I just have to write

This could thoroughly be verbal vomit coming out through typing but I have to write SOMETHING or I might explode...this past week was remarkable. Seriously, I'm marking it in my mind over and over again. I wish with the greatest sincerity that everyone could see what I was able to see and be a part of. I can also attest that the way of life I was able to partake in was extremely contagious and as I said I was itching to go, I am itching to go back. It's not Lakeland, Florida, it's the people. It's not the woods, it's the hearts. It's not the problems, it's the solutions. It's not me and what I'm doing, it's God and what He's willing to happen.

Right now there's a group of people sitting outside of some tents in the woods with tiki lanterns burning, talking about the Lord, sharing in eachothers burdens of the day and then encouraging one another. Eating food that Gods provided and singing praises to Him. Talking and getting to know one another, enjoying community to it's fullest. This happens every night. Show up at 6 and stay for hours. The highlights I would choose if I had to to share would be the fellowship/worship time every evening - it was perfectly messy and wonderful. All sorts of different people with the common goal of sharing and learning Gods word, fellowship in community and praying together. Luke 14:12-14 "When you put on a lunch or a dinner, he said 'don't invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will repay you by inviting you back. Instead invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at th resurrection of the godly, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you"

While I was there we lost the building that we had been graciously allowed to use for worship time, eating, washing dishes and for the "crew" to sleep in. Southern Baptist lets Journey Church rent it, and Journey church is the one that gave us the go ahead to use it. Southern Baptist now feels a threat with homeless people being around while they have a daycare program that goes on in the afternoons. I'm sure that everyone understands that concern, profusely DISLIKES that stereotypical concern, however, understands it. We tried to crack a bargain to allow us to keep the building and have the homeless in during their "off" hours, meaning essentially just during our hours of worship fellowship time in the evenings but that was a no. So, Friday we moved out of the building, however, Brandt's still allowed access for the food and clothes pantry that's been started. We set up camp way out yonder and hunkered down for an unknown amount of time, then I had to leave Saturday morning...my friends are out there and I'm in here and it just feels wrong. I was able to shower and they haven't in days and that feels wrong. So many parts of the American culture seem wrong but what have I ever done to right it? Nothing until now. And only with the grace and peace of God am I able to.

I'm unable to explain things well sometimes. I am not saying that being blessed with wealth is a sin and that you're not allowed to enjoy something that's been given to you. I'm saying that Gods called us to share everything. Luke 4:30, 31 "Give what you have to ANYONE who asks you, and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back. Do for others as you would like them to do for you." That's said to us so much but is not often taken to heart. If you were the one in teh woods without hope, what would you want done for you? Someone to invest themselves in you, to show you the love of Christ, to walk and talk with you, give you what you needed physically, emotionally and spiritually to the best of their abilities. To be shown some loyalty and kindness again, when it may have been so long that you've been downtrodden and mistreated. That's what I want and guess what? That's what I've been built to give.
Luke 12:48 "From everyone who has been given much, much will be DEMANDED; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much MORE will be asked. "

Then I think about living in comfort because I've been blessed with much, so I'm reminded of the story of the rich man and Lazarus: Luke 16:25 "But Abraham said to him, ' Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted and you are in anguish." verse 27-31 "then teh rich man said 'Please father Abraham, send him to my father's home. For I have five brothers and I want him to warn them about this place of torment so they won't have to come here when they die. But Abraham said Moses adn the prophets have warned them. your brothers can read their writings anytime they want to. the rich man replied, No father Abraham! but if someone is sent ot them from teh ead, then they will turn from their sins. but Abraham said If they won't listen to Moses and the prophets, they won't listen even if someone rises from the dead." I'm not about to waste the precious time I've been given here to live the way Christ is calling me to live - in its fully enveloping version, its all encompassing way, not just bits and peices but in its entirity. We as Christ followers are built for certain ways of service and for this moment in my life, this is it for me. That means leaving here and seeking out the need with some friends Gods pointed me to.

I am so thankful for every day I live and yes, this seems extreme but to me it seems to be the natural will of God. I will never stop praying and reading and gleaning from the Lords wisdom. I pray the same for you.
Grace and peace.