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.

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 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.

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?

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.

This week has been, for the most part, great.  My only complaint.  Some people just need to learn to bite their tongues.  Some people need to think about other peoples feelings before speaking. (myself included)  It’s happened numerous times this week.  Hurtful things have been said.  For the soul purpose of hurting someone.  In what should be a celebration week, people can only act on their fear and anger.  If only we could act so easily on love.

What a glorious world it could be!

Tomorrow is Christmas, and I want to take a time off from cynicism.  Some of the people who read this blog, I have never met in person.  Some of you I have, and I’m sorry.  ;)I want to take this time off and say, Merry Christmas.  It really has been an amazing year, and I feel like I was able to share it with all of you.

So, I want to take this time to just say, no matter how wrong ‘The Church’ has it.  We are doing something right.  We are forming communities across the world.  We are trying to help ‘the least of us’.   I really feel like, more and more people are getting it. (including myself)  And more and more people are really starting to hear our saviour Jesus Christ.  This time of year, we are reminded about how much God loves us.  It’s really hard to think about.  It’s really hard to wrap our heads around, but this time of year, we all try.

It’s a pretty amazing thing.  All of us, screw ups, addicts, envious, vain people, and he came to this Earth, to die for us!  Amazing.  I can’t believe it.. I don’t know that I will ever fully understand it.  But, I will try. AND.. I will try to remember in July as much as I try in December.

Anyway guys.  Thank you all for being influences and impacts in my life.  I love you guys.

“Dear friends,

Please distribute this open letter to friends, government officials, and media for us. We have sent it to two blog posting sites for Obama, but we also found a mailing address for him. It would be fine to have a flurry of people sending this letter to him at

President Elect Barack Obama

PO Box 802799

Chicago, IL 60680-2799

Thanks, the CPT Iraq team

* * *

Dear Senator Obama, President Elect of the United States,

Since 2007 the US military has provided military intelligence and opened Iraqi air space to Turkish forces along the northern border of the Kurdish Regional Governorate for operations against the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party). Because of these military incursions, thousands of civilian villagers have been displaced, many killed or wounded, and a great many endure inadequate and deplorable living situations.

Members of our organization, Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), an NGO with offices based in Chicago and Toronto, have been living and working in the Kurdish North of Iraq for over two years, and for four years before that, in Baghdad. We have had regular contact with the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and local Kurdish NGOs that have assisted these Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Our members have visited IDP tent camps and witnessed the hardships of those living there as well as visited mayors and security personnel of communities to which thousands of men, women and children have fled for refuge. In some areas we have been able to visit the remains of Muslim and Christian villages destroyed by the bombing and talk to villagers who still live there or come and go to care for crops or animals under the threat of random attacks. We have interviewed a twenty-seven-year old woman who lost her leg, families of persons who were killed in these bombings by Turkish military, and a man whose two brothers were taken from their villages and tortured by Turkish soldiers.

Testimonies of villagers and government officials have confirmed the destruction of civilian infrastructure such as homes, schools, mosques, churches, and hospitals. Turkish bombing has killed sheep and cows?animals many families depend on for their livelihood. The Turkish military has bombed bridges and planted landmines?as well as internationally prohibited weapons as cluster bombs?to prevent human movement in areas where civilians live. Explosions from bombs and rockets (some rockets and shelling also from the Iranian Military along the Iranian border) continue in villages still inhabited and are audible from some areas where IDPs now live.

These things have been verified by the 2008 KRG government report of the fact-finding committee mandated by the Council of Representatives Presidency Board. We also saw five of the numerous Turkish Military bases positioned within Iraqi territory, as far away from the Turkish border as eighteen miles. According to Kurdish officials, Turkey established these bases under an agreement between Turkey and KRG officials in 1996 during the Kurdish civil war, but refused to leave years ago when the agreement expired.

According to villagers still living in areas currently being bombed, and Iraqi Kurdish security officials, Turkish military at these bases watch their movement, strike during the time of planting and harvesting, anytime they observe displaced villagers returning to their homes, or if there is movement around their villages at night, and do not let Kurdish residents use their land adjoining the bases or hunt on the mountains nearby. They experience the Turkish presence as an oppressive occupation. They say Iraqi Kurdish officials have asked the Turkish military at the bases to leave, but feel helpless in enforcing this. For these reasons the people are afraid of the impending agreement between the Iraqi Central Government and Turkey.

According to an official from the Turkish foreign ministry (to Hurriyet daily news source on 18 November, 2008) describing the effects of this agreement, “If an operation which is deemed as crucial for Turkey is needed, then Turkey can present it as a ‘fait accompli.’” They see this as allowing Turkey to increase its occupation of the northern areas of Iraq, a fear put into perspective by the far more intense nature of Turkish military aggression there in the 1990’s.

As we talk to Kurdish people, we hear a call for the United States to abide by international law and the Fourth Geneva Agreements, standards to which it holds other countries: not to kill or injure civilians, and that an occupying power is responsible to protect and care for the civilians who are under its control.

On a larger scale, CPT has observed a dramatic change in the Kurdish population from unapologetic support for the U.S. military presence in Iraq to anger at the way in which the United States has treated one of its most loyal allies in the Middle East. Kurdish people, who have experienced the Anfal genocide under the Saddam Hussein regime now fear U.S. support will encourage Turkey to move even more aggressively against Kurdistan.

Therefore, we urge you to:

1. Reverse U.S. policies that aid Turkey’s attacks on Kurdish Iraqi civilian populations and put diplomatic pressure on Turkey to pursue diplomatic and peaceful solutions to the PKK/Turkey disputes.

2. Refuse to support new agreements that would expand the rights of Turkey’s military to send more troops or establish more bases northern Iraq and put pressure on Turkey to remove existing bases.

We would also invite you to come here and visit some of these villages and IDP camps and talk with the people. They are very welcoming and hospitable. We would be glad to introduce you to them and be of what assistance we can.

Sincerely,

Peggy Gish, Craig A. Kite, Chichun Yuan, Bob Holmes, Anne Montgomery, John Lynes

CPT

Suleimaniya, Iraq”

Do this.

I can say that yesterday was pretty great considering. I got to lay around with my wife all day, (Minus Church and lunch) and just relax. And.. The Falcons are going to the playoffs! That’s a pretty awesome thing.

Yesterday was a day, when I looked at my wife, and fell in love even more. Man. I am a lucky person. The fact that I can wake up, and be MORE in love seemed impossible, yet it happens. Whats a good blog to read today? Leave it in the comments, and I’ll go check it out.

Lately I feel like I am the most blessed person alive.  I have a job and it’s decent enough.  I don’t dread it most days.  I have an apartment, and some of the latest gadgets. (not that that shows blessings.)  My health is not bad aside from the occasional cold.  Oh, and by the way. HAVE YOU SEEN MY WIFE?  So many people poured their blessings and gifts onto us at our wedding.  Everything seems to be going friggin awesome!

As part of my life, I realize that there are ups and downs.  For the earlier part of my life I knew to expect the downs, so with all of this good there is only one thing I can think of.  Why?  Why is this so good.  Part of me is so paranoid it’s almost impossible to enjoy the good sometimes.  I feel like there is something waiting around the corner to pop me in the face.  You know that feeling?

With my dad’s looming health, the economy where it is, and 100 things that could crumble around me, I can’t help but be a little cynical in this entire ordeal.  I am a weak weak person.  My strengths are only because of the mercy of God.  My weaknesses have made those strengths almost obsolete at times.

What do I do about this?  In my mind, I know the best thing to do is to keep making myself stronger.  Keep my faith high, and praise higher.  Also in my mind I know I screw up.  More than you probably.  So, I just wish there were a sure fire way to make sure I am strong enough when the time comes.  I’m stubborn, so if I can translate that into strength then I’m good.

My prayer every night is for God to prepare me for what is around the corner.  For God to give me strength, when the bad weather comes, to wait it out.  For me to be able to hold strong in his undying love, even when I don’t feel like I can hold strong anymore.

See, now it’s not just me I have to worry about.  I have a wife.  A wife I made very strong vows to, and vows I will keep forever.  If you want to keep these thoughts in your prayers, I wouldn’t mind at all.

OH. Could allergy medicine do it?  Just wondering, because if it can.. maybe that’s it.  Any ideas?

At the time, I thought nothing of it, because, I guess, I wasn’t old enough to think anything of it.  My mom acted as though she thought something of it, but that wasn’t the last time we would have that babysitter watch us.  (It was the last time for quite a while, but I guess desperate times call for desperate measures?? I don’t know.)

It wasn’t until a little over a year ago I confronted that issue.  The hurt, and mental blocking.   Andrea and I had ‘taken a break’.  I was on a quest (Triggered by Andrea) to work out the hurt in my life I never dealt with.  The hurt of loosing a parent, a sibling and several best friends.  I had no intention of working through this because I just pushed it to the back of my mind.  While I was praying one night, it just hit me.  All of the embarrassment, pain, strife and anger came out.  I was bawling.  Laying in Gods arms and just crying.  “Maybe this IS a problem.” I kept thinking to myself.  “Maybe this is a root of some of the things I’ve done.”  I don’t know, I’m not a psychologist, but maybe that had something to do with the way I went about life.   Maybe this explained my early hunger for promiscuity.

When I finally told Andrea, I don’t think she knew what to say.  If I remember correctly, I think she said, “Wow.” and paused for a few minutes, (While I bawled)  Then she said, “Just let it all go.”  (I don’t think it was until later we talked about the forgiveness aspect, though I could be completely wrong.) What she said was perfect, and helped me move forward in healing.  What an amazing woman. (Even when we were on our ‘break’.)

That’s what I did that night.  I gave it all to Jesus.  I know it sounds so cliche to say that.  “Let go, Let God.” blah blah.  I know, but that’s what I did.  I think sometimes it takes me being completely broken to be able to completely ask for Jesus to heal me.  I don’t know if that speaks something about my personality, or why I was agnostic for so long, but I have to be completely broken down.

Looking back on a year ago, I see an angry, broken, unhealed man.  When I look at myself today, yes. I still see bits of that anger.  It comes out sometimes, and that is something I pray about hugely.  But I am NOT broken.  I am NOT unhealed.  A year ago, Jesus wrapped his arms around me, and told me that everything was ok.  That it was not my fault, and that I did not have to suffer anymore.

How amazing is the healing touch of Jesus Christ?  How amazing is a man that starts in a manger, all the way to jail, beaten and then hung on a Cross to die. Only to rise again three days later, and give this World eternal hope!  How amazing is it that he is still healing to this day!  How amazing that I can say I have been healed.  I have been loved!  Praise God!

I don’t know that this is the best way to celebrate the marked date for the birth of Christ.  I mean becoming a mob of a country from October (only getting earlier every year) all the way to January 1st.  We’re getting lost in shopping, marketing campaigns, and campaigns to “keep Christ in Christmas.”  Shortly after joining that campaign, we tackle a middle aged lady for a Tickle-Me-Elmo, then we run to the line to pay, when that little man jumps in front of us, so we proceed to curse him out.  Then we go to our over-heated homes, and every time we write the word, we put quotations around Christ.

If we are going to start a ‘Keep the Christ in Christmas Campaign’, are we doing it the right way?  Is Christ upset that people want to call it X-mas, or if people want to say “Happy Holidays”?  Personally, I think Jesus probably wouldn’t mind too much.  I don’t remember him ever really getting upset for people not giving him enough credit.  I imagine his desire for us is to love. (And I’m fairly sure tackling that middle aged lady probably isn’t what he had in mind.. no?)  So, if you are part of a keep ‘Christ’ in Christmas campaign, ask yourself, are you living it, or are you merely putting quotes around it?

Remember, the reason we celebrate this time of year is because God sent his only son to save us from our sins.  Not to put lights up, fight for the best parking space, and get our kids the biggest best gift.  Jesus was born, so 30 some odd years later he could carry MY sins on a cross, all the way to the grave, not to insure his name be engraved all over cards, t-shirts, and Facebook Groups.

Or we look at the child molester thinking, I think we should kill all child molesters. (Trust me I have thought it as I think my entire family was molested by someone.)  It’s a thin line we walk each day with preconceptions.

It’s not often we look at ourselves in the mirror and think, “Man, that porn addict has really got some issue.”  Or, “Man, That guy in the mirror is so jacked up, with all of his pride, we should kill all prideful folk..”

What I’m saying is, God wants us, no… He commanded us to love all people, with all of their sin.  Is it hard?  Yes.  I don’t think anyone ever said it will be easy.  Sometimes I think that’s what we think, or at least I did when I became “Born Again”.

I wanted to judge rapists, and not look at myself.  I wanted to kill molesters, and live eternal life myself.  I am always afraid to look at myself.  Truth is, as humans we are all capable of some pretty screwed up crap.  Whether it’s over eating (guilty). Being vain. (Guilty) Foul Mouths. (guilty) Alcoholism. (guilty) Drug addiction. (guilty) Murder, Rape, molestation, or abuse.  We are all human, and we are all capable of and in need of the same things. The first thing we need to do is separate ourselves from sin.  Not him or her, but Me.

We are also all capable of loving, but why is it so much harder to do than all of that other bad crap?   Simple.  Because Love is NOT of this world.  And we are called to be the exact same thing. Not of this World.  We are called to Love.  We are called to be Christ.  Some big sandals to fill.

It’s not possible to do it alone, that’s why we need each other, we need to love each other, trust each other, and Him.

Last night it became official.  Pastor Kevin Lee called me to confirm what i had been fearing/hoping (does that make sense?)  For a few months now.  January 1st, they will be using their own sound guy and will no longer need my assistance.  While, I am kind of scared of that, for financial reasons, I am 100% certain that God will provide.  I am grateful that this has happened as well.  See.  The three days a week I worked were Mondays at 6:30pm, Thursdays at 6:30pm and Saturdays at 4:30pm.  So, while I was with work, it was just right in the middle of convenience.  Especially on Saturdays.  It didn’t feel like we could have a chill morning, then go for breakfast, and maybe catch a matinee show without feel rushed.  Come 2009 that won’t be the case.

Come 2009, I can pursue some things Andrea and I have been talking about.  Come 2009 I can focus on my wife, my personal career, and of course God.  In 2009 I will be a 1 (almost) job man.  So, while this may be crushing financially, it will be anything but in most other aspects of my life.

God is good.

Share with us.  OH, and.. share why.

GO

We are called to play the Good Samaritan on life’s roadside… but one day we must come to see that the whole Jericho road must be transformed so that mean and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed.  True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a better.  It comes to see that a system that produces beggars needs to be repaved.  We are called to be the Good Samaritan, but after you lift so many people out of the ditch you start to ask, maybe the whole road to Jericho needs to be repaved.

-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“A Time to Break the Silence” Sermon

The more I think about my life and my faith, I am more and more convinced that this isn’t what He meant.  The more I think that there is more to this than donating money to the Salvation Army.  I am not bashing these charities, they do great things, and I recognize that.  But, I wonder why we have set up these establishments to pacify the poor?

Dr. King put it so gracefully, “True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a better.  It comes to see that a system that produces beggars needs to be repaved.”  The poor are sick and tired, the middle class is sick and tired, the rich are sick and tired.  So what are we doing right?  Working 50+ hours a week, to buy that new ring, and make the C-note?  To pay the gas, or to get the water turned back on?  To flip a quarter to a poor man to feel good about ourselves, and so the poor man might get something to drink?  The road is broken.  Who are we to rebuild?

What I’m saying is, change doesn’t start in the Oval Office. (Sorry B.O)  Change starts right here, with you and me.  What are we called to?  As Shane Claiborne put it, when we get to Heaven, I’m not so sure Jesus will say, ‘When I was hungry, you gave to a food kitchen, and they fed me, when I was naked, you gave to Salvation Army, and they clothed me.’

Do you get it?  What are we doing to the least of these?  Who are the Least of these?  Is our annual donation/tax write off good enough?  Does that fulfill your heart?  Not mine.  Old christian cultures used to say, if they didn’t have enough for even the poor to eat, everyone in the community would fast until they had enough food to go around.  How long would we be fasting?  Geez.  I don’t want to think about it.

What I do want to think about is the light of hope.  The light WE are called to shine on this world.  Not this country, but the entire world.  The Mexicans and the Somalians.  We have a responsibility to the least of His children.  What can we do?  Surely we can at least feed them and cloth them, right?

Mark 10:17-30

17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’^[a]”

20“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

24The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is^[b] to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

26The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”

27Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

28Peter said to him, “We have left everything to follow you!”

29“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.

It’s very easy for me to complain and gripe about life, and the ‘unfairnesses’ of it.  But It’s very very difficult for me to open my eyes and realize the small things that have been poured upon me. For instance, I woke up this morning!  Amen and Amen!

I think sometimes we pray for miracles, and when they don’t turn out like we prayed, we don’t think a miracle has happened.  Miracles happen every day.  Sometimes I might write a miracle off as a curse.

I write this because too often I complain about stuff.  My job, my allergies, my stresses.  All of those things are easy to complain about, but in reality it means, I have a job to complain about: Amen!  I have a body that is fighting off things it thinks are bad for me: Amen!  I have so much going on in my life that I get stressed: Amen!

Sometimes are gripes are blessings.  Look close.  What are you griping about today?  Would a child in Haiti gripe about it?  Let’s give praise when praise is due!

Praise God!

Well.  About two years ago (give or take) Kris bought a new car.  She had gotten the promotion she wanted, and hit two deer with her old one, so it was time.  Since then, things have kinda taken a weird turn, and now money was kind of tight.  Monday night, a car pulled out in front of Kris, and she hit them.  Odds are good the car is totalled.  If you know anything about buying a car new, chances are slim she’ll get what she owes on the car from the insurance adjusters.  Let alone enough money to buy a new car.

I’m not about to ask you guys to go give her money.  Not by a long shot.  BUT, we all know girls, be it our wives, mothers, sisters, whatever.  And she has a cute little online shop called KrisCrafts.  She makes her own lip balm, bath salts, soaps, and lotions, to name a few.  All of her products are all natural (I believe).  And the prices are reasonable.  The best thing about it, you would be helping out a fellow sister in Christ.  Sometimes things get hard, I believe this is especially true when you are doing things right, and you are being challenged.

Lets help her out.  I am asking you to do a post about her site. post a link, as people to go there.  Get your wife some bath beads.  Get your mother some lotion.  I don’t know.  Post it on your site.  Odds are good Kris has made some graphic for your site.  She’s a giver.  I believe it’s time to try and give back.

So.. that’s my blog for the day.   If you repost, Comment below with your URL.  Let’s see what we can do!

But what had lasting significance were not the miracles themselves but Jesus’ love. Jesus raised his friend Lazarus from the dead, and a few years later, Lazarus died again. Jesus healed the sick, but eventually caught some other disease. He fed the ten thousands, and the next day they were hungry again. But we remember his love. It wasn’t that Jesus healed a leper but that he touched a leper, because no one touched lepers.

So, I’ve asked myself.  How many lepers have I touched?  Zero.  I know that’s an extreme, but in all honesty, doesn’t this world need extremes?  I give money to homeless people, and most of the time, people look at me like I’m crazy. (Except Andrea, she gets it.)  But, would that man rather me sit down, spark a conversation, relate.  I think so.  My guess is that it’s lack of love that got that person there anyway.  In some shape or form, that man (or woman) probably doesn’t feel loved.  I am so high and mighty that i think giving the poor guy a dollar will make him feel good.  Chances are me giving away that dollar makes me feel a little better.  I’m buying my peace of mind for a dollar.  I hate being a hypocrite.

This holiday season, no, any season, I want to change.  I want to grow to know the poor, the marginalized.  Maybe, us with the (any) money ARE the poor the marginalized.  Maybe, When Jesus said it was easier for a camel to crawl through the eye of the needle he meant this:

For the homeless, or the poor to live, they NEED community.  Maybe the only thing that really keeps them alive, is community.  Their survival depends on eachother.  They each depend on, and love the next guy.  Their community may be the purest forms of what Christ meant when he said the church.  Maybe they have a stronger understanding of faith, because they have to live by it every day.  Maybe they have a stronger understanding of trust, because if they don’t trust the other guy, they’ll drive themselves mad with questions.

What if the one thing we’re missing in our lives is real community.  I mean raw, loving community.  I don’t mean, give my neighbor a Kroger gift card, because he lost his job.  I mean, beyond that.  What if I loved my neighbor.  What if my neighbor knew beyond anything else, he had someone he could trust.  He knew he was loved.  What if my neighbor knew, that inside of me, was Jesus Christ?

Well, what do you think?

We can admire and worship jesus without doing what he did. We can applaud what he preached and stood for without caring about the same things. We can adore his cross without taking up ours. i had come to see that the great tragedy of the church is not that rich Christians do not care about the poor but that rich Christians do not know the poor.

I have been praying and thinking and praying and crying lately.  What is this all for?  Why come November, does 80% of America put their bill payments on hold, sell their 401k, or their soul, to get other people gifts.  Why for 6 months after Christmas, are people talking about the debt they’ve acrued from doing this?  Is this what Jesus would want?  Is this what the meaning of the Birth of Christ means to us?

I don’t think so.  It makes me very very sad.  There are people in this world who can’t drink fresh water.  When people bring baby formula to their villages, the kids are dying, because they are mixing the formula with some nasty, infested waters, and in turn, they are inadvertantly poisoning their babies.  We are inadvertantly poisoning our youth too.  With stuff.  With cable.  With ABC ‘Family’. (Don’t get me started) With RazRs and Digital Camera’s, and the internet.

What can we do this year, that will make it different?  Spend less.  When you are shopping, shop for a good cause.  Your child wants clothes?  How about shopping at “To Write Love on Her Arms“.  Or somewhere that is for a good cause.  That way your money can go two places.

There are 1 million and one things you can do to make this year a little easier, and bring hope to the world.  If you go here it will give you a great run down.  Basically the idea, and my prayer for this year is for everyone to “Worship Fully; Spend Less; Give More; and Love All”

Lord, touch our hearts this year.  Help us be your body.  Your hands, and feet, and to spread Your message of love and redemption.  It’s by your grace I am saved Lord, and I never want to forget.  Lord, this year, when I get offers for credit cards, give me the strength to turn them down.  Lord, this season is all about You and it is so easy to forget that.  Please help me remember.  Thank You for Your Gift.  Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Seriously, here is a two minute video. Please watch. Thank you!