Signs of Faith

The Terri Shiavo situation has come to a sad end. My heart aches for the family. All the family.

cases like this have been going on for a while. This one has made national headlines, so all the "faithful Ones" have come from every corner of our great land.

each time a news up date comes on the TV, we see them. Signs of faith. A few that really represented the faith...,

"Barbara, Are you proud of your sons now?
"George Bush, Stop killing Terri"
Thanks for the memories Jeb...
judgment is coming George
Jesus does not want Terri to die

they all come out of the woodwork when their cause gets noticed. The funny thing is, they all claim to be followers of Jesus. I watched the other day and while they were praying, one was holding up a sign that said...God hates murderers.

at some point, before all the National folks showed up, before Jesse Jackson showed up, before the parents let their kids get arrested, before one guy who was being arrested told the officers to "get right with God and give Terri a drink of water", before all that...This was about a woman named Terri.

but like with most things, she got lost in the agenda. The life agenda. The death agenda.

reminds me of how the church got lost in the agenda. The music agenda, the money agenda, the program agenda, the ministry agenda, the contemporary and traditional agenda, the clothing agenda, the language, and the mega agenda. In all the madness of us all holding up our signs, we forgot about Jesus and His agenda.

what is His agenda? People.

he did not ask them to bathe before He loved them...Did not ask them to change their language...Did not ask them to join a church, did not ask them what kind of music they liked...So why are these things so important to us???

we changed the agenda from people to stuff. We use people to justify our agenda.

no? Tell me how many folks you have told what Jesus is doing in your life? How many did you tell about Jesus? How many folks did you dog out cause they do not think or talk like you?

hold that sign up a little higher...That's it...Nice and high. We may be able to see it on camera...

"My give a damn's busted"

Heard this song on the radio as I was looking for something to listen to. although I am not a big counrty music fan, this song caught my attention. not becasue of the message, but the attitude. "My give a damn's busted."

I went to our weekly meeting with the homeless guys we minister to. only one showed up. we ate home made chicken and dumplings. I left my Bible at home, along with a couple of other things I wanted to bring, so we ended up hanging out on the front steps talking. we talked about cars...he smoked.

I was especially aware of how people looked at us as they drove by, or when they stopped when the light turned red. actually, no eye contact was made when they stopped, mostly they looked when they drove by. interesting looks.

lessons learned over the last few weeks have been so needed in my white bread life. I asked Jeff how people treated him, if they talked to him or ignored him, if he had any friends. "most people are nice enough but few ever speak, they just smile and walk on by." all his friends are at the Christian Coffee shop he volunteers at each week end. he take out trash, makes coffee, helps clean up. I love that...a homeless guy volunteers! any one feel that pain? it felt like a little reminder that we ALL can do something.

He is convinced he is a believer. after 3 months of seeing him at our church and spending the last couple of weeks with him, I realized I had not asked him about his relationship with Christ. "I don't always act like it, but I am saved." sounds like a lot of people I know...especially me.

we hung out for about an hour. we will meet again next week.

Dignity and friendship. these are the things I believe Jesus would have me offer this man. seems to me, if we offered everyone these things, maybe the world would be a little different.

next time you see a homeless person, remember this. They look like Jesus. just like we do. they have needs, just like we do. they need love...just like we do. they need friendship...just like we do. some need clothes, shoes, and maybe cigs. some need a meal. they all...excuse me, we all need Jesus and we all need love.

don't turn away next time you see one of "the lessor ones," as some call them, at a stop light, or passing by on the street. smile, speak, say hello. allow the Spirit to be the grace that person may need.

I am thankful that Jesus "give a damn" AINT busted. and after a long time in the shop, mine seems to be working again.

How is your give a damn?

He is Risen Indeed!

This morning at 5:45am we arrived. For the next 20 min they came. Just a few families, but they came. We stood in the middle of the park as the sun began to rise through the patchy fog. The birds were singing, and the 6 kids who had come with their parents were playing. As we gathered our thoughts and attention we read the Story.

It was the first time I had led such a service. A friend had put a lot of leg work into the deal. Asking all her neighbors. We weren't sure how many would show, and it really did not matter.

I refused to turn such a sweet time into a 3 point lesson with a challenge.

Some words were said about hope, joy and purpose, and we read John 24. Rather than get all caught up in the facts of this day, I ask our small group to allow the emotion of the event to seep through. Feel the pain and hopelessness they must have felt. The loss of their leader had just taken place. They felt alone and abandoned.

a glimmer of hope sprung up over the lack of a body...His body. Could it be? Could He be...?

and the ecstatic joy of seeing Him alive. Risen! ALIVE!

we prayed and went down the street for a 3 hour time of food and fellowship.

I got it for the first time. The resurrection was such a joyous occasion, and yet we seldom celebrate it in that way. We talked, laughed uncontrollably, shared a meal together and talked of the goodness of Him who was not dead. It was a joyful time. A time of refreshing.

certain friends seem to refresh you with their zest for life. Their realness seems to be "other than." such was the case today. The God who struck down His own Son with the wrath that was meant for me, and you, showed His love and compassion and acceptance, and joy, and complete love for us...Through that same Son who was no longer in the grave. He did these things through the laughs, the kind words, the hugs, the food, the atmosphere of celebration we were in together.

a real taste of community was available today. It is a taste that will remain on my tongue for quite some time.

He is risen! Risen Indeed!

all Hail King Jesus!

He is not there!

The implications of Jesus bearing the complete wrath of God in our place is yet to be realized. The reality of the resurection must be at the forefront of our daily lives. He is alive! He is alive! He is ALIVE!!!

Life should be celebrated with all the joy we can muster. He has purchased our freedom. Let us live with the fervor in which Jesus took on the cross. Let us love with the same passion that drove jesus to remain on the cross when He could have spoken and legions of Angels would have been at His beckon call.

A true believer should no more live with out joy than for a fish to live with out water.

celebrate!

Lift your glass to the One who was, is, and is to come!

All Hail King Jesus!!!

Getting hammered

Getting hammered just took on a new meaning for me.

Last night, I spent about 2 hours with a man who has given 24 years of his life to serving Jesus. We shared our journey of life together. Honesty, authenticity are just words to some people. Not with this guy. He shared his soul, asked me to peek inside, look at all the scars, hurts, joys, failures, and triumphs. All this was laced with the intoxicating aroma of Jesus Christ.

Today, I spent a few hours with a dear friend. We talked about our journey of life. We spoke of what had been and what could be. As we talked about what could be, I was once again intoxicated with Him.

I was hammered.

little back ground.

for 16 years, I lived in a world that most believers that I know have heard of, but few have ventured into. The darkness of addiction is heavy. Evil is not a word there. It is a reality that one lives with daily. Evil has an odor, a foul odor, yet is is as intoxicating as anything I have ever ingested into my body.

actions and words that came from me during those years have been washed clean, yet the memory of that remains. Not from guilt, but memory. Scars, thought processes. These remain.

to be "delivered from the domain of darkness and transfered to the kingdom of His beloved Son" was and is an amazing thing. Still brings a smile and a tear to my face. Such love and such grace...Such freedom, such a God.

the stench of religion became vile and deststable to me. Yet for most people I know, that aroma is like incense.

when I am in the presence of genuine people who seek to drench me out of the overflow of Jesus in their heart, the result is getting hammered. Week kneed and with out concern for my surroundings. I want more...more of that spring that wells up in those who spend time with Him. More of those words of acceptance and understanding and concern.

I walked away from these 2 meetings completely intoxicated. I could barely drive. At one point today, I had to pull over and just enjoy the dampness of what had spilled from the glass from which we had drunk.

who we are and who we think we are often 2 different things. And still, there is what others think we are. Talk about your multiple personalities.

raw and blunt. Those seem to be my deal. Still could be nicer. Still could be more understanding. Still could be a bit more patient. It is difficult not to be gun shy when so many rocks have been thrown. But I am trying.

but you ever notice that Jesus did not run after the rich young ruler? Sometimes he leaves us to our own destruction. Sometimes he pursues us.

Like in my case. When He met me on that road when I was coming back home...He sure smelled good that day.

what a familier smell...