Food Pantry Launch

WoW! What a weekend!

We launched the Beavercreek Joseph Project Food Pantry this weekend and the foundations are being laid for our new worship center. I had the opportunity to speak on the weekend. The Mayor and a County Commissioner were on hand for the dedication and the ribbon cutting. People were positive by the up-market look of the pantry and why we are doing what we are doing. One man was so moved he is going to give one of his cows for 600 lbs of gound beef. Must purchase Freezer.

On the weekend we looked at one Jesus principle. Begin with what you have, from where your are.

Our two leaders began almost 20 years ago beginning with what they had from where they were.

In Dayton, only thing they had were their jobs. So they pulled their resources. They each tithed 10% of their pay check. Then they purchased 7 bags of groceries and went to a low income apartment and gave away the bags and offered prayer.

Years later we are serving over 300 breakfasts a week to the less served of our city. The church has grown to 2500 and we are touching thousands of lives each year through acts of kindness and prayer.

I wonder what it would look like if every believer, began to serve others from where they are with what they have? I think their world would change.

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.” James 3:13 (NIV)

3 illustrations from the life of Jesus. Begin with what you have from where you are.


1. Beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

He began with what He had from where He was.

A wedding... Mom said, 'Now is your time', Jesus now is not my time...He heard His Father’s voice...(my paraphrase in reading into the text. Jesus only did what he heard and saw his Father doing) His Father said, 'Now is your time.

He began with what He had, water. He then changed water to wine. Beginning from where He was with what He had, God space was created where God things happened... Wine was created from water. From this beginning, He began to reveal who He was, and revealed His Fathers Glory. There the Disciples believe in Him..

2. Middle of Jesus Ministry.

Matt 10 John the Baptist was beheaded...

Jesus was connected to John in a special way. John was in the womb of Elizabeth when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, greeted Elizabeth, John lept with Joy in Elizabeth's womb. They were cousins, divinely linked to the spark of the Holy Spirit. They were friends, brothers. Jesus loved John. Now John was beheaded. Jesus was grieved, gutted (a good Scottish word) and went to a lonely place. Ever experienced grief over the loss of a love one? Most people want to go to a lonely place to recover, to pray, to receive comfort from the Great Comforter...

Suddenly 5000 people showed up. Jesus beginning from where He was... taught the people, cared for them in the midst of this great tradgety.

All day they stayed...as he taught them...the disciples said, 'Tell them to go home, they’ve been here all day and they are hungry.' Jesus... 'You give them something to eat.' Their response...'All that is here is a sacked lunch of 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.' Jesus, 'Tell them to sit down'... Jesus broke bread and fish and gave to the disciples they in turn fed the people. He again used what He had from where He was.

3. At the Cross the end of His life.

Hanging on the cross, He was stripped bare, facing death, enduring shame, and the sin of the world was upon Him. From were he was, he used what he had... his breath, and his voice. He uttered, 'Father forgive them for they know not want they do.'.. From where He was He used what He had....an act of forgiveness that has echoed throughout the centruries into eternity.

Others beginning from where they were, offered this forgiveness to other and have changed the world. Mother Thersa, DL Moody, Chales Finney, Billy Graham and countless thousands are using what they have, from where they are...making a difference offering forgiveness found in Jesus name.

the day in the life

back from a long rest from blogging... on vacation now back. today went to food pantry

good day at food pantry... prayed for two people.. on lady had been beaten with a metal baseball bat...her story was interesting...the residual effect has left her a bit disabled...she is a fighter and an optimist...one time homeless... interesting to pray and sense God's connection to her life...

another lady's husband had just gotten out of ICU after been beaten about the head with a beer bottle...sad thing the couple had tried to help the attacker offering a place to stay... he turned on the man in a sudden rage. Prayed for peace...and for God to heal her traumatized heart...again sensed God's touch with and upon her. She was encouraged and left peaceful.

I'm amazed how people show up, connect at their level and feel valued and cared for.

Clayton one of the homeless guys was there needing a ride across town and needs a lift the end of the month of August to Court in Lebanon OH.

Clayton knew we'd take care of him. He asked, 'Ever been locked up?' I said, 'Close once but never did get caught.' He said, 'You never want to go there.' He is facing 4 year felony for missed child support even though he raised his son and paid his wife the support who spent the money upon her self.

Another guy, just spent a year in prison for parole violation. He met Jesus a few months before the violation but didn't continue to walk. He told me he walked on the wild side again, and regretted the dark walk. Now back, after a year.

Another lady comes and serves...she is in her 60's depressed and self focused. Many depressed people are...self focused, non optimistic (if depressed and optimistic it's an oxymoron), and often depressed people live really close to their own reality... depression is really not fun... just ask someone who has walked that path...

She received prayer at a small group at the Biltmore and her pain in her back and legs is gone...the side benefit she is no longer depressed and has a bright smile. A change for the better.

My small part today was just a snapshot of the many other stories that told in the day and the life of our Main Street Campus.

Now sitting on my bed, typing, drinking a cold drink make me very grateful to have a part to play in God's purpose. His purposes are good, acceptable and pleasing.

Community FunFest

great day! lot's of gracious people serving the less served in Huber Heights. Always amazes me how just the right amount of people show up for these events. Several first time, many veterans. Kids, moms, dads, dogs all enjoyed a great day.

God Space

My friend Doug Pollock's book God Space has already sold over 4200 copies not even out yet. Campus Crusade is giving the book to most of their leaders...USA, Canada, New Zealand ... I'm very encouraged. Doug is a thinker. Has shared the gospel in 39 countries. Is cutting edge. Is a provoker, thinker and a guy who won't settle for the norm. Understands people, has been there, done that and is still doin the stuff. He isn't jaded but faithful. If you have a buck or two purchase the book. It will do you good.

see Godsgps.com

buy the book at http://store.grouppublishing.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?item=1964185&section=14118

God Space...Be aware of God's leading.

new book by my friend Doug Pollock out soon

the starting point for awareness is accepting the fact that you and I are not usually aware of others and their needs. Realizing we are unaware, can pull us toward those slight God prompts of awareness. Seems He is always aware.

Old book written many years ago about Practicing the Presence of Jesus by brother Lawrence. It was a good book that encouraged the reader to practice tuning into the presence of Jesus. This experiential exercise is stimulating for some, fearful for others. I tend to tune in ... in the morning usually a song in my heart, or I grab the guitar for audience of One...As a friend of mine says, 'Well Lord, I'm open for business today.'

So how do we hear God's voice His prompting.

Hebrews speaks about God speaking in 'many fashions and in many ways'...this is certainly true today.

Expectation is a key to faith. Believing that God will speak me in the moment is a learned daily exercise. He is alive, active, and current in my life, therefore He wants to communicate to me.

Usually, He wants to communicate to me about others. Impressions, things I notice. I've learned if I slow down on the inside when I act on an impression... I discover I've heard or not heard. It's learning to tune my receiver.

Today, in Good Will, I saw a guy I thought was my friend Darrel. So when I passed his back I slapped him on his back and said, 'Hey, Darrel what's up?' He turned around not the guy...I said sheepishly, sorry...His wife said, 'don't worry about it he's been Darrel all day.' It's learning to step out in faith.

James Ryle... Faith is the inevitable consequence of hearing God's voice.'

So hearing and acting on what I've thought I've heard is an experiment.

Impressions,
Thoughts
Double Takes
Pictures in our minds eye
A verse
Someone looking like someone we know
An article of clothing, jewelry, some one is wearing

Sometimes the above help me be aware. Sometimes I'm aware when I see someone in need.

Acting in faith is the God space connector.

Recycle your Faith

Brenda's label. A great one minute or so thought provoking clip.

Craig Spinks is creating small conversation starters for small groups, friends, individuals. http://www.recycleyourfaith.com/2009/05/18/brendas-label/

Check it out...Part of Creating God Space is asking the right questions, at the right time, listening well and really caring.

Creating God Space Revisited

I'm realizing that creating God space where God things can happen is current.

Becoming a friendly opened hearted person is the first step into the equation. I've noticed that people who are open hearted, have a spirit that is different than the norm.

Open hearted people are attractive. Usually an open hearted person is more other focused than self focused and tend to have a more positive outlook in life. In a class setting I ask, 'What does friendly look like?'

Some answers:
Open faced
Makes eye connection
Inclusive
Supportive
Willing to listen
Doesn't pass judgement
Inviting
Inqusitive
Genuinly caring
Has a sense of humor
Good attitudes
Positive
Up
Believes the best
Not negative
Truthful
Fun to be around

What's friendly? Friendly means showing kindness to someone, as a friend would behave. Wikipedia

friend⋅ly

1.	characteristic of or befitting a friend; showing friendship: a friendly greeting.

2.	like a friend; kind; helpful: a little friendly advice.

3.	favorably disposed; inclined to approve, help, or support.

4.	not hostile or at variance; amicable: friendly natives.

–adverb

6.	Also, friend⋅li⋅ly. in a friendly manner; like a friend.

–noun

7.	a person who is in sympathetic relationship to oneself or one's side; one who shows no hostility.

---

Origin:
bef. 900; ME frendly, OE frēondlīc.

Related forms:

friend⋅li⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. companionable, neighborly. 2. kindly, amiable, cordial, genial, affectionate, kind-hearted. 3. benevolent, well-disposed, helpful, favorable; advantageous, propitious.

Antonyms: 3. antagonistic.

I think being a friendly open hearted person is a doable practice. I often wonder what would happen if every follower of Jesus would seek to be a friendly open hearted person every day? How many conversations would be started? How many acts of kindness would be generated? How many hearts would open?