Though Im functioning right now on very little sleep (and lots of coffee), I’m still pretty jacked up.

I truly never get tired of seeing God show up. It never gets old. Especially as its crystal clearly beyond me, my personality (yeah, I know), my abilities, and any resources of my own efforts involved. Sometimes God just blesses things. Just shows up in middle of things. Sometimes to screw up “my plans” or changes the whole stinking thing. I encouraged a few people on Sunday to try something so big with God that if He soooo doesn’t show up people would question you’re sanity. That’s all good and everything to condition the heart for obediance regardless but it sure is beautiful when He shows up.

I know, I know, much of this sounds so cliche. Like the kind of stuff to read in books or from some televangelist.  However, I never get tired of seeing God flat out show up! To give hope, to provide resources, to provide direction…. is a beautiful thing.

The lack of sleep part stems from the Reliance Skate crew being at our house last night for a cook out to kick off a few fun skate gatherings around Indy. It’s gonna be a fun week in the Kingdom!

Last Sunday the local church I’m a part of, Indy Metro, hosted another gathering at the Barton Tower. We have been hosting a monthly outreach of love to be Jesus in very practical ways in this urban Indianapolis government housing complex.

Last month (see blog post) was especially powerful and it always seems like I limit how God could possibly “top that.” I guess that explains my continual need to take God out of the box. Also, requires my continual confession of more, is bigger, is better, is more blessed thinking. As if God transforming the heart of one person serving or being served isnt’ enough.

Anywho, this past Sunday a handful of people come down from HC to serve with us. I am moved by the honest feedback from one of the young adults Ali, “I was surprised how open people really were. I got to know a woman named Megan.  Her willing personality made her very easy to talk to and get along with.  Right before the service, she asked if i’d sit with her.  Looking into her eyes I could see years of hurt and rejection.  I gratefully sat next to her.  When worship started everyone stood as they were told.  But Megan stayed sitting.  Holding the packet of papers with the worship lyrics on them, she grabbed my arm and whispered “I can’t stand, because I’m in a wheelchair, I have to sit and sing”.  My heart tugged at me to sit down with her.  I humbly replied “Can I sit with you? I don’t know the words and we could share the lyrics.”  Her face lit up with joy.  I don’t think anything is more rewarding than this.”

I was reading through an old interview with Rick Warren, the guy who wrote the book Purpose-Driven Life, among other amazing things. Although I don’t think it would make it on Oprah’s guide to “spirtuality,” I appreciate a few of the things he said in this interview.

Love this this quote and thought to share- “Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you’re just coming out of one, or you’re getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy.”

Sunday evening we helped lead a collision of the worlds. A collision of the rich and the poor; of different races; but most importantly a collision of love. One that I pray no one will recover from. An overabundance of love was poured out.  I think Paul describes it best in the letter of Philippians, “Poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.”

This collision occured at the John J. Barton Annex. The John J. Barton Annex is a  government housing facility managed by the Indianapolis Housing Authority. A very diverse crowd ethnically and nearly all of the residents fall beneath the “poverty line.” A group of Jesus followers from IMC and Heartland “poured an offering” of love and service into the lives of many friends and “strangers.” I’m pretty sure no one left the same.

One of the most consistent topics throughout all of Scripture is God’s heart for the poor. There is no way to escape that God desires for people whom proclaim to be active followers of Jesus Christ to be lovers of the poor and marginalized in our world. Whether it was through the breaking of bread together, handshakes, hugs, singing some music, sharing a message of hope available to everyone, Jesus uses it all to bring light into the darkness. 

Proverbs 31:8-9, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.”

As disciples of Jesus Christ, our purpose or calling is to help people take steps closer to Him. For the addict to be freed; For the hungry to be fed; and the hopeless to hear about the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

I am tempted to be known for how many Bible verses I know, what my job is, or even what my possessions add up too but the reality is that, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love” as Paul writes in Galatians.

Perhaps one of the most exciting things for me in the midst of this is having children participate in their own way.  Having children playing and introducing childlike joy is beautiful. As a parent attempting to raise children that spit in the face of a culture that rejects people based on their position in society… its a joy of mine to engage our children in these collisions of the worlds.

Loving God. Loving people. Following Jesus.

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9

Sierra Leone is the poorest of the 177 countries of the world. Their average annual income is $142 per person, 70% below the poverty line of $2 per day. The average life span is 41 years. Their homes were torn apart by 10 years of civil war from 1991-2001 and a third of the population was displaced during that time.

This is one churches committment to not talk about it but do something about it…

A quick vid on some of the things we are involved in around Indy. Lots more to come.

My friend Tyler stated something once that resonates well for me…. “I love Jesus but suck at following Him.” Yep, that sum it up pretty much.And that’s not one of those self-deprecating false humility statements. It’s also not one of those woe is me or I am writing this from a deep valley sort of thing either.

I am usually stumbling through major decision making to attempt to follow God’s leading while consistently a fairly regular ball of insecurity, while lacking extensive prayer times.

Most of my short journey as a pursuer of Jesus is full of mystery and wonder about whether or not I am on the right path. I wish I could say the entire thing has been ripe with experiences of clear God sittings lighting or that I consistently have been known following His leading and my not my own. Usually me explaining to Carrie, “um honey, I think Jesus made a left back there at Joe’s Pub and I missed all the signs he left for us.” Or at least that is my impression anyways.

There have been very few times where it was crystal clear we were smack in the middle of where God wanted us to be.  We have recently had a handful of affirming experiences in our own journey after Jesus and pursuit to serve Him. The sell of a home in two weeks, new relationships made along the way, finding a perfect home in an area that bridges two different worlds, answers to these major prayers that made it clear that we were on the right path. Even if we still don’t know the why behind much of it, I can say it sure is good to have these to hold onto as we make another life transition.

And we know that because of the rarity of such great, obvious, and affirming “God citings” it is great cause for us to celebrate! Like usual, my first thought was to begin to celebrate through my stomach and go out for a great steak. I let that thought pass and went with celebrating first through my heart. I do still want that steak though!

As I prepare my own heart for Easter I reflect on the abundance of grace available to all. A good friend since childhood recently experienced the grace of Jesus and wrote in a letter to the editor of the local paper in his city. I am humbled by his humility.

3/19/2008

Amazing Grace

Editor, Times-Union:

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.

Wow! I always cry when I hear that first verse. But I never knew why. Well, I do now.

Just listen to the words: “that saved a wretch like me.” Have you ever felt like a wretch? I have. I’m 32 years old, and for 32 years I’ve felt like a wretch. A wretch. A miserable, unfortunate or unhappy person. Ya, that pretty much sums it up.

For 32 years, I don’t remember not feeling miserable, unfortunate or unhappy. But it gets better.

“I once was lost, but now and found.” Yes, I was lost. Always wandering around aimlessly looking for something. But never knew what it was I was looking for. Never could I find it, nor could I buy it. Finally, one day, I gave up. I stopped walking, I stopped looking or caring. I just gave up. I thought people I knew gave up on me as well. But thankfully, someone still had faith in me. His name is God.

When I was done, when I gave up, I tried to end it all. God stepped in and took control of my life. He wasn’t going to let me give up. Not even close. In fact, he has his own plans for my life. And I know he will be at my side. And with him at my side, I can see the light. The light of life. What a wonderful light it is.

And as I stepped into the light, as the verse says, “But now am found, was blind, but now I see.” Need I say more? Amazing grace. You better believe it is!

Sean Shumaker

Warsaw

A while ago I had the opportunity to sit with a young man after the Sunday AM at Indy Metro Church with lots of questions about following Jesus. It is always a joy of mine to listen to someone process questions of faith and probe deeper. He talked about a lot of honest struggles and took great steps towards embracing the Jesus of the Bible.

After we prayed together I gave him a hug. I was so  moved by the sincerity in his search I could think of nothing better to do for my new friend than extend my arms.

To be completely honest though, there was something else unique about him. He smelled really bad. I mean really bad. It was the kind of smell that transformed me and didn’t leave. As I went to lunch with my family and did some running around that day I thought of him quite frequently that day.

Last Sunday, I talked at IMC out the Gospel of John in the Bible. There is this story of all these religious nuts whom caught a woman in the act of adultery. They were so ready to judge her with stones in hand ready to throw….they were utterly surprised in the response of Jesus. Yet, the religious people of the day would prefer to condemn her from her poor choices that see Jesus intercede on her behalf and exhibit great mercy and grace.

It has dawned on me over the past few days in reflecting on this Bible story again that following Jesus truly means following in his actions. And one of those actions is placing ourselves in close enough proximity to in effect “smell” like the person whom Jesus is calling us to love.

The reality is for me today even I face a choice of whether I will only provide support from a distance, or throw stones, or will I get close enough with an attitude of love to truly be used as an instrument of Jesus?

I was reading my good friend Kari’s MySpace and wanted to share a recent blog….

The other night I witnessed one of the greatest gifts that the Holy Spirit can give.  While I am a youth group “coach” I am also a spectator in some of the largest spiritual battles that Satan rages in against the human race; a battle for the souls of those most easily influenced by lies and deceit.  The teenagers of the world today fight, day in and day out, simply for a place to fit.  They are no longer children needing constant supervision yet they are not yet equipped to live entirely on their own. 

They find themselves in a sort of limbo trying to be more grown up but many lack the ability to carry out their decisions maturely.  “Leave a teenager to their own devices and they are bound to screw up”, is a widely accepted attitude which leaves a very large community of people left with such derogatory terms as “Gen X”. Luckily, there are those who choose to fight back; to prove they are not just kids.  They are children of God. 

I sat quietly in the front row and listened intently to a man who was faced with exceptional challenges in his young life.  His story is one of a life of despair, substance abuse, physical abuse to himself and attempted suicide.

Check out Kari’s MySpace Blog for the rest…