Within a few days of each other, all three of my children shared with me similar experiences at school.
My children go to a public charter school here in the City of Buffalo. Like most city schools its student population is a mixture of racial groups. Our kids classes are almost half black, and half white, with a smattering of other ethnic groups mixed in. Like most city schools, the staff population is almost completely white, and overwhelmingly female.
My kids came home talking about the way the black kids and the white kids act, and how they act different from each other. They came home talking about the way the teachers treat the black kids and the white kids, and how they don't get treated the same. They also came home talking about how some of the black kids accuse some of the teachers, and white classmates, of being "racist."
This is, of course, a wonderful opportunity for us to engage our kids, to talk with them, and to help them gain some tools to use when they are adults. In particular, we are trying to help them understand the following:
Culture Exists
Your culture is like the rules to a sport. Everyone on the team knows where to be and what to do to participate. Once you learn how to play the game, you never really have to discuss the rules anymore. You just play.
When people engage across cultures, however, its like a group of two dozen kids playing together; except the first dozen think everyone is playing soccer, and the second dozen are trying to play basketball. They have different expectations, and don't have a common language to use to explore those different expectations. There is pain, offense, and confusion, without any real understanding as to why the other kids won't just play by the rules.
But in spite of the oftentimes painful results nobody is actually doing anything immoral.
Bad Behavior Exists
Sometimes people break the rules, and they know full well that they are breaking them, they just don't care. This is true for white kids and black kids. Sometimes they just do bad things. This also applies to bigotry. Sometimes people just mistreat people because of their race.
Neither one of those things is okay, and no one should get a pass because of their skin color, no matter which color it is.
Institutional Racism Exists
The simple truth is that our school, and most schools, are run by white people. The power dynamics aren't just. Its hard to see if you are white, but painfully obvious if you are not. What is more, those power dynamics are the product of a really painful history. While the events that caused the pain might be generations in the past, the pain of those events, and the institutions created by those events, persist into today.
This means that no one is presently doing anything immoral, but the immoral actions of people from the past, are still doing damage today. It may not be our fault, but it is our responsibility to change it.
Discernment
Finally, its really important that we help our kids discern the difference between these three things. Cross cultural interaction can be beautiful, but often its like someone stepping on your toe and breaking it. Then the question becomes, did they do it on purpose? or on accident? Or maybe, just maybe, its my fault for putting my foot where it didn't belong!
Showing posts with label Buffalo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Buffalo. Show all posts
12.12.2015
12.11.2012
8.24.2012
6.16.2012
6.06.2012
12.18.2011
Everywhere is Broken...
The other day I had someone question our decision to move to a rougher neighborhood...
They were asking specifically about the effects on our children. They were expressing concerns that we would need to be very careful on the West Side with regard to who we let influence them. They were trying to explain that the poorer kids just wouldn't be as good of an influence as the kids in our nicer neighborhood.
Within one week of my friend's comments the following two things happened:
1 My son Zane was playing with three white, middle-class, older kids in the Elmwood Village (the nice neighborhood) and was roughed up by three kids who ganged up on him.
They were asking specifically about the effects on our children. They were expressing concerns that we would need to be very careful on the West Side with regard to who we let influence them. They were trying to explain that the poorer kids just wouldn't be as good of an influence as the kids in our nicer neighborhood.
Within one week of my friend's comments the following two things happened:
1 My son Zane was playing with three white, middle-class, older kids in the Elmwood Village (the nice neighborhood) and was roughed up by three kids who ganged up on him.
2 My son Zane was playing soccer with a dozen or so older, impoverished, Somali and Yemeni kids on a vacant lot on the West Side (the bad neighborhood). These kids regularly play soccer with my son, and when they do, they make sure that he gets the ball, and they make sure he gets a chance to shoot on goal, they sometimes even let him score. They always tell him what a great job he is doing on the field...
So what do I take from this?
Every place is broken, and every place is beautiful.
So what do I take from this?
Every place is broken, and every place is beautiful.
3.04.2011
2.10.2011
2.09.2011
1.05.2011
A Glorious Night
Just 20 minutes ago everyone finally left our house...
It was a glorious evening. Our house was full of people, and full of the Spirit. We had lots of first time guests.
India and her two kids came with Jamie. She hasn't been to church in years, and she teared up while we sang, and again when she told me afterwards that she could feel the weight lifting off her shoulders when she walked into our house.
Eddie came with Alan. He is a believer, but he just recently lost his father. We were able to pray for him, and hopefully, offer him some encouragement and brotherhood.
John and Bob came with Martin. John passed out on the couch, sleeping off his beer while we sang and prayed. Bob seemed encouraged to be there, we were blessed to have him. And Martin received a word from God, prayer, and hope.
The house was full of kids playing. We celebrated Faith's 4th birthday upstairs at the Kauffman's, the food was amazing! The kids had cake and then beat the tar out of a pinata. Then we came downstairs to sing songs to Jesus with Paul and Jeff banging the drums. During worship Jamie, India and her kids came in. We prayed, and Janine shared an image God had given her, for herself, and for others, of an open space that represented her heart, surrounded by pillars. The pillars represented things that kept God out of our hearts, the enemies lies that we believe, disobedience and rebellion, confusion, but God wanted to knock the pillars down! Martin responded to the word, and we prayed for Martin and Janine. Then Eddie came in and shared. We prayed for him too...
It is nights like these (surrounded by friends, and welcoming newcomers, to a community where Jesus is the center) that make me so grateful to God for sending us to this City. I wouldn't trade this away for anything.
It was a glorious evening. Our house was full of people, and full of the Spirit. We had lots of first time guests.
India and her two kids came with Jamie. She hasn't been to church in years, and she teared up while we sang, and again when she told me afterwards that she could feel the weight lifting off her shoulders when she walked into our house.
Eddie came with Alan. He is a believer, but he just recently lost his father. We were able to pray for him, and hopefully, offer him some encouragement and brotherhood.
John and Bob came with Martin. John passed out on the couch, sleeping off his beer while we sang and prayed. Bob seemed encouraged to be there, we were blessed to have him. And Martin received a word from God, prayer, and hope.
The house was full of kids playing. We celebrated Faith's 4th birthday upstairs at the Kauffman's, the food was amazing! The kids had cake and then beat the tar out of a pinata. Then we came downstairs to sing songs to Jesus with Paul and Jeff banging the drums. During worship Jamie, India and her kids came in. We prayed, and Janine shared an image God had given her, for herself, and for others, of an open space that represented her heart, surrounded by pillars. The pillars represented things that kept God out of our hearts, the enemies lies that we believe, disobedience and rebellion, confusion, but God wanted to knock the pillars down! Martin responded to the word, and we prayed for Martin and Janine. Then Eddie came in and shared. We prayed for him too...
It is nights like these (surrounded by friends, and welcoming newcomers, to a community where Jesus is the center) that make me so grateful to God for sending us to this City. I wouldn't trade this away for anything.
6.09.2010
Ba-Boom-Boom Sunday Recap
We had quite an open dialogue...
There is certainly more conversation to be had on the subject. But it seemed like good progress...
We do have people who are clearly wrestling with what they think, but everyone seemed committed to an open conversation, and God's will. Just about everyone in the room participated in some way (and those who didn't were clearly attentive!) and many had some deep insight, or more often, expressed deep emotional concern.
I was quite blessed to be a part of such a dialogue!
===========
We spent a little time addressing the specific details of what scripture says about sex and homosexuality, but spent more time talking about how we should approach people, how we should approach scripture, and how we should approach God.
The focus was predominantly on homosexuality, and so was perhaps less practical for most people than a discussion of sex, gender, and sexuality more broadly...
We could easily spend several Sunday's on the topic!
===========
I did, however, have one of my friends suggest we intentionally include a voice from the affirming perspective. We had a few in the room who were ambiguous, and many who were of the conservative perspective. But no one who was arguing that same-gender sex acts aren't sinful.
It made me think about doing some sort of forum with two or three other pastors in town, but I don't know how public I wanna be on this topic!
;-)
It wouldn't be fun to be on record as a bigot in my neighborhood...
5.10.2010
5.08.2010
3.26.2010
Looking back...
So I was just revisiting some of my blogs from days gone by and wondering am I still that woman? Do my passions still ignite around the life of Jesus, am I still living within the convictions of my youth, has life weathered the idealism out of me? I would say that I am more weathered, less sure of some things and more sure of others, and probably in need of a little refocusing!
I think that I am more weathered cause I have had a few more kids, (which weathers the body and the soul, more like refines I guess). I have partnered with the man of my dreams to pioneer something which can define beauty and ugliness, joy and pain and we love it in ways I never dreamed even in all the idealism. I have had some ups that have left me assured that there is nothing else to live my life for, and some downs that have given me glimpses of a very tender, compassionate and constant Jesus. I feel like my armor is a little more dented but not nearly dented enough to say I have completely abandoned my life for Christ's.
This path has allowed me to look into the depths of my soul and be both overjoyed at the hand of God moving there but also sad that there is still so much more work to do.
I am coming out of a season that has probably shaken my idea of who I am, and allowed me to see the weakness that I had never really seen. It has also allowed me to see God clearer and grasp his character more, and it was his strength that showed up when my failed.
I am seeing how over the past few years of "serving God" there has been challenges to my character that I have let pass instead of standing up to them. I am now seeing the fruit of serving myself at times instead of Christ, I can be more short tempered with those I love, more prideful and less humble and just plain concerned with things that don't matter.
A long time ago our Pastor challenged us to "give up the right to be right" with those around us and in our lives, so I think it is time to revisit a humbling process. Essentially Jesus is the only one who can change my heart but I can atleast practice till he does and give him room to move.
Also I see how in this last season I have been so wrapped up in my situation, that it feels like it sucked me in deeper. I feel like where true healing and restoration happens is when we are side by side with Jesus laboring for what He and the Father are doing. So I guess I don't feel like I need to take a break to refocus or rest a little but rather I guess I need to get back on the horse. Jesus longs to love Buffalo and so do I.....done refocusing!!!
I guess as we work towards redemption all around us it happens in us.....
I was thinking that the disciples became disciples working with Jesus side by side and the same it true for us....
I think that I am more weathered cause I have had a few more kids, (which weathers the body and the soul, more like refines I guess). I have partnered with the man of my dreams to pioneer something which can define beauty and ugliness, joy and pain and we love it in ways I never dreamed even in all the idealism. I have had some ups that have left me assured that there is nothing else to live my life for, and some downs that have given me glimpses of a very tender, compassionate and constant Jesus. I feel like my armor is a little more dented but not nearly dented enough to say I have completely abandoned my life for Christ's.
This path has allowed me to look into the depths of my soul and be both overjoyed at the hand of God moving there but also sad that there is still so much more work to do.
I am coming out of a season that has probably shaken my idea of who I am, and allowed me to see the weakness that I had never really seen. It has also allowed me to see God clearer and grasp his character more, and it was his strength that showed up when my failed.
I am seeing how over the past few years of "serving God" there has been challenges to my character that I have let pass instead of standing up to them. I am now seeing the fruit of serving myself at times instead of Christ, I can be more short tempered with those I love, more prideful and less humble and just plain concerned with things that don't matter.
A long time ago our Pastor challenged us to "give up the right to be right" with those around us and in our lives, so I think it is time to revisit a humbling process. Essentially Jesus is the only one who can change my heart but I can atleast practice till he does and give him room to move.
Also I see how in this last season I have been so wrapped up in my situation, that it feels like it sucked me in deeper. I feel like where true healing and restoration happens is when we are side by side with Jesus laboring for what He and the Father are doing. So I guess I don't feel like I need to take a break to refocus or rest a little but rather I guess I need to get back on the horse. Jesus longs to love Buffalo and so do I.....done refocusing!!!
I guess as we work towards redemption all around us it happens in us.....
I was thinking that the disciples became disciples working with Jesus side by side and the same it true for us....
12.29.2009
Crazy Days...
I have been given reason to ponder lately...
We have had several people make decisions to leave our community in the past month. We have also had some people decide to move to Buffalo to step intentionally into this community, and a few others who have called to say they are praying about moving here.
We also have relationship with several people who still look to us for pastoral care and friendship, but no longer want to be a part of our church community, and are now involved in another church here in the city.
In the midst of all of this, we have had some struggles financially, nothing traumatic, just a little boat rocking...
And just today we had another church in the area offer to support us financially in what we are doing.
Taken together, it all has my head spinning a little.
======================
It all has me pondering about relationships.
So just what is a healthy way to leave a church?
What are legitimate reasons for Christians to pick up and move?
What is a healthy relationship between churches supposed to look like?
How does Christian community work with people who belong to different church communities?
How should we respond to Christians who leave their church to join ours?
======================
When it comes to moving and leaving, I think, more than anything else, the process is the important part of the equation. The outcomes may vary from situation to situation, but there are certain fixed points in the way in which the decisions should be made:
1) Decisions should come out of community discernment not individual desire.
2) We should have the blessing of the community.
3) We should have a clear sense of the underlying motivations to our decision.
And a few cautions to think through:
1) Relational funkiness should never be a reason to leave.
2) If I am unwilling or unable to do something here and now, then it is imprudent to think I will be doing that something there and then.
3) I am the cause of most of my problems, and I will be going with me.
4) The grass is rarely greener on the other side of the fence, but when it is, we are probably called to stay and water the grass on our side.
======================
I am still thinking about relationships with other churches, but I do think there is at least one thing I am sure of:
When people show up to my church from another church, I have an obligation to their spiritual well-being to make sure they have the blessing of their former community.
We have had several people make decisions to leave our community in the past month. We have also had some people decide to move to Buffalo to step intentionally into this community, and a few others who have called to say they are praying about moving here.
We also have relationship with several people who still look to us for pastoral care and friendship, but no longer want to be a part of our church community, and are now involved in another church here in the city.
In the midst of all of this, we have had some struggles financially, nothing traumatic, just a little boat rocking...
And just today we had another church in the area offer to support us financially in what we are doing.
Taken together, it all has my head spinning a little.
======================
It all has me pondering about relationships.
So just what is a healthy way to leave a church?
What are legitimate reasons for Christians to pick up and move?
What is a healthy relationship between churches supposed to look like?
How does Christian community work with people who belong to different church communities?
How should we respond to Christians who leave their church to join ours?
======================
When it comes to moving and leaving, I think, more than anything else, the process is the important part of the equation. The outcomes may vary from situation to situation, but there are certain fixed points in the way in which the decisions should be made:
1) Decisions should come out of community discernment not individual desire.
2) We should have the blessing of the community.
3) We should have a clear sense of the underlying motivations to our decision.
And a few cautions to think through:
1) Relational funkiness should never be a reason to leave.
2) If I am unwilling or unable to do something here and now, then it is imprudent to think I will be doing that something there and then.
3) I am the cause of most of my problems, and I will be going with me.
4) The grass is rarely greener on the other side of the fence, but when it is, we are probably called to stay and water the grass on our side.
======================
I am still thinking about relationships with other churches, but I do think there is at least one thing I am sure of:
When people show up to my church from another church, I have an obligation to their spiritual well-being to make sure they have the blessing of their former community.
8.13.2007
Jesus' Pizza and the KJV
So I returned to the concert, pizza in hand...
I was able to have a couple of brief conversations about what I was doing and why. But most people were more interested in telling me why the street preachers were wrong, or what they disagreed with about Christianity, or what their own beliefs were. I did get to have a neat conversation with a group of 'travelers' who responded with, "This is the most random f--king blessing ever!" They seemed to be the most genuinely grateful of the bunch.
I guess there was another group of three homeless/hallucinating/street people. They asked me to pray with them. I held the hand of a homeless vet with no legs, and no fingers, and put my hand on the shoulder of young traveler who was high on something, and we prayed for God's blessing on each other and those around us, until the vet starting cussing and yelling at someone who wanted some pizza...
Then I made my mistake...
I engaged one of the 'evangelists' in conversation, "Do you think there might be another way?" I was accused, ignored, preached at, and even insulted for my lack of education (I told the man that I had a hard time understanding the King James Version of the Bible, and felt that it was an improper translation to use given the context). This, of course, led to a history lesson/conspiracy theory on the men who had perverted the Bible into some of the heretical translations we have today.
I was not listened to, cared for, or encouraged. The conversation lasted too long, took too many rabit trails, and ended exactly where it began: with me convinced that these were sincere, and sincerely misguided people, who had an unquestioning aproach to what they had been inculcated into, and the 'evangelist' convinced that I was a wishy-washy Christian who either didn't understand the Bible or didn't want to follow it.
All in all the evening left me with a sense of frustration over my own lack of foresight (why, o why, did I talk to the guy? I guess I'll die!); a sense of the overwhelming love of God for His children, especially His wayward children; and a sense of the inadequacy of what I am doing.
I did have a fleeting, yet profound experience, while walking toward the concert with Jesus' Pizza, I was praying for God's help, "I don't know what I am doing, I am not capable of doing what needs to be done here God! I am incompetent and impotent, I am an inadequate choice to be a messenger of Your Grace." And then it hit me, "THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT!" It was God telling me, "It is not your job to communicate to the heart's of men, speak your words, give away My pizza, and at some point they will hear MY words."
I was able to have a couple of brief conversations about what I was doing and why. But most people were more interested in telling me why the street preachers were wrong, or what they disagreed with about Christianity, or what their own beliefs were. I did get to have a neat conversation with a group of 'travelers' who responded with, "This is the most random f--king blessing ever!" They seemed to be the most genuinely grateful of the bunch.
I guess there was another group of three homeless/hallucinating/street people. They asked me to pray with them. I held the hand of a homeless vet with no legs, and no fingers, and put my hand on the shoulder of young traveler who was high on something, and we prayed for God's blessing on each other and those around us, until the vet starting cussing and yelling at someone who wanted some pizza...
Then I made my mistake...
I engaged one of the 'evangelists' in conversation, "Do you think there might be another way?" I was accused, ignored, preached at, and even insulted for my lack of education (I told the man that I had a hard time understanding the King James Version of the Bible, and felt that it was an improper translation to use given the context). This, of course, led to a history lesson/conspiracy theory on the men who had perverted the Bible into some of the heretical translations we have today.
I was not listened to, cared for, or encouraged. The conversation lasted too long, took too many rabit trails, and ended exactly where it began: with me convinced that these were sincere, and sincerely misguided people, who had an unquestioning aproach to what they had been inculcated into, and the 'evangelist' convinced that I was a wishy-washy Christian who either didn't understand the Bible or didn't want to follow it.
All in all the evening left me with a sense of frustration over my own lack of foresight (why, o why, did I talk to the guy? I guess I'll die!); a sense of the overwhelming love of God for His children, especially His wayward children; and a sense of the inadequacy of what I am doing.
I did have a fleeting, yet profound experience, while walking toward the concert with Jesus' Pizza, I was praying for God's help, "I don't know what I am doing, I am not capable of doing what needs to be done here God! I am incompetent and impotent, I am an inadequate choice to be a messenger of Your Grace." And then it hit me, "THAT IS THE WHOLE POINT!" It was God telling me, "It is not your job to communicate to the heart's of men, speak your words, give away My pizza, and at some point they will hear MY words."
8.08.2007
Poison Pizza and the Love of God
So I decided to add my two cents to the 'Go to Hell' debacle at our local free outdoor concert. (Check the title link if you don't know what I am talking about!)
I went down to the concert, sheet-pizza in hand, and approached the angry group of fifty-plus teens who were surrounding the 'evangelists' with their signs depicting hell. I opened up the box, said "Free pizza, just take one!" and in less than a minute it was devoured! I had three or four young people ask me why I did what I did, I responded, "Because God loves you very much and He wants to be a part of your lives." I was greeted with a cautious round of agreement, and one young man who was a little more enthusiastic about it.
That seemed to be the end of the conversation ...so I thought I would bring another pizza! I called the store, walked over and brought it back. This time I had people gather around and listen before I opened the box, "I want you to know why I am doing this," I said. "Jesus loves you." One of the kids asked, "So what, did you poison it!?" Another asked, "Are you with these guys?" (Indicating the guys with the signs) At this point I think I got a little teary eyed, "No I am not with them, I don't believe those guys are speaking for Jesus. I want you to know that He cares about you very deeply."
With that I opened the box and shared another sheet-pizza, I got a few more thank you's, and one person in particular asked a few pointed questions about who I was and where I was from and then thanked me profusely.
I spent the next thirty minutes fighting back tears, overwhelmed by God's love for these people, and this city, and burdened by a deep need to do more than simply giving pizza to people...
...our world has gone to hell! If we don't do something, who will?
I will let you know how tomorrow goes, I will be going back down to the Thursday concert.
I went down to the concert, sheet-pizza in hand, and approached the angry group of fifty-plus teens who were surrounding the 'evangelists' with their signs depicting hell. I opened up the box, said "Free pizza, just take one!" and in less than a minute it was devoured! I had three or four young people ask me why I did what I did, I responded, "Because God loves you very much and He wants to be a part of your lives." I was greeted with a cautious round of agreement, and one young man who was a little more enthusiastic about it.
That seemed to be the end of the conversation ...so I thought I would bring another pizza! I called the store, walked over and brought it back. This time I had people gather around and listen before I opened the box, "I want you to know why I am doing this," I said. "Jesus loves you." One of the kids asked, "So what, did you poison it!?" Another asked, "Are you with these guys?" (Indicating the guys with the signs) At this point I think I got a little teary eyed, "No I am not with them, I don't believe those guys are speaking for Jesus. I want you to know that He cares about you very deeply."
With that I opened the box and shared another sheet-pizza, I got a few more thank you's, and one person in particular asked a few pointed questions about who I was and where I was from and then thanked me profusely.
I spent the next thirty minutes fighting back tears, overwhelmed by God's love for these people, and this city, and burdened by a deep need to do more than simply giving pizza to people...
...our world has gone to hell! If we don't do something, who will?
I will let you know how tomorrow goes, I will be going back down to the Thursday concert.
6.27.2007
Welcome to the Church of Jesus Christ . . . Homophob?
Let's just cut to the chase. We as a church have painted a horrible picture of the sin of homosexuality. No wonder gay people don't want to set foot in a church. Someone I met once said to me that so many people have waved the Bible in their face as if it were a loaded gun. Now I don't want to enable anybody, sin is sin, but how do we convey the love of God to a group of people who are convinced, if they believe there is a god, that he hates them? I am sure that God weeps at that question. I am sure that he is broken over the state of the church when it comes to this issue. We here in Buffalo are by no means better than anybody else or any other church but how do you get around this one? How do you undo the doings that have been so ingrained in our society? Lord Jesus please show us! I am pretty worked up about this, well tonight I am and I think I will continue to be as long as their are gay people in my life, and it seems as though their will be since my one of my coworkers is gay, and I work in the gay neighborhood of town. I love gay people. I can sometimes feel the love for them that I think God feels. Okay so it's on a much smaller scale, but I can't describe how it feels. I have a gay christian friend who is struggling so much right now with God and homosexuality and doing the right thing, and I try to tell them frequently that God loves them. I want to grab them by the shoulders and shake it into them. I believe that too, I believe that God loves them. He loves everyone and desires that we would all embrace him and the life he has for us. I think that God desires the sin in our lives to be battled so fiercly that the devil himself could not force it back upon us. I don't think God looks at our sins different from person to person. I don't think that one sin is bigger than the other. I don't think that we are capable from seperating ourselves from the love of God that we have in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:38-39).
I think the church has been afraid to tackle the issue of homosexuality. It seems that we are afraid of it, it seems as though we have lashed out in fear. And you know what, it is a scary thing. I am at a loss of how to disciple people through this. That's good because it keeps all of us here on our knees. But Jesus how would you do this? I just think of the story of the leper. He says, "Lord if you are willing you can make me clean" so then Jesus reaches out and touches the leper and says "I am willing" Jesus touched a leper. Leprosy is a deadly disease, a miserable disease, a puss, oozy, yucky, literally rotting-while-still-alive kind of disease. So if Jesus could reach out and touch the leper, then we can reach out and touch gay people? They seem to be the lepers of our day. Lord Jesus change that. Let us not be afraid. What can we do God to reach out to the gay community and to convey your love? Pass out condoms at next years gay pride parade? I know that I am complaining and even bashing at times it seems but if anyone has any thoughts or things they have seen in prayer or actually experienced, please comment and tell us about it. We want to undo the picture that has been painted about homosexuality.
God loves EVERYONE! "For God so loved the WORLD that he gave his only begotten son, that WHOEVER believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." You cannot be disqualified from the kingdom of God based on age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, creed and whatever else that job applications say at the bottom of the page. If anyone has any thoughts on this subject let me know I would love to hear them. This is a tough thing to come against but we as christians need to be able to tackle anything that God brings our way.
I think the church has been afraid to tackle the issue of homosexuality. It seems that we are afraid of it, it seems as though we have lashed out in fear. And you know what, it is a scary thing. I am at a loss of how to disciple people through this. That's good because it keeps all of us here on our knees. But Jesus how would you do this? I just think of the story of the leper. He says, "Lord if you are willing you can make me clean" so then Jesus reaches out and touches the leper and says "I am willing" Jesus touched a leper. Leprosy is a deadly disease, a miserable disease, a puss, oozy, yucky, literally rotting-while-still-alive kind of disease. So if Jesus could reach out and touch the leper, then we can reach out and touch gay people? They seem to be the lepers of our day. Lord Jesus change that. Let us not be afraid. What can we do God to reach out to the gay community and to convey your love? Pass out condoms at next years gay pride parade? I know that I am complaining and even bashing at times it seems but if anyone has any thoughts or things they have seen in prayer or actually experienced, please comment and tell us about it. We want to undo the picture that has been painted about homosexuality.
God loves EVERYONE! "For God so loved the WORLD that he gave his only begotten son, that WHOEVER believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life." You cannot be disqualified from the kingdom of God based on age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, creed and whatever else that job applications say at the bottom of the page. If anyone has any thoughts on this subject let me know I would love to hear them. This is a tough thing to come against but we as christians need to be able to tackle anything that God brings our way.
4.27.2007
What is going on?
The time for an update on our most recent adventures is long overdue...
God is good, and if you doubt this, open your eyes! The whole universe screams of His beauty and purpose! I cannot but look at a child (much less my own) without knowing of the purity and hope that God has bathed His world in. Truly, "in Him we live and move and have our being!" As my good friend once told me, we can stand in awe of the God who "invented the color green!" How many other beauties and mysteries are the offspring of His genius?
I continue to be an unfit (and yet grateful) recipient of God's goodness.
---
God is bringing us to a place where real depth of relationship is beginning to happen.
We just began a weekly men's meeting. I was greatly encouraged by our first meeting. There seems to be a real desire for deep and encouraging brotherhood amongst the men in our group. We decided to read a book together, "Blue Like Jazz," by Donald Miller. I am looking forward with excitement to the next Tuesday evening meeting...
Many of the people in our group have expressed the sentiments that there is something happening in our little community. I know that I see them as people that I want to grow with, as people that I could spend decades with. It is a blessing that God has gathered these people together. I truly feel honored by their presence in my home...
We are truly at a place where a community exists, and is established, beginning to take on a life of its own...
---
We are also coming up against the "church culture" thing. Our team just recently had the opportunity to chew through some issues related to the way church is expected to function versus the way God wants it to function...
...the pressure is to "produce results," we have to "get" people. This is not the picture the Bible gives us, however, of effectiveness in God's Kingdom. Our authority is in our relationship to the King. If I do not speak for Him, then my words lack His power. If I do not know Him, then I cannot speak for Him. The indwelling Spirit carries within His very "DNA" the seeds of the Church, therefore we do not have to plant a Church, but simpy live in obedience to Christ, and watch as the Church springs forth. The Church is God's plan for the redemption of the whole of creation, the Church is God's manifest presence on the earth; we don't make it happen, we allow Him to make it happen through us...
The practical side of this is that God is conveying to us simple, deep truths; He is good (1 John 1:5), He is full of love (1 John 4:7-8), He is more concerned with our relationship to Him than with our outward selves (John 15, Matthew 7:15-29), we don't have to pretend to be something we are not, and we don't need to force His hand, He will establish His Kingdom, our part is simply cooperation (Matthew 16:18).*
As disciples, our part is to seek personal knowlege of God, common life with other faithful members of God's house, service to the community around us, and to effectively train others in this same way of life. God's part is to bring these acts of faith to fruition, guiding and correcting us along the way.
---
We are transitioning into looking for a new place to live. Tamy and I are planning on buying a house, we are currently looking, and would love your prayers toward where exactly we should be. We are currently right in the middle of everything, and I love being in the middle of the action. However, there are many other neighborhoods we could see ourselves in. Pray that God would place us right where He wants us all...
*Just to reassure everyone, just in case it sounds like we have given up all our efforts at Church planting...
...quite the opposite. It is in knowing Jesus' heart, and in cooperating with Him, that our efforts are guided effectively toward the successful birthing of a new community of disciples. We have not ceased to reach out to those around us, to do so would be to disobey.
God is good, and if you doubt this, open your eyes! The whole universe screams of His beauty and purpose! I cannot but look at a child (much less my own) without knowing of the purity and hope that God has bathed His world in. Truly, "in Him we live and move and have our being!" As my good friend once told me, we can stand in awe of the God who "invented the color green!" How many other beauties and mysteries are the offspring of His genius?
I continue to be an unfit (and yet grateful) recipient of God's goodness.
---
God is bringing us to a place where real depth of relationship is beginning to happen.
We just began a weekly men's meeting. I was greatly encouraged by our first meeting. There seems to be a real desire for deep and encouraging brotherhood amongst the men in our group. We decided to read a book together, "Blue Like Jazz," by Donald Miller. I am looking forward with excitement to the next Tuesday evening meeting...
Many of the people in our group have expressed the sentiments that there is something happening in our little community. I know that I see them as people that I want to grow with, as people that I could spend decades with. It is a blessing that God has gathered these people together. I truly feel honored by their presence in my home...
We are truly at a place where a community exists, and is established, beginning to take on a life of its own...
---
We are also coming up against the "church culture" thing. Our team just recently had the opportunity to chew through some issues related to the way church is expected to function versus the way God wants it to function...
...the pressure is to "produce results," we have to "get" people. This is not the picture the Bible gives us, however, of effectiveness in God's Kingdom. Our authority is in our relationship to the King. If I do not speak for Him, then my words lack His power. If I do not know Him, then I cannot speak for Him. The indwelling Spirit carries within His very "DNA" the seeds of the Church, therefore we do not have to plant a Church, but simpy live in obedience to Christ, and watch as the Church springs forth. The Church is God's plan for the redemption of the whole of creation, the Church is God's manifest presence on the earth; we don't make it happen, we allow Him to make it happen through us...
The practical side of this is that God is conveying to us simple, deep truths; He is good (1 John 1:5), He is full of love (1 John 4:7-8), He is more concerned with our relationship to Him than with our outward selves (John 15, Matthew 7:15-29), we don't have to pretend to be something we are not, and we don't need to force His hand, He will establish His Kingdom, our part is simply cooperation (Matthew 16:18).*
As disciples, our part is to seek personal knowlege of God, common life with other faithful members of God's house, service to the community around us, and to effectively train others in this same way of life. God's part is to bring these acts of faith to fruition, guiding and correcting us along the way.
---
We are transitioning into looking for a new place to live. Tamy and I are planning on buying a house, we are currently looking, and would love your prayers toward where exactly we should be. We are currently right in the middle of everything, and I love being in the middle of the action. However, there are many other neighborhoods we could see ourselves in. Pray that God would place us right where He wants us all...
*Just to reassure everyone, just in case it sounds like we have given up all our efforts at Church planting...
...quite the opposite. It is in knowing Jesus' heart, and in cooperating with Him, that our efforts are guided effectively toward the successful birthing of a new community of disciples. We have not ceased to reach out to those around us, to do so would be to disobey.
3.02.2007
News From Buffalo
Well here we are in Buffalo and well.....it's very cold right now!! We have just found out some very exciting news, we are expecting another baby!! God has blessed us again, this last week was a tough one as I think that I caught a stomach bug along with morning sickness and well I thought I was dying but here I am alive and kicking.
Other than babies there are new and exciting things happening all the time here, God is bringing new people here and building stonger relationships in the people we already know. I have met a few friends with children and it has been a blessing. I feel like God has been giving us a love for the city but still sometimes it doesn't quite feel like home, however I know that it is.
Today I was thanking God that I am able to live in a place where I can constantly feel the brokenness and lack of hope in peoples lives, there are daily happenings in which I realize this is why God has sent us here and i often feel myself brokenhearted for the shape of some lives. People here are not all pretty, and looking like they have it together. I can definately step out of my door and run into people whose lives are falling apart, who aren't pretty or nice, whose lives are vividly in need of hope and restoration. So I am thankful for this daily reminder of why I moved across the country to this city, but also there are times when it is hard not to see the world as too empty or hopeless or broken. Or that there are too many people this way and there will never be enough time to meet them all, love them all and hopefully show them the path to hope. Some one said (I don't know who) that Jesus saw the world as a good place and I am always challenged by this. There are times when I see it as good but often I see all that is not right and long for it to be. So I think that is what may keep me an idealist, is that if Jesus saw the world as a good place then that means all that is not right has the possiblity of being made right or restored. I love the words restored and redeemed to me they paint such a picture of a transformation of something into that which nobody thought it could ever be, that is the place that hope is born. If I can believe in words like redeemed and restored and really know that they describe that which can take place in people, cities and nations.....then there in lies my hope ....Jesus does this. I have yet to see a city or a nation redeemed and restored personally but I have heard of such things, however in my own personal life I have seen him do this in people. He did it in me, even in our home that we live now he has done that. It was a crack house before we moved in, it was a brothel sometime before that and now people live in it and gather together here in it to worship God and sing praises to him. Our hope is that this house will be a beacon of love to the wolrd around it. So I will give my life to God as an offering in hopes that he will allow me the great privledge of participating in the restoration of the city of Buffalo and the world. I will dream a big dream because I love and serve a big God...
Other than babies there are new and exciting things happening all the time here, God is bringing new people here and building stonger relationships in the people we already know. I have met a few friends with children and it has been a blessing. I feel like God has been giving us a love for the city but still sometimes it doesn't quite feel like home, however I know that it is.
Today I was thanking God that I am able to live in a place where I can constantly feel the brokenness and lack of hope in peoples lives, there are daily happenings in which I realize this is why God has sent us here and i often feel myself brokenhearted for the shape of some lives. People here are not all pretty, and looking like they have it together. I can definately step out of my door and run into people whose lives are falling apart, who aren't pretty or nice, whose lives are vividly in need of hope and restoration. So I am thankful for this daily reminder of why I moved across the country to this city, but also there are times when it is hard not to see the world as too empty or hopeless or broken. Or that there are too many people this way and there will never be enough time to meet them all, love them all and hopefully show them the path to hope. Some one said (I don't know who) that Jesus saw the world as a good place and I am always challenged by this. There are times when I see it as good but often I see all that is not right and long for it to be. So I think that is what may keep me an idealist, is that if Jesus saw the world as a good place then that means all that is not right has the possiblity of being made right or restored. I love the words restored and redeemed to me they paint such a picture of a transformation of something into that which nobody thought it could ever be, that is the place that hope is born. If I can believe in words like redeemed and restored and really know that they describe that which can take place in people, cities and nations.....then there in lies my hope ....Jesus does this. I have yet to see a city or a nation redeemed and restored personally but I have heard of such things, however in my own personal life I have seen him do this in people. He did it in me, even in our home that we live now he has done that. It was a crack house before we moved in, it was a brothel sometime before that and now people live in it and gather together here in it to worship God and sing praises to him. Our hope is that this house will be a beacon of love to the wolrd around it. So I will give my life to God as an offering in hopes that he will allow me the great privledge of participating in the restoration of the city of Buffalo and the world. I will dream a big dream because I love and serve a big God...
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