This morning a lady stopped me on my walk in to the campus and asked me for "any change or anything that could get her a drink, like a soda pop or something..." I told her I didn't have any change or cash (cause I didn't) and that I was sorry I couldn't help her. Then I started think about how much I get approached... for money, change, crack.
Everyday.
Everyday I am approached by somebody asking for something, and half the time they're honest. "Hey man I'm going crazy and I really need to get a fix... can you spare any change?" The other half of the time they have this really elaborate story about how they got stranded here but if they could only get back to where they came from where their dog has been left unfed for weeks and mom is on her deathbed... but when I offer them a bus pass or a ferry ticket they get angry and reject it. The truth is, I don't really carry cash or change because I rarely need it... I have an ATM card.
But thats not the point. The point is that this whole thing got me thinking. With people constantly asking me to give them something I started to ponder just how much I ask from God. I realized that often I ask more from God than for God. The bottom line is that even now as I'm super stressed and asking God for things, the things won't make me not stressed. When I'm relying on those things I'm worshiping those things and not God. I need God, I need to ask for Him, for His grace and strength, I need His will to be done.
Please pray for Sarah and I during this season, we've both been really stressed and are looking forward to taking a break next week. Continue to pray for God's provision.
God is good and He is teaching and stretching us like never before.
Grace, peace and blessings to you.
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4 comments:
Joel,
I get into those same scenarios where they ask for cash, I ask if they're hungry, they say yes, I say ok I'll take you out for a meal... then they say, nah, that's alright.
Where does one go from there? Just walk away? Pursue them a bit more?
Absolutely. I like to ask them their name because what that does is validate them as a human being, they're not just 'that crackhead' on the street. It usually depends on the situation but if they deny food or bus passes, Ill ask what their thoughts are about God, or in some cases if I can pray for them. I try to get to the point were I can invite them to our church. Not everyone has time to do this but I like to take some time every week to go hang out with the homeless guys who hang out around our church campus. Ive made some relationships with some, others really don't like me... I like to direct the conversation to get to an understanding of their suffering, what they place their hope in and ultimately talk about Jesus. What Ive found that is because so many of these guys have been through the homeless shelter circuit, they actually have heard a lot of the gospel and know some scripture. The bottom line is just try to love them. Whenever I have change, Ill give it to them even if I think they're going to buy crack, who knows, it may open an opportunity to talk to them again in the future. God can use anything.
Hey Joel,
I'm a fellow Mars Hill-ian and stumble across your blog from time to time and really enjoy it. It's a reminder that we are beggars demanding that Jesus' give us what we want. That dude that begged for you to hook him up with some "junk" probably sincerely thought that's what he needed. Your example, to me, is a clear and practical vision of the often misunderstood sovereign mercy of Jesus. This is a lesson that I have had to learn the hard way just recently as me and my wife moved to Seattle awaiting provision in what seemed to be a really dark time. I found myself at the feet of Jesus' begging Him for money. It was insane.
All that to say...."word."
Pastor Don spoke this past weekend about being "Ready for Eternity" and one of the things he touched on was stress. He said that the measure he uses to help him get refocused when he's stressing about something is the 100 million year test - Will what I'm stressing about now matter in 100 million years? Chances are that it won't matter, so why stress about it. Instead focus on God. Not as easy as it sounds, but it definitely puts things in perspective when you realize that the only thing that will truly matter in 100 million years (or 10 years from now) is whether or not we're ready for eternity. Profound.
On a lighter note...I miss you and Sarah! Daniel and I are coming up to WA to visit Chris & Jocelyn Oct. 24-27. Maybe we can meet up when we fly in to Seattle that Friday, or before we fly out on Monday.
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