A Bouquet with Different Flowers

Courtney and I had an awesome opportunity to travel down with Dude Share the Food again this past Saturday. At first, it seemed pretty much like other times that we have gone downtown, with the exception that it was a bit colder...

(here we are packing up the bread truck with some clothes, blankets, and food)

(lining up for some food...there was a huge turn out)

After a little while Courtney, Brandon, Collin, Jessica, Ashley, and I went over to this bridge (not pictured, sorry) and saw Charles and Marcus. These are probably the two nicest men I have ever had the privilege to meet. They were so loving and so humble. After catching up on what was new with everyone, Charles asked us if we could pray and then sing a song. So we all gathered around, held hands, and prayed. After the prayer, we sang "Amazing Grace." While we were singing this song, I looked around us and just thought to myself, "here these men are in the freezing cold, having only the clothes on their backs and a few blankets to keep them warm, and only having a bridge to keep them dry. They are singing at the top of their lungs, louder than anyone else- AMAZING GRACE!!???" This was a very eye-opening experience for me. These two men inspire me. I can only pray that I can have that attitude when things do not go quite the way I plan. After another prayer from a woman with us, we said our goodbyes and Charles had to make a point to hug everyone. "I do this to everybody, you'll get used to me," is what he said. Such love he has. He told my wife, "we all in the same family... like a bouquet just with a bunch of different flowers." That has stuck with me for the past few days.

The family of God is not just white people, not just black people, not just Asian, Chinese, or whatever you want to put on it. We are all sinners and fall WAY short of God's true standards for our lives.

I could care less what you have on your church sign, if you are Baptist, Methodist, Church of Christ, Church of God, Assembly of God... that's just a bunch of junk! We all have ONE God, ONE creator, ONE Savior -- JESUS! Love God FIRST, the rest will follow.

Charles and Marcus didn't ask us what church we were from, they just wanted to know our names. They didn't care what denominational ties we had, they just wanted to sing with us. They just wanted us to pray with them. Not just for them, but WITH them- there is a difference. 

So many of us "Christians" like to pray FOR the homeless, but when are we going to sit and talk with them? When are we going to love them where they are? It's so easy to schedule a time to go and share food with them, because we get to go back to our little comfy homes and heat. I am very guilty of this. Let's get real... Jesus had no place to sleep.... interesting huh?

BLinK!

Yesterday a friend of mine, Erik, talked about serving. It was a great little message on how we blink and a year goes by, or five years go by. So many Christians, and non-Christians I am sure, set out to "do good things" for the community around us. The sad fact is scarcely do we actually do anything.

Erik is the face behind "Dude, Share The Food!" He read an excerpt from a book he is currently reading that went a little like this- 

(This is a paraphrase!)

"Today, we got a shipment in from a local church who will remain nameless. On the top of the box it said, 'for the homeless.' I was excited so I opened the box eagerly and the inside was full of microwave popcorn. We hardly have electricity, and sure do not have a microwave. I didn't know if I should laugh or cry. Within a few days we got another shipment in from the Mafia. They sent some bikes for the little girls, a turkey for each family, and donated thousands of dollars to the organization. I guess God can use the Mafia, but I really wish He would use the church..."

This man lives on the street if you didn't catch that. He and some other homeless have obtained a warehouse to live in, and he is there to minister to them as much as possible. It is so sad that the church has better things to do then to spend time with those who are less fortunate than they are. I know I am guilty of that and I was totally convicted yesterday. 

We are just TOO busy these days. At least we like to think we are. "I can't, I just have so much to do." Read or Re-read Matthew 25:31-35...

-cg

Professional Musicians Needed!

I have been on the look out for professional musicians that are willing to partner with Velocity Church. We do not just want anyone, we want experienced, young (30s and under!), committed individuals! We want to have a cutting edge and driving worship experience.

So, with all that being laid out, do you know anyone? Auditions are underway until we find the right fit for the following: Drummer, Lead Guitarist, Rhythm Guitar, Bass, and Vocalists. 

If you know anyone who is interested, or if you are interested, please contact me ASAP! You can reach me at this email: chase@velocity242.com!

My Foot Tastes Horrible!

Last night, Courtney and I went to Chick-Fil-A to get some southern food, and sweet tea of course! After we had gotten our food, prayed, and started to eat--a man walked up to our table and asked me a question-

"You got a dollar so I can get back on the bus?"

Now, at this point I was thinking, "Why would you get on a bus knowing you had to have money to get back, and not already have the money??" But I didn't say that. I am all for serving, but dude, I am eating dinner with my wife and looking to spend some time with her. The last thing I wanted was someone to come up to me and ask for money. A part of me wishes I had said no, but we gave him a dollar.

Immediately after the guy left, I was ticked. I then proceeded to tell my wife how pissed off I really was, and, "I wonder what he would have done if I had said no." DING, DING, DING! I'm down for the count.

What the heck was my problem. I always talk about helping homeless people, but when it comes to a dude needing a dollar, that's where I draw the line?? What a freakin hypocrite I am! What I should want to do is ask him to sit down and hang out with me, offer to buy him dinner, or SOMETHING! Not look at him and then tell my wife to give him a dollar so he will leave. I missed out on an opportunity to truly bless someone. Yes, I did give him what he asked, but I should have given more---and with the thoughts I had about what had happened, that pretty much made the gift worthless.

So today, I challenge you and myself to STOP being so selfish, stay "ministry-minded" and act like Christ would act if he were in the flesh today.

Romans 12:20

-cg

Are You DEAD?

Worship is about sacrifice. Jesus calls us to DAILY take up our cross and follow Him. We are to die to the flesh and be alive in Christ.

I don't know about you, but I struggle with this. I was talking to a friend the other day about serving and how when we go and serve it's no problem, but when those people come to you, on YOUR time...suddenly you don't want to serve anymore. I guess I am not as humble and as sacrificial as I thought I was. Sure, I would go give away some coffee on the boardwalk, but when it comes to taking in a homeless person into my home, that's where I draw the line. Am I really doing what Jesus called us to do? Associate with the lowly, the broken, "the least of these." (Matthew 25:40)

Are you DEAD? (Galations 2:20)

Boardwalk Talk

Todd and I went down to Atlantic City this past week. I had a strong calling to go down to the city and seek out some individuals that needed some help (thanks to Erik). We just wanted to go and check out what is really going on outside of the casinos.

I have to admit, for the first three or four blocks, I didn't see much. It was cold, the wind was blowing pretty hard, and there were not too many folks out on the boards. After we passed the Taj Mahal, it got a little ugly. We stumbled upon an obvious crack addict who wanted "just a dollar....or two..." for her next fix. Honestly, I was a little freaked out, and then Todd laughed and said, "Dude, you think that's scary, wait until it's a 400 pound dude coming at you."

We walked about two blocks away from the end of the boardwalk, and then turned around. On our way back we came across a man sitting outside the Taj, kinda curled up in a ball. Todd gave him a buck and we kept walking. After a few minutes, we were both convicted of getting this man something more, maybe some coffee. So, we turned around to go find him and locate some coffee. When we got about half way back, we saw the same man walking our way--I went up to him and asked where he was headed, he preceded with, "going to try and find me some coffee." Well, it just so happens that I wanted to buy him some, so I asked if that would be ok.

We walked and talked with John for about two blocks when he spoke up with honesty, "You know, I could really go for a drink right now." I replied with, "Well, we can't really help you with that, but how about a sandwich and some coffee?" "No, I just want a drink." At this, we let John continue on his journey to find that "one more dollar" he needed for his booze.

It is a little discouraging at first, but then you realize that man would have never known kindness (possibly) if I didn't just ask his name, tell him mine, and offer to buy him some coffee. I had to repent of feeling like he SHOULD have taken my offer. I had the horrible, selfish thought, "That's crazy, I come down here to offer him something, and all he wants is alcohol!? How about some appreciation?" WAIT a minute. Is that really the attitude I should have? NO WAY! I had to ask God to forgive me for those horrible thoughts. I just wanted to help and spend time with John, not try to make myself feel good.

I am going to try and find John again this week if I get a chance. Maybe I can buy him a cup of coffee. If not, maybe I should keep trying until he accepts?

Dude, Share The Food!

A friend of mine recently started a blog called "Dude, Share The Food!" He and some others go out into the city and give out food and other things. Some churches do this once a year, but from what I can see, these guys do this WEEKLY! Below is a recent post from this blog:

"to finish what i started to say friday, the “couple of people” i was talking about were on their way to atlanta to stay overnight with their newfound homeless friends. Rick and Jared slept outside, in a parking lot friday night! how cool is that??!! (i say “slept”, but i don’t think they slept very much). thanks, you two, for your heart to help, get to know people, listen to ‘em, and learn more of their true, on-the-street, situations! i’m sure you’ll have some things to tell us and teach us.

but, that’s just crazy!! who chooses to sleep on the streets! i’ve always thought that i’d like to do that, but, i’m always just too busy, or, as it turns out, just too chicken! someday i’ll do it. pray for me to get more radical like that.

so, we met them at Hurt park, and served them some chili! they tried to help, but i said “no, we’re going to serve you!”

so, the next day at church, rick was telling me about it, then i was talking to mike, then david c. came up to me - “did you read the paper?”, “no”, “they found 4 homeless people dead in different parts of atlanta yesterday morning, probably from exposure!” NOOOO!!!!

seconds later, ross hands me a newspaper article. i said “this is probably what david just told me.” sure enough. i let rick read it, he let some of the people he brought read it. some cried. i was too stunned to cry. how can this happen in such a wealthy country..!!??"

Well, I don't know about you, but this really hit me hard! I look at my own life and realize just how fortunate I am. I have food to eat (most nights), I have water, I have freakin CABLE--so I can see all the spiritually dead and poor folks on the news.

What if we did stretch ourselves and our faith like these two men did that slept under the stars with homeless dudes? I got fired up when I heard they did this, and I looked at my wife and started talking about how I wanted to go do that, yeah....she didn't like that idea. (Do you blame her?)

It's a dangerous world out there. But we should TRUST God to take care of us, and we should be concerned with "... the least of these..." (Matthew 25:40)

CHECK OUT THAT BLOG AND THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO DO!

Dude, Share The Food!