a different kind of clip joint

Last Friday was my favorite night of the month again. Time for our monthly Community Supper, when we cook a meal and invite the neighborhood to join us. September is always a special month, because we also give away haircuts to anyone who wants one. This in response to a homeless friend who one day asked me if I had $5 so he could get his hair cut. Honestly, I had not considered what a homeless person would do if he or she wanted such personal grooming. So now twice yearly (May and September) we have haircutters who give of their time and talent to make others look-and feel- so much better.

That's the really cool part of a haircut night. For a short time, our men, women and kids of the community can sit and be made over by a professional hairdresser, all the time carrying on a conversation and relationship like anyone else might. For that time, each person is treated with value, dignity and care- like they should be- and when finished they look at themselves and just flat out feel better about what (and who) they see.

It's hard to express the feeling I have when I see someone rise from one of our "barber" chairs and stand a little taller, feel a little better and walk a little more confidently. Maybe it's simply a small way that serves to remind us all that we really are God's creation, fearfully and wonderfully made, and that there's such great worth to be found in each person, even if that worth might be harder to see in some because of outward appearance.

Supper was great (tostadas and all the trimmings for about 140) and 48 people got their ears lowered. I'm proud of and grateful for all those who showed up to serve, giving their Friday night to bless others in a tangible way, and I'm grateful for a church that understands the value of reaching out in multiple ways to help people connect with God as we meet some basic human needs.

Guess that's why I consider these nights a cut above.

the all-american sin

Interesting. I've been thinking and wrestling with the whole wealth, materialism and how much we have thing in previous posts this month, and our high school pastor, Evan asked me to speak last Thursday night at the high school bible study. Seems they're doing a series on the 7 deadly sins, and my topic was...greed. I love God's sense of humor, to have me so caught up in some of this and then give me an unanticipated chance to talk about it.

I have come to realize (among other things) that greed is part and parcel of our culture, lifestyle and philosophy. It's so pervasive and insidious that we often fail to recognize it for what it is. It intertwines itself with other sins and attitudes all too freely and subtly. It's no wonder that the early church referred to greed as "the mother of all sins."

Our system breeds greed, and in light of the condition of the world around us, I'd say we're pretty much out of control. And the problem isn't just in our culture but in the Church as well. Greed is a disease that poisons our lives by deceiving us into thinking that what we're doing to get all we want is OK. But it will ultimately kill us if left unchecked. The cure? Begin with the truth as we find it in Scripture, and really believe what Jesus and others tell us about the danger of always wanting more. Then reshift our focus from the stuff of this world to the call of something greater. When we do this we can then begin to live anti-greed. I know that generosity is critical here, both in spontaneous giving to those in need and regular giving to the Lord. Generosity keeps our grip loose on the stuff we have, and we need to not hold on so tightly to that stuff.

My biggest issue is the difference between what I know and what I do. I understand the truth, the massive over-accumulation on my/our part and the need for redistribution. But living this out is another matter. Easier said than done, yeah? I think the key is to begin somewhere and do something, so that God can move me/us toward where He wants me/us to be. Got to make sure something is going on this part of my journey, something that reflects the conviction I am rediscovering in my life. How do you do it? I'd be interested in hearing how God is moving you to make sure you channel what you have for the sake of others. Let me know- after all, we're all in this together. I think Jim Elliot (missionary to the Waodani Indians of Ecuador, who was killed making contact with them) may have said it best:

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

my a-team

Remember that great piece of television writing from more than a few years ago? The one with Hannibal, Face, Murdock and, of course, B.A. Baracus? That show was The A-Team and it provided (among other things) a great line from the character of George Peppard (Col. Hannibal Smith), the group's leader. Whenever things would finally work out like they should- typically by the end of nearly every episode- he would look wistfully into the distance, take a puff of his cigar, and remark, "I love it when a plan comes together!"

In counting my own blessings this last week, I was looking at the awesome men and women who give of their efforts in our church's outreach to those on the streets, and I saw them as MY A-Team. These people do such a great job serving the needs and challenges of those just outside our campus doors, and they do because they want to. Let me elaborate...

When I joined the staff here eight years ago, I was asked to do something with the homeless and struggling in our community. I began to make contact with those on the streets and in the motels and apartments around us, and we started to try to understand their situations and needs. We began a food pantry, and I was seeing people sometimes for hours each day, assessing needs, making connections and helping as we could. It was a growing ministry, but overwhelming, since I was doing it alone.

One man (bless him) helped for some time. When his work schedule changed, another took his place. Then a few more, and a few more... Now, eight years later there's a team of people (see on right) who give their time each Monday and Thursday afternoon to connect with the 40-50 people who line up for food, bus passes, counsel, prayer and friendship. They sit with each one and find out what's going on, how they are getting along, and what they might need. We know most of them, since they come back often- many not so much for the provisions, but for the contact and love shown them for a short time. Our A-Team may fluctuate from six to fifteen on any given day, but that's OK, because God always provides the right ones at the right time.

And here's the part I like best: this group of men and women actually like what they're doing! I know that sounds like it should be obvious, but remember that some of our street people are unlovable in the eyes of our culture. But this team has opened their hearts and extended the unconditional love and touch of Jesus to each of them. This A-Team makes hospital visits, jail visits, home (or street) visits when our people need to be seen. And I am never consulted! They do this on their own time and on their own dime because they have learned a secret- it's the secret of being able to see past the exterior, past what someone is, to the interior, to what that person can be. They are learning to see like God sees. And for that I'm grateful.

I didn't envision a team with this kind of love and commitment when I began this outreach. I prayed for those who would love and give themselves away, but what I received goes far beyond my expectations. I do feel a connection, however, with Hannibal Smith as I survey what God is doing here through His people, and I can say with the good colonel:

I love it when a plan comes together.

give it away, give it away now

Still mulling the wealth stuff (see posts from the 12th and 14th):

Most of us understand the feeling of seeing or being met by a homeless person who wants something from us. You know the drill- become stoic, look away, pretend you have something of great importance on your sleeve or on the passenger seat of your car, pass by as if he or she isn't there, and (if all this fails to deter), just say "no." You know.

Oh, we have our reasons and justifications for not parting with our stuff just because they don't have stuff. And some of those reasons may be...well, reasonable. But did you ever consider that sometimes you need to respond- not just for their sakes, but for YOURS?

Case in point: My family and I lived in the Philippines, the last six years in the mountain city of Baguio. It's a beautiful city, cool and often rainy, with a dampness that penetrates to your bones. You know the kind of dampness I'm talking about. One day as my wife Liz and I are leaving the market, we see a man sitting against a wall with a cup in front of him, begging for change. Actually, he is not doing anything, as his head is down between his knees, he looks as if he is mentally impaired (there's a fair amount of Baguio beggars like that), his bony body shivering.

As we pass by, Liz looked at him, then at me, and said, "I have to buy him a blanket." I agreed, although I reminded her that he would probably not have that blanket tomorrow, as his handlers (those who house many like him, taking the money they make as they provide room and board in return), would undoubtedly take it from him if no one else did first. "That's okay," she said. "I need to do it."

We doubled back to the market, purchased a locally woven blanket, and then proceeded to drape it around the quaking shoulders of this shell of a man. As we did so, I could feel the glare of those passing by, people snickering at us for being so "foolish," telling each other that the puraos (whites) were wasting money for something that would so quickly disappear. Sure enough, the next day the man was there at his post, curled up, quivering in the cold with his beggar's cup...and no blanket.

We could have considered our act of compassion to be a waste of time and money- except for one thing. God had impressed upon Liz's heart to give, and in that moment she responded to His prompting. She recognized that sometimes the call to share is not only for the recipient but also for the giver. She knew that each time God moves our hearts to act in love and we refuse, our hearts become a little harder- and less apt to respond the next time. And she did not (and does not) want a hardened heart before the Lord. So she gave, not just because a man was cold, but also because she did not want to become cold.

I know there are those always asking, always taking, always expecting something from us. We won't give to everyone. We probably can't. But we can ask God to keep our hearts soft, our grips loose, and our eyes focused on the needs of those around us.

Not only for them, but for our own souls as well.

got a voltmeter handy?

On the news the other morning, a report of GM's new addition to the auto stable. An electric car pictured here, named the Volt (how clever), is the machine that they are pinning their hopes on. A representative touted the amazing benefits of this little machine to the newscaster, telling him the outstanding benefits of owning a Volt- both for the pocketbook and for the environment. It all sounded pretty good- that is, if you only need to go 40 miles between charges (although there is a gas engine good for 300 miles when your battery dies...so at that point you're back to the original combustible engine issue, but that's another story).

Then the two big questions. First the newscaster asked when the Volt would be available to the public. The answer? Probably not until 2011, although it will be in the hands of product testers by 2010! Hmmm, three more years? A lot can change in that time, so it seems that we are still a ways off from real help. The second question (and the one I was waiting for)- what will the cost be? The rep look sincerely at the camera said that GM wants to keep this car in the realm of affordability since it will be an valuable option for the public, so they are looking at a cost of something less than $40,000.

$40,000?! Are you freakin' kidding me? This is GM's affordable answer to our energy problems? Two (printable) thoughts raced to the front of my thinking. Number one, if I had the money to purchase a $40K car, it sure wouldn't be something like this from GM. I could- and would- find more desirable alternatives in a heartbeat. Number two, the people who need help the most in dealing with energy issues will be the ones least able to afford what American manufacturers like GM are trying to push. Once again, those with the greatest need will continue to struggle the most, with the fewest options available to them.

What are we thinking? And who are we kidding? I know affordability is a relative thing, but come on. It's insulting that corporate America tries to (once again) convince us that this kind of thinking is actually reality. Maybe for some, but not for most, and certainly not with the America I interact with on a regular basis. I say, drag 'em back to the drawing board until they come up with something that really works for a bigger percentage of the American public.

One thing for sure: it'll take more than the Volt to get me charged up for a GM car.

view from the east

Still mulling over this challenge of worldly riches and our response as Christ-followers:

I was in China in April and I had so many great experiences, so many events and places that opened my eyes to concepts I might not have ever considered in that great country. A few impressions that struck me as we traveled from Mongolia in the north all the way to Hong Kong in the south:

- I was blessed (as I am in most parts of the world) with the friendliness and approachability of the people. They seemed as interested in us as we were in them, and openly tried to share with us with the little (or sometimes considerable) amount of English they knew;

- Christianity is growing and maturing in ways I had not thought. I assumed that believers worshiped quietly in every place, constantly looking over their shoulders in fear of reprisal. While there are definite issues with authorities (and that differs from place to place), it is not like I had imagined, as we met in marketplaces and public buildings, sang our hearts out and shared quite actively;

- I think I had expected that most people (especially those in Beijing) would be wearing Chairman Mao hats and carrying their Little Red Books with them. Boy, was that a silly misconception! In the cities especially, there is a race toward modern westernism, with all that it entails (so glad for the Starbucks that we found!). Make no mistake, communism still rules the country, but people are looking to capitalism as their future. Construction is taking place everywhere, and I was told that perhaps 25% of all cranes (the machines, not the birds!) are found in China's cities. I think we must have seen half of them;

- I quickly realized that the materialism that has gripped our culture (and Church) for so long is not ours alone. The quest for "stuff" feels as all-consuming in China as it is here, particularly in the urban centers. And as people of all ages rush after the "good things" of life I believe that the greatest obstacle for the Chinese Church in the foreseeable future will not be communism...but consumerism.

May God grant them grace to figure out how to do a better job slaying that dragon than we have.

if i were a rich man...

A few weeks ago, when Obama and McCain spoke at Saddleback Church, they were asked about increased taxation for those who were "rich." Of course, the first issue to be settled was how much it takes to be considered rich. Obama mentioned a yearly income of $150,000 as a defining marker (I think he has since upped the amount to $250,000), and McCain jokingly tossed out $5 million as his figure, saying he didn't want to base tax increases simply on personal income.

Political rhetoric, yeah. But I was waiting for the real answer, the answer that most all of us think of when considering what qualifies someone as being rich. It's simple: rich is the guy who has more than me. Because no matter how much I make, I'm just getting by. Therefore, it's the person making more than me who is rich. Told you it's simple.

But what if you and I compare ourselves with another group? Not with those in the high rent districts, but with those living in the rest of the world. If I consider my income and possessions alongside the majority of people on this earth, I quickly realize that I'm the one who is wealthy. I'm the rich person. And so are you. I have scandalously more than most will dare dream of. Ever. And so do you. I've been frivolous with more than most will ever see. And likely, so have you.

But what's that mean in the scope of life's bigger picture? Probably a lot, but for now, at least this: when Jesus talks about riches and rich people, and the issues they face in relation to his kingdom, he's talking about me. To me. And to you. When he says that a camel would have an easier time squeezing through a needle's eye than a rich man making it to heaven, I know that I qualify as that rich man. I don't want to, but I do. Ouch.

Makes me think again about what I have and what I do with it. After all, if it all comes from God, belongs to God, and is to be used for God, it's never mine to begin with. I'm simply supposed to manage it well. Use it wisely. And make the most of it. They say that with great blessing comes great responsibility. You and I are greatly blessed. If you'd go with me to the slums of Nairobi, the streets of India, the hillsides of southeast Asia, or the squalor of Mexico City you'd see it. You'd understand. Maybe you have and you do. I have, and I don't like what I see. Around me. And within me. But I'm rich, and I'm called to figure out what to do about it.

And so are you.

where do you hang your hat?

90210. 92663. 90810.
Do you know these zip codes? (answers at end of post.)

We all know the three most important elements of real estate- location, location, location. Where you live matters much in our culture, not just how or that you live. I get that. But it's made me think again about those who don't quite measure up in the "where you live" department.

Like a homeless man at a church in Long Beach where I used to serve. One Sunday he filled out a visitor card, and in response to our request for his zip, he simply wrote, "none." None? Everyone has a zip code, don't they? No zip code means you live nowhere, you have no permanence, with little or no meaningful connection to society (at least in our eyes).

Like Mike and Ginger, a homeless couple who invited me to their home just off the freeway. And as we walked together under an overpass, past a pumping station, and along a trail of trees lining that freeway, I found their camp. There along the frantic passing of society was their home- a simple shelter for sleeping (complete with double bed), a privy that served as a toilet, an ice chest (fridge), and couch and chairs sitting out front. As we sat an drank a six-pack of cola they had saved for the occasion, they told me that although the world called them homeless, they knew better. They admitted to being houseless, but they had a home, and a community, even if it was virtually invisible (and undesirable) to the humanity speeding past them.

We look at the Mikes and Gingers of our world and see that they have problems. And we're right. They do. But maybe, just maybe, we need to look carefully at our problems as well. We strive for the "best" places, the "best" stuff, the "best" lifestyles. And we run after the status, possessions and comfort the world says matter most. But if they matter so darned much, tell me why so many who have so much end up so unsatisfied. Maybe, just maybe, we've been chasing the wrong stuff, and we've ended up in the wrong place.

After all, it's all about location.

(answers: Beverly Hills [of course], Newport Beach, West Long Beach)

shack attack!

*warning- this is a long post!*

During my time in Kenya last month, I brought along a copy of the novel,The Shack, by William Young (thanks, Rebecca, for lending me your well-used copy). I first heard of this book in the spring while teaching at a missions school in Montana. I discovered that it's one of this year's hot copies on the bookstands and has soared near the top of several secular Top 10 Lists, even though it is a God-centered story. I also discovered that it is currently a huge hot-button issue in Christian circles, as it presents the nature of the Godhead in a unique (controversial?) manner, as well as our relationship to the person of God. I figured I should read it, since it would probably be something I would eventually be asked about anyway (and I was right).

The story contained in The Shack revolves around the age-old question: "Where is God in the midst of our suffering and pain?" Young seeks to resolve that struggle by presenting the triune nature of God in a fresh (heretical?) way to his readers. The main character, MacKenzie Phillips, is invited to meet God in a secluded shack, even as he is struggling with the murder of his young daughter, an event he can't understand in light of what he knows about God. He accepts the invitation and discovers the person of God in a manner he never expected. The time spent there helps him work through and resolve not only his daughter's death, but his struggle with his relationship with God. It is moving, passionate, engaging and challenging. I stayed up late reading just one more chapter, argued aloud with the author over some of his statements and ideas, and wept over some of my own struggles in my concept of and relationship with God.

I sensed that the author wrote this out of his own experience and suffering, trying to make sense of some of his own life issues. Some of the images and ideas he presented were frustrating, some were theologically questionable (at best), some were wonderfully woven and crafted. Young is an excellent wordsmith and storyteller. I know that there are concepts that some (many?) disagree with. I had trouble with some as well. But as uncomfortable as I was with some of the pictures he painted, I was challenged with trying to understand God in ways I have not considered. Seems to me that the longer we are in the faith, the more solid, sedate and stationary we tend to become. It is harder to move us, to shake us up, to rattle our cages (now that's not always a bad thing, but sometimes...).

This book is a cage-rattler. It provoked me to rethink ideas I may have taken for granted after many years, and it reminded me of a particular critical concept, that of relationship. God's great desire is to restore our connection and relationship with Him in a growing and vibrant way. And He wants us to understand the value of relatonship by looking at His own nature, one of triunity. I know it's tough, and our best efforts will always fall short, but I believe we need to continue to try to picture it as best we can. The pictures are important.

The critics of this book are many, and some of their remarks have value (you can find them all over the internet, so I won't bother here). But there is a bigger picture that can have great value for us, as well as for those outside the Church who are searching for answers. A work like this can be a great tool to foster conversation. People are showing interest. Why not use what has been provided as a springboard for greater spiritual discovery? And while we're at it, why not use this to propel our relationship to a more initimate level with a God who cares so very much for us, and who is waiting to meet us wherever we find ourselves in life's journey?

words carry weight

A couple of weeks ago, between services at our church, a young woman approached me. She thanked me for talking to her over the phone some time back as she was contemplating having an abortion. It had been more than a year previously when she called the church wanting to speak with a pastor. I got the call and, even though I had never met her, we discussed her situation. Seems she wasn't convinced that abortion was her best option, but her boyfriend was pressuring her. In fact, she was speaking to me as he was driving her the clinic in San Diego. We spoke for maybe 15 minutes, prayed together, and said our goodbyes, with nothing seemingly resolved. It was a frustrating conversation, since I was afraid she would continue on course, and I would probably never know the outcome of things.

Standing together on this Sunday morning, she informed me that, following the call, she decided against the abortion. Then she introduced me to a beautiful young boy in her arms and told me that this was her son, and she was holding him that day because she had chosen to give him the opportunity to live. She simply wanted me to meet him and know that our few minutes over a telephone made a lifetime of difference for her...and for him.

Wow. I was struck. It doesn't always turn out like this. Right choices are often more difficult than wrong (or easier) choices. They require courage and responsibility. And the blessings are usually evident, obvious, and can often be held close to you. But my reason for writing this was not so much to make a statement about life or responsibility (although they are both poignant here), but to remind us all that simple words spoken, direction offered, concern displayed can make the difference in someone's life- and it could be a matter of life or death. We may not know the impact of our words, our touch, or our love, but make no mistake, there is an impact. Proverbs 25:11 reminds us that a word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in setting of silver. So keep speaking such words. Words of encouragement, of counsel, of warning, of hope. They make a difference.

At least I met a little boy who thinks so.