So, I took a trip to the coast to conduct what I call a wave survey.  I count waves.  To me it’s like meditation and it’s easy to get into that meditative state.  I sat for hours and thought of things supernatural.  I have to admit it wasn’t only godly things but demonic things also crept into my mind.  There is no real comparison but when one thinks on the light it is contrasted with the dark.

I spent a lot of my time praising God for His creation, His gifts of mercy and faith, my redemption, His forgiveness.  I thought a long time about His forgiveness; He has forgiven me much.  And I thought about my ability to forgive and how it pales  compared to His.  But, that I am able to forgive, as I forgive, is reason for praise.  Forgiveness opens up space in the heavenly places where miracles can occur, and do occur. Brennan Manning in Reflections for Ragamuffins states:

“The summons to live as forgiven and forgiving children is radically inclusive….  The demands of forgiveness are so daunting that they seem humanly impossible. The exigencies of forgiveness are simply beyond the capacity of ungraced human will. Only reckless confidence in a Source greater than ourselves can empower us to forgive the wounds inflicted by others…”

It is only the certainty of Now faith that I am able to forgive wholly.  (I’ll be writing my next blog on that)

Charles "Chuck" Bayne

We come up with all kinds of “churchy” terms for it; born again, sanctification, transformation, but it is REAL.  We experience the saving work of Jesus, the grace and love of our Father, the movement within of the Spirit, we are changed, transformed, renewed, forever.  That doesn’t make us exempt from sin and suffering but we are set aside, chosen by God. But, we are not to judge (Rom 2:1), “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” (1Peter 3: 15-16)

As for the suffering point, I agree that we evangelicals often mislead new people in the faith by painting a bed of roses picture of what will happen just by choosing Christ.  My personal story of redemption from an addictive/sinful lifestyle is one of hope which I must tell those who are still suffering.  I am quick to add that I still must contend with sin but that God helps me with that AND that I have hope and a new freedom, not because I quit drinking, drugging and otherwise acting out but because of God’s grace I don’t HAVE to do those things anymore.

This is the way the whole thing works.  It is God’s work through us:

personal transformation → community transformation.

Yolanda Gamble working things out

Jesus said to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. But what happens when we love ourselves more than we love our neighbor? We can so easily become so self-involved, my schedule, my time, my life. Me.Me.Me. We can so easily turn into MeMonsters, who fail to see the value of simply smiling at a neighbor or saying hello to someone in the check out line.

By: Hans Splinter

Learnable Moments *: Teachable moments from the neighborhood become learnable moments for you.
*All Learnable Moments characters’ names changed for privacy

Two seconds? Five seconds? How long does it take to think of someone from childhood that was always picked on and bullied, the brunt of every joke, the one who never quite learned how to make friends with the other children?

Around here his name is Matthew. For years Matthew has been bullied, pushed about, and made to cry by kids of all ages.  But he’s not without fault—Matthew instigates the trouble much of the time by name calling, tattling, and “picking” at others.

Bullies create bullies. And some people who most want friends don’t yet have the skills to make them.

A few weeks back, no different than many other weeks, Matthew found himself the brunt of a cruel joke. For once, he didn’t instigate. Wrong place, wrong time, and he, the innocent bystander, was ultimately blamed for the joke of another that left him being battered about with wet socks on a picnic bench.

He didn’t cry. He didn’t tattle. He just sat there and took the hits from Paul and Sam, who not only orchestrated the setup, but also served as judges and enforcers to the punishment. Unfortunately for Paul and Sam, they were seen.

All choices have consequences, and as Paul and Sam know, the unwise choices often have undesirable consequences. They lost not only the privilege to attend the last day of Spring Break Camp, but also pride, status, and esteem in their peers’ eyes—they had to apologize to Matthew.

Presented with this next choice, Paul and Sam paths’ diverge. Sam refuses to apologize and heads home with his head held high, his pride intact, and a Friday with nothing to do.

Because Paul takes the hit and apologizes, Matthew receives a gift—the opportunity to show grace and mercy. When posed the question, “Do you think Paul should be able to come tomorrow,” Matthew takes responsibility for laughing at the joke on someone else, acknowledges his role in the events leading up to the wet socks incident, and states that Paul should be able to attend.

And so the bullied learn to lie down rather than fight back, and a bully becomes indebted to his prey. After years of water, light, good soil and love, the seed begins to sprout.

I Corinthians 3:7 “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

Mark Twain (30 November 1835 - 21 April 1910)

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Kids Camp 2011

Here it comes—a season of drinking lemonade, taking trips to the library, and playing in the sprinkler on the lawn. This summer, add “sharing the love of Jesus” to your summer list by adopting a week of programming or applying to serve as an AmeriCorps member for summer Kids Camp 2012.

Volunteer groups plan and implement activities for youth ages K-8^th grade for one of the eight weeks of Kids Camp. AmeriCorps members serve throughout the summer, building relationships with neighborhood children and investing daily in their lives.

In 2011, over 100 youth participants, 50 volunteers, and 11 outstanding AmeriCorps members combined to make Kids Camp at the Frank Garrett “the best summer of [one participant’s] life!!!” Join us in playing, learning, growing, and serving the community this summer!

Adopting the West End Park

I had so much fun painting and helping Urban Connection’s park look awesome! I really enjoyed spending time with the kids and seeing them contribute to their community.

Adopt a Park is one of the best community service events I love to attend. Although the kids and I are not professional painters, the park looks great. It is awesome to see kids at such a young age help keep the park stay clean and have pride in it.

I hope to attend many more Adopt a Park’s!

- Janet

Where do you turn when, as Monica says,  in the song, Don’t Take It Personal, “it’s just one of them days”?

I spend my time alone,  in a time of praise, worship and meditation. During this time HE reminds me that no matter what people may think or say about me, He is jealous for me…Oh, HE love me…

Leadership isn’t easy.  Pray for leaders everyday. Whether the person is your boss, or the President of the United States.

And if as leaders, we are not making, what you feel, are good decisions then stop bumping your gums.  PRAY.  There is nothing that your friend or neighbor can do, but God is the one that can change a leaders heart.

ALL leadership is ordained by God, so if you have an issue, go to HIM.

However in going to HIM you also have to trust HIM… Selah