at: jaredmontgomery@gmail.com **

The Finish Line

That is a bit of my world. Thank you for being a part of it! Coming soon to the blog: videos, short stories, poems, thoughts, ideas, and more… STAY TUNED

MUCH LOVE

Jared

Be You

Posted on by jaredmontgomery

I have learned that I have to break up my schedule in order to keep my sanity. So, I’m taking a break from homework to write a blog to you! There is so much to write about and express, but this week, in the spirit of The Sound of Music, “these are a few of my favorite things”:

Radio:

1) 96.5 the Buzz

2) 103.3 Jamz

3) 89.3 KCUR (NPR) I’m a nerd… I know

Songs (currently):

1) Riptide by Vance Joy

2) Take Me to Church by Hozier

3) Stolen Dance by Milky Chance

4) I Don’t Care by The Wild Wild

5) Thunder Clatter by Wild Cub Youth

6) I’m With You by Grouplove

7) Bailando (English Version) by Enrique Iglesias

8) 0 to 100 by Drake

9) Don’t Tell Em by Jeremih

10) Balmain Jeans by Kid Cudi

And… anything by The Weeknd, Justin Timberlake and Tech N9ne if I’m in the mood

PLUS + everyone should download this Girl Talk album for free here: GirlTalk

Shows:

Modern Family, Big Brother, The Voice, and Survivor.

Netflix: Orange is the New Black. ***I need more suggestions please!***

Podcasts:

The Slingshot Show  ListenHere

WTF with marc maron podcast

Books:

Favorite all time: The Game of Thrones series (waiting on the next book to come out…)

I am reading YA Lit for a class and so far The Giver and The Perks of Being a Wallflower are great reads

Books that impacted my beliefs and helped me to discover my self and feel okay to ask questions:

Love Wins by Rob Bell (anything by him is great)

Pagan Christianity by Viola & Barna

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

What I want to do with my life, what I value:

1) Help people: I have always wanted to do humanitarian work in some way, shape or form.

2) Write books: These can help people, make people laugh, or just be a great escape.

3) Public Speaking: I would love to do a TED Talk, podcast, comedy, motivational speaking, or something like that.

4) Travel: I want to see the world. Be adventurous. Take pictures. Meet people. Taste cultures. Make memories.

5) Have kids: This will be a lot of fun! The making and the raising!

Hobbies:

Reading

Writing

Friendships

Coffee and beer tasting

**I’d like to start taking pictures, making art and also dabble in home brewing my own beer.**

I feel it is very important to know who you are, what you believe, and what you want to do with your life. I have never really had a plan most of my life. I go with the flow, yet I married a planner thank God! I identify with Marc when he says:

These are things I like. This is who I am. Jared Channing Montgomery. I feel it is at the utmost importance to be yourself. To be okay with who you are. I have spent most of my life trying to please everyone, while not being true to myself. I wanted to be what everyone else wanted me to be. About four years ago, that all began to change. More so just in this wonderful year of 2014. This is me. This is who I am. Sometimes, it is hard to be yourself. What will people think? Honestly, a lot of people won’t like the real you. Your vulnerability will expose their masks. On the other hand, your vulnerability will inspire others and bring hope. Just yesterday, I received this message on FB from a friend I haven’t seen in many years:

This might seem out of the blue, but I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for being yourself. The fact that you are such an amazing Christian that refuses to confine to the mold of the “perfect conservative Christian” is really an inspiration. You have managed to maintain your individuality with some to spare while still being one of the best Christian examples I’ve ever seen. Not to mention you’re just fucking rad.
Hats off to you, friend.

This made my day. By being true to yourself, you will be true to others. So, like a good friend of mine tells me, I now tell you:

Be You! Just do You!

Happy Hump Day!

PS. If you haven’t checked out the video blog yet… Here it is:

#TeamHanes

Posted on by jaredmontgomery

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I had the privilege to officiate my first wedding for two great friends of mine this weekend. We did a lot these past few days to create a lot of memories. I am so excited for you two and the memories you will continue to make as a couple. I had the privilege to announce for the first time “Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan and Emily Hanes” on Saturday. Tonight I announce it to the world! Let’s celebrate Team Hanes! Send them some $ money $ too as a congrats on the wedding!! (Seriously… show them some love!) Love you guys!

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I’m Back

Posted on by jaredmontgomery

I haven’t blogged in a looooooonnnngg time! It has been a busy time in my life. I started going back to college in June. I am attending UMKC to get my Secondary Teaching degree in English. So, between classes, homework, working, time with Jennifer, and having any sort of family or social life, blogging has been put on the back burner.

I have had some coffee times with old friends. I did #crushsummer with some of my oldest and BEST friends! I have ran into folks I haven’t seen in a long while and I have heard questions and comments. People wonder what I’m up to, what I believe, some are quick to judge, while others are quick to embrace. This blog is to possibly answer some of those questions.

I have spent my morning avoiding homework and listening to something I identify with SO much. It is one thing that I feel almost alone in. My wife understands and less than a handful of others close to me. My friends who attend local church communities, usually balk at this guy’s name alone (yet have never actually read or listened to him themselves). My friends who don’t attend church, usually have no idea who this is or really care. Yet, this topic of theology is one that has always interested me. While I have friends I can drink with, talk to, and watch the Royals with, we seldom talk of God. And those who would want to talk about God with me, usually are not open to new (actually old, really) ideas. Expressing anything different gets people to think “heretic”, or “shipwrecked”, or wondering if I have fallen away (whatever that really means…).

So, this blog is opening myself up to you, in a round about way, or at least for you to see how I spent my Monday morning… For you to know who I am and what I think. If you believe in God, please take some time to listen to this audio book or read the book itself. If you do not believe in God, I would ask you to do the same. I believe this audio book, best describes what I believe and think. So, even though, with my busy life and yours, we might not have time to meet up and have an hour conversation to talk about these things, please take some time to listen to some of this and tell me what you think. Listen while mowing the lawn, or cleaning the house. The questions and ideas in this are very thought provoking.

Well, time to get back to my life!I have to get ready for work.

PS: I hope you will be a part of my life. If we haven’t gotten to hang out in awhile, and you would like to, shoot me a text! Thank you all for taking the time out of YOUR busy life to read this little blog. Have a great week!!

Love Wins (audiobook) by Rob Bell