Crucial Encounter

As some of you know our church, “The Point”, came to an end recently, for at least a month.  What is certain is that our building is sold, (Which we knew was coming) and we will no longer meet Sunday Mornings at the building formally known as ‘The Point’.

Over the last week, I have had the…. uh…. privelege? to see this unfold.  To see how people react, and to see how people handle themselves.  I understand some of the confusion, and I even understand being upset.  I spent many hours up there, working, trying to fix things, hanging out, praying, thinking.  That place was like my second home.  (And really was Andrea’s)

All week on Facebook, I have seen statuses similar to ‘whoever’s name “Misses The Point”‘.  I have to agree.  We are missing the point.  We are upset about a gathering place.  We are upset about a building built by hands even though the scripture tells us, “.. God does not live in a building built by hands.”  Somehow we still insist that he does.

I’ve heard, (first hand) a lot of assumptions and attacks launched against our Pastor, for a decision God laid on his heart.  People saying that they know it wasn’t God.  (wow)  I’ve heard people tell blatant lies, I have heard people get angy, upset, manipulative, and just plain silly.  I’ll say this right now.  I grew up on the streets, and I can say without a doubt I have a harder time trying to figure out who is trying to manipulate me in the name of God.  If Jesus Christ were still in his tomb, he’d be turning in it.

With all of this going on, I have a peace.  A peace that God is showing me his redemptive love.  God is showing me that nobody is perfect.  In all of this, God is showing me that I won’t lose my faith in him, and is showing me that with all change comes hurt, betrayal, and suffering.  God is showing me that ‘Christianity’ is not a safe religion. (And he never said it was) God is showing me the undying love of Jesus Christ.

Through all of this, I have not lost faith in Man, because my faith was never in man to begin with. During this time I am reminded that we all have sin.  I am reminded of Luke 18 9-14.  I am reminded that in that story the tax collector went down among men, justified in God’s eyes.

Perhaps we can all walk away with something from that.  Perhaps, as a community going through trials, we should all be standing on the mountain top, not even looking towards the Heavens, pounding our breasts, screaming out our sins and begging for forgiveness, instead of pointing out others.

So I encourage you to join me.  I encourage you to beat your chest with me, screaming out our sins, and begging our Father for forgiveness.  Begging God to redeem us all and our community.

Jesus, forgive me.  I am a sinner!  I have anger in my heart, and in the midst of sharing your love, I hold grudges.  I judge.  Lord, I need your love now more than ever, and I ask that you open the eyes and hearts of people who are hurting.  I pray that the ones who are lost, become found, and Lord, I pray, in the ways that I am lost, I become found as well.  Thank you God for this beautiful love story.  Thank you for shining your light on the darkest situations.  Thank You thank You thank You.  God I love you, I love that You love me, even though I’m a rough, abrasive man.  Lord.  You’re just too awesome to comprehend.

-Amen.

He died for you.

But He didn’t just die for you.

He died so we ALL had a chance at redemption.

Not just you.

Not just me.

All.

Every Sin.

Not just the ones we deem ‘forgivable’

It’s Pretty amazing.

We have all been saved and forgiven by HIS mercy grace and infinite Love.

Jesus Christ.

What a Mighty God we serve.

While I venture in to 2009, I am becoming very unsure about the American ‘Church Culture.’ and often times I feel like the Church is (As I’ve heard a lot this week) ‘Missing the Point’.  I need to remember, while the church may have some things wrong, I must remember that the message is the same.  It’s been the same for nearly 2000 years.  With all of the wrong-ness (is that a word?) that I feel about suburbanite church, I have to remember there is one constant Right.

While The Word can be twisted, screwed up, and taken out of context, there is one word that cannot be taken away.  I have to control my cynicism toward the church and make sure that I don’t direct that cynicism at God.  It’s a fine line, (As I feel that is how America has built it.) but I cannot and will not let that fog my vision.

My God is mighty to save.  And Thank God for that, because if he wasn’t I’d be on the first bus to Hell.  I have to remind myself, while I don’t agree with the suburban, churchy image, They deserve, or don’t deserve the love of Christ just as much as me.  The beauty of it all is, they are receiving it, just like I am.

My God is amazing, My God sees beyond walls, beyond the 10:30 service, and directly into my heart.  So, while I do attend Church, and while I do go to the 10:30 service, the most important thing to me is to keep my heart filled with love.  Love for him, love for my friends, family, the guy who sits next to me in church, and just as important as that, love for the poor, the marginalized, and my enemy.

It’s easy to get it twisted in this world.  It’s easy to point at a person and say, “I just REALLY wonder if they are reading the same Bible as me.”  It’s hard for me to kick myself in the ass and say, “Hey, that’s not your judgement call Andy.” I don’t know if any of this is making sense, because this is NOTHING how I had planned this blog.  I guess that’s (one of) the glorious and beautiful things about God. Perhaps what we all could use is a little biting of the tongue.  Perhaps we could all be silent for a little while and take away the good of any situation.  I’m no Solomon, but I’m sure if he read my blog, he might tell me to shut up.

As I go forward into 2009, My prayer is that I do not let my cynicism get in the way.  My prayer is that we all take a step back and look at OUR situation.  My prayer is we all stop pointing fingers, casting stones, and blaming the other guy.  My prayer is we take responsibility, accept God’s mercy and grace, and move on.  My prayer is that we realize we have no control over other people, how they handle situations, and we pray for them.  My prayer is to love.

First things first.  Happy New Year.  2009 will be filled with a lot of good times, ups, downs, and probably some mixed emotions at times. But, it will be a year, nonetheless.

New Year’s Eve was a success.  I really don’t have too much to say, but let me try to sum it up.  Andrea and I met up with someone name Christy, and a guy, whose name I don’t remember.  (Sorry)  She found my blog through facebook, through Shaun King’s Status Update.

It was cold cold cold, and since it was so late, it was only people who had not made it into the shelters that night.  Anyway, we got rid of all but 7 (out of 100, which Andrea made! wow.) sandwiches, and a few bottled waters(out of 72).  Another cool part was, we got to have community.  Even if it were for 15 seconds, or a minute, we got to talk to people who had higher expectations and hopes than I do sometimes.

At the very beginning of the night, Andrea said to a man, (Who had just sung us the most beautiful gospel song, a-capella) “God Bless you.”  And without skipping a beat he says, “He already has.”  Wow.  Sometimes I can’t say that.  I have heat, or air if needed.  A bed, a roof, food daily, a job, and then something happens and I find it hard to say stuff like that. Talk about making me feel like an ass.

I loved doing that though.  To me it’s a great time.  It opens my eyes, because I can be a little selfish at times. It reminds me that I am only about 2 paychecks from being right there with them.  It reminds me to Thank God each day I wake up, even if my shoulder hurts, or my job is pissing me off.  It reminds me that there is a much bigger calling from God, other than just showing up at a building on Sunday mornings to talk about Him.  It reminds me that the poor and marginalized are right in our backyard. (or behind a keyboard)  It reminds me.

Hopefully this is something Andrea and I (And whoever else wants to come with) can do at least once a month.

Oh. By The Way I also want to say, Atlanta pisses me off.  They must have done a sweep of the City, and made a good group of the homeless move.  We walked all over Grant Park, and surrounding area’s and it was like homelessness didn’t even exist in Atlanta.  I guess Atlanta wanted to make it’s visitors feel welcome and warm.  The city wanted to avoid putting a face on the problem.  Because without a face, it’s just ‘homelessness’.  With a face, it’s you or me or our best friend.  It’s ridiculous.  Anyway.  That’s my blog for today.

Next time, would you come with us?

This is a formal invitation.

Tonight is New Year’s Eve.  Andrea and I have been pondering this day, and what we would make of it for quite some time now.

Yesterday, Andrea looked online for somewhere we could go feed the hungry.  Turns out, there is NO WHERE in Atlanta tonight that is doing that.  Can you believe it?  Christmas Eve and Christmas Day people turn out in record numbers to ‘feed the homeless’.  Only one week later, there isn’t even an organization to volunteer with.

Tonight Andrea and I will be throwing a little party of our own.  In Luke Chapter 14, Jesus says, ” “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”

We are going to be making sandwiches and taking bottled waters downtown.  We think we know a place to find a good bunch of people who have nothing to eat, and maybe more importantly, nothing to celebrate for.  (I think we can give them both) We are welcoming anyone in Atlanta who wants to come with.  Leave a comment here, or twitter me, or something, and we will work out the details.

I have a feeling this is going to be an awesone New Years.  Wanna help?  Let me Know.

AND:
If you find yourself drinking and in a bad situation.  Don’t drive.  Call us.  We will not be drinking, so we can and will come get you.  The city of Atlanta has already passed it projected death toll this holiday season.  Let’s keep that down.  If you don’t have my number, again, leave a comment, or Twitter me or something and we can definitely figure out a way to keep you from behind the wheel, or from a car with someone who has been drinking.  Please.  Just make that phone call.