Outreach screams for help...

I used to wonder why Jesus started his outreach program with prayer for help... not anymore.

In Luke 10, Jesus told his disciples to go prepare some cities for His visit. His instructions were specific and if studied deeply (as they have been by many) incredibly profound. So much so that outreach ministries like ours model that passage 'to the t'. Here's the passage (note the highlighted verbs):

Luke 10:1-9
The Lord now chose seventy-two other disciples and sent them ahead in pairs to all the towns and places he planned to visit. 2 These were his instructions to them: "The harvest is great, but the workers are few.
So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.
3 Now go, and remember that I am sending you out as lambs among wolves. 4 Don't take any money with you, nor a traveler's bag, nor an extra pair of sandals. And don't stop to greet anyone on the road. 5 "Whenever you enter someone's home,
first say, 'May God's peace be on this house.' 6 If those who live there are peaceful, the blessing will stand; if they are not, the blessing will return to you. 7 Don't move around from home to home.
Stay in one place, eating and drinking what they provide. Don't hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve their pay. 8 "If you enter a town and it welcomes you, eat whatever is set before you.
9 Heal the sick, and
then say to them, 'The Kingdom of God is near you now.'

Those verbs, in that order, and what is meant by them are the Crosswind Neighbor strategy. But why is pray at the top? And look at what the prayer is for. Not whether or not we should go. Not where we should. He answered those questions. Funny how we sometimes still pray about those things. No, He instructed us to pray for help, "people help" specifically.

Here's how I pray for people help:
1. Lord, touch the hearts of people so they can see the world like you do and fill them with your compassion.
2. Lord, move those people by your compassion to the people who need you.
3. And Lord, when we get there (in the field together) let us with love and unity, work together for you, for your interests, for your glory and for the good of the people you have sent us to.

You see, here's reality: There are lots of people doing a lots of loving things out of the goodness of their hearts. Civic clubs, churches, charities, ministries, and government organizations. But oh how much more effective we will be when we begin to do them together.
I'll be blogging about that in the days to come, until then...

Pray for people help.

Caravan of love

Last night around 7:30pm as I (Don) was sitting at my computer desk, looking out the window. I see this caravan of vehicles drive into Hickory Terrace loaded with LOVE!!!!

This wonderful group of people, who I'm sure had worked all day at there jobs then came out to Hickory Terrace with furniture, food, non-food items and lots of Love for a Mother and her 3 children. I was so moved by these people that I walked down to where they were out. That about killed me and I'm paying for it this morning but I just felt that I had to go down and let this wonderful group of people know how much they were appreciated.

I think the Security Officer said it all last night.

He said that He never seen any Church or organization move so quickly to help someone before like Crosswind. He was amazed at how much Crosswind did in such a little bit of time. He was truly moved at the LOVE that was being shown this family. He said that whole families were here helping this family in need. (Lanny Monroe and Family) He was still talking about it this morning.

After everyone had left Ms. Pettis and I stood outside of her building.

Ms Pettis said to me that she had just about given up all hope but after today and all the Blessings that she and her family had recieved today "everything was gong to be alright"..

Bobby, Ronda and Judy thank yall so much for putting all this together in such a short time. Plus I didn't know everyone last night that was here from Crosswind but please on behalf of myself, the Pettis Family and all the residents of Hickory Terrace, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!! There were several residents last night that saw first hand the Love and Caring of Crosswind last night. The LORD surly blessed us yesterday, not only did he provide the needs but showered us wth LOVE.. I don' know who said this but I read it in a church bulletin "

WHEN WE SHARE ANOTHER'S BURDEN, WE DISPLAY GOD'S LOVE AND CARE, OFFERING RELIEF AND COMFORT WHEN LIFE SEEMS TO MUCH TO BEAR".

LOVE YALL, DON

(Ms. Pettis made an emergency move to Corinth from Detroit after being laid off from work, and her children's high school consolidated with 4 others and to use her words had become a "war zone". Her children's safety was worth the risk and her main concern. Some plans she made here fell through and she found herself alone and desperate. Thanks to TVHRA, who expedited her application, she was able to get an apartment but had nothing to put in it. She is still "getting her wheels under her" but her kids are safe. She still needs her deposit money to turn her lights on. Her brother may send a check from Detroit.) ... hint :-)

Do You Hear Her? Guest blogger, Anna Lancaster

When I heard that there was an effort to create a home to help single mothers who need help, get on their feet, I became so excited. At the Resource Center for Women, young people come in every day, that are stuck in the cycle. We help them with some of their immediate needs, counsel them, and love them, but we don't get to give them a home, help them get a job, or give them transportation to that job. We do our best to direct that young person to the places that can help them best, but sometimes it isn't enough.

A home where they can get a fresh start would be a God-send to these women. I have known times of need and have made mistakes. Thankfully, I always had a loving family and friends who were able to help me. These women don't have that. If someone cares about them, they are often in the same boat. Some are just victims of circumstance. How do you fight poverty with no weapon? No money, no education, no job. If you can get a job, how do you get there? Would you make any money after you paid for day care? Probably not.

Crosswind Ministries found a building that they would like start this home. Because of zoning issues they had to go before the Mayor and the Aldermen. The people of the surrounding neighborhood came and protested the use of the home for that purpose. The 3 aldermen and the mayor voted no to the rezoning. You can read more about this on the Daily Journal web site.

But, like the others involved, I know that this does not mean that this is the end of that dream. God still wants us to love others and help them. He will help those who want to do those things. So this is what I want to ask of you: How can you help?

Do you have time, resources, or love to give to these women? I know that sometimes we care but don't know how to begin. Now it is easy. You can join these other individuals who care and have a plan.

You know, the reason that the Indian doctors and officials didn't want to help the orphans was that they were of the lowest caste and because of their religious beliefs they thought they should stay there. That they didn't deserve help because, they believe that God had put them there. When I told people here in the United States that, they were shocked. They couldn't believe anyone would act that way. But, if we don't help these women, their children, and all of the others who are on hard times and want to get out of it, are we not just like those Indian doctors and officials? Are we saying that because of the choices they made, that they deserve to be right where they are? Are we going to leave them in the gutter because we might lose something by giving to them?

Matthew 9:13 says, "But go and learn what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Let us show mercy as we have been shown mercy. Let us LOVE mercy. I am glad that I am not where I DESERVE to be. I heard this song this morning. I have heard it hundreds of times but it hit home today. Please listen to it and see if it speaks to you. It is Casting Crowns-"Does Anybody Hear Her?"

Let me know if you want to help.
With love and in great need of mercy,

Anna

Moms and Mobs

In case you missed it, Corinth City Council voted NOT to allow Crosswind to operate a home for single mom's in a facility that used to be a day care. The vote was split 3-4 with Mayor Latch being the deciding 'no' vote. The residents of the community the day care was in were out in force. The organizer of the residents had a petition that alleged to have all the residents in near proximity to the proposed boarding home.

Here's how prejudice and mob mentality works.

First, you create a monster. In our case the monster was a single mom in Corinth, MS. The way you do this is to make a caricature (exaggerate particular features) of the people. So in our case the people were told that the single mom's were drug addicts and ex-prostitutes, victims of abuse, etc. We heard also that they had men coming to look for them and abuse them more. Remember, none of this has to be true and in most cases of prejudice represents a small sampling of a particular group of people, but those are the only features that you hear about.

Next, you generate fear of the monster you've created. In our case a person from the community took a petition and went home by home generating interest and fear in the "monster" single moms. He highlighted portions of a newspaper article and began the process.

Then, you add community and conversation and research, increasing fear. Once you have created a monster and gotten the word out the frenzy begins. People do research, draw on their own personal experiences (all negative of course), but most importantly they talk to one another, endorsing and adding to each others fears. We heard a neighbor generating fear about home values presuming they would decrease, we heard some talk about history in the prisons and working with "the monsters", etc. Each person shares stories and research increasing the fear and prejudice of the collective whole. The only thing the ringleaders must do in this phase is to ensure no one hears the truth and definitely not the other side of the story. We made an effort to sit down with the community organizers and answer questions, clarify concerns and our intentions but that offer was rejected. The sheep were afraid. That was enough.

Finally, you release the community to their lowest instincts, of fear, hatred, and prejudice. In our case, this was the meeting. People came in afraid and angry and that was all that was needed. It usually is.

This is a simple process that draws on primal human feelings of self preservation and fear.

Here's the problem, Single mom's are not monsters. My mom didn't know she was marrying a guy with childhood abuse that would later be acted out in her home. She worked three jobs barely surviving trying to raise six children, on her knees every night, at church every week, loving her children, doing her best, not a monster at all. Or the girl who gets pregnant and the male is not held responsible to help and now she is a mom and ill-equipped to be one and trying like crazy to make it, not a monster at all.

Or any of a zillion other reasons there are single moms.

If you take any of the mob, get them alone with the moms, let them hear their stories and feel their struggles... with few exceptions, the hard hearts would soften and the same people who were afraid and angry and operating at a primal level would rise, their souls would feel compassion and the cycle would reverse.

Instead of bad memories and experiences and research they would have a great sense of urgency and creativity mobilized to help the mom rather than hurt her. Now they would be telling their friends the stories of hope and progress and baby steps forward, instead of made up stories from our worst examples and our worst fears.

The only thing you have to do is to take the imaginary monster and replace it with a real single mom. And please, for the sake of single moms and their children, and their future... Pick moms over mobs.

In case you're wondering, we love single moms. We're gonna stand with them, try to figure out how to help them, struggle with them, cry when they do, celebrate their baby steps forward, and look with great hope to the day they will be able to live in the very neighborhood that rejected them... not for spite's sake, for their sake...

And for yours.

BC

Fresh Love, Fresh Fire...More Reflections From India

When I was asked to go along on this medical trip to India, I said "yes" without even thinking about it. Then reality set in...I would be taking a week and a half off from my practice and I knew it would put more stress on me when I got back. But here was the rub: At Crosswind, we are constantly referring to James 1:27 as our basis for ministry. You know that really inconvenient verse where God calls us to look after the orphans and widows in their distress. The way I read this verse is that we are to care for the most vulnerable people in our local communities and our world at large. There was no denying that the orphaned children in Kota, India qualified as some of the most oppressed and vulnerable people in our world. I've learned a whole lot about James 1:27 from actually entering into conversation with the real flesh and blood reality of poverty and social oppression. Actually touching the children from the slums and being touched by them changes your outlook on life. You can't go on a trip like this and not be affected.

I know that a lot of people didn't see the value in a trip like this. I, for one, have always been a bit skeptical of short-term missions. What's the point of spending thousands of dollars to go to the other side of the world for just a four day clinic, when that same amount of money could have put three pastors through seminary in India or something? I struggled with doubts like this before the trip, but here's the thing. God wouldn't ask us to do it if He couldn't accomplish something worthwhile. We went on this trip because we are Christians and this is one of the ways we follow our God...by serving others. So even though we were with them for just a week and basically only treated their immediate medical needs once, it did make a difference. I could have just sent money. I could have sent medicine. I could have sent Bibles. I could have sent stuffed toys. But those things are not the message. How do you show someone what God is all about? You stand in front of them and say "I'm here for you".

Between medical clinics, our group had the opportunity to help serve lunch to the 400 children in the Rajasthan orphanage. It struck me that these kids have had lives I could never even imagine. They've lost their families to starvation, illness, murder, natural disaster, and who knows what else…but they're kids just like we were once. It was a life-changing experience to be in the middle of a sea of children who would be roaming the streets of India without God and Hopegiver's International. In that moment, looking around at dozens and dozens of eyes looking at you, needing help, it felt overwhelming. I think I needed to see it that way to realize that all we can do is love on them with the time we have and remind them that they are loved and that God has designed them for a purpose.

When I reflect back on our India trip, I think about people…broken people…hurting people…impoverished people. I think about the thousands of people God allowed my life to intersect with and the awesome group of people I had the honor of working with from our small town here in Mississippi. I was completely humbled to have this opportunity, because I have been able to see the impact of a life-changing ministry first hand, and I have loved on and cared for children that may not have survived without the help of Hopegiver's International.

-Bubba McQueen

The Hard Work of Missions

I hear this every where I go, "Bobby, I feel God calling me, I just don't know exactly what he wants." Sometimes it sound like this, "I know that what I'm doing is not fulfilling. It's not that I don't love my church or my life, it's just that God has put in me a burden, a burden that is not yet fulfilled."

So what do you do?

Prov 16:9 says, The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

What this verse says to me along with many others is that the Lord is "giving me the desires of my heart", burdening me, urging me, making me dissatisfied with the present, uprooting me and at the same time he is making me trust him for what to do next, "establishing my steps."

So how do you know the steps? How do you know what's next?

It usually comes in an opportunity, a door the Lord opens for us, for you, something simple, something maybe even too simple, trite, but meaningful. You like it, it fits, it excites you, but... "is this really it?"

Col. 4:5 "make the most of every opportunity..." that's what God says, that's what we do. The opportunity is the step that the Lord establishes or directs. What happens next is very cool. God takes that step and opens up to you your way, your next chapter, your next phase. Maybe it's school or an environment that is simply meant for your training, maybe it is something to purify you and cause you to trust God more like a sickness or a job loss or a failure, and maybe it's a big break.

But whatever it is, you come to it by seizing the opportunity that is before you that is in line with the burden of your heart and voila, God does the rest.

And that's the hardest work we do. It is trusting that Jesus really is in charge of the desires of my heart, that he really directs my steps, that he really opens doors and that I can confidently, full of faith and without doubting take that step know God's plan for me right now.

Your turn. Take the step.

BC

Nurse Anna's blog: MJ, India and You

Growing up, I didn't listen to pop music. I remember mostly classical, hymns, and songs from the 40's, 50's and 60's. I didn't discuss my musical tastes at school. I had a hard enough time making friends without mentioning Rosemary Clooney. I would pretend I had heard the latest New Kids on the Block tune. I knew who they were. They were those guys on every t-shirt in school.

Knowing this, it may not surprise you that I am not a big Michael Jackson fan. (Yes, I hear your collective sigh.) It isn't that I don't like his music, I just haven't heard it.

On the first day of our clinic in India, Dr. Bobby Capps announced that the song of the day was "Man in the Middle". I didn't know that he meant "Man in the Mirror". (I didn't find out until last year the Hall and Oates were two people and not a band named "Haulin' Oats". I grew up on a farm. Hauling oats made more sense.)I don't know if he was kidding or not but, after saying "Man in the Middle" four times, Bobby corrected himself and said it was Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror". He then half-spoke, half-sang the chorus, bouncing his knees and emphasizing the important parts with hand motions:

I'm Starting With The Man In

The Mirror

I'm Asking Him To Change

His Ways

And No Message Could Have

Been Any Clearer

If You Wanna Make The World

A Better Place

(If You Wanna Make The

World A Better Place)

Take A Look At Yourself And

Then Make A Change.

We were there in India to make a change. To change circumstances for the better. To be extensions of God's healing arms. It starts inside each of us. Others before ourselves. Michael Jackson. Who knew?!

The man in the mirror IS the man in the middle. Be aware of the problem. Change your attitude. Take action. We get to be in the MIDDLE of God's great work. He allows us to take His love and spread it around as thick as we can lay it. He gave us gifts to use on those who need them so that He may be glorified.

Take a look at the man (or woman) in the mirror, change your ways, and go get in the middle of things!

P.S. This does not mean you have to travel to India to make a difference. But you could...

Anna Janzen-Lancaster, RN

Dr. Erica Noyes, "Why bother? They'll be sick again next week."

On the third day, exhausted and overwhelmed, looking down the hall at a sea full of beautiful faces--- yet to be treated. Running low on medicines. Running lower on energy. Hot. Nauseated. Then it hits....desperation, questions, doubts, despair.

Am I doing any good at all here?

Child after child with the same symptoms....stomach pain, diarrhea, fatigue, boils, scabies. We treat it, next child. Moving on. What am I doing? Will they not just drink the water again and be back in the same condition next week? Will they catch the staph and scabies again? What is my purpose here?

I am defeated.

Same day, we open the box of round sugary treats for the kids made out of some corn like product and shaped like balls. We have taken up a collection to give them this special treat that they rarely get on their one meal a day regimen. As we open the box...ants flood out, they have covered their treats. Horrified, I ask for a clean box and start one by one removing the ants from each ball....moving them to another box. Someone teases me, “you know the ants are just going to move to the next box!” Again the feeling of defeat returns.

Why do I even bother?

So here is my question...Why do any of us “bother” when things we do seem to have no lasting purpose. Why do we clean a house that will get messy again, why do we change our children’s diapers when they will mess them again, why do we treat our own children’s illness when they will get sick again? Why do we try to tell others of Jesus who slam a door in our face?

I believe it was Jesus who said “who among you when your child asks for bread would give him a stone.”
Why bother? Because as Christians we cannot do otherwise. Yes, sometimes our work may seem futile but we know that “all things work together for the good to those that love God and are called according to his purposes.” If called to give, we must do so even if we do not see the purpose in it. Trusting that--- we keep trying, though we may never know why, or of what good comes from our labors.

We are compelled to keep trying.

Thankfully God did impart to me some understanding. Those children we loved on and tried to patch up are our brothers and sisters in Christ. They are God’s children and we are called to demonstrate His love, thereby making Him more real to them. They understand that someone cares enough to try to make their life better, even if just for awhile... in His name.

For that short time, we can be Jesus to them, so that later they can be Jesus for someone else. They are the future. They are worth the investment. We cared for them as we would our own. Would we neglect our own childrens’ illness, or hand them food covered in bugs if we could otherwise not?

So what if the ants come back. And yes, unfortunately the cavities and the illness too. At least , they know that somebody in the name of Christ loved them the enough to try. And that makes it all worth it.

We must never be defeated.

Dr. Erica Noyes

Thank you for giving to the Lord... lives were changed

The medical team just returned from India.

They saw 500+ children and many adults, taught Bible studies, gave devotionals, gave glasses, treated teeth and bodies, performed surgeries and so much more.

As an additional treat, our medical staff got to meet with peers from India. 15 doctors from the town shared lunch and learned from each other about stuff that is 'greek' to us civilians.

As citizens of Corinth and especially the church in Corinth, you can be proud of the Corinth Medical Missions trip to India, your city and the spirit of love and care that they took abroad.

Let me list for you our team:

*Dr. Mike Weeden, opthamologist with son Blake

Assistants - Jessica and husband Steven

*Dr. Bubba McQueen, Dentist

Hygientists - Dianna and Paula

assistants - Jeremy, Bobby, April, Adam

prep - Amanda

*Dr. Erica Noyes, Family Practice

RN- Anna and RT - Donnie

assist - Judy, Abby

*Dr. Mat Johnson, general surgeon

RN - Bonnie

*Dr. Patrick Hsu, Ob/Gyn

First year med student - Lauren

third year nursing student – Brittany (from Phoenix)

*Dr. Patrick Tucker - GP, our trip advisor and medicines 'hook-up'

Audie Osborn - videographer (Delta pilot by day)

Tony Childs - Trip Coordinator

Here's some of the churches and organizations they are affiliated with: Tate BC, First BC, Crosswind, East Corinth BC, Springhill UMC, West Corinth BC, First Pres, Calvary BC and others. (I’m doing this all from memory at 5:30 am, hence few last names etc.)

I’m gonna blog about a few special personal ah-ha’s from the trip later but this was one is just to say -

Thank you! – you outdid yourselves in every way.

Your attitudes, your hard work, your patience, your adaptability, your palatable compassion for each other and for the children. We talk about “love in action”, you guys took that to another level.

Jesus said, "When you've done it to the least of these my brethren you've done it unto me." Thank you for your ministry to the one who saved you and keeps you. His name be praised.

You are loved.

BC

Day three of clinic.

(posting delayed due to spotty internet access)

We finished the “little kids” today. About 400 of the little guys. What a wonderful time.

We trust you’ve enjoyed the videos thanks to Audie Osborn, especially watching the kids eat. Special blessing for us. That’s their meal for the day...

We’ve been moved each day as we’ve served them.

Today we fit ‘em with glasses, fixed their hernias, pulled and filled their teeth, cared for their little sores and infections....

And one boy we diagnosed with lymphoma... had a stomach mass, opened him up and then closed him back up... now here’s a good question for ya... is he worth saving? It’ll take the same amount of money to cure him as it takes to feed his 400 siblings for three months, and even then they don’t know if he’ll make it. Dr. Thomas will have to make that decision when the biopsy comes back.

On the preacher front, we have two great announcements. We’ve discovered if Dr. Weeden wants to take a paycut and put a target on his back, he’d be a great preacher. He even filled in for Dr. Thomas this week. The other is Dr. Noyes, who has been leading the seminary in a nightly devotional study.

Teams are wonderfully tired from great work.

Jesus said “Let your light so shine before men that they will see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven.” As you see the good works the team has done on the videos we hope that you see Jesus... in the children’s eyes and in their smiles.

That’s who we’re serving... Jesus in orphan skin.

-BC

Second Full Day

Second full day of the India clinic.

We are feeling very privileged today and thankful.

The team, some very significantly, have devoted themselves to helping the poor in our own city of Corinth, but all of us admit... this is different. We’ve really seen humanity in a way that has deepened us and expanded out hearts.

A Cambodian friend once told me, “Bobby, America is the only country where poor people are fat”. They are not fat here.... they are malnourished, many starving, and yet Hopegivers continues to rescue them, feed them, care for them.

Of course it’s with our help and many others. But then these kids grow up and are educated and go out into the villages of their own country and begin to rescue the children who were once like them.... and the cycle starts over. What a privilege to help them.

Americans live in lavish wealth. Even as our community of Corinth is planning to open a home for single mothers, sponsored by many on this trip, we fully know that the people we help (who make about $750/mo) are in the upper 15% of the richest people in the world. In America it is the very rich helping the rich. Not so here in India and many other countries around the world. What a privilege to share the riches of America to the poor Christians around the world so they too can fulfill their God-given missions.

We are so thankful for your prayers and your support.
I trust that you are enjoying the last video we sent. My wife said she viewed it four times. Good wife....

You’ll really like these too. Just click on the dates below

- BC

July 21 am
July 21 pm

Lovin the least...

It happened. On of our team was driving and the proverbial "starving children of India" tapped on his window and held out his hand. Just froze, red light, what to do, light changes, drive off... man he really wa starving, I could see it!

We're here... in Kota Rajastan India... and they are here and they really need help.

One of the people who picked us up from the airport yesterday was Ashish. His mother had just died, he was four, no father. He stood where she was buried wondering what to do, no answers so he just stood. Some time later, he can't recall, a pastor pulled up. "Son, where is your mother?" "She died." "Where will you go?" "I do not know." "Come with me then."

The man who pick the little orphan up was an orphan himself. He knew how the little boy felt. He too had been rescued from the streets. Had been loved, cared for, educated, and was now a pastor himself. He would raise him in the orphanage.

We're serving these street children of India, medical professionals from Corinth. Ten churches, 21 people, one purpose. Bring medical relief to the street children of Emmanuel Orphanages.

Click this for a video

India and other profundities

Hey crew, we're headed to India!

We're going to help these guys: www.hopegivers.com

Orphanage of about 500 kids.

Here's what's blowing me away tho...

My brother told me one time that people like him were dying to do something worth dying for. And passing out bulletins, being an usher, or even teaching a Bible study wasn't worth give his best to, much less his life.

This trip has that brought out the best in peopel. From the hard work, creativity, sacrifice, amazing organization, on and on.... simply amazing!

Find something worth doing and people will blow you away.

PS We are gonna be video blogging right here as soon as we get situated. We are experimenting with a live broadcast also. We'll let ya know.

For now please pray, lots of thing left to come together, most importantly free passage through customs.

See ya in India... Wow!

BC

Is social work Christian?

A comment posted on my blog recently got me to thinking...

Is social work 'Christian'?

Is doing good for no reason other than to do good Godly? ...Christlike?

What if a lost person does good, is it still good?

Consider Cornelius. He was a Bible character who was described by God this way: "a devout man who feared God... and gave alms generously to the people". For those of you who know the story Cornelius was not a Christian (he was to be soon however) but he was a man who gave to the poor (that is what alms are, gifts to the poor). Surely this act was either philanthropy or social work. And... importantly, it was born out of his "devout" heart toward God.

Here was God's assessment of his giving, even before he was a Christian: "Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God." God said that he was remembering in a special way (memorial) Cornelius as he gave to the poor.

Wow!

A couple things strike me:

1. There are non-Christian devout people, who pray and care for the poor.

2. God hears their prayers and remembers their service to the poor.

My conclusion:

God likes it when we help people, even if we're lost...

even if its social work.

BC

Superstars have bad days too

Had a great group in the neighborhood tonite.

Gal there that defines brokenness and the destructive capacity of sin on someone's life. Some her's, some done to her by others.

She also is a beautiful trophy of grace and a witness to the restoring power of God. She has told her story in ministries in town, has mentored, loved and cared for fellow strugglers...

but tonite our hero was down.

Just struggling. Nothing big, just a setback here and there... and all the fears of the past creep back in. Am I gonna make it? Will I slip even farther? Have I let people down? Shame, regret...

Listen my friend...

The God who began a good work in you is faithful,
He will complete it!

And even though you stumble and fall, and fall, and fall, he will hold you up with His right hand.

Lift up your head, straighten your shoulders, the one who saved you will keep you...

Even if you stumble.

BC

How to get into your husband's head

If you wanted to get in my head (or your husband's), here's how Jackie gets in mine...

If she wants to know what’s going on in my mind she asks me a simple question while I'm going on and on, “Say more?”

I normally start by blurping out something that’s on the fringes of ‘what is really going on’, but I’ll usually 'give it up' when she says “say more”.

BUT when she asks... (and this is important):

- she doesn’t correct me if she doesn’t agree with me
- she doesn't offer condolences when I’m whining,
- or fixes if I’m broken,

she just hears me out and convinces me that she has heard me
and that she really understands me
(not agrees with me, I don’t need that)

and somehow she seems to find out what I’m really thinkin’

and if I’m lucky... I may find out what I was really thinkin’ too.

BC

God's kindness...Don's story

Words... controversy...

I've read a blog this week that had about 100 or so responses to it (that's a lot btw) over the use of the word "missionary".

Here was the gist of it. One side said you're not a real missionary unless you had to learn a different language and go overseas to a different country, etc. The other side said we're all sent (where the word came from) therefore, all missionaries.

Some reactions:

Violent upchuck, uggghhh, and banging head against wall...

Some thoughts:

1. Charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 2 Tim 2:14

2. Most people who have these type arguments don't do either overseas or at home missions.

3. Please get the Bible out of your head and into your heart and feet and your foolish controversy lifestyle will truly fade away.

Love ya... grow up.

BC

Squeaky Bearings

I was talking to some partners in the community this week and one of the things we got to talking about was their role in making the city aware of need. Blowing the trumpet..., tootin' the horn..., being the squeaky bearing... you know, the guy everybody gets ticked off at.

Socrates and Thoreau, Gandhi and MLK shared a common belief... it is positive to create tension! MLK said that "we seek to create such a crisis and establish such creative tension that a community... will be forced to confront the issue."

The role of the prophet is similar. He is a whistle blower, an alarm sounder, a guy who calls it like he sees it, like it is...
"When the watchman sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people. Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die... If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives."

Funny thing about prophets... they get killed. It's rare that people want to get their heads out of the proverbial sand and address their own issues, much less the city's. So the prophet's role is very important, if not necessary... but not too appreciated.

Here's some tips to slow your death if you're causing creative tension:

1. Make sure your walk matches your talk.
You don't get the right to fuss about "them drunks and sleazy women and lazy bums" unless you're trying to make a difference in their lives. If you not are helping, sorry, nobody listens to you, no matter how loud you toot.

2. Make sure you are a problem solver, not just a problem finder.
And old boss told me one time, "If you come to me with a problem and you're not already working on its solution, you're just whining."

3. Be ready to be misunderstood.
It's hard to raise social consciousness of an issue with out somebody think you're out of line. If you say the church needs to 'get off her fanny and quit being a social club and get outside of her walls and make a difference in their community'... somebody's gonna fuss about that. Didn't stop the prophets. Shouldn't stop you. But there is a price to pay.

4. Be right.
Don't say there's a problem if there isn't one. Don't exaggerate. Be right. If you are, even if it creates tension, people will say, "Man, that hurts, but he's right."

5. Love your city and it's people.
Nothing is more offensive than tooting your horn without love. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend." Someone who's not a friend... not so much.

To all the trumpet blowers... keep blowing. Don't let me get comfortable. Don't let me think everything is okay when it's not. I really do want to make a difference. And I don't know what to tackle first without you.

... and watch your back.

BC

Food baskets and gospel tracts

In the church I was raised in the preacher railed against 'them liberals' and their 'social gospel'. He went on to brag how we (the 'right' group) give a cup of cold water like they do, but we do it in "Jesus name".

Here's how it looks:

Never give out a water bottle without a verse on it.
Never give out a food basket without a gospel tract in it.
Never have a block party without preaching.
Never feed anyone who is hungry without making them listen to a sermon first.
And on and on....

I spend a lot of time thinking about what's behind all the flawed thinking we've grown up with. I've concluded that for the most part we meant well. We meant that just giving out stuff is social work not Christian ministry. Okay... the part I have a problem with is how we have decided "in Jesus name" equals the list above.

When Jesus fed the five thousand it was because they were hungry, when he healed the lepers it was because they had leprosy, when he made the blind man see it was because he was blind... He just loved people and helped them. Don't you think if you do something "in Jesus' name" it at least means to do it like he did it, with the same motives, with the same heart?

Having said that, if we relieve all the poverty and suffering in our city and then they go to hell, we would be totally unloving and unChristlike.

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? So then, "we exist to relieve all suffering, especially eternal suffering" (Piper). Love demands as much, "in Jesus name" demands as much.

It really is okay to help someone without a sermon or a gospel tract. God says, "do good to all..." even Samaritans, even sinners, even the ones who won't thank you, even the ones who follow you only for food, even the ones who don't get saved or even care about God... yep, all of 'em.

That's just love...

BC

Our Week

He gets to raise his son.
We found him not to long ago in a park.



Her daughter is coming back next week.
She's doesn't know how she'll make it.



He fed 75 neighborhood kids last week.



She got a job after McDonalds shut down.
Made the rounds every day till someone said 'Yes'.



He may get a job after trying for a long time.



This was the anniversary of his wife's death.
He made it through.
Last year he didn't.


That's what we do... and we love it.

What does Crosswind actually do?

Be Careful When You Think You're Standing

Powerful Pastor who baptized 100 people in the last three weeks had to resign this Sunday after an affair with one of his staff.

I don't know how many times it has to happen before we are finally convinced that we are vulnerable and susceptible and weak and may be next.

Here's my tips after 26 years of marriage and 20 years of ministry:

1. My wife is a 10 and the rest of you are a 1/2. Sorry!

2. I don't have best friends that are girls. Not fair... tough!

3. I don't get my emotional needs met by women... if I need to be 'stroked', it's gonna be by a man.

4. I am next! If I really believe that... I won't be.

God said, "Be careful when you think you're standing, lest you fall."

He wasn't joking.

BC

Amos, Corinth Style

Message Paraphrase followed by practical loose paraphrase BC style just the general idea, not exegesis, you'll get the point...

1 "Listen to this, you cows of Bashan
grazing on the slopes of Samaria.
You women! Mean to the poor,
cruel to the down-and-out!
Indolent and pampered, you demand of your husbands,
'Bring us a tall, cool drink!'

Listen to this Corinthians, especially you leaders and well off business people who live in the nice homes in town, employers who don’t care for your employees and make it difficult for them to live while you live high off the hog...

2-3"This is serious—I, God, have sworn by my holiness!
Be well warned: Judgment Day is coming!
They're going to rope you up and haul you off,
keep the stragglers in line with cattle prods.
They'll drag you through the ruined city walls,
forcing you out single file,
And kick you to kingdom come."
God's Decree.

This is serious, I am God and I do this my perfect way:
Be warned, there is a consequence for what is happening in your city.
The people you’ve been neglecting have weakened you over all. You’ve become vulnerable and you are easy picking for all manner of destruction.

4-5"Come along to Bethel and sin!
And then to Gilgal and sin some more!
Bring your sacrifices for morning worship.
Every third day bring your tithe.
Burn pure sacrifices—thank offerings.
Speak up—announce freewill offerings!
That's the sort of religious show
you Israelites just love."
God's Decree.

I know what you’ll do, you’ll show up at church and sin some more.
You’ll sing your songs and give your tithes and have all sorts of concerts and religious celebrations, and you really think that all this is impressing me. Unfortunately it’s all talk no action. It was action that could have saved you but this is all you chose to bring.

6"You know, don't you, that I'm the One
who emptied your pantries and cleaned out your cupboards,
Who left you hungry and standing in bread lines?
But you never got hungry for me. You continued to ignore me."
God's Decree.

When people started going hungry in your town, that was Me asking you to respond, but you didn’t.

7-8"Yes, and I'm the One who stopped the rains
three months short of harvest.
I'd make it rain on one village
but not on another.
I'd make it rain on one field
but not on another—and that one would dry up.
People would stagger from village to village
crazed for water and never quenching their thirst.
But you never got thirsty for me.
You ignored me."
God's Decree.

When unemployment went up that was me giving you an opportunity to rally to me and to each other for the sake of your people, but you didn’t.

9"I hit your crops with disease
and withered your orchards and gardens.
Locusts devoured your olive and fig trees,
but you continued to ignore me."
God's Decree.

Even when I gave you plenty and I made the economy great, you invested greedily and misused the money on yourselves and your 401K’s instead of using it for the good of all, and look what happened. And even when I let all this economic disaster happen you still didn’t turn to me but just hunkered down and waited for the worst to be over.

10"I revisited you with the old Egyptian plagues,
killed your choice young men and prize horses.
The stink of rot in your camps was so strong
that you held your noses—
But you didn't notice me.
You continued to ignore me."
God's Decree.

So I let your young men and women go off and do whatever they wanted and they began getting addicted to drugs and diseased from sexual sin, they began getting pregnant and dropping out of school and their brokenness was painfully apparent and a scourge on your city, but you looked the other way hoping “they wouldn’t bother you” and you refused to turn to me and to them, and now look... you’re all affected.

11"I hit you with earthquake and fire,
left you devastated like Sodom and Gomorrah.
You were like a burning stick
snatched from the flames.
But you never looked my way.
You continued to ignore me."
God's Decree.

Even the natural disasters I allowed, hurricanes like Katrina and the others, the fires of the southwest, the floods of the Midwest, tornadoes and draught, you ignored it all, but I allowed it all... all so you would return to me, but you never got it... I let you be attacked on ever front, militarily, economically, morally, socially.... and none of it knocked you off your high horse, you never came back to me... And it was all a loving warning from me a desperate call from me to you, hoping you would return to me the one who loves you and has the perfect plan for your lives.

12"All this I have done to you, Israel,
and this is why I have done it.
Time's up, O Israel!
Prepare to meet your God!"

First you wouldn’t turn and make wrong things right... Now you can’t! You’ve gone too far and all that’s left is the pain and destruction of the choices you’ve made... to ignore me and all my ‘not so subtle’ hints and to go on acting like every thing was okay when it really really wasn’t... I was trying to get you to come to me and now that's all you have left.

13Look who's here: Mountain-Shaper! Wind-Maker!
He laid out the whole plot before Adam.
He brings everything out of nothing,
like dawn out of darkness.
He strides across the alpine ridges.
His name is God, God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

I’m God, I made everything. I designed the world including you. And this IS how it works, no matter what. I’m God.

There really is something we can do...

Got a phone call from a 'field op' the other day, "Hey Bobby, it happened again. A guy went in one of the girl's apartment, left about 30 minutes later, wasn't even ten minutes before she went to the grocery store to get food. What are we gonna do?" It's just a reality out here in the mission field... single moms often sell themselves for food and bills.

We had two initial reactions, anger and panic level concern. To be honest I wanted to hit the guy with a baseball bat, I was so angry. How could he prey on a needy gal who had run out of food?! But then what about her? I wanted to shake her... Where is your self-respect? Don't you know about disease and pregnancy and...

Maslow said there is a heirarcy of human needs. If hunger, thirst, bodily comforts and safety/security needs are not met, we are reduced to a lower level of self, more animalistic. In other words, the survival instinct kicks in... and we do what it takes. And predatory men in our town know that (not from reading Maslow, by the way) and take advantage.

James described it this way... "Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well" — but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?"

PS The answer is: None. Nada, it does no good at all to preach and tell 'em 'what for' or anything else until you meet their practical, primal needs.

Enter the church...

We can do this... we must. I've often heard the church saying that welfare belonged to us... well, where were we that night? What if we knew her, and she trusted us enough to call us instead of him? Thank God for my missionary buddy. He called. We acted. But you know.... there's so much left to do.

PS This has happened three times in a month that we know of, surely much more that we don't. Some of these guys you know. They have places of prominence and one exercised his power over a truly vulnerable situation.

You wanted to see the inside of an outreach ministry... there it is.

Church... please help.

BC

An infection worth having

We're learning a new missions term...

It's been around for a few years and if you Google it you'll find over a million hits. Also, it's a distinctively Christian word and recently made up (your spell checker won't recognize it). We're a little behind learning it, but we're not behind doing it. Stay with me, I'll explain.

Crosswind is a distinctly 'missional' (that's the word) expression of Christian life.

Crosswind began with a few Christians who began to live like missionaries. They began to be affected by the seriousness of the brokenness in our city and they began to do something about it. Suddenly their new affection became an infection that deeply changed the way they saw their world, the church and their relationship with God. Soon they found themselves living a new lifestyle, a missionary lifestyle.

Missions was no longer a project, it was a way of life.

This bunch saw missions as something you do all the time not just in Africa or at home during the holidays. They began to engage the need in their community, getting close enough to smell and feel the poverty and pain, the brokenness and dysfunction. They sought God day after day to find solutions to the problems of their city. And they are still seeking...

Something else happened too...

When they showed back up to church it didn't feel the same. There was something very missing. And it wasn't doctrine or friends, good music or preaching. It was this new infection, this 'missional' lifestyle. These guys loved being missionaries and they deeply believed it was God who changed their lives, their hearts and their lifestyle... and the infection...

well, it's spreading.

BC

what if we're the problem?

In Acts, God tells the story of how he was moving a guy named Cornelius toward Himself. At the same time however, God had to move Peter from his rigid belief system and religious paradigm in order for Peter to be able to engage Cornelius so that God could save Him. You see, at the same God chose Cornelius he also chose Peter. Cornelius chosen to be saved. Peter chosen to bring the good news.

And interestingly enough, Cornelius was more ready than Peter!

You know where I'm going with all this. What if God is out in the neighborhood and he has Cornelius' all over the place, hearts that He is preparing, fruit ripening... And what about you? Is it possible that God has more work to do on you than on them? Are you stuck in the rigidity of religious life... and what does that look like for us? What are our 'Peter issues'?

Peter thought you had to be in the right group (Jewish) to embrace Jesus.

What is it for us? Do we think people have to go to our church? Be baptized into our denomination? Follow our churches practices? Go to church at all? Who are our unclean, impure people? Are they poor? addicts? can't take care of their kids? the "Well, if they'd quit sleepin' around, this wouldn't happen to them" bunch? the "they've been to rehab so many times there's no hope" bunch? I don't what it is for you or for us, but I do know one thing...

we must 'put up with anything rather than to hinder the gospel of Christ'. (1 Cor. 9:12b)

Remember what Jesus told Peter in his dream, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." Does God have to do more to get us ready for them than to get them ready for Him? I'm just hopin that the church can feel that uncomfortable feeling, have that strange urge and burden, and listen when the Lord moves us from where we are to where we need to be so He can use us to 'save some'.

PS Don't think you're not Peter... just sayin'.

BC

...and some weeks you start a brothel

We started a brothel last week. Unwittingly, of course. Shut it down quickly, of course. We're still learning. It's hard to know the line and where to draw it. What is real help? What is enabling? How do you know between the two?

Here's some thoughts...

We try not to endorse, sponsor, pay for, or assist in destructive behavior. In short, "We ain't buyin' your drugs." But... what about buying food, when we know you used your food money on drugs, isn't that the same as buying your drugs? Answer, "Yes."

"Do not be decieved, God is not mocked, for whatever you sow, that's what you're going to reap."

God has universal laws. Immutable. You can't change 'em. If you don't believe it, jump up. 100 times out of 100 you'll come down. Cause gravity is an immutable law of God. So is sowing and reaping. If you sow destructive behaviors, you reap destructive outcomes. And God intended for those outcomes to disciple you...

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Heb 12:11

Many times us "outreachers" prevent this redemptive process from happening. Maybe missing a meal will make someone prioritize food over drugs, or sitting in the dark cause you can't pay your light bill might help you prioritize using light bill money on bingo.

But let me tell you, the burden of mercy to those in need and knowing where the line is ain't easy. Like last week, we put two homeless single moms up for a couple days thinking we were helpin' and the motel manager called and...

...well, some weeks you start brothels.

BC

...and that's why we're a mission

It's hard being a mission director after you've been the pastor of a church for a long time. You just see things so different. You see the church different. You see ministry different. When I was a pastor I used to think the parachurch guys (ministries like ours and others) were kinda bad. I thought that they took away from the church more than they gave back, especially in resources (people who volunteer and the money they donate). I always thought, "Hey, give me the money you're giving them and the hours of volunteerism that you give them and we'll do what they do."

But the truth is, we didn't.

And that's why we need mission houses, ...and that's why we're a mission.

It's hard for the local church to "leave the ninety nine... and go after the one until he finds it". After all, if you don't take care of the ninety nine, whose gonna pay the bills? ... and that's why we're a mission.

It's hard for the local church to honestly, fervently and constantly reach out to those who might take money out of the plate instead of put money in it, who are more of a liability than an asset... and that's why we're a mission.

It's hard for a church (see budget's, including the verry generous churches I pastored) to do missions in their own community. Most of us give to missions (pay someone else to do missions) or do missions projects (go somewhere else to help some other country or town) but it's hard to live a missions lifestyle... and that's why we're a mission.

Someone asked me if we'd ever become a church. I said, "Unless we stay a mission, we won't be on mission." ...and that's why we're a mission.

I've asked many a pastor friend to look at their programs for a given year and see how many volunteer hours they alloted in ministry to the neighborhood and not for their people. Honest guys (and they most are) say, "not many". We didn't at our church. Sunday School... for us. Home groups... for us. Preaching... for us. Good music... for us. Youth group... for our youth. AWANA... for our kids, etc., etc. etc. I know what you're thinkin'... but it's for them too. Be honest, how many of "them" are there? Not pickin', just sayin'... that's why we're a mission.

Maybe someday they can be the same, maybe someday the outsiders won't feel that way at our churches, maybe someday we will spend as much on them as we do on us, maybe someday we will spend as much time in their neighborhoods as we do at our building. But until then...

We're a mission.

BC