Love, abide, joy, friends

This morning, CCSC hosted a breakfast for its clergy, and each table discussed the verse of scripture below. Initially, each person shared the word that stood out to him/her in the reading of the passage; then we discussed the passage more in-depth.

It was a rich discussion, so I'm sharing some of the words my table highlighted along with some questions I took away in hopes it will cause you to also look deeply within.

• Love
• Abide
• Joy
• Friends

What does it mean to lay down your life for your friends, especially since most of us won't be called to sacrifice our lives for our friends?

How is joy different from happiness?

How do people who suffer find joy?

Does your life bear fruit?

How do we show love to the people in are lives who are difficult to love?

John 15:9-17

⁹As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. ¹⁰If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. ¹²“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴You are my friends if you do what I command you. ¹⁵I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. ¹⁶You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. ¹⁷I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Why I Attend Church

A friend read one of my prior blogs and suggested I write on why I go to church. She stated that since church attendance is declining in the United States, my family and I are “counter-cultural”, and I should write about that.

Hmm…I’ve never considered myself or my family counter-cultural.

For me, attending church is a way of life: I don’t wake up on Sunday mornings wondering if I should go to church just as I don’t wake up during the week questioning if I should go to work. Five days a week I go to work, one day a week is somewhat open, and one day a week I go to church. Those decisions are already made.

The main reason I attend church is because I want to strengthen my spiritual life, and church is my foundation for that pursuit. One day a week, I pray, sing, and listen to a sermon that will challenge me to model my life more closely with the life of Jesus. It’s a weekly spiritual tune-up that sets the tone for the rest of the week and keeps me committed to daily spiritual disciplines.

Another friend of mine is a committed Christ-follower, but not a church goer. If she were proofing this blog, she would note that one doesn’t have to attend church to follow Jesus. And I believe she is correct.

But it’s a lot harder to do something alone than with others. If I had to rely on myself to apply the Gospel of Christ to my life, I’d probably get distracted and disoriented.  My scheduled tune-up provides guidance, support, and friends to share it with.   

Lots of people I love are not in the church world, so I’ve heard most of the criticism that’s out there:

·         Throughout history, the church has done awful things in the name of God. True. No one can erase this history, but a balanced view shows the church has also been extravagant in meeting the needs of people who suffer. I feel I can best influence the church for good by being part of it.

·         The church isn’t relevant to my life. Some churches may not be relevant or mission-focused, but it’s unfair to lump all of them into that one category.

·         I know some pious people who attend church but are still generally unkind people. Me too. I avoid letting them influence me. I also know people who are not religious but are caring, ethical, kind people.

For every church that’s not following its mission, there are many more comprised of good, solid people trying to understand God’s presence in their life.  I choose to journey through life with them, and it’s been the right decision for me and my family. And I have the privilege of working for an institution that is a coalition of 41 churches (Christian Community Service Center) who set aside theological differences to help the poor in our community. I see firsthand how churches enhance their communities.

 

 

We have the best stories...

After Hurricane Ike hit our coast, and after her husband left her, she was distraught and walking in her neighborhood. She told us a woman (who she'd never seen before) walked up to comfort her. Upon hearing her troubles, this kind-hearted stranger handed her a flyer on CCSC's newly-opened food pantry which she just happened to have in her hand.

Our client refers to this person as "her angel" because she seemingly appeared out of nowhere with exactly what was needed... and then disappeared, never to be seen again.

This family needs our pantry. They have stabilized since the shock of being abandoned, but still need occasional help. So they come to us about six times/year, and we make sure they don't go hungry.

Hearing this story today affirmed something I believe: God touches us through other people.

Does confidence matter? How about friendship?

This afternoon I spent time in one of the Martha's Way classes, visiting with the students (who are all women). Four graduated today and are about to embark on building their business, so I asked lots of questions to learn more about them and how we're impacting their lives.

It was a great conversation, and there's most definitely a sense of camaraderie among the students. One woman, who was a victim of domestic violence, said the other women gave her great support which has helped her to transition from a bad home, to a shelter, and then eventually out on her own. The program has given her the tools she needs to earn an income for herself and her two children.

Another woman said the program gave her confidence that she didn't have before. She plans to create a business with her mother and sister, and her entire being said "I am so excited to do this!"

Hearing all the stories and observing the relationships made it clear that while the class curriculum is superb, the friendships formed and subsequent mutual support are also vital to the program's success.

I drove back to my office grateful to have spent some time with these wonderful women and grateful for the friendships in my own life. 

The Holy Spirit in you, the Holy Spirit in me

I love this picture because of the little sign to the left.  How could our interactions with others be different if we saw the holy in each person?

In the last few months, I've attended several memorial services for CCSC volunteers who helped to establish and grow the organization in its early days. In nearly every service, family members would share how much their loved one enjoyed volunteering with us. The adult daughter of one said her father's time with CCSC changed his life, his perspective on the poor, and his understanding of how a life of faith is to be lived. "Because it so influenced his life," she said, "it has also influenced mine."

So whose lives do you influence, and do your actions match your values?  For most of us, narrowing the gap between values and action is a life-long journey, and in my opinion, the journey is best traveled in a faith community. If you don't have a church home, start checking out churches in your neighborhood, and then once you find the right one, jump in. Join a small group where you can get to know others as you dive deeper into the spiritual side of your life.

Toothpaste, again

Last Friday we nearly ran out of toothpaste. I say "nearly" because just as a staff member was leaving to purchase some, the doorbell rang, and outside was a 9 year old boy and his mother. With a box filled with toothpaste.

God's wonderful timing, right?

But the best part of the story is the 9 year old boy. He recently celebrated his birthday, and instead of gifts, he had his friends donate toothpaste for CCSC's food pantry. I imagine him saying to his friends, "No gifts for me, thank you, but I want to help people who don't have anything so would you bring toothpaste to my party instead?"

Kudos to this boy's parents for teaching him to think of others. I love seeing philanthropy nurtured in youth because the people I admire most in the world are generous, loving and outwardly focused.  And these qualities are nurtured and cultivated over time, from when we are young and teachable.

Hunger in Houston

Last week I sat through the interview of a single mother to a young, elementary school-aged girl. The mother works, was laid off, and had been rehired. All in six weeks.  She barely missed a paycheck, but a "barely miss" at her income level was enough: she couldn't quite pay her rent and had already begun cutting back on her own food portions so her little girl would have enough to eat.

She walked into a CCSC church, asking for help, and was sent over to us.  By the time she left, we had completed her rental payment, provided food, and shared how our children's programs could help her daughter in the coming year. 

We helped 198 other families last week who also found themselves in undesirable situations. Each family is interviewed to ensure they qualify for assistance, and then we provide for their immediate needs and connect them to other resources, both within CCSC and with other agencies.  The people who hear the stories, answer the phones, sack the food, and provide direct assistance are volunteers. So if you're looking for a meaningful volunteer job, please call our office at 713-961-3993. We'd love to have you involved in our work.