The Journey: blog

A staff member from The Village was shot this morning at least four times. He was hit in the neck, the chest, the hip, and the (no kidding) rear end. Local news stories have said that the shots were life-threatening, which is understandable due to the location of the bullets.

Despite the news report, Rob Malcom (the staff member) is doing incredible.

One doctor summarized it, "The stopping point of the bullets doesn't make sense from where they entered his body." 

One entered his chest and missed his heart by an inch.

Another hit his neck and missed his spine, becoming a "superficial" wound.

We visited Rob at the hospital- and the most painful wound is the one in the hip, he says.  When not updating people on the wounds, recounting the story of God's protection from being shot from less than ten feet away, or wincing from the pain in that hip, Rob prays for the man who shot him- a man he has never met and apparently was looking for someone else.

There is no damage to any organs, it appears. They are still running tests and waiting on final results (the shooting was around 10:30 a.m., this morning, so I'm writing about 4.5 hours post-event).

Rob's life story is a testament to the redemptive power of Grace. He currently runs one of The Village's not-for-profit businesses, and spends much of his time pastoring and counseling people coming through the same road he has travelled. His life has been radically changed by Jesus- and the Lord evidently has much more work for him to do.

We are grateful- and will post more about Rob later. Thanks for continuing to pray. 

Churches... like Starbucks? What if...?

If church was like a NBA game...

Ok... interesting... What if church was like a drive-thru?

 

More than a few Christians have made remarks about the end of the world that never came...

• Preachers are bashing him (bashing- not correcting)- even famous preachers.

• Some feel he should repent- even giving back money that he supposedly made from this.

• Others are mocking.

• Some are asking genuine questions.

Whatever you make of Harold Camping, the preacher that proclaimed the End would come on May 21, 2011, Saturday came- and went- and we were all here. We were all left behind.

Here's where I think we are, how I think we approach our brothers & sisters (yes) who expected to make a departure last week. None of it is original to me. I've read it here and here  and here in much more verbose (and smarter) language:

1. We acknowledge that they were right. The End is coming. The End came for 156,000 people on Saturday, and Sunday, and Monday...  Moreso than death, Jesus will return and take back the living. He said as much; Harold Camping agreed that what Jesus said was true. Though we cannot know when, He will return. We often forget this- though the Early Church longed for His coming.

2. We acknowledge they reverenced- and longed for- Christ's return. The Bible says we should long for the coming return of Christ (2 Timothy 4:8). Admittedly, if Jesus did return, it would have been an interruption for many of us. These people were all ready to go. One pastor in my city rightly said on a May 21 post something to the effect of, "The only thing sadder than predicting a rapture that doesn't come is making light of it." In many respects, their hearts may have been more in the right place than ours.

3. We acknowledge they went "all in" with something where we usually are "10 % (or less) committed." There are stories of people liquidating savings accounts of upwards of $140,000 to warn people of Jesus' return- and to encourage them to repent (see here and here for more on Camping). There are reports of believers standing in public places, passing out tracts and preaching on street corners. We might disagree with their methods, but we could all learn from their passion. In fact, we should have that same passion (see 2 Peter 3:8-11).

That's where most people I've read leave it. Or where their answers turn theological.

However, I think we should simply go a step farther...

4. We acknowledge them as brothers and sisters and welcome them back into the Church, the very Church they shunned for being reprobate, acknowledging that we have all made theological errors and missteps before. Our arguments will not win them over; grace always does. There is no out-arguing grace. Some of our errors have been minor; others have caused massive issues. Yet, God is kind, and grace is more than enough. 

My two cents...

 

How do you respond to this with grace? What can we do to help, to rescue, to provide a way out for those wanting it? How can we offer hope and restoration to those who have come through it...? 

I sense more and more- I see it- that what we speak to people and believe in them, blessing them for who God has called them to be rather than who they have been (even if who they have been is only moments, seconds old), they rise to the grace given to them. I saw it on a former addict's face earlier this week; I saw it on a newly pregnant single lady yesterday...

More at: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WomensHealth/abortion-rate-poor-women/story?id=13665925

I saw side of Chief Roper at the prayer walk this Saturday that I hadn't seen  before... I've never seen a "bad" side of him. In fact, he's always been gracious and un-hurried, taking time to shake hands, allow people to take snap shots of him with their camera phones... always thanking everyone who helps with the prayer walks. I've known him for about two years- and he's always struck me as nothing less than absolutely stellar.

Chief Roper "took back" the platform this morning, just before we headed to pray. "This lady right here," he said, motioning to the home less than 10 yards from the stage, directly next to it, "was scheduled to be evicted today. She lost her job months ago... and, since we're here, with this stage and all these people, the people who were going to put her out couldn't do it."

The crowd of several hundred cheered as the chief reminded us that he had gotten permission from the lady to share her story- and then proceeded to direct anyone who felt led to give to go see a minister that was standing near her.

The incredible people who pray with us each month were electrified. Many of them gave, others of them cried and prayed with the woman and her son. Several people made connections for her that will lead to a job, I believe, by the end of next week.

We're the church. For all our flaws, we're the change the world needs.

Thank you for spurring the church to action, Chief!

The animal kingdom knows it must pool together to rescue the weak and wounded.... or they won't make it.  I was struck by this- and the parallels we see in the Gospels- as I watched this video- and read through the biographies of Jesus. The prostitute, the tax collector, the leper... even the spiritually despondent and oppressed felt safe with Him- and knew He was there for their rescue.

May the Church of Jesus rally together to seek and deliver those in bondage in our city! May the addict find deliverance with us, may the prostitute find deep love, may the modern-day leper find someone who will embrace him, may the oppressed find peace...

 

95% of all Christmas lights must have special timers or programming designed to make them stop working during the 330-or-so days that they are being stored. All but about 5 were working when I packed them last New Year's. Now only about five of them actually shine. A man on the moon, people deep sea diving with air tanks, and 4-G cell phones... still can't get the Christmas light figured out. I'm just sayin'.

From our quick trip to the Dream Center... after an incredible tour with Pastor Matthew, we traveled a few blocks to Angelus Temple for the Thursday evening worship service. That's "Press Play," the worship band, leading music... Carl Lentz (Pastor of the soon-to-be-started Hillsong NYC) preaching... and Pastor Matthew Barnett crowd-surfing in the end.

Dream Center trip- Thursday worship at Angelus Temple from Andy Jenkins on Vimeo.