Samaritan House April 20th

As McKenzie said, it's hard to know what to write about when it comes to the Samaritan House. People are unpredictable, and it is only when you don't know what happens next that you get a story that's worth sharing. We don't get to deal with people at Samaritan House, and so have few stories worth sharing. We set tables, serve food, and clean up. It's like being a waiter, except we don't get paid and we choose to describe it as service.

Let me just start by saying that Faith, Love, Hope, and Mercy are not strong points of mine. I have never been famed for my outpouring of charity or my eagerness to help others. As someone who has grown up within the church, this is not an pleasurable confession to make, but it's true. I have often asked myself, "Why, then? Why do I bother showing up? Why do I give my service, for which I would demand at least minimum wage if this were a restaurant? Why do I bother?"

For a long time, I had no ready answer. Then I had an epiphany; why do I serve at Samaritan House? It's certainly not out of the goodness of my heart, for there is none in mine. It wasn't for the approval of my friends, for I am stubborn and willfull enough that mere disapproval could be shrugged off and ignored. I serve because I'm bad at loving people. I serve because I genuinely don't care about the people I'm serving. I serve because where the body goes the spirit will follow. I serve because I need the practice.

Lydia House, April 20

I ran across this quote by C.S. Lewis the other day that said "So many people are only concerned with the existance of God as if God could do nothing but exist." A God that merely exsists seems absurd and not much of a God at all. This thought along with a verse in John, "For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does" (5:20), has motivated me to be more concerned with what God is doing around me.

This past week I was asked to step out of the kitchen (which has quickly become a comfort zone for me at Lydia house) and out into the house's living room area to lead the women's bible study. I had never lead a bible study for anyone older than me so I was a little anxious at first. As I began preparing for the women my nerves seemed to lessen as I was reassured by God about the power of His word to not return void, and with a message I had recently become personally passionate about.

The bible study concerned John 4 and the woman at the well. On Tuesday, with all my notes perpared and continuing in prayer for the women I began to think about the complex, hard, beautiful, and not-so-beautiful aspects of these women's lives. These thoughts continued throughout the day. At the beginning of the bible study, my nerves mounting a bit, I looked out at the women's faces and felt that I was beginning to understand a bit more of the immensity of God's love for these women, women with much in common with the woman at the well. These women much like the one that Jesus had revealed Himself to first. I also felt that the story of Jesus coming to the woman at the well had never been more real and clear to me.

The bible study went well. The women were attentive and more or less engaged. After the study and over dinner I was able to talk to some of the women and was struck by the childlike faith that some of them had. I was reassured that many of the women there had been met by Jesus just like the woman at the well had been and had received the grace, love, and reassurance that He offers.

How amazing that Jesus has been, and still is, meeting these women just like He met with and renewed the woman at the well 2000 years ago. How great it is that we can serve at Lydia House and see what God has been doing.

:)

"Does Anybody Know That You're a Christian"?

Listen!!! Speak to me!!! What do you think??? Be Honest! LOL!!! With Love!!!

MY LIFE AS A STUD by Jackie Hill OFFICIAL P4CM POET

Tell me what you think about this!

Lydia House April 6th

How have you seen God renew your life? Amber challenged the ladies of the Lydia house with this question during the study Tuesday. Some sat doing absolutely nothing while others poured their heart out on a half sheets of computer paper. It was encouraging to hear beautiful stories of how God has worked and continues to work in the lives of some of the ladies, sisters in Christ, we have the privilege of serving. Along with the apparent renewal we see from God, it's also difficult to hear of women who leave and/or seem untouched by God after being exposed to it in the shelter. Part of serving is praising God for the things which are good and beautiful that we see while trusting he will take care of the unseen things. I think we want to see God change people's lives at the Lydia house not only because it's a tangible way of recognizing God at work in the broken world but because it gives us hope. We want to be renewed by God and seeing people fall away gives us a small or major fear it will also happen to us.

There were many praises on Tuesday to say the least. It was definitely fun having people graciously come up for seconds during dinner. There was a lot going on during dinner as usual and the simplicity of a delicious meal made the environment uplifting. It was also encouraging to see the kids show off the Easter eggs they hunted for after the meal and to see everyone appreciate the ice cream and chocolate covered strawberries. Not only is it fun to serve the ladies we are befriending but it's also fun to enjoy the meal and dessert together. The us and them complex isn't apparent and is possibly nonexistent. It's transforming into a community which is much appreciated. It's definitely something to praise God about. Thanks be to GOD!

The Samaritan House, April 6th

It's hard to know what exactly to write when talking about my experience at the Samaritan House. We do the same things every week. We walk across the street from the parking lot, sign in, wash our hands, put on plastic gloves, set up, make lunches, dish food onto plates, dish food onto plates again, announce seconds, clean up, leave. It's quite monotonous. I've been wondering if all the blog posts from our group will end up sounding the same after a while. Maybe not.

It's easy to get into working mode without paying attention to what's going on in the room. The Samaritan House is different from Precious Life and the Lydia House in that we don't interact much with the people we are serving. As a result, when we meet in the park afterward, there usually isn't much to share. No amazing stories of how we see God moving, or of how wonderful the people we meet are. So what do we do with this? I'm not really sure. Maybe there are small ways in which God is working, and I just have to keep my eyes open. Maybe knowing I will have to write about my experience will force me to open my eyes and ears.

I believe that what we're doing there matters. We're serving those men (as well as a small number of women). They have a physical need - the need for food - and we are helping meet it. It's not really about what we get out of serving in the end. But is there more that we could be doing for them? As things are now, it doesn't seem like there is. Should I be concerned about this? I don't know. Possibly.

Perhaps I could try to engage more with those I am serving with. I'll admit that this isn't a strength of mine. It's easy to get lost in my own thoughts while slicing bread and dishing beans onto plates. I often have a hard time keeping conversation going with anyone unless they are a conversationalist, and much more so with people I hardly know. There are individuals there I have been serving alongside for months. To be honest, I can either never remember some of their names, or have never learned them to begin with. That might be a good place to start.

"I'm not pregnant."

Just as I thought there was no way I could connect with the women I was eating dinner with, just as it seemed that my chance to be involved in their community, even if just for a moment, was none, the women erupted into laughter.

I had just gone back for seconds of this amazing pasta I "helped" cook - and by help I mean, watched, as it's better for everyone that I don't try to cook after...well, it's a long story, and there are a couple of them - when Ben told me to get involved in the conversation at my table.

The problem? My table had seven women, five of them pregnant, the two others having birthed children of their own in the past, and me. And no, they weren't talking about sports.

I laughed and said to Ben, "How am I supposed to be involved in this conversation? I'm not pregnant."

One of the women heard me and told the rest and the next thing I knew my cheeks were red and everyone was laughing.

Even the God of the book of Judges has a sense of humor.

From then on I was involved in the conversation, full from thirds of the pasta, and laughing in agony as they talked about the pains of childbirth, swearing I would be the husband holding my wife's hand but looking the other way.

Sunday Series: Theology, Culture and Vocation

I just want to let you all know of an exciting Sunday series (probably 3 weeks) starting this week that will explore questions like: How should we as Christians engage the surrounding culture? Is there any relationships between my vocation choice and my calling as a Christian?

The first Sunday, we will be learning from one of the leaders here at Grace (Cory Willson) who is currently working on his Ph.D at Fuller Seminary specifically in the area of theology and culture. Come join us and get the word out!!! 11:15am sharp.

Guy's Night

So for those who haven't seen behind the scenes footage of Guy's Night (yes I know it's been a LONG time since it happened), you can check it out here at my blog.  In The Idle

Please follow and/or comment on my blog, I would very much appreciate it! Thanks guys and enjoy!