God on the Streets

A few months ago I participated in a homeless count survey in Pasadena through Fuller Seminary’s urban initiatives program. It was part of a ten-year city plan to end homelessness in Pasadena. The survey included two sessions—a morning count and an evening count.  I was paired up with another guy and our survey area was from Colorado Street to Del Mar Blvd and Allen Avenue to Lake Ave. Most of the area was residential. As part of an assignment for a class, I wrote a reflection paper of my experience…

The homeless count did not go as I expected, nor did God speak to me the way I anticipated he would.

During the morning count, we only saw two people, both of whom were asleep. I drove home that morning not really thinking about homeless people. I was feeling a little disappointed that God did not speak some profound truth to me. What I had wanted from this experience was a revelation, a clear indication of what he wanted me to do with my life—a specific ministry. I was also worried that the evening count would not be much different.

Before leaving to do the evening count, I prayed, which I had neglected to do that morning; and further, I had all afternoon to check my attitude and correct it. I must confess my attitude that morning was not entirely what it should have been. But that evening was better. We drove our survey area instead of walking it and saw several more homeless people, though all but two of them were asleep.

Yet it was the first person we talked to… The encounter distracted me for the rest of the night. I had recognized the red sleeping bag from that morning. It was pressed up against a cement wall in a back parking lot. A half filled grocery cart stood nearby. We approached slowly but made our presence known so we wouldn’t scare the person. A black woman sat up as we approached. We could see her plainly enough in the light from a street lamp in the parking lot. She was very thin and looked to be no more than thirty, but was probably closer to 25. We talked with her only a little as we did the survey–it wasn’t much. As we started to leave, though, my partner made a brief comment to her.

It wasn’t as much what he said that surprised me, but the effect those words had, both on her and me. He told her God cares for her and that God is looking out for her.

I have never seen so few words have such powerful effect on someone. Upon hearing those words, I literally saw her countenance change. She looked as though she were fighting back tears. At the same instance I was unexpectedly touched deeply. I am not entirely sure if it was the words themselves or her reaction to them, but even now, as I think about those brief seconds, I find myself deeply moved. It was as though those words meant as much to me as they did to her.

Later that night as I drove home, I thought back to that one moment, trying, somehow, to understand it. I was not paying much attention to the music playing in my truck until suddenly I sensed God telling me to listen. It was so subtle and quiet his voice was practically non-existent, and at the time I did not realize it was him speaking. But I stopped thinking about the evening and listened to the music. I believe it was no accident the words I heard. It was from the song “Running With Your Heart” by Charlie Hall, and the words I heard, which still echo in my mind, are these:

“Fell what you feel, Love what you love, Go where you go, that’s what we want.”

The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns

Perhaps you’ve wondered if God cares about the suffering people in our world. Or maybe you’ve wanted to do something for God but don’t know what, or even if you could. Or maybe you’ve always looked cynically upon the Christian faith wondering if there are any real Christians in the world and what a real Christian should be like. If so, then consider reading the this book.

With passion and honesty, Richard Stearns shares his own personal story of how God opened his eyes to the needs of the world and challenges the Church and individual Christians to live out the whole gospel. He shares some of his personal experiences of interaction among some of the world’s poorest people and how it has changed his life.

He ends the book by making a plea to get involved some way to help the poor and the marginalized.

Stearns shares some heart wrenching stories and appalling statistics, yet artfully avoids “guilt tripping” the reader into helping the poor, challenging and calling the reader to action instead. The appendices are equally beneficial. His writing is compelling, making the book hard to put down.

So whether you are searching after God’s will for your life or just trying to learn more about him, if you read this book with an open heart, don’t be surprised if it changes your life too.

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This book was received  free from Thomas Nelson Publishers <http://BookSneeze.com> (FTC regulation 16 CFR, Part 255)

A Movie Moment with Jesus in It

*Spoiler Alert: The following blog post contains key plot points. If you have not seen the movie From Paris with Love but would like to… you have been warned.

The other night I saw the movie From Paris with Love starring John Travolta. As I watched it, I couldn’t help but make comparisons between the relationship James Reece (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) had with Charlie Wax (John Travolta) and a Christians’ relationship with Christ. Here are 8 aspects of the relationships I found similar:

1. In the movie, James has a desire for a better job, a “dream” job, so to speak, and suddenly he finds himself partnered with Wax, the best of in the business. Wax probably doesn’t really need James, but James certainly needs Wax. In fact the partnership is more for James’ benefit. In the same way, Christians are partnered with Christ, and though Christ doesn’t really need us, we certainly need him.
2. Throughout most of the movie, James really has no clue what is going on. At times he thinks he does, but not until Act 3 does he really know. Wax, however, seems to know exactly what’s going on, and James just has to trust that Wax knows. In our relationship with Christ, rarely do we know what’s going on, but Christ does, and we just have to trust that he does and follow.
3. Early on James is talking on the phone to his “boss” (whom, by the way, you never see) trying to explain why following and listening to Wax is not a good idea and that he wants out, James admits it is because Wax’s methods are a little unorthodox. Well, when we are truly following Christ, we should not be surprised if we find his methods a little unorthodox as well. His disciples in the first century certainly discovered this to be true.
4. For a good part of the movie, Wax has James carry around a vase full of cocaine. James questions this, saying it seems rather ridiculous and doesn’t make sense. But is makes sense to Wax and that is what matters. The same goes with us. Christ might have us do something that seems absolutely absurd, but he has a purpose and expects us to obey. One obvious example is in Genesis when God told Noah to build an Ark and gave him specific guidelines and measurements. It didn’t make sense. It had never rained on the earth before… ever! But God had a purpose and that’s what mattered. (I could give many more examples but that one should suffice, I hope.)
5. A number of times in the movie, Wax tells James to do something and it is almost always for James’ benefit. And often times there is little time for questioning. Same goes with us. When Christ tells us to do something and to do it right away, he means it. And many times it’s for our own benefit; we need to just trust him and obey.
6. But even when James messes up or fails to obey, Wax never gets upset or panics. He is always calm and always seems to have things under control. Christ is the same way. When we mess up and fail (and we will), Christ doesn’t get upset at us. There is absolutely nothing we can do or fail to do that makes Christ say, “Great. Now you screwed up all my plans. What am I going to do now?” He HAS everything under control. Always. Period.
7. Wax always comes through, even if it is at the last possible second, and he has to use a rocket launcher to do so. Christ will do the same. Never once will he let you down. In fact, his final words before ascending back into heaven spoke of this very promise: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20).
8. Eventually James comes to a point of decision. He has come a long way with Wax but at the end, he still has one decision to make. It is not an easy one for him to make but it is the most important one. It is a decision that will define him for the rest of his life. At the end of the movie, James has to decide between trying to hang on to the one thing that matters most in his life—the one thing he cherishes most,  or to trust Wax and obey him. Only James can make that decision. And so it is with us. If we are to follow Christ, he will eventually lead us to a defining moment in our lives where we must chose between him and what we cherish and love the most. It won’t be easy. In fact, it will probably be the most difficult decision you will ever have to make. And it is my prayer that your love for God will far exceed whatever you hold onto most in this life.

If you chose to follow after Christ, and I hope you do, there is no doing it half heartedly. It is either whole heartedly or not all. And let me tell you, when you do chose to follow him, hang on, because it will be the wildest adventure you could ever imagine, and it will be the best, bar none.

On My Life and Moving Back to Alaska…

A friend of mine said that Fairbanks is a good place to figure out your life. I think she is right about that.

The other night I sat out on the deck drinking coffee and peering through the birch and spruce trees at the valley beyond. The rain was coming down lightly, making a soft pattering sound on the leaves and the muddy earth. Despite the gray skies it was still light. Almost anywhere else in the U.S. one might think it was perhaps four or five in the afternoon, but here it was almost ten o’clock at night, and it wouldn’t be getting much darker either.

I feel pretty fortunate to have this unique opportunity to house sit my friends log home in the hills outside Fairbanks. It’s quiet out here, and peaceful—the perfect situation to work on my novel. Even when I get a job, I will have plenty of time to write. If I don’t finish at least the first draft of my novel this summer, it is my own fault. But even more, it is the perfect environment, really, to listen for and hear God.

When I moved up here I decided to move here with intentionality. It wasn’t until my first night house sitting that I realized what that intentionality was—to hear God and to figure out what he wants from me, or rather, what he wants me to do with my life. A part of me wants to know right now. After all, I’m almost thirty. I’m running out of time. Yet I cannot ignore the wisdom of Alexander Pope when he said, “Some people don’t learn anything… because they understand everything too soon.” I have to be patient.

You know, come to think of it, didn’t Jesus spend forty days alone in the wilderness just prior to beginning his ministry? I’m not necessarily “alone in the wilderness” like he was, but for all practical purposes, it’s close enough.

I feel a little pathetic though, being almost 30 and not really knowing what I want to do with my life. I have a dream job, certainly, but I’m a long way from that ever happening. As I sat there on the porch thinking about it, though, I realized many people never really began their careers, their ministries, until about this time. Jesus was probably around 30 when he began his ministry. The apostle Paul met God no the Damascus road around the same time in his life. Billy Graham’s evangelistic ministry began when he was 30. Bill Bright was 31 when he started Campus Crusade… and my dad didn’t start working for the company he is at until he was 29. So maybe there’s something to be said about this time in my life.

In any case, this summer appears to be one of quietness and relative solitude. I’m house sitting for two months and I wonder it will be enough time—time to learn how to be still and listen; time to hear the voice of God in my life. I guess I will have to trust that it will be.

I’m happy to be back in Alaska…. back in Fairbanks.

Bearing Each Other’s Burdens

“For the LORD will not forsake his people, for his great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you a people for himself. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you”
–1 Sa 12:22-24.

Deitrich Bonhoeffer, in his book Life Together, says, “A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for on another, or it collapses… To make intercession means to grant our brother the same right we have received, namely, to stand before Christ and share in his mercy.”

Have you ever found yourself struggling to pray for someone else because you felt you were the one who needed prayer more?

Several weeks ago I found myself in such a spot. But as I began praying, I realized something about myself. Even though I felt as though I was the one who needed the particular prayer, I was a person who could pray that same prayer for others precisely because I knew what the burden was like. How could I honestly pray  for someone who is struggling with something if I never knew what that same struggle was like? It is not easy going through trials and sufferings and such, but because we experience them ourselves, we can better pray for others who are going through similar circumstances.

Heb 4:15-16 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

I wonder if perhaps intercessory prayer involves, in some way, a sacrifice on the part of the one interceding. Anthony Padovano, in Dawn Without Darkness, says “We have judged the value of prayer by the amount of time given to it rather than by its intensity.”

Praying for others is sometimes—often times—hard work. In fact, prayer in general is sometimes hard work; praying for others, harder work.  And sometimes, if we are honest with ourselves, it is easier not to pray at all. And if we do pray, we are more inclined to pray for ourselves. After all, the Lord knows we need prayer. Not to diminish the importance of this, but if it becomes our main priority, it becomes selfish—and selfishness is sin. Praying for others, however, can be difficult and taxing. It takes extra energy and extra time. It takes sacrifice. Praying for others, whether fellow believers or lost souls, if we are intentional about it, means taking on their burdens, feeling their pain, entering into their shoes, so to speak. It is not much different, I think, from what Christ did for us: “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Ro 8:34)

I still feel that the prayer I was praying for others is a prayer I need just as much. But I have reached a point where I am not just praying it for them. I am praying it for us. I am no longer praying, “Lord, help them.” I am now praying, “Lord, help us.” In interceding through prayer for other people, I am no longer saying, “I will pray God helps you.” Instead, I am saying, “We are in this together, and so I pray God gets us through this trail together.” This means more than just listening to someone else to learn their needs and identify their burdens. Interceding for someone means identifying with their needs, shouldering their burdens, agonizing with them in their struggles and in their troubles, and in that identification, lifting them up to God in prayer. That is what the apostle Paul meant when he said to bear each other’s burdens (Gal 6:2). And in this, Jesus sets for us the perfect example

“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them”

– Heb 7:25