the journey

Does anyone know Molly's story?

Does anyone know Molly's story?
Originally uploaded by todmaffin

[Click on photo for larger versions.]

Luke recorded these words:

17The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him.
Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

~ Luke 4: 17-19 NIV

Looking for the poor in the burbs

David Fitch is blogging about finding the poor in the suburbs.  Good stuff.

Engaging the poor in the suburbs isn't as difficult as you might think!

HT: Cooper

Ministering to the poor in your community

I just ran across a good article written by Keith Giles.  It focuses on starting a ministry to the poor in your community.

Here's an interesting tidbit:

Don't Attempt To Cure Poverty In Your City- This is a common mistake for those who start off doing compassion ministry. In their zeal to bring justice to the poor they get off target and begin to see their ministry as a grandiose scheme to end poverty forever in their city. The sad thing is that when we do this we stop caring for the actual people who are in need. If our focus can remain on finding a few people and learning how to love them we'll be closer to the heart of Jesus. One of my early mentors, David Ruis, used to communicate it this way: "What do you see and what do you have?" Meaning, start with the people in front of you who have a need. Ask yourself what you have that you could share with them. Befriend people and learn to love them.

Click here to read the rest for yourself.

Technorati Tags: poor, homelessness, homeless

Mission shaped lives

I've been watching two (new) local churches with a great deal of interest.

One congregation immediately focused on the construction of a brand-new building & the other focused on nice large advertisements in the local newspapers.  The former church is dying (if not dead), and the latter is barely holding their own. 

Both of them, unfortunately, have bought into the "if we build it they will come" mentality-- a mentality that was prevalent decades ago, but has little or no impact on today's skeptical post-Christian world.

What I'd like to say to them is this: 

• Try making a difference in your community, and others might hear about it
• Try ministering to after-school kids, the hurting, the divorced or offering meaningful support groups, and others might take notice.
• Try feeding the hungry and homeless on a regular basis, and others might like to watch or ask questions.
• Try providing a mentoring/tutoring program to underprivileged kids, and others might like to help.
• Try living the teachings and values of Jesus, and others just might see something worth joining.

It's not about attracting anyone.  It's about living no-strings-attached mission shaped lives.

Technorati Tags: mission-shaped lives

Free hugs campaign

You gotta love it! 

It unepectedly brought tears to my eyes.  Wow.

To learn more about Juan's story or to join the Free Hugs movement, please click here.

HT: Youth Specialties

Tags: Free hugs campaign, hugs

Cleburne Plaza Block Party

Over the past 10 years we've thrown several Block Parties at the Cleburne Plaza Apartments. 

 

Each one has included:

• Free BBQ meal (grilled on-site)
• Great homemade desserts!
• Live bands (two this year)
• Outdoor games (e.g., soccer, touch football and games for the little ones too!)
• Fun, relaxed atmosphere, conversation, no hassles or sales pitches

If you can attend for any portion of this afternoon event, please do.  No RSVP required. As always, casual attire. Kid-friendly. It's all free. No-strings-attached. Everyone is welcome.

 

Here's the important details:
CLEBURNE PLAZA APARTMENTS (HUD)

Neighborhood Block Party
Sunday, October 15, 2006
3:00 - 6:00 p.m.
400 Phillips Street (off N. Grandbury St.) map

 

Technorati Tags : block+party

The Pathetic Segmented Life: Why people stay away from Church by the droves

From Steve Sjogren:

One of Mahatma Gandhi's more famous quotes was supposedly spoken to a group of British journalists as they rode on a train through English-held India. He was asked, "Why is it that you speak so highly of Jesus yet you are not a Christian?" He quickly responded, "I would become a Christian... if I could just find one..." Since reading those words a couple of decades ago, I have been haunted by the cutting truth behind the observant eye of this Hindu world changer. There are many billions through the ages who have dared to glibly call themselves Christians - as there are many today who take on that descriptor. That term means literally "little Christ." If you stop to think about it, it's a pretty audacious thing to call oneself a "Christian" in light of the literal meaning of the term. As I write this I wonder if I have ever met a bona fide Christian in all of my thirty-plus years of seeking to follow Jesus. To say that this is disappointing doesn't begin to capture my feelings about this generation of the Church (more.)

Read the entire article here.

 

Technorati Tags : Steve+Sjogren, servant+evangelism

Servant evangelism idea

Imagine taking five (5) gallons of free ice water or cold lemonade to the park on a hot summer day. Or attending the Christmas Parade (or other colder community events) with free hot chocolate or freshly brewed coffee and giving it away.

Wouldn't that be a fun way of sharing God's love in a tangible, practical way--no strings attached? Don't you think our community would be blessed (and surprised) by such a thoughtful gesture?

I think so.

The free beverage giveaway is simply another example of how we can make God's love real to our community. Be watching for more information about this....

Embrace teachers!

The latest edition of LTN's Into Action reminded me of the importance of sharing God's love (and being a blessing) in our community. Maybe its time to adopt-a-school or begin an Embrace Teachers movement! Either way, we'd be "transforming the world, with God's love, one heart at a time!" And that's what its all about!

Ordinary Attempts

Ok, ok. I'm officially impressed with the Off the Map web site-- particularly the section entitled "Ordinary Attempts." In a nutshell, here's what OA is all about: "Ordinary Attempts are relational acts of kindness…If ordinary people can’t do it using ordinary means, ordinarily it won’t get done." They are ordinary things like:

"Ask someone how are you… and actually listen
Pray for someone behind their back
Ask a server about their life outside of work
Be unusually interested in another person
Hold the door open for a stranger
Give a little money away
Pray short prayers"

They've even produced an OA .pdf document that, if used with the right motives and attitudes, can transform the world, with God's love, one person at a time. What a novel idea! ;-)

To download the .pdf document, order hard copies or to read more about OA, please visit the OA web site.