Ok, this is random but I find these types of personality surveys affirming.

It’s amazing the uniqueness of personality and passion God gives to every person as completely unique and detailed in every way. As Jesus says in Luke 12:7, “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered…”

Jung Test Results

Your type is: ENFJ

Extroverted (E) 60% Introverted (I) 40%
Intuitive (N) 51.35% Sensing (S) 48.65%
Feeling (F) 56.76% Thinking (T) 43.24%
Judging (J) 61.76% Perceiving (P) 38.24%

“You are a “Persuader”. Outstanding leader of groups. Can be aggressive at helping others to be the best that they can be. 2.5% of total population.”

Check out the variety of free online personality tests at SimilarMinds. 

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…

Sitting in the middle of our Regional Gathering of Missional Leaders being facilitated by Gary Rohrmayer.

One of the things that he has said that struck me was this convicting statement was to, “Act like a leader!” While morally, ethically, and emotionally are all part of this… the context he layed it out is for the leader to act in a way in culture that other people already see them as.

As a follower of Jesus and a leader part of the mantle of leadership requires accepting some of the public expectations and issues that come with it. So often I miss the opportunity to influence people positively because I neglect owning the opportunities to lead to the fullest of my potential and the depth of the need.

I think about times when I haven’t allowed my baggage, job, excuses, etc. to be barriers to engaging a situation with the completeness of my ability. When that happens, God always does things that I never thought weren’t possible. And yet I think of times when I have blown opportunities to be used by God and, “act like a leader.” Uggg.

I can’t help but reflect on what it would look like for me to wake up for even a month straight and act like a leader for Jesus Christ?

Carrie was watching the news on Wednesday and heard a disturbing story on local news. A story about an accused child molester whom worked at a daycare that his mother owned here in Indy. Over Carrie’s nearly 15 years loving families and their children, we hear about these sort of things, but not very often.   

When we were prayerfully considering moving to Indy over 6 years ago, I was digging through the classifieds looking for jobs for both of us. I was sending both of our resumes out in response to what I could dig up. Of the responses, she set up two interviews on the same day. One with a guy who was trying to start church and wanted to start a daycare too. The other with a large daycare. Both looking for a director. Both paid about the same, similar benefits, etc. A crossroads that required much prayer.  

We were both brand new at following Jesus at the time. And while we didn’t know much at all in knowledge and really didn’t know many other Christ followers we knew a major decision to move hours away to an area without jobs, no savings really, no friends there on the hunch that it was God’s heart for us had to be bathed in prayer. So, that’s what we did. Our hunches made some sense as to why move and while we took some hits, but through a number of specific responses God confirmed our hearts and this direction to move to Indy.  

About the job for Carrie? Well, our leading was to go with the risky start up thing. That is a pretty well documented story. J This eventually led us both to be entrenched at the foundation of a brand new church, engaging in the lives of many families throughout the city, and engaged in a missional movement to reach the next generation. Not to mention the personal transformation we have experienced along the way. Clearly, it’s been a journey. Some highs and some lows. Not all simple and pretty. No endeavor with Jesus and people ever is I guess. 

Of the other opportunity she turned down, well, the disturbing story  describes the status of that organization. That was a decision we were clearly in line with the Lord on.

As we are looking at our next stage in loving God and people, much has changed and yet much hasn’t. There continues to be variables of the unknown, lots of uncertainty and risks, and yet our hearts are still burdened with making an impact on the next generation for Jesus Christ and expanding this lovefest. Kinda because of all that I can’t wait to watch the next stage unfold!

We have much to be thankful for today. Today was a day full of the friends and family we care about the most. And another reminder that it is all really about people. Our “stuff” breaks, gets olds, outdated, and becomes uncool so quickly. But its the people in my life that make it all worth it!

Whether a little pre-Thanksgiving get together last night, morning football with a few friends today, or enjoying our Thanksgiving meal today with friends and family we have many people to be thankful for!

For Thanksgiving, I am reminded of a favorite passage in helping to shape my own attitude of prayer and thankfulness towards God. Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

So today, along with our family, we gathered together with many friends from Indy. See Carrie in the above pic with two ladies that joined us today. Both are part from an inner city Bible study Carrie co-leads.

All of us had lots of fun today and again are reminded of how much we truly can be thankful for!