Pride and Prejudice

Last night, after my small group dragged me out to serve a Thanks Giving diner at an inner city ministry, I finally got back home ready to give therapy to my pruny hands (from directing people to scrub pots and pans. directing is one of my 26 spiritual gifts). I was ready to sooth my paws with a cold one. But my one roommate and his girlfriends (intentional plural) then convinced me to head out to see a movie… Pride and Prejudice.

This year I coincidently and strangely had the opportunity of speaking with 2 of my past high school girlfriends. I haven’t spoken to, or seen either one in 10yrs. Hannah is from Denmark, and is now married and living in Malawi. She has had 3 kids of her own and has officially adopted 25 orphans into her family. (Unreal story!) Danielle now lives in London after getting engaged to her fiancé in Paris. She is an excited homeowner (I hear this is important) and wife to be.

I have a history with Pride and Prejudice. You see I studied this classical masterpiece, written by the 20yr old Jane Austin, in high school English Literature class and feel in love with the characters, well with one in particular. Yes, I’ll admit it, I feel in love with Elizabeth Bennet. Hannah nor Danielle stood a chance against Lizzy. Lizzy was perfect in her imperfect family, she was deeply beautiful, vivacious, strong, self-confident (without being self consumed- this is rare and often confused), witty, loving and even forgiving. Everything a young high school boy dreams of…perhaps not, but I did.

The thing is, after I watched P&P last night, I realized I am still drawn to this elusive Ms. Bennet. Has Elizabeth Bennet set the high standard of my expectations? Oh crap! How did I allow a fictional 18th century English rose define my desires? Many wonderful Danielles and Hannahs have come and gone and I still stumble toward the mirage of Elizabeth. Is that wrong to have such preferences/likes? Is this reflecting my pride or my prejudice or both or neither?

Well, I do realize that I am no Mr. Darcy. I am not in possession of a good fortune nor am I in want of a wife. So I will let this one simmer.

“We are the ones we have been waiting for.” – Jim Wallis

I’ve been at the annual CCDA (Christian Community Development Association) Conference in Indianapolis having my mind and soul beaten back into shape by the convicting words from the likes of John Perkins, Wayne Gordon, Jim Wallis, Shane Claiborne, Michael Emerson, Barbara Skinner, Bob Lupton, Ray Bakke, Curtis De Young, George Yancy, the Apostle Paul, the prophet Amos and others.
I love CCDA. I love that 20 plus folks from my church went. I love that both my old roommates and some of my closest friends were all there. Even my old Urban Prof, Doc Fuder, whom originally got me going to this a few years back was there. I love that I met a zillion beautiful passionate people who are seriously taking up their cross and following…and not just talking about it. I love that every year I go, God gives me pieces to this puzzle picture of His Kingdom. He takes out those old pieces of comfort and security etc that others and I have tried to force in, that won’t fit coz they are not from Him. I love that it is at CCDA that you can pick up these rare puzzle pieces regarding justice, compassion, and God’s heart for the poor. It’s deeply convicting to hear an unashamed, prophetic rebuke for us His Bride to act like His bride - a sweeter, truer gospel of times gone by, missing in far too many of our anemic, lazy churches.

I know that me trying to make these precious truths make sense right now would be a disaster as I have just harvested them and have only now begun processing them. But I am tempted to give you a taste. (Pastor Daniel preached a great message on all this, this morning at church and I shared some stuff for a few minutes too. if you want the cd, holler.) Here are a few lines to chew on.

“The sin is systemic and you can’t just repent of it on a personal level. You must change the law to see justice.”- R.Bakke

“Character and commitment are produced in the furnace of suffering.” –an old really smart guy.

“If Saddam had repented the American Church would not have been able to handle it.”- R.Bakke

“Poverty is today’s new slavery. And the poor are not just trapped in it they are trapped in the debate about it.”- Jim Wallis.

Okay one last story.
I was sitting in the lobby of the Marriott in downtown Indy where the conf was being held. I was sitting there processing everything I had heard earlier that evening from Jim Wallis. (one amazing heart breaking challenge that lead to everyone going down on their knees before God.) It was just after midnight and I was waiting for my crew in a quiet almost empty lobby when whom should walk in but Jim Wallis. He looked at me and walked over. I stood up and he shook my hand and started a really great conversation with me. I hate what a weirdo I can become when meeting people I fully respect. But he was so engaging and asked me loads of questions. He LOVES South Africa and was even there at Nelson Mandela’s inauguration!
I’m still not sure why he stopped to talk to me but it was neat to meet someone I think is a modern day prophet. I told him that too and he just chuckled.

CCDA 2006 in Philly. Be there!

I think God is giving me new shoes

My friends are incredible visionaries. Last night we pounded out some sort of transformational vision… a step in “letting them be known”. (see article in last post.)

So, if the world were a playground, Africa would be the poor kid who fell off the monkey bars and broke both her legs. Oouch! I know, a painful illustration. Unfortunately the rest of the kids keep on playing while she deliriously whimpers for help. The tragedy is not that the poor child has broken her legs or that no one notices…. No, the greater tragedy is that hardly anyone cares ENOUGH to DO something about it!

I believe God is calling the Western Church to do something. But I am convinced that this desperately needed help must come in the vessel of relationships. God does not just want money ministering to people He wants people ministering to people. God did not send a check, He sent His Son. In this context it would require the Church in the West to be in deep relationship with the Church in Africa. Going, being, knowing.

The synergy created by relationship fuels us to care enough to do something and also helps us empathize and understand first hand the complex problems that plague the people. When we enter into relationship, suffering now owns a face and action soon follows. Images of poverty seldom carry a person beyond temporal sympathy but a relationship with poverty will demand that we act. I personally learned this in Africa when I prayed with Eric, a skeleton of a man my age, wasting away in his bed, dying of AIDS. No statistics, stories or figures broke my heart like looking into the eyes and touching the skin and bones of Eric.
…hmmm.

I’m not sure how this will look in the end. There is so much more to the “how” part of it all, and I am already doing a disservice by trying to squeeze this into a blog entry. So stick around and wait for the website.(www.africarevolution.org)
I’m not even sure if I’m the right person for this beautiful task. But I repeatedly hear God asking me to follow Him into this. Hastily... but nervously I reply, “yes Lord I'm behind You”.
I am excited, terrified and overwhelmed at the possibilities and potential of walking in these new shoes, but I think I’m ready for a tighter contract.

"If this isn't an emergency, what is? In the scriptures we are not advised to love our neighbor, we are commanded. The Church needs to lead the way here, not drag its heels...
But I tell you, God is not looking for alms; God is looking for action. He is not just looking for our loose change--He's looking for a tighter contract between us and our neighbor."
-Bono U2 (On AIDS in Africa)

I could not have said it better

“Africa has become a trendy topic these days. Hollywood celebrities have adopted the ONE Campaign, the most popular musicians in the world have become activists through Live8, and the media covers more stories on AIDS, famine, war and poverty.

But as Africa becomes more topical, it can be easy to make Africans a cause that is advertised on a wristband or T-shirt or guitar case instead of people who reflect God’s image just as we do. It’s hard when all we see are the staggering statistics and the children with bloated bellies and flies on their faces. In our attempts to be advocates for Africa, it is difficult to reach beyond simple awareness. And although awareness is a vital first breath in the conversation about injustice, the Gospel calls us to something more transformational. It provokes us to the uncomfortable act of knowing and to the intentional decision to be present in the suffering of a person whose shoes walk daily on the battlefield where hope and death, life and despair wage their unyielding war.
They don’t want pity. They don’t want charity. Like all of us, they want to be known….
How powerful it is to walk in someone’s shoes when they’re barefoot.”
-Jena Lee
(taken from an article in Relevant Magazine- Issue. 17)

I have been given the amazing opportunity to pioneer something that will allow people to incarnationally know the people of Africa and enter into their suffering. This Sunday I meet with smarter people than I and we will dream up an African revolution. I’m nervous and excited all at the same time. More on this to come…

Mull it over

Have you ever wondered what the person in the car next to you is thinking or the person in the line at the grocery store is thinking? Well, here are some random snippets of thoughts and truths recently orbiting my cranium while I drive to work, clean the kitchen or walk down the street:

Sometimes people asking for advice aren't always looking for advice; they're looking for you to confirm what they have already decided.

Unity at the expense of truth is worthless.

Do we need more milk at home? Mhmmmm, Rocky Road or dishwashing liquid? Tough choice.... Needs and wants allan, get it right.

Since when did "at least I’m being honest" give license to say whatever we want regardless if its hurtful or rude. When did honesty become the highest stand-alone virtue?

Don't just say, "let's do coffee or let's hang out sometime" with no intention of ever doing so.

Always Tip well, you may be poor but don't be cheap.

I can't believe this person is cutting me off without using their blinker! Oh my gosh...and they're on the phone! I'm totally gonna yell at them...*yell*: "It's a car not a freakin phone booth!"

Avoid saying, “I'm praying for you" because you care for someone, but then don't pray for them. It’s not just a nice sentiment; coz from another angle it’s a lie about talking to God on someone else’s behalf. Rather just tell them that you care for them and walk away. I think God would prefer this.

When debating or discussing a topic, try not to make it personal. If you do, you'll hinder yourself from learning. And consider that what you've always thought was true, may actually be wrong. It will make you a better learner.

I love the font on that billboard! Remember to look that up when you get home. Note to self, www.whatthefont.com

Don't tell small lies to get out of something or make a situation smoother. Little lies are like invisible bacteria that eat at your soul corroding your very character.

Learn to say no. It might be the kindest thing you could ever say, for the person asking and for yourself. Boundaries, capacity and limits ultimately make you a healthier stronger person.

Look at all those people pretending to study in Starbucks! Lord I’m so glad I’m done studying! What the? ...he's totally hitting on her!

Sleep may be the most spiritual activity you could participate in at the end of a long day.

And to go along with that...something that I learned from one of my favorite Profs, Dr. Thrasher,
"God will never give you more than you can possibly do in 24hrs. Other people might... and you might... but God never will."