My name is Bruxy (a.k.a., Boo – thanks to my sisters for that enduring family nickname). It’s nice to “meet” you here!
The writings on 1820.life are a group effort. I’m just the message boy. More about that on the “small church” page. For now, here’s a bit more about me and about us.
I first began this project as personal therapy. Writing about Jesus was one of the few things I found could help me push out some dark thoughts. From early on, a group of gracious, strong, loving, merciful people began discussing these writings with me, giving me input, and helping me “practice what I preach”. This accountable community of amazing Jesus-followers have now become an integral part of the 1820 project and everything you read on this site has their fingerprints all over it.
Beyond this, you should also know that I am human, and rumour has it, so are you. So, we already know two things about one another:
We are infinitely valuable, wildly creative, amazingly powerful, glorious and God-like image-bearers of our Creator.
We are broken, weak, flawed, and far from perfect. Something is wrong with everything about us. It’s like there is a flaw in our code. To some extent, we all self-sabotage and pass on our hurt to others around us. It’s a pickle.
I know these extremes about our identity because I have seen it, and because I have lived it.
We are exploring both of these human realities on this site, using the teachings of Jesus as our guide.
Jesus has a line in his Sermon on the Mount where he says:
“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
~ JESUS (Matthew 5:48)
I am, frankly, obsessed with understanding the meaning of this seemingly impossible, paradoxical, command. It functions as the central theme for the Sermon on the Mount and seems like the key to understanding so much of Jesus’ teaching. (See our study here for a deep dive into this one line.)
Why 1820? The number refers to a Bible verse, Matthew 18:20, where Jesus says:
“Wherever two or three gather in my name,
I am there in the middle with them.”
~ JESUS (Matthew 18:20)
In context, these groups of two or three are on mercy missions to help lost sheep find their way home. I love that image. And Jesus says that when we gather together in compassionate, Christ-centred, gracious spaces, when we come together to love the lost and the left-out, he is spiritually and fully present with us. (For more on this verse, see our first devotional study.)
I know I need more of this 1820 experience in my life. I need to be pursued with grace when I wander. And I need to be on the lookout for others who need compassion and kindness rather than judgment and condemnation. How about you? (See our Small Church page for ways to get connected.)
Lastly, if you find the writings on this site helpful, please see our “How You Can Help” page for information on … well … you guessed it.
That’s it. That’s enough of an intro. I hope you are able to benefit from the work put into the studies on this site. And if you have any comments or questions, please be in touch. I would love to hear from you!
Grace, Mercy, & Peace,
Bruxy