Friday, October 26, 2012

#theCityShouldBeDifferent (serving this weekend at Elem School; Cemetery Cleanup; Non-Profit Fundraiser)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28th - We will gather at Paul's House (call/text 794-9891 for easy directions) to Celebrate and Evaluate the 3 service initiatives we did this week, encourage each other, and to keep learning and stretching for what's next! #theCityShouldBeDifferent

Yes, the world is full of catchy motto's   They can sometimes be very helpful in moving us toward something meaningful.  Or they can be a words-only cliche, that never pays off on the promise the motto brings.

I like words and communication, so I toy with phrases and ways to communicate.  It seems I can't go through a day without finding a metaphors to try to explain life, reveal the Gospel and it's implications for all of life.  

#theCityShouldBeDifferent is a call to life bigger, to lean into the power that comes from God for the transformation of the place we live.  It's a mandate for the people who follow Jesus in this city, and the churches in this city to be for the peace and prosperity of our place.  To serve without strings, not hiding the truth that we wish everyone knew and followed Jesus, but to serving the city, the least because we know and follow Jesus - we will love others no matter what.

Much more to say...much more to live.

the city should be different  

ACTION UPDATES: 

TONIGHT we serve by helping put on the "Dance with Our Father" daddy-daughter dance at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Lake Charles.  Call Paul, 794-9891, for info or to help.

TOMORROW we serve helping cleanup a neglected cemetery.  Call Paul to come help.  
AND we will be volunteering at Wheels of Hope to benefit the St. Nicholas Center for Children.  Go and ride tomorrow! http://www.stnickcenter.org/

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Simple things: living life on mission is not complicated

TOMORROW's SUNDAY GATHERING NOTE: 
  • We are gathering tomorrow, October 21, at Glen & Jordan's House.  Call/text paul at 794-9891 for easy directions.   
  • Sunday Night we are planning to go to First Baptist Westlake for a Youth Night with a cool guy coming to share and theCityBand leading worship!

Simple things: living life on mission is not complicated

When we want something to change, we have this tendency to look for complex or huge ideas in order to see that change come to pass.  Usually, however, sustained growth starts and is sustained by simple things, done as a way of life.  What I mean by "way of life" is that it becomes who I really am and how I live everyday.  Not just when I go to an event or a church meeting.  And while some of the things we try or dream are big and involve more than just a couple of people (thereby making them more complex), the building blocks of growth and change are usually simple.  

Last night, some of the young men in our church (early 20's) "kidnapped" (with parent permission) a young man and took him on a little man initiation evening.  Nothing complicated.  But it communicated that the young man was a part of the movement, important and valuable.  And it was fun.  

We are on the #90dayjourney, and so much of what we are learning to practice is SO NOT COMPLICATED!  Take the simple ideas from today's exercise:


Some of the steps we are taking require coordination with others, such as the non-profits we want to work with.  That takes planning and preparation.  You can't short cut that work.  But if we just wait for someone else to do the planning and set things up, and we skip the lifestyle change that Jesus calls us to (to be oriented around being a blessing to other people, helping them see who Jesus really is by the way we live and the words we say) then we will stay pretty much in the same place.  

Don't wait!  Start right now.  Expect God to grow you and your heart for Him and others as you follow Jesus and love others, including the least of these.







Saturday, October 13, 2012

A prayer for foolishness... (Meeting at Paul's house tomorrow - you r welcome!)

"And may God bless you with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference in this world, so that you will do the things which others tell you cannot be done." A Franciscan Benediction

There are plenty who say, "the problems are too big, what do you really think you can do?"

I love that question! It forces us to realize we are dependent on God, who said He is able! Putting reliance on God is quite foolish to those who have averted their gaze from His incredible grace... So keep looking up; God has given us a sign of how He works. It's a cross where trust in God was complete and an empty tomb where God's triumph over sin, death, evil, brokenness are guaranteed for all who trust.

We are to be faithful, to lean into His willingness to bring His Kingdom more more into our world.

I believe God can use His followers here to change our city!

Tomorrow is week 3 on our #90dayjour ey. The Barefoot Primer is leading us to consider God's mercy this week. We will assemble our 50 mercy kits to share with the homeless tomorrow as we gather for equipping at Paul's house, 10:45 Sunday, October 14 (text paul 794-9891 for directions). We will share a meal from the grill and watch some Cowboy football from noon-3.

Love, paul

#thecityshouldbedifferent
#postsfromtheroad