Dave R Phillips

March 26, 2016

Leader of the Band

For some strange reason this morning I find myself thinking about my dad. Getting choked up just thinking about the strong, consistent, joyful man of God my father was during his time on earth. Perhaps reading the Brett Andrews post about the passing of his dad and the kind words he said. I dunno.

I’m transported back to 1983, the Air Force Worldwide Talent Show in downtown Panama City. My parents made the 5-hour drive to see their son sing a 4-minute song. Though I qualified for show with one song, I changed it to Dan Fogelberg’s, Leader of the Band, when I found out my parents were coming. The chorus still brings a tear to my eye:

The leader of the band is tired
and his eyes are growing old.
But his blood runs through my instrument
and his heart is in my soul.
My life has been a poor attempt
to imitate the man,
I’m just the living legacy
to the leader of the band.

Yes, those words come from memory, fond memories of a time long ago. There were some 3,000 people in the civic center that night. I stood alone on a huge stage with my Ovation 12-string and a few microphones. I wasn’t the least bit nervous, you see, for I was just singing a song to my dad and I wanted the world to hear how much I loved this man, my father.

Emotions are crazy things. As I get older I’m reminded of good times and bad, joy and sadness. Lately it seems I have no emotion at all, stoic, even cold. Life keeps throwing curve balls and it’s difficult to know what’s around the corner. I’m completely confident God has this under control, but that doesn’t mean it will be easy or the least bit enjoyable.

More than anything I want to be the leader of the band that my girls respect, love and honor like I did my father. Not afraid to call a lie a lie, humble enough to admit mistakes, strong enough to discipline when necessary.

My life is a poor attempt to imitate this man, but I will press on knowing that one far greater than I has my back. Lord, I see you in my father’s life on earth. May our girls see You in my life, the one who is more worthy of honor. May they know that this Easter. Christ is risen! He has risen indeed! That is why we have hope.

March 15, 2016

Something Beautiful for God

The title of this book came from Malcolm Muggeridge’s infamous interview and subsequent 50-minute documentary on Mother Teresa. Muggeridge explains, in appropriate British fashion, how he felt the filming of the interview was flat, not the least bit compelling. In his words,

The verdict on the Mother Teresa interview was that, technically, it was barely usable, and there was for a while some doubt as to whether it was good enough for showing at all except late at night. In the end–again thanks to Oliver Hunkin–it was put out on a Sunday evening. The response was greater than I have known to any comparable programme… Muggeridge, p. 31

The authenticity of this truly wonderful ambassador of Christ won the day. People responded by sending donations and the interview was rebroadcast by demand with an even greater response. It’s interesting. There was no controversy, no mud slinging, no fingers pointed. Mother Teresa was purely authentic. She had committed her life to serving the poorest of the poor, seeing Jesus behind the pain and agony of disease and destitute. She led by doing, not by talking about doing and many others came to join a cause for Christian love.

Far beyond a social program, Mother Teresa offered the love of God to people who were tossed out, those who society wanted to forget.

Nowadays we have found medicine for leprosy and lepers can be cured. There’s medicine for TB and consumptives can be cured. For all kinds of diseases there are medicines and cures. But for being unwanted, except there are willing hands to serve and there’s a loving heart to love, I don’t think this terrible disease can ever be cured. –Mother Teresa (p. 99)

I have yet to find a copy of this interview, but I look forward to seeing it one day–or perhaps not. The words and description of the Sisters in action fill my mind with hope for honesty in the world.

The question that rattles around in my head: what do I do with this information? Do I pack up and move to Calcutta? Or Boston? Do I learn from her example and truly love people as God loves us all? At the very least I hope I have learned that each life matters to God and so it must matter to us. I must have willing hands to serve and a loving heart to love. Whatever inconveniences I encounter, as I surround myself with worldly comforts, pale in comparison to real life struggles and pain.

“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40

Mother Teresa’s Way of Love

On Love of God. Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand.
On Prayer. Our activity is truly apostolic only in so far as we permit him to work in us and through us, with his power, with his desire, with his love. Love to pray–feel often during the day the need for prayer, and take trouble to pray.
On Silence. We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness.
On Holiness. I will renounce my will, my inclinations, my whims and fancies, and make myself a willing slave to the will of God.
On Humility. Let there be no pride or vanity in the work.
On Submission. True holiness consists in doing God’s will with a smile.
On Suffering. Without our suffering, our work would just be social work, very good and helpful, but it would not be the work of Jesus Christ, not part of the Redemption.
On Joy. Joy is prayer – Joy is strength – Joy is love – Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.
On Kindness. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier.
On Our Lady. Let us as our Lady to make our hearts ‘meek and humble’ as her Son’s was.
On Thoughtfulness. If you learn this art of being thoughtful, you will become more and more Christ-like, for his heart was meek and he always thought of others.

Daily Prayer for the Children’s Home

Dearest Lord, may I see you today and every day in the person of your sick, and, whilst nursing them, minister unto you. Though you hide yourself behind the unattractive disguise of the irritable, the exacting, the unreasonable, may I still recognize you, and say: ‘Jesus, my patient, how sweet it is to serve you.’

Today

Take time to listen to someone. Slow down and hear that which surrounds you. Look, there is Jesus in the least, the lost and the lonely. He died for all. You know this if you are a Christ follower. Now, be Christ to someone else.

March 8, 2016

unChristian: 5. Antihomosexual

Many people in the gay community don’t seem to have issues with Jesus but rather with those claiming to represent him today. It’s very much an “us-versus-them” mentality, as if a war has been declared. Of course each side thinks the other fired the opening shot.¹

Nearly ten years ago Kinnaman and Lyons were writing about the wave of criticism that was building from what we now see as the norm for many. Perhaps these warning shots were ignored then, but they cannot be avoided now. In this chapter we’ll wade into the discussion a bit, just a bit.

Ninety-one percent (91%) of Busters and Mosaics describe Christians as antihomosexual.

One thing I really appreciated about this chapter was the revelation that Christians have accepted divorce as normal, but shun those who come from the LGBTQ community (ironically, I just had to add LGBTQ to my dictionary). So it’s ok to be divorced, but it’s not ok to be gay. I’m not going to sit here and tell you I completely understand this topic, but I am embarrassed to admit I am biased toward this opinion–something I’m working hard to fix. Having said that, I don’t think I fit into any extreme category and I’m definitely not a hater of any kind. Still, I have a lot to learn from Jesus’ words, actions, example, life–his desire for all to enter a loving relationship with God.

Are there some sins that God will not forgive? (see Luke 12:8-10.) In this context the question is considered because many have been misguided into believing there is some special judgment for certain sins. I was raised with the theology: love the sinner, hate the sin. You can’t hate someone into the Kingdom of God…it simply doesn’t work that way. As we covered in the previous chapter, Jesus’ strongest words and actions were against those who considered themselves the most devout, the religious right. I want nothing to do with this group. We’re all sinners trapped in our biased worldviews. We need to focus on Christ, on what God intends for us.

This chapter uses divorce, those who are divorced (and therefore have confessed a sin that Jesus was pretty clear about) to get my attention. As a society, we’ve been conditioned to think divorce is normal so we don’t give it a second thought. With extreme sadness I’ve recently read books that remind me that just a few decades ago in this country we had entire neighborhoods constructed for people whose skin happened to be darker than most. There were laws in place to enforce such behavior. Most would agree this was insane.

Most of the younger generation support same-sex lifestyles, marriage, adopting children, etc. Most of the older generation rejects the idea and would like to legislate their opinions.

There will no doubt be more discussions about those who have elevated sexual preference and gender identity as prominent issues that need to be addressed. Part of me sees this as a victory for Satan since it drives the church into corners, divides believers by confusing motives. “All have sinned” includes everyone. I’m no better than anyone else because I’ve read the Bible or go to church. There is nothing I can do to earn the grace that is freely given to all who would ask.

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¹Kinnaman, David; Lyons, Gabe (2007-10-01). unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity…and Why It Matters (p. 91). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

March 7, 2016

unChristian: 4. Get Saved!

Are we keeping score?

Outsiders are skeptical about our desire to put another notch in our belts and “get someone saved for Jesus!” Our methods for implementing the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) is tempered by the hypocrisy was discussed in the previous chapter.

Only one-quarter of young outsiders firmly perceive that Christianity offers them “hope for the future” (23 percent), and only one out of every seven strongly believes Christianity is “genuine and real” (15 percent). Despite the fact that most young outsiders say that Christianity has good values and principles (79 percent), a majority say that the Christian faith teaches pretty much the same basic ideas as other religions (81 percent). ¹

These statistics help shape the basis for the chapter and should compel us to action. How is it that only 23 percent of the next generation find hope in Christ? What are we doing, or rather, not doing to lose 77 percent of the population when most appreciate the “good values and principles” taught in the Bible?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer would probably answer that we have cheapened the Gospel, created the theology of “cheap grace.” Brennan Manning would agree and I think many pastors of the modern Christian church would join the fray.

My goal each day has little to do with getting a notch in my belt, but outsiders don’t have that perception–that’s what I want to learn from this chapter.

Some Realities

Sharing faith is best achieved through interpersonal relationships–not through mass revivals. Less than one-half of one percent of the born-again Busters said they came to faith as a result of radio, television or tracts being passed out. That’s more than zero, but just barely.
Mass evangelism creates more negative responsive–three to ten times the negative response.
The Great Commission doesn’t give us the license to offend people. The apostle Paul taught us that the Gospel will be offensive, but he always pointed to Christ and encouraged us to be kind and considerate. The people Jesus most often offended were the religious, the self-righteous Jewish leadership.
Most don’t aren’t logical thinkers and are not interested in having an intellectual discussion based on modern apologetics. While that’s probably an accurate conclusion from the data presented, I don’t believe this is a license to avoid studying Scripture and building our own intellectual arguments. William Lane Craig leads a host of modern apologists that have gone to great lengths to developing convincing, scientific, arguments that support a wide array of theses presented by the Bible. It’s good to wrestle with these!
Most people come to faith before adolescence. What we do in church matters. We must have serious discipleship plans if we are to see a generation of believers rise up and move this country back toward Christ.
Reaching fiercely independent adults is a difficult task–Jesus told us it the world would problems (John 16:33). This should be no surprise, but as mentioned early, is also not an excuse for apathy.

Forgettable Faith

Most people in our country, some 82 percent, have heard the message of the Gospel, been to church and have heard about Christianity. But as teenagers enter the adult world, the vast majority of them fall away from the church.

The vast majority of Americans, regardless of age, assert they have already made a significant decision to follow Christ! ²

But what does that really mean? Kinnaman digs deeper to find that only 3 percent actually have a Biblical worldview based on these factors²:

Believes Jesus Christ lived a sinless life
God is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe and he still rules today
Salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned
Satan is real
Christians have a responsibility to share their faith
The Bible is accurate in all the principles it teaches
Unchanging moral truth exists
Such moral truth is defined by the Bible

These statistics should drive us to examine how we raise disciples. If I sound redundant, I’m ok with that! Most people in this country have “heard the gospel.” The question is, what have they heard? Or perhaps more importantly, what have they experienced? What are we doing to perpetuate cheap grace? How can we redirect this?

Our research confirmed that many of these young people actually went through a time when they were searching for faith. They were probing the Christian faith, trying it on for size, but they couldn’t get past some of the mental, emotional, or spiritual barriers— often heightened by their experience of an unChristian faith— so they gave up. ³

Having Clear Outcomes in Mind

Leaders in the Christian faith will no doubt agree that we should all be seeking transformation, to become like Christ in all things. Defining that is a bit difficult to agree on. Here are some points to consider:

Thinking. Romans 12:2
Loving. Mark 12:30, John 11:35-36, 13:34; 1 John 4:16.
Listening. John 15:1-2, 1 Corinthians 3:18

Clearly we need to redefine our metrics, how we measure success. If not by numbers, how do we do this? How do we measure depth and quality of spiritual maturity? I think the main emphasis is not the numbers but the reality of moving deeper in our faith and letting the numbers be evidence, not the goal.

Lord help us to be more Christ-like and lean on you for understanding.

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¹ Kinnaman, David; Lyons, Gabe (2007-10-01). unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity…and Why It Matters (p. 69). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

² ibid, p.75.

³ ibid, p.78.

March 6, 2016

unChristian: 3. Hypocritical

One of the most often cited reasons for steering away from Christianity: we’re just a bunch of hypocrites!

Eighty-five percent of young outsiders have had sufficient exposure to Christians and churches that they conclude present-day Christianity is hypocritical.¹

Who cares?

The research seems to suggest that Busters and Mosaics agree that Christians are hypocrites, but they don’t really care because, it seems, everyone is a hypocrite! It’s all about getting ahead in the world, preserving your image, looking like people expect, so apparently, it’s a new normal. What a horrible worldview! Not only does this generation consider inflating resumes as normal, it lumps Christ followers in the same group. We have a lot of work to do indeed!

In Matthew 23, Jesus was very critical of the religious elite, the Pharisees, Sadducees and Teachers of the Law. That’s the last group of people I want to be identified with.

Lifestyle Gaps

The Outside world sees us as no different than anyone else…we have nothing to distinguish us from non-Christians. It’s one thing to be transparent, to confess we are all sinners. It’s an entirely different thing to behave like those who have not been transformed by the Holy Spirit. If our attempt was to fit into society, we’ve accomplished that a bit too well.

What’s the Message?

When asked to identify the most important priorities for the Christian faith, most essentially answered, “being good, doing the right thing, not sinning.”

The evidence that born-again Christians prioritize “avoiding sin” is compelling. First, realize that most Americans believe you can earn a place in heaven if you do enough good things for others or if you are a decent person. One-third of the people who qualify as born-again Christians embrace this idea as well. ²

While it’s not wrong to want these things, this isn’t what Jesus called us to do. We should be taking up our cross daily, diving into the Bible, learning the principles and living them out. As a result, we would naturally do good things. That’s very different than doing good things first…as if we could earn salvation. Brennan Manning’s Ragamuffin Gospel destroys this misconception: it’s all about the costly grace of Jesus Christ.

Kinnaman quotes Philip Yancy’s book, What’s So Amazing About Grace, to say that Jesus preferred to spend time around sinners because they had no pretense. Those who claimed to be so righteous we not interested in hearing what He had to say. They knew it all.

What if Outsiders are Right?

After re-reading this chapter, I simply have to ask the question: What if outsiders are right? We if we are the hypocritical, non-transparent, two-faced, self-righteous, bigots they’ve come to expect? It’s no wonder they have little interest in hearing the Gospel. They are right when most wear the badge of Christian on Sunday, actually just a few hours on Sunday, then quickly put it back in the drawer for another week. They’re right when we avert our eyes from homeless families or those who are in the deadly spiral of poverty and simply say, “we’ll pray for you!” I wish I weren’t guilty of fitting into their definition, but I am guilty to at least some degree.

Lord, help us to move away from the comforts this country has to offer and go into the world proclaiming your grace. Help us to work harder than anyone else, as if we were working for you (Colossians 3:23), to be a positive example. Show us how. When we get together on Sundays, let these be days when we share stories of how you honored these prayers throughout the week, how You helped us overcome the trials and temptations. Teach us to throw away the masks of hypocrisy. I want to be more like You, Lord. That may make me look like a radical, but certainly not a hypocrite.

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¹ Kinnaman, David; Lyons, Gabe (2007-10-01). unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity…and Why It Matters (p. 42). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

² ibid, p. 50

March 6, 2016

In A Heartbeat – Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy

Sharing the Power of Cheerful Giving, Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy (with Sally Jenkins).

The other side of The Blind Side

After reading Michael Oher’s book, I Beat The Odds, it only made sense to read the Tuohy’s side of the story–Paul Harvey would say, “Page Two.”

The book solidified the image I had in my mind about the Tuohy family, their spirit of generosity that has is the DNA that binds them together. If anything, it seems like the movie and publicity about their family compelled them toward more action.

Leigh Anne and Sean provide some details about their upbringing, challenges they faced, obstacles overcome.

For Sean, the saddest part was his father’s heart attack in the prime of his life. An amazing coach and friend to many, his father dedicated himself to coaching, but more than just a game, Ed “Skeets” Tuohy wanted his players to enjoy the game, to look forward to practice. He knew the secret of instilling the heart of the game in his boys and it worked. John Wooden would be proud. Sean’s years at Ole Miss ruined his desire for basketball and while it may be brutally honest, his description and specific memories of his coach leave me sensing he hasn’t really moved past that experience.

Leigh Anne’s story was quite different. She and her mom are partners as interior designers. Her dad was a U.S. Marshall that lived through the racial tensions of the 60’s in the south, called to enforce desegregation and the insane history of our country just a few decades ago. The toughness she learned from her father, but it appears that his mandatory retirement at 55 and other issues ended his marriage.

As parents, we know we have a profound impact on our children. Like some super-buffet, they will pick and choose what lessons they will take. For the Tuohy’s it seems they genuinely desire to help others and would prefer to do so without being in the spotlight. I get the impression that they are NOT trapped by their wealth and success and they did NOT see Michael Oher as a project. Both of those insights were pretty clear from Oher’s book, but this one drove the nail home.

I’m thankful for an example of a Christian couple that walked the walk without a lot of talking about it. I pray their family will continue to growth in their faith and desire to help lift up the inner city youth, especially the public schools. Our daughter, Alyssa, is about to enter the world of public school teaching and our oldest daughter, Miranda, is currently teaching college to inmates. In both cases they see first hand the difficulties faced by those who our society wants to forget.

Pray for those children and teens in schools that are just getting by — more than that — Lord, help us to be part of the solution! I pray for our children who are teaching, on the frontline of the battle. I pray for our churches, institutions that have a great opportunity to help in many ways. I pray for our country that honors wealth, fame and fortune and seems to forget about those left homeless and trapped in vicious cycles of poverty. May we learn from these examples and get better!

Both of these books came from the amazing Anderson County Library system–and Zoë and I will watch The Blind Side by checking out the movie. Just thought I’d put that out there! You don’t have to buy anything to enjoy these stories.

March 5, 2016

I Beat The Odds – Michael Oher

Michael Oher is a professional football player with an amazing, true story, of rags to riches. What makes this unique is his heart for the homeless, the foster children, those who society would discount as hopeless. This was another quick read that left me with great respect for Michael Oher.

The book is divided into 21 short chapters, a fitting tribute to the constant moves from place to place as he grew up in the worst of neighborhoods. The first half of the book seemed to struggle with telling the story of his childhood. After all, no one was taking notes, posting on Facebook or other social media. Oher was part of a large family with a mother addicted to cocaine and crack who had children from men who cannot be characterized as fathers other than in the biological sense. Her addiction meant the children would be moved in and out of places they would call home, living on the streets at time, with relatives, other families, etc. The Child Protective Services had his family on their radar and they did what they could to keep the children from harm.

I get the impression that Oher really wants the book to speak to those who are in similar circumstances. I don’t know him personally, but if I were to ask him a question I think I would ask him to tell me about his intended audience. I suspect he would light up and tell me story after story about “E” and Molly and Jyi and others, children who found inspiration in his story and are fighting to beat odds that are stacked against them.

Oher doesn’t need my approval for his writing style or applause for his ability to start every game in his NFL career as an offensive lineman, though the latter must be significant since it takes incredible physical endurance. No, he’s not looking for fame and fortune in this book, those things have been afforded him through football. He’s out to win the hearts of the teenager who’s choosing between drugs and books, gangs and sports, good and evil–those that are in terrible situations where the path out of the ghetto is nearly impossible to see.

I’m really sad about his biological mother. Her addiction has warped her mind and caused her to lose any sense of what it means to be a mother. That’s not news to anyone, but it is sad.

On the other hand, I’m really impressed by the Tuohy family. They didn’t go seeking Michael to complete a Sunday School checklist or earn heavenly points, they simply saw someone in need and jumped in with both feet. It’ll be interesting to read their story (next on my book list).

My prayer for Michael Oher is that he will continue to be the role model for youth, that his example would lead others out of such dire circumstances. My prayer for those of us who call Christ our Savior is that we would see the need to jump in and help local organizations like the Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Big Brothers, etc. Oher lists a ton of service providers for us to consider. The main point is this: get involved somewhere that fits your personality, your gifting and listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

One final note. As we volunteer in these organizations, we don’t have to try to have stories of our own to relate to the kids–we can now point to Michael Oher, the guy who beat the odds, and encourage them to do the same.

March 4, 2016

Under the Overpass

I finally took time to sit down and read Mike Yankoski’s book, Under the Overpass: A Journey of Faith on the Streets of America. We’ve had the book in the house for several years. I think it was a gift from someone when I was on staff at Shoreline Community Church, but I’m not sure. Dealing with homeless issues is something we saw on a daily basis there. As the “big” church in Monterey, people knew they could seek help at Shoreline.

Like The Heart and the Fist, this is not a book that I will outline, add discussion questions or some kind of leaders guide, it’s just a short review of thoughts I have based on the reading.

To begin with, it’s really short and easy to read, so if you’re looking for a book for those who don’t read much, I highly recommend this one. With only eight chapters (sections), Mike Yankoski recounts his adventures with his friend Sam Purvis as they hit the pause button on college and subject themselves to living on the streets of Denver, Washington DC, Portland, San Francisco, Phoenix and San Diego.

Beginning

If you look at the featured image on this post, you’ll see that I intentionally included Matthew 16:24 in the background. We are called to be disciples of Christ, called to action, called to do something with our limited time on earth. This book is about Mike and Sam being faithful to hearing God’s call in their life for this particular journey into the homeless subculture of the streets in a handful of major cities in America.

I greatly appreciate their patience in planning and executing this particular mission. They didn’t just get motivated and take off; rather, they formed a board of advisors, asked for prayers and, get this, they listened to their elders. That is an amazing thought. God honored their plans and heartfelt desire to learn about homelessness by experiencing.

It was an experiment, one they could cancel at any time, but these guys were committed and stuck to their plans with little modification (they left Phoenix about a week earlier than planned because of the heat).

Lessons Learned

There are many lessons learned throughout the course of their journey. One of the most poignant stories was from a church in Portland. I wish I had a photo of this:

A large gray church rose up behind a wrought iron fence in front of us. The building was old and weathered. Above the mahogany double doors hung a sign in red letters: “No Trespassing. Church Business Only.” A new chain and two huge padlocks secured the gate at the sidewalk.p. 114

How many times do we project those words instead of the words Jesus taught us to love the least of these. I know we need to lock our doors, but is there some way we can be open for those in need?

Here’s a quick review of the cities and a thought on each as I flip back through the pages. It’s interesting that because of my time in the military, I’ve lived in and around the cities in this book (with the exception of Portland).

Colorado Springs (60 miles south of Denver),
Manassas, Virginia (a city in the Washington DC area),
Monterey, California (100 miles south of San Francisco…several trips there during our 3 years including a mission trip to the Tenderloin)
Tucson, Arizona
Much business in Los Angeles and a few trips to San Diego

Perhaps this was part of the appeal of the book and part of the reality that I’ve walk past homeless guys in most of these cities (and countless others in my travels). Hmmm. Something to think about.

Denver

Staying in a mission for a month was their way of getting acclimated to the idea of being homeless. It seems like they learned a lot in this process and makes me want to spend a month in mission somewhere without this computer, internet or cell phone. Seriously.

Washington DC

The separation of classes is really prevalent in DC…those who have (power and money) and those who have nothing. The sad reality that a huge part of this population comes from military veterans is difficult to appreciate. Why are our veterans abandoned?

The story of Tiffany in this chapter was really inspiring. A young Christian college student, Tiffany saw Mike and Sam and bought them dinner without knowing their story. Cool. I reminds me of something our daughter Cynthia might do (if she has, she wouldn’t tell us anyway…that’s how she is!). Seeing the guys were hungry, she simply offered to take them to dinner and listen to their story. Nice.

Portland

Basic needs for restrooms, showers, clean clothes and even something as simple as water are things the homeless population struggle to find. The “body basics” are daily concerns. The guys went for weeks without a shower because that was just not available. I’m reminded of the mission in Montgomery where they intentionally built showers and laundry facilities to help the homeless.

San Francisco

God’s providence was evident in several ways in San Francisco. Reading this chapter reminded me of the week I spent with the youth of Shoreline Community Church as we ministered to those in the Tenderloin district…the poorest of the poor. I could smell the smells and see the faces of those I met as Yankoski recalled their experience. When they met a 17-year old preacher in the park who was following his calling I couldn’t help but smile. We discount our teenagers too quickly these days. Here was a guy who was sincere. Well done.

Phoenix

I loved the Mr. White Polo Shirt story. Some megachurch with excellent security staff kicked Mike and Sam off the property because of an event the church was hosting. Later Mr White Polo Shirt found them in church, hugged them and asked for forgiveness. How often do we get a chance to ask for forgiveness for our missteps?

San Diego

The story of Doug saving a guy from drowning was a surprise. The surrealistic experience toward the end of their time on the streets must have really made an impact on Mike and Sam. It’s a brief, but Doug’s story is symbolic of so many on the streets who are addicted to something they can’t shake, though they try.

Concluding Thoughts

This is the incredibly sad reality of many on the streets: mentally ill, alcoholics, drug addicts, beaten, worn, without hope. These are the least in our society and we are called by Christ to serve them. I greatly appreciate the end of the book (pp 218-219) where Yankoski provides a few ideas and encouragement to get involved locally:

Find the rescue mission nearest to you. Call and find out how you can get involved. Show up an hour early and plan on leaving an hour after you’re scheduled to. Have conversations with the homeless as they stand outside, waiting to get in. Bring bottled water, baked cookies, granola bars, patience, and a sense of humor. You’ll bless those who cannot bless you in return.
Go downtown with a friend or friends (don’t go alone). Buy cups of coffee or a bag of take-out food, find a homeless person sitting around asking for money, share your gifts, and enjoy a conversation. No agenda, no plans, no purpose other than to be with that person. You’ll be amazed at what unfolds.
Is it cold outside? Go to your closet and grab the sweater, sweatshirt, or coat you keep telling yourself you’ll wear sometime but know you won’t. Call up four friends and tell them to do the same thing. Then go downtown and hand out your warm clothing to the men or women huddled under the overpass or in a doorway. As you stand there thinking of how cold your nose is, you’ll be amazed at the genuine thankfulness of someone whole whole body is probably numb. And your giving will warm your soul, too.
Become a spokesperson in your your group, church, and community for those who have no voice. Be relentlessly suspicious of your comfortable life, and of the comfort zones that render so many Christian fellowships insensitive and ineffective in our communities. God calls us all to more. And you and I can lead the way, one small step at a time.

In other words, do something.

March 4, 2016

Psalm 139

As Easter season is fully upon us it seems prudent to take time to reflect on the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made for all of us for all time. I have friends that give up Facebook for Lent or various things definitively seen as worldly. I haven’t followed their lead because I tend to resist doing things (or not doing) that are trite and trivial in the first place. At the risk of sounding pious: if there is something I should sacrifice for Lent, perhaps I simply should let that go.

Lent, the forty days leading up to Easter, calls me to stop and reflect, pray and try to get my mind around what happened on the cross. Christmas is all about celebrating the birth of Jesus, Easter about the death and resurrection. I can get pretty excited about a baby being born–after witnessing the miracle of birth of our four daughters, but it’s hard to get excited about the brutal torture and death of Jesus, even though I know resurrection is around the corner. It’s hard because death is not something I celebrate and resurrection is beyond my comprehension.

One of the new songs I’ve learned at Hope Fellowship (thanks to Worship Pastor, Beth Ehlert) is based on Psalm 139. Simply titled 139, the song’s third verse is short is punctuated by whole notes that tell me to listen to these words carefully:

I open up my heart please search me through
Does anything displease you?
Lead me in the way of the cross.

139, David Moore, © 2012 Gateway Create Publishing

When first heard the song the question “Does anything displease you?” haunted me, it stuck out so boldly. I imagine God’s answer to that is something like, “Sit down boy, I have a list of things that displease me…”

Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

After a short rest the song picks up the answer that is beyond comprehension: the cross. On the cross Jesus covered my sins–all of my sins. He covered sin for all who would daily pick up their cross and follow him (Matthew 16:24).

This year I will stop. Listen to the whole notes. Ask God to search me, to even test me, but when I fail: lead me in the way everlasting. I might even take time to go through the Stations of the Cross to guide my thoughts. In any case, this is a season to listen to the whole notes and hear what God is saying.

February 28, 2016

One Thing

Sometimes a phrase keeps washing over me long after the band has finished playing a song. Today is one of those days. For communion Beth chose One Thing, and it hasn’t stopped playing in my head.

I was able to shoot some video this morning. Watching people come forward to humbly and reverently take communion was serene. People from all ages, ethnicities, social status, whatever, they all came. Many kneeled and prayed.

The song is probably based on Psalm 27, one of King David’s songs, though the theme is repeated elsewhere in the Bible. It a psalm where King David prays with great confidence that the Lord will deliver him from those who conspire against him. Confidence not arrogance. Faith not pride. When I think about the minor problems I face compared to David I’m a bit embarrassed. If he had the courage, rather, the absolute faith to write such words in the face of real enemies, real threats to his life and those he loved, I need to come to grips with the reality that God is the One Thing that I need.

As David did many years ago, we have the chance to sing these words:

One thing I ask from the Lord,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 27:4

Communion Video

Perhaps more words will come tomorrow. For now, the video speaks for me.