To the woman I met last night: I want you to know that you are not alone. You have many of us who are your sisters and are with you, to hear you, to comfort you, to be there for you, to remind you…of your strength, and of God’s love. You have Jesus himself with you; suffering every bit of it with you; crying as hard and as deeply as you. Unlike us, He really knows what you are feeling and going through...to the core. He is with you.
God did not take two of your three sons. He did not remove your youngest from this earth in a drunk-driving accident, and He did not leave your middle son incapacitated from war. It was the enemy -working through others- who took your boys. And God, who loves your sons beyond comprehension, and who loves you more than anything, cries with you, and is with you. It is so hard to believe now but every single gut-wrenching tear you shed, He is catching in His hands and they WILL become blessings showered back on you- each and every one.
He will get you through this…find ways to send you moments of peacefulness and comfort to help in your mourning and grief. You are in such a velley of darkness right now - but know that you PASS THROUGH it, walk through it. I know God is walking with you. He can carry you and comfort you.
You will be comforted. You have great faith and He will send you people who provide comfort, laughter, a hug, and a shoulder. ..Just like last night. Use us. We are here, He is with you, and He loves you.
I don't know how to get in touch with you directly. But I have faith that you will receive this message - if not from me, from other members of Chirst's body. We care about you, share in your pain, and pray for healing.
Those of you reading this, please pray for my new unknown friend - that God's will will someday become known - -somehow - -from this tragedy, and her pain will somehow turn into triumph.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Review - Over the Underpass
Over the Underpass is a personal account of Mike Yankowsi, a then college student, and his traveling companion, Sam Purvis’, six months living undercover as homeless men on the streets of six American cities. Written by Mike, his story contains some amazing insights as well as some amazing ‘no duh’ moments.
MAJOR TAKE-AWAYS:
Amaze Factor. (The compelling things that make this a must-read for all people, especially Christians and especially Christian church leaders.)
· Their courage to make the decision to go homeless. Mike’s heart was prompted for this mission field and he followed it. Amazing for such a young guy to have such a commitment and trust; thoughtful and biblical approach in preparing for it. He demonstrates an example that all of us pew potatos need to learn from.
· The realization that homeless people can be giving. There were a few scenes where either Mike was surprised to meet homeless people who were generous with him (as a homeless person); and/or where homeless people he shared with were surprised that another homeless person would share. This caused me the reader to understand for the first time that we can’t simply assume the same stereo-type exists for all homeless people – specifically that they are takers.
· The realization that homeless people can take care of each other. Mike was taken under the wing –mentored – befriended by - a couple of homeless people. Amazing. OTUP offered some examples of mentors, caregivers, and friends. I had a real Ah-Ha moment that homeless people sometimes look out for each other (but mostly don't) and, that there is an opportunity to somehow rally the homeless population to have more solidarity in love - rather than fear. Just because they are homeless, and trying to survive day to day, there is no reason they can’t have more responsibility for each other’s welfare...God's will is in EVERYONE, homeless included. Remember: love God, love each other?
· Once you are homeless it is assumed that the only source for food is handouts from other people. This is something the author fell right in step with and didn't notice that he could try to find edible food from indigenous plants or animals. Not there to change the status quo - just there to partake in it.
· There were at least 3 accounts of Christians and/or Christian churches being helpful and generous with him as a homeless person!!!! YES!
No, Duh! Factor (Things they discovered on the street that society already knew – but was news to the author):
· Homeless people are generally selfish, un-medicated psychotics, addicted to drugs or alcohol, and not trustworthy.
· Christian churches don’t like homeless people loitering on their campuses.
· Christian Church congregations are judgmental.
· Christians – even though they are called to be more caring than non-Christians – are not unlike the entire population in ignoring homeless people when it comes to a face-to-face, personal interaction.
· The author is surprised that people don’t want to be near him – why? He speaks disdainfully about a family sitting near him in a restaurant. He and they are the only customers – except he isn’t a customer, he's loitering. He’s smelly, dirty, and sitting there waiting for them to leave – we find out later - so he can eat their leftovers. No, duh! Of course they don’t want to be near you, silly! As a Christian conducting a Christian experiment I believe Mike should have been more tolerant of people making choices to NOT give to or help the homeless - time and time again, he is upset at not getting the hand outs he hopes for. Rather, I believe it would have been more God-honoring to accept that people have the gift of free will; and to pray for those who used this gift for bad - to not to help someone in need.
Truthfully, us Christians are called to give quickly and without thinking about it. To give before the right hand knows what the left hand is doing. And we don't. Even Mike tells us how to give (don't go alone), what to give (don't give cash). Well, that's just not biblical. It drives me crazy to hear Christian pastors, educators and now, authors advising people to give but with conditions. STOP IT!
Sidenote: I think Mike picks on Christian churches because he is Christian and therefore only went to seek worship and/or refuge at such. It's not meant to be a Christian-bashing book, but can come off like it because Mike wants to be an accepted member of the body of Christ when he goes to worship - and well, he got rejected...a lot.
We Christians know better yet we still can't get over ourselves in order to welcome everyone in His love. That being said, and for what it's worth, I believe if Mike and/or any homeless person went to a mosque, temple, shrine, or any other non-christian religious place of worship – they would have been rejected all the same. :-)
Bottom line is that everyone who can read should read this book in order that all become better at helping, our homeless population.
Amaze Factor. (The compelling things that make this a must-read for all people, especially Christians and especially Christian church leaders.)
· Their courage to make the decision to go homeless. Mike’s heart was prompted for this mission field and he followed it. Amazing for such a young guy to have such a commitment and trust; thoughtful and biblical approach in preparing for it. He demonstrates an example that all of us pew potatos need to learn from.
· The realization that homeless people can be giving. There were a few scenes where either Mike was surprised to meet homeless people who were generous with him (as a homeless person); and/or where homeless people he shared with were surprised that another homeless person would share. This caused me the reader to understand for the first time that we can’t simply assume the same stereo-type exists for all homeless people – specifically that they are takers.
· The realization that homeless people can take care of each other. Mike was taken under the wing –mentored – befriended by - a couple of homeless people. Amazing. OTUP offered some examples of mentors, caregivers, and friends. I had a real Ah-Ha moment that homeless people sometimes look out for each other (but mostly don't) and, that there is an opportunity to somehow rally the homeless population to have more solidarity in love - rather than fear. Just because they are homeless, and trying to survive day to day, there is no reason they can’t have more responsibility for each other’s welfare...God's will is in EVERYONE, homeless included. Remember: love God, love each other?
· Once you are homeless it is assumed that the only source for food is handouts from other people. This is something the author fell right in step with and didn't notice that he could try to find edible food from indigenous plants or animals. Not there to change the status quo - just there to partake in it.
· There were at least 3 accounts of Christians and/or Christian churches being helpful and generous with him as a homeless person!!!! YES!
No, Duh! Factor (Things they discovered on the street that society already knew – but was news to the author):
· Homeless people are generally selfish, un-medicated psychotics, addicted to drugs or alcohol, and not trustworthy.
· Christian churches don’t like homeless people loitering on their campuses.
· Christian Church congregations are judgmental.
· Christians – even though they are called to be more caring than non-Christians – are not unlike the entire population in ignoring homeless people when it comes to a face-to-face, personal interaction.
· The author is surprised that people don’t want to be near him – why? He speaks disdainfully about a family sitting near him in a restaurant. He and they are the only customers – except he isn’t a customer, he's loitering. He’s smelly, dirty, and sitting there waiting for them to leave – we find out later - so he can eat their leftovers. No, duh! Of course they don’t want to be near you, silly! As a Christian conducting a Christian experiment I believe Mike should have been more tolerant of people making choices to NOT give to or help the homeless - time and time again, he is upset at not getting the hand outs he hopes for. Rather, I believe it would have been more God-honoring to accept that people have the gift of free will; and to pray for those who used this gift for bad - to not to help someone in need.
Truthfully, us Christians are called to give quickly and without thinking about it. To give before the right hand knows what the left hand is doing. And we don't. Even Mike tells us how to give (don't go alone), what to give (don't give cash). Well, that's just not biblical. It drives me crazy to hear Christian pastors, educators and now, authors advising people to give but with conditions. STOP IT!
Sidenote: I think Mike picks on Christian churches because he is Christian and therefore only went to seek worship and/or refuge at such. It's not meant to be a Christian-bashing book, but can come off like it because Mike wants to be an accepted member of the body of Christ when he goes to worship - and well, he got rejected...a lot.
We Christians know better yet we still can't get over ourselves in order to welcome everyone in His love. That being said, and for what it's worth, I believe if Mike and/or any homeless person went to a mosque, temple, shrine, or any other non-christian religious place of worship – they would have been rejected all the same. :-)
Bottom line is that everyone who can read should read this book in order that all become better at helping, our homeless population.
Review: Starving Jesus
Starving Jesus is a book written by pastors Craig Gross and J.R. Mahon of xxxchurch ministries, and is a call to action for other Christian churches and Christian believers to get out of their pews and, basically, put faith into action. They do this by way of sharing their personal spiritual growth, voicing their discontent with the American Christian body of Christ, and defining ways in which others (both Christian and non) can get closer to Jesus and walking the talk of Christianity.
What makes this different from the (already overdone) discourse on church reform is their candid personal accounts as pastors in coming to Christ – for real….and their sincere efforts to change the landscape of ‘the church’ away from buildings where people gather, into a church body of people who serve.
The title, Starving Jesus has a two-fold meaning. First, the authors make an argument that the church in it's current state is, in fact, starving Jesus right out of His own church...not feeding Jesus by way of not truly advancing the kingdom, by not doing what he teaches. Secondly, starving is a key to feeding your own faith through fasting. The authors talk about their own appreciation for how their faith grew through fasting, as well as how blessings follow fasting...and how biblical fasting is a given, not a calling- that it should be a regular part of the Christian lifestyle.
Formatted in alternating personal journal entries interspersed with relevant scriptural passages, the book follows a linear timeline of each of the authors' ‘stories’ of how they came to be xxxministries.com, leaving their traditional church environments and professional careers. In the journey they found fasting to be vital to their walk of faith and are convinced that it is not just a calling for Christians to fast, but rather, it’s a given. If you haven’t been exposed to the current genre of ‘reform the Christian church’, this book might seem a bit brash, forward, and offensive to Christians, and churched people.
The authors simply retell accounts of church people who either don’t understand, or forgot, what Jesus was all about. They call for a church without the red-tape and formality. They call for a church of doers, rather than pew potatoes. If you are one who is tired of the perceived ‘fakeness’ of churches or certain types of Christians, you will thoroughly enjoy this book, and appreciate the candor of these two pastors. You may also (hopefully) be inspired to read the Bible on your own, and fast on your own as a result of reading Starving Jesus.
I applaud this book as the most refreshing – no bull – no egg shells – no kid gloves expression of the frustration with ‘the church’ body, and a no frills urgency to get over it and get into your own personal relationship with Jesus by reading the Bible and fasting.
What makes this different from the (already overdone) discourse on church reform is their candid personal accounts as pastors in coming to Christ – for real….and their sincere efforts to change the landscape of ‘the church’ away from buildings where people gather, into a church body of people who serve.
The title, Starving Jesus has a two-fold meaning. First, the authors make an argument that the church in it's current state is, in fact, starving Jesus right out of His own church...not feeding Jesus by way of not truly advancing the kingdom, by not doing what he teaches. Secondly, starving is a key to feeding your own faith through fasting. The authors talk about their own appreciation for how their faith grew through fasting, as well as how blessings follow fasting...and how biblical fasting is a given, not a calling- that it should be a regular part of the Christian lifestyle.
Formatted in alternating personal journal entries interspersed with relevant scriptural passages, the book follows a linear timeline of each of the authors' ‘stories’ of how they came to be xxxministries.com, leaving their traditional church environments and professional careers. In the journey they found fasting to be vital to their walk of faith and are convinced that it is not just a calling for Christians to fast, but rather, it’s a given. If you haven’t been exposed to the current genre of ‘reform the Christian church’, this book might seem a bit brash, forward, and offensive to Christians, and churched people.
The authors simply retell accounts of church people who either don’t understand, or forgot, what Jesus was all about. They call for a church without the red-tape and formality. They call for a church of doers, rather than pew potatoes. If you are one who is tired of the perceived ‘fakeness’ of churches or certain types of Christians, you will thoroughly enjoy this book, and appreciate the candor of these two pastors. You may also (hopefully) be inspired to read the Bible on your own, and fast on your own as a result of reading Starving Jesus.
I applaud this book as the most refreshing – no bull – no egg shells – no kid gloves expression of the frustration with ‘the church’ body, and a no frills urgency to get over it and get into your own personal relationship with Jesus by reading the Bible and fasting.
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