Arms Wide Open

If you are like me, the devistation and aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti continues to break your heart. If you are also like me, you want to help but at times feel helpless. Cutting a check or giving your credit card information doesn’t give the knowledge of where that money went. We can’t see it, touch it or know that helped at all. Today I was made aware of an effort that is both a necessity and will allow you to know where your generous gift went.

A Home In Haiti is a web site which was launched by fellow blogger Shaun King. Shaun is the Lead Pastor at Courageous Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Through their efforts, Coleman has agreed to take off as much as 60% on their collection of waterproof tents for this cause. With the rainy season just 16 days away, you can imagine the impact of a waterproof shelter for a family or those in need. While not the ultimate solution, it will provide protection and a place to stay while the other funding and support continues to come in. From the A Home In Haiti Website:

Yes -homes of wood and stone and steel are needed. We are working on that RIGHT NOW, but while we work, we must ensure that we ACT to provide shelter from the impending rainy season that begins in March and hurricane season that begins in June. Our tents are flown & shipped weekly to Haiti through trusted partners and are distributed directly by experienced professionals on the ground.

There are many ways to give. You can donate, start a tent drive or even purchase the tents directly from Amazon.com and have them shipped to Courageous Church. My wife and I chose the option of purchasing directly through Amazon.com. I like knowing that our donation will be a tangible item and can help in an immediate way. For more information and to help this cause, visit ahomeinhaiti.com

May God pour out his blessings on the people of Haiti…

As they say, this “tis the season”. Journey Church is proud to partner with a local giving opportunity called “The Manger“. For those in the Northwest Columbus area, this will be one of those opportunities that will mean as much to you as those that we are able to help. Here is the story behind this wonderful ministry:

THE MANGER helps families in need in Northwest Columbus by providing a Christmas shopping experience that is an affordable option.  Through the donations of new, unwrapped merchandise from businesses, individuals, schools, churches and civic groups, parents and caretakers with demonstrated need have the opportunity to shop for every member of their household  at drastically reduced prices that fit within their budget.  For example, a mother with four in her family would select twelve gifts and would pay only $8.   By selecting and paying for their own gifts, parents find dignity in providing for their own families.  Their chosen gifts are wrapped free of charge and taken home for Christmas morning.  A makeshift chapel is also staffed for those who need a friend to talk to or who want to know more about the manger of long ago and the Baby who lay there.

No one should have to make a choice between buying a Christmas present for their child and paying a utility bill.  Christmas shouldn’t hurt people. Help us give “the gift of giving”

If you are interested in helping The Manger, there are several ways to do so. Donations are obviously welcomed but providing this ministry requires many hands. Opportunities exist to assist with set up, wrapping, helping the shoppers and staffing the chapel area. If you are interested in assisting I have posted the links below. You can also contact me via email and I will help get you in touch with The Manger leadership team.

The Manger Web Site

The Manger Facebook Group

The Manger Contact Page

Journey Church Web Site

Viral videos are awesome. I stumbled across this latest one today and who knew it would encourage my socks off! On the heels of my post about making a difference, I happened to catch the video below and was amazed. While I thought it was simply some college guys filming an impossible basketball shot, an internet rabbit trail led me to their web site. Check this out from their “About Page”.

Did you catch it? “We want to use this platform for something bigger than us“. 6 college guys that follow Jesus. Man, I love that. Seriously. These guys captured the wave of video and are using it to sponsor a child through World Vision! Imagine that. Someday they will hear “Well Done” and possibly meet the child that they sponsored through this organization. All because they had a heart for Jesus and an unbelievable skill set. Romans 12:6-8 states:

⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his^[a]faith. ⁷If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; ⁸if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

I would argue that the 6 guys from DudePerfect.com are doing just that….cheerfully! Great work guys.

Friends….I’m troubled.

I am troubled by what our country has become and is becoming. Now before you assume I am talking about our current President, read on. While decisions are being made and cynicism reigns, this is not what troubles me the most. While town halls escalate and tea parties dominate, this is not what troubles me the most. I am not the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to politics. I can’t claim to understand what all of the shouting and organizing ultimately will do to make a difference. So what troubles me most is that the things and places where I know that we, as Christians, can make a difference go untouched.

People are hurting

People are hungry (physically and mentally)

People are broken

While the wave and volume of the arguments between the right and left grow higher and higher, “the least of these” grow quieter and quieter. In our efforts to be right, what troubles me is that we are missing our opportunity to be Jesus. I am sorry if that offends or if you disagree, but this is what I believe God is saying to me. As God often does, He speaks in many different ways through many different forms but the message is often the same when He wants our attention. For me, personally, I believe He is saying that what this world needs is the LOVE of Jesus. What this world, this country, this state and this city need are people who will be what Christ called us to be. As Phillip Yancey once said:

“No one ever converted to Christianity because they lost the argument”

I had the opportunity yesterday to view “Lord Save Us From Your Followers” and friends, it broke me. I sat numb for several minutes as the credits rolled. It was like I had an opportunity to step outside of my world and see what was going on from a new perspective. I didn’t like what I saw. I didn’t like what we I have become. It not only left me numb, it inspired me. I energized me. It awakened me.

I have two things to leave you with today. Number one, we MUST get this film in Columbus (we are making great progress by the way). It needs to be seen by those on the right, the left and in between. If we are going to change our world, our state and our city, this is the place to start. I cannot say it enough. Trust me on this. If you are not in Columbus, look at their web site and find a showing near you. You will be glad you made the journey to get there.

Lastly, I ask you to watch this clip from Bono. The audio was taken from his speech at the 2006 National Prayer Breakfast (full transcript here). Parts of his speech are featured in the “Lord Save Us From Your Followers” film. After hearing him speak and seeing the other parts of the “Lord Save Us” film, I couldn’t help but wonder if Christianity couldn’t use a little more Bono and a little less “Religious Right”. Sorry if that offends, but when I find or hear things that bother me I have to ask if they bother me because they are so right or so wrong. I don’t claim to be right, or have the answers. However when you align what Bono is saying with the teachings of Jesus from the Bible (the Truth) you cannot argue with his call to action.

Nearly one year ago our world was turned upside down. If you’ve been following along that long, you will remember that if we could hit reverse on the DVR, there would be a “For Sale” sign in our front yard. There were boxes in our living room and plans were being made to relocate to Charlotte, North Carolina. Fast forward the DVR about one month and you find that the entire process went full circle. No boxes were ever packed. No trucks ever loaded. The “For Sale” sign was gone and one song became an anchor for me as to why we were still in Columbus, Ohio. That song was “God of This City“. There was something in the lyric – “Greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done in THIS City” that struck me. Greater things were still to be done.

Hit the button one more time and fast forward to today. What has the past year taught us? What has this lesson brought us? I wish I could give you a great story with a big red bow on it but I can’t. While our human nature longs, dare I say demands that God reveal his master plan and consult with us throughout the process, he doesn’t. It’s never how we draw it up. It is a journey though and there are lessons all along the roads we travel. Today, I type this with a renewed sense of purpose and a heart for the city of Columbus, Ohio. If there was ever a time for the body of Christ to unite and rally around the city they live in, that time is now.

Town hall meetings, hurting people, broken families, frustrated with the future and wishing we could wipe away the past. The list of reasons to be a city on our knees is endless. That is why this song has been speaking to me all week. When it comes to TobyMac, for me, a little bit goes a long way. However the first song from his new CD (coming out in February) is the perfect reminder that we can be a city on our knees. As the lyric so perfectly says:

If you gotta start somewhere why not here?

If you gotta start sometime why not now?

Anyone else tired of the ordinary? Anyone else feel like you are stuck in the mundane? Have you ever sat down and just pondered what your purpose is on this big spinning piece of real estate called earth? I know so many people that are praying for “Gods will for their life”. You can count me in that group too. Maybe it’s Rick Warren’s fault for teaching us all to live the Purpose Driven Life….

If you answered “yes” to any of the questions above, then this might help. I know it gave me perspective and, even if for a moment, purpose. While this song by Rachael Lampa was written about Mary, I wonder if we can’t fill our own name in that blank too. You see, each one that has accepted Christ as their Savior, has also been filled with the Holy Spirit. It is that Spirit which calls us to a purpose. A purpose of introducing this world to a Savior and a King. No matter your title, your occupation, your neighborhood or place of worship, each of us has this purpose.

Imagine for a moment you received a letter from your Heavenly Father. Listen to the song and fill in the blanks below with your name. I wonder if it wouldn’t read something like this….

“I Choose You” by Racheal Lampa

[audio http://leftfield8.com/audio/rlchoose.mp3]

When everyone around you sees
an ordinary life
Fit for nothing more than common dreams
I can see the stars of heaven
shining in your eyes
Soon the world will hear the angels sing
(Insert Name Here) I know it’s hard to understand
You hold the light of the world in your hands

(Chorus)
I choose you
To bring the world a savior
I choose you
To bring the world a king
I choose you
To be the arms of love that hold the answer
For the world to see my promises come true
I choose you

I know there are many questions
Weighing on your mind
What is becomming of your life
Just remember why I’ve called you
To leave your fears behind
To walk by faith and not by sight
(Insert Name Here) I know
It’s all a mystery
My hand is leading if you’ll only believe

(Chorus)

And he shall be called
Emanuel
Wonderfull prince of peace

I choose you
to bring the world a savior
I choose you
to bring the world a king

(Chorus)

For the world to see my promises come true
For the world to see my love come shinning through
I choose you