Conflicted...

There isn't a week that goes by that I'm not in some way conflicted. As one who loves to "help" it's easy to get up and go; to be "out there" helping those on the fringes of life. To load up my tools and team up with a group to rebuild someones home gives me great pleasure (it's why I buy new power tools). To load box after box of food for the food bank does the same for my spirit. My soul is overwhelmed knowing that I get to go back to Kenya in October. Yes, the list goes on and on...

Here's the internal confliction; has my service to the poor, the homeless, the thirsty, the sick and the hungry become a fun religious activity, or does it come from a deeper place; a heart that has been touched by God?

Don't get me wrong, confliction can be good. Being at odds with our self can keep us centered as it helps us check our motives. Sometimes my heart gets a bit upside down and my motives are self-centered. At other times, my heart is just fine. I think this is the essence of our journey with Christ in that his deepest desire is to restore our hearts, and in doing so we can be his hands and feet in a hurting world. This is not a linear issue, it's an organic one. Figure this one out for yourself :^)

As I promised at our Sunday service yesterday (April 19th), listed below are a few simple prayers that I use to keep me centered which usually eases the confliction...

Dear God, restore my heart this day. Renew it that I may see the world as you see the world. Breathe a fresh breathe into the depths of my heart that my eyes will be opened that I too may see and serve the least of these…

Dear God, refresh my heart each day that I may continue my a quest; a quest of getting to know you. Help me read when I should read, fast when I should fast, pray when I should pray, and help me fight off the urge to make this a solo journey…

Dear God, my heart is yours. I give you all I can give you at this moment. I still have questions, I still have doubts, I still have a long way to go, but this day I give you my heart, as is…

Need some inspiration? Read Psalm 51.

Peace out...

Rise...

Easter is a celebration of the final step Jesus took on this earth validating his claim to be the living God of the cosmos; his miraculous resurrection after death. This incredible step, however, was simply the culminating step; one that was preceded by many others (healing the sick, calming the storms, feeding the thousands, cleansing lepers, raising the dead, casting out demons and touching the hungry souls of those who were living in the margins).

To get at the heart of the Easter message, we must go back to the first public speech given by Christ.

Luke 4:16-22

Read it a few times and then work through the following questions:

1. What was Jesus saying in this first public address?
2. Why did he need to say it?
3. What is the Good News anyway?
4. What do you now believe?
5. How shall you now live?
6. Where is our hope?

At the heart of the Easter message is a call to "rise up" and "be the miracle" in lives of those in our world who need a helping hand (the poor, the homeless, the hungry, the orphaned, the widowed and those who live the margins). This is the Good News; Jesus came offering a living and tangible hope that more often than not comes with a cold cup of clean water, a bed to sleep in, food for a family and a safe place to live for HIV/AIDS orphans.

Easter, along with one's faith, was never meant to remain a corporate private affair; it's a celebration meant to be lived in community; side by side as we serve the least of these.

Rise up my friends and be the miracle. There are people next door and around the world counting on you.

If, however, you think that I'm off base or missing the point, then feel free to comment.

Shalom...

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