Monday, December 5, 2005
Zach responds to Cassi
Cassi, I never mentioned crossroads on my xanga...when i mentioned 'rich churches' i meant many churches...probably including crossroads. i dont question the motives of the people at Crossroads...I optimistically think...that the people at Crossroads are just dying to be challenged to follow Christ..but the most they are challenged to is the 'risk' of new building campaign...or give turkeys away. you mentioned the risk taking at crossroads...i dont see much risk in building campaigns...whether its an expansion or a building in Africa. just b/c the new building is big...doesnt mean that it was more risky. what is risky is sellin what we have..and joining the despised and rejected, the poor. i pray that Citylink doesnt get built. first, b/c Brian T. didnt work with any local church or other leaders in the West End...this was evident by how the meeting went with that community a couple Mondays ago.more importantly b/c if..homeless people get helped...it will justify many of the crossroad peeps continued seperation from the poor. and we will again miss the point...WE are supposed to be changed by our interaction with the poor! i dont want to see another place get built that helps the poor but keeps the rich and poor apart. thats charity, not christianity.We need to build a center in Blue Ash or Kenwood...to help solve this wealth problem...for rich people to come and hear the Gospel. that says...'no the poor will enter AHEAD of you into the Kingdom, you are the ones who need help, a center built. AND your wealth can very well keep you out of the KIngdom! your money and wealth is dangerous! sell what you have, give it to the poor, and join this revolution.'thats all i have to say about that...much love cassi
Saturday, December 3, 2005
Add bodies, stir, and chill
We're piling into the two houses of the Northside Church/grubbykupp community, here... last night, a young man from the Ivory Coast, stayed in the Big Living Room with Chris Challis. He is a wonderfully faithful young believer, an olympic hopeful, and a dutiful man. His name is Arsenne.
The house across the street, where Matt and Christine, JP, Zach, Smitty, Chris, and Aaron live is COLD! I mean, like in the thirties up in the sleeping quarters!
Several have already gotten bad colds, and people have been stunned by lack of sleep due to cold, here. Imagine... wow.
The house across the street, where Matt and Christine, JP, Zach, Smitty, Chris, and Aaron live is COLD! I mean, like in the thirties up in the sleeping quarters!
Several have already gotten bad colds, and people have been stunned by lack of sleep due to cold, here. Imagine... wow.
Our friend, Arsenne, from the Ivory Coast
Arsenne, from the Ivory Coast is a new member of our family for the next couple weeks. He stayed with John and Sydney Wallis for a long time, and now has come to share life with us. He is a fully scholarshipped track and field athlete, adn will be attending school in Indianapolis, soon.
last night, he shared the Big Living Room with Chris Challis. Tonight, he will brave the cold up in Zach's room across the street.
last night, he shared the Big Living Room with Chris Challis. Tonight, he will brave the cold up in Zach's room across the street.
Friday, December 2, 2005
Something from Cassi
Posted as a comment to Lewminator.
Thank you, Cassi. We need to hear this.
Keep us in prayer as we repent of pride.
Thanks for speaking from the heart and giving us a lot to think about.
FROM CASSI
Lew,
i apologize in advance for the length.
I've recently started reading several blogs from people within the house church and it has given me plenty of thinking to do over the last few weeks. Needless to say, I live in a very different part of Cincinnati with a very different daily experience of life and of God. It is always encouraging and exciting to me to see the people being affected in Northside as a result of the presence of everyone there. It encourages me often to think about other ways I can be a blessing to the people around me and the people who have less than me. It is encouraging to me to see the whole crew united and truly taking risks as y'all believe in the power of prayer. Again, I am reminded of my own lack of faith at times and am encouraged to trust God and do things for him that I am often afraid to do.
I think that my respect for the lifestyle and ministry of the people of your house church is why I am disappointed when I read so many criticisms and blames on an often unnamed "rich church."
Note: I am posting here on your blog specifically not to respond to any person's comment - I do not want to start an argument or attack people. I know that you will respectfully read my response and consider my words.
There are certainly churches out there who abuse their resources and their power. THere are certainly downsides and difficulties that come with larger churches. As has been mentioned, people can slip through the cracks. It is easy for people to live independent Christian lives. It is easy to remain anonymous. It can be hard to reach some isolated needs. It can be hard to show individual attention to people that need it. It can be easy to turn it into a "look-at-us" show. But may I speak for this "unnamed church" AS A FORMER CYNIC myself. I didn't like it the first time I went, it was too big. How would I ever get involved? But as I went back and listened to the heart of those in leadership, I realized that this is a place full of people who are serious about being a blessing to the city Cincinnati - no excuses. I have seen this church take some incredible risks financially and otherwise to do just that. It is absolutely possible for people to fall through the cracks, but no church proper can attend to every need in the city. The vision is to have the church - each person and each relationship live in daily sacrifice to the people around them, only then will the church be the church. If that happens (and I've seen it in action), then groups of friends, Christians, members of THE church work together to make a difference in the lives of the people around them. They aren't dependent upon the church to provide them with all the answers on how to meet needs, which has its own positives and negatives. They creatively and actively involve themselves in the lives of others. Their sacrifices may not look as extreme as many in the house church, but there are hundreds of stories of people, families who have made sacrifices financially and with their time to support what this church is doing. It's normal people making sacrifices, putting off buying cars, houses, going on vacations, buying clothes, or literally skipping meals so they can be a part of what is going on here.
A large part of the money raised went to build an aids hospice in south africa through a partnership. It wasn't just given so as to make the group dependent upon the church here, but it was a partnership, to aid in the success of their building. It is the largest hospice in the entire country. The significance being that it would be equivalent of people in over-the-rhine or northside building the largest, most resourced hospital in cincinnati. People gave generously and sacrificially here because they believed in making a difference there.
A partnership of about 5 churches and 5 other organizations in Cincinnati has formed to build what will be called the CityLink center. Not just a homeless shelter or a food kitchen, but a place where people can go to get life skills and education and support and walk alongside people, Christians so that they may walk again and rise up out of poverty. Hundreds of volunteers will be giving their time here. It is a place I hope to get involved in, perhaps even with counseling. People gave generously and sacrificially because they want to be a part of making a difference in the lives of those in Cincinnati.
Because of the risks and the responsibility with which this church has acted in the city, the architect of the new building is now a follower of Christ. The construction crew bent over backward to get the construction done in time for a dedication service because the church was ethical and generous with their money and respect.
I understand some may challenge the motives of the church and the people here. To those, I would give the challenge: attend the church regularly for 3 months and get involved somewhere. Listen to the vision. Talk to the volunteers and see why they do it. Think about the hundreds of people who have started a relationship with Christ, not because of the church, but because of the lives that people have lived in their communities and who have been willing to introduce their friends and neighbors to Christ. Think about the hundreds of people who had given up on God or given up on Christ or never would have taken the next step in their relationship with Christ if they hadn't had a non-threatening place to go and be challenged. Now there are many more people who were perhaps raised in the church but never understood what it meant to live a sacrificial life to God.
Then consider the leadership. How often do you see large churches taking risks and not just playing it safe on what they are sure they can accomplish merely because of their size. See if you don't get the impression that this is a place that does not want to be a church, but a place that wants to rely on the power and the vision of God.
I will never say that this is the only way to "do church." There are things that this church can do, impacts that this church can have because of its great number of resources - the largest of those being volunteers. Never have they hosted an event or volunteer opportunity and come up short. There are always more volunteers than needed. There have been choices made to make sure the place is run by volunteers so that they don't have to hire and pay as many staff members as other churchs the same size. It's large. It has its negatives. But I ask people to consider that money and resources are not indicators of pride and selfishness. The attitude of the heart of so many of the people here is gratitude and generosity.
Often God gives generously to those who give generously first. Often God gives generously of other non-financial things to those who give generously of their lives. I admire the choices many of you have made and the experiences in northside, the opportunity to change lives of people in poverty to whom maybe noone has shown respect. There are relationships built there and experiences had that most people will not experience. Those are invaluable. The sacrifices made by many of you are recognized and praise is given to God for your obedience. I and others are encouraged by your service.
But I ask for the same respect and in the spirit of unity, I ask for the same consideration - to recognize that there are people even in a large church who live and give sacrificially of themselves, their time, and their money. And that there are downsides to all churches - large and small.
I do hope this has not come across as argumentative or attacking. I have tried to be fair and not to put either "church" above the other. I think it is exciting to consider the reactions of the people in cincinnati when they see both churches large and small responding with love and mutual respect. So many different groups of people will be reached and people will see so many manifestations of the love of Christ.
cassi
Thank you, Cassi. We need to hear this.
Keep us in prayer as we repent of pride.
Thanks for speaking from the heart and giving us a lot to think about.
FROM CASSI
Lew,
i apologize in advance for the length.
I've recently started reading several blogs from people within the house church and it has given me plenty of thinking to do over the last few weeks. Needless to say, I live in a very different part of Cincinnati with a very different daily experience of life and of God. It is always encouraging and exciting to me to see the people being affected in Northside as a result of the presence of everyone there. It encourages me often to think about other ways I can be a blessing to the people around me and the people who have less than me. It is encouraging to me to see the whole crew united and truly taking risks as y'all believe in the power of prayer. Again, I am reminded of my own lack of faith at times and am encouraged to trust God and do things for him that I am often afraid to do.
I think that my respect for the lifestyle and ministry of the people of your house church is why I am disappointed when I read so many criticisms and blames on an often unnamed "rich church."
Note: I am posting here on your blog specifically not to respond to any person's comment - I do not want to start an argument or attack people. I know that you will respectfully read my response and consider my words.
There are certainly churches out there who abuse their resources and their power. THere are certainly downsides and difficulties that come with larger churches. As has been mentioned, people can slip through the cracks. It is easy for people to live independent Christian lives. It is easy to remain anonymous. It can be hard to reach some isolated needs. It can be hard to show individual attention to people that need it. It can be easy to turn it into a "look-at-us" show. But may I speak for this "unnamed church" AS A FORMER CYNIC myself. I didn't like it the first time I went, it was too big. How would I ever get involved? But as I went back and listened to the heart of those in leadership, I realized that this is a place full of people who are serious about being a blessing to the city Cincinnati - no excuses. I have seen this church take some incredible risks financially and otherwise to do just that. It is absolutely possible for people to fall through the cracks, but no church proper can attend to every need in the city. The vision is to have the church - each person and each relationship live in daily sacrifice to the people around them, only then will the church be the church. If that happens (and I've seen it in action), then groups of friends, Christians, members of THE church work together to make a difference in the lives of the people around them. They aren't dependent upon the church to provide them with all the answers on how to meet needs, which has its own positives and negatives. They creatively and actively involve themselves in the lives of others. Their sacrifices may not look as extreme as many in the house church, but there are hundreds of stories of people, families who have made sacrifices financially and with their time to support what this church is doing. It's normal people making sacrifices, putting off buying cars, houses, going on vacations, buying clothes, or literally skipping meals so they can be a part of what is going on here.
A large part of the money raised went to build an aids hospice in south africa through a partnership. It wasn't just given so as to make the group dependent upon the church here, but it was a partnership, to aid in the success of their building. It is the largest hospice in the entire country. The significance being that it would be equivalent of people in over-the-rhine or northside building the largest, most resourced hospital in cincinnati. People gave generously and sacrificially here because they believed in making a difference there.
A partnership of about 5 churches and 5 other organizations in Cincinnati has formed to build what will be called the CityLink center. Not just a homeless shelter or a food kitchen, but a place where people can go to get life skills and education and support and walk alongside people, Christians so that they may walk again and rise up out of poverty. Hundreds of volunteers will be giving their time here. It is a place I hope to get involved in, perhaps even with counseling. People gave generously and sacrificially because they want to be a part of making a difference in the lives of those in Cincinnati.
Because of the risks and the responsibility with which this church has acted in the city, the architect of the new building is now a follower of Christ. The construction crew bent over backward to get the construction done in time for a dedication service because the church was ethical and generous with their money and respect.
I understand some may challenge the motives of the church and the people here. To those, I would give the challenge: attend the church regularly for 3 months and get involved somewhere. Listen to the vision. Talk to the volunteers and see why they do it. Think about the hundreds of people who have started a relationship with Christ, not because of the church, but because of the lives that people have lived in their communities and who have been willing to introduce their friends and neighbors to Christ. Think about the hundreds of people who had given up on God or given up on Christ or never would have taken the next step in their relationship with Christ if they hadn't had a non-threatening place to go and be challenged. Now there are many more people who were perhaps raised in the church but never understood what it meant to live a sacrificial life to God.
Then consider the leadership. How often do you see large churches taking risks and not just playing it safe on what they are sure they can accomplish merely because of their size. See if you don't get the impression that this is a place that does not want to be a church, but a place that wants to rely on the power and the vision of God.
I will never say that this is the only way to "do church." There are things that this church can do, impacts that this church can have because of its great number of resources - the largest of those being volunteers. Never have they hosted an event or volunteer opportunity and come up short. There are always more volunteers than needed. There have been choices made to make sure the place is run by volunteers so that they don't have to hire and pay as many staff members as other churchs the same size. It's large. It has its negatives. But I ask people to consider that money and resources are not indicators of pride and selfishness. The attitude of the heart of so many of the people here is gratitude and generosity.
Often God gives generously to those who give generously first. Often God gives generously of other non-financial things to those who give generously of their lives. I admire the choices many of you have made and the experiences in northside, the opportunity to change lives of people in poverty to whom maybe noone has shown respect. There are relationships built there and experiences had that most people will not experience. Those are invaluable. The sacrifices made by many of you are recognized and praise is given to God for your obedience. I and others are encouraged by your service.
But I ask for the same respect and in the spirit of unity, I ask for the same consideration - to recognize that there are people even in a large church who live and give sacrificially of themselves, their time, and their money. And that there are downsides to all churches - large and small.
I do hope this has not come across as argumentative or attacking. I have tried to be fair and not to put either "church" above the other. I think it is exciting to consider the reactions of the people in cincinnati when they see both churches large and small responding with love and mutual respect. So many different groups of people will be reached and people will see so many manifestations of the love of Christ.
cassi
Thursday, December 1, 2005
in reaction to Amy Bee's confession
i don't pray a lot before i eat. i kinda hang my head as i start, though. you know what i mean? i hang my head and feel this feeling of
"o god, i'm so RICH. look at what i am eating! o god, please take my life and help me! i don't know how to serve you in this ocean of needs. i want to be found serving the least of these your brethren, and this plate is sooooo full... my belly is sooooo full... and there are so many of the least of these. and they are cold, hungry, thirsty, lonely, in prison, RIGHT NOW!"
that's pretty much what happens every single time i eat. i think it's much more christian than all this thankyouprayer-ing that we are accustomed to... a bit of mourning is a good turn...
"and oh, how i SIN against you, Father..."
"o god, i'm so RICH. look at what i am eating! o god, please take my life and help me! i don't know how to serve you in this ocean of needs. i want to be found serving the least of these your brethren, and this plate is sooooo full... my belly is sooooo full... and there are so many of the least of these. and they are cold, hungry, thirsty, lonely, in prison, RIGHT NOW!"
that's pretty much what happens every single time i eat. i think it's much more christian than all this thankyouprayer-ing that we are accustomed to... a bit of mourning is a good turn...
"and oh, how i SIN against you, Father..."
i'll remove this when they come after me about the copyrights, but you gotta read it
Antonio Reed – “There is an Assassin Living on the Inside of Me”
There is living deep-down inside of me.
Ready to kill, steal, destroy and put me in chains for the rest of my life so that I can never run free.
This assassin doesn’t care about me, you, it, God or the next man.
If he could have his way with my life I would be standing over a dead body when the police arrives,
with the murder weapon in my right hand.
He talks to my brain late at night when I’m asleep and he shows me dreams about the wrongs I did.
How I disrespected my family, broke the hearts of some real good women and neglected all my five kids.
I still be searching for happiness, mind corrupted, who’s the blame.
Deep, down inside my soul, I still feel a lot of hurt, pain, guilt and shame.
I grew up in a home with dogs, cats, nasty roaches and filthy rats, With spiders in every corner,
I sometimes was punished with stitching cords and plastic bats.
I was always talked down to and it hurt,
Stepped and spit on like dirt
Never invited no company over cause of how filthy the house was.
I took to the street life cause, unlike my family, the street life showed me Love.
Never was I taught how to deal with my feelings properly so I would stuff them all deep down inside.
I used drugs for my hurtful feelings.
I was raised I shouldn’t cry.
So now I ask what in the hell is wrong with me.
I’ll tell ya, There is something in my self-destructive personalities that cries for failure.
Now I ask who is the evil one that leads me wrong, took control over my family and disrupted my home.
Gee, it’s that assassin deep down inside and if I let him, he will kill me.
I have to tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help me God and hope that you hear me clearly.
This assassin wants my mind, body and soul because he lives in me.
There is an assassin living on the inside of me.
LEW WRITES:
you know, there are a lot of christians who would read this and say,
"hey, we'll cast that demon out of you!
that's what we ought to do."
but that thing's gotta get loosened up by the spilled blood of risky love
of christians sharing their stuff, their lives
like their minds're on
the things above.
otherwise, when it comes out
it's gonna take half of you with it...
and after it's wandering days, all it's gotta do
is hold that other half
and offer it to you...
and over turns the knob
and out swings the door
and in comes that assassin
and seven nasty more...
There is living deep-down inside of me.
Ready to kill, steal, destroy and put me in chains for the rest of my life so that I can never run free.
This assassin doesn’t care about me, you, it, God or the next man.
If he could have his way with my life I would be standing over a dead body when the police arrives,
with the murder weapon in my right hand.
He talks to my brain late at night when I’m asleep and he shows me dreams about the wrongs I did.
How I disrespected my family, broke the hearts of some real good women and neglected all my five kids.
I still be searching for happiness, mind corrupted, who’s the blame.
Deep, down inside my soul, I still feel a lot of hurt, pain, guilt and shame.
I grew up in a home with dogs, cats, nasty roaches and filthy rats, With spiders in every corner,
I sometimes was punished with stitching cords and plastic bats.
I was always talked down to and it hurt,
Stepped and spit on like dirt
Never invited no company over cause of how filthy the house was.
I took to the street life cause, unlike my family, the street life showed me Love.
Never was I taught how to deal with my feelings properly so I would stuff them all deep down inside.
I used drugs for my hurtful feelings.
I was raised I shouldn’t cry.
So now I ask what in the hell is wrong with me.
I’ll tell ya, There is something in my self-destructive personalities that cries for failure.
Now I ask who is the evil one that leads me wrong, took control over my family and disrupted my home.
Gee, it’s that assassin deep down inside and if I let him, he will kill me.
I have to tell the truth and nothing but the truth so help me God and hope that you hear me clearly.
This assassin wants my mind, body and soul because he lives in me.
There is an assassin living on the inside of me.
LEW WRITES:
you know, there are a lot of christians who would read this and say,
"hey, we'll cast that demon out of you!
that's what we ought to do."
but that thing's gotta get loosened up by the spilled blood of risky love
of christians sharing their stuff, their lives
like their minds're on
the things above.
otherwise, when it comes out
it's gonna take half of you with it...
and after it's wandering days, all it's gotta do
is hold that other half
and offer it to you...
and over turns the knob
and out swings the door
and in comes that assassin
and seven nasty more...
Story by JP
The following post is something JP pumped out in response/reaction to a situation on our street the other night. There were like 5 patrol cars and 12 police officers involved. They were rude and harsh in their demeanor, and unprofessionally disrespectful of the family that lives next door to Zach and JP's house...
The police arrived in response to a complaint about people crashing in the basement of the house (a duplex). The basement is shared space, and the other tenants in the bldg are... kinda wild. So when people started living downstairs, and whatnot with all that goin' on and all... they called the cops.
The arrival of police was a good thing at first, but then they "ran" everyone in the house. this means tha tthey took the opportunity to police check everyone's record, right then. this takes a long time, and usually someone has some outstanding ticket or something, so they haul them off to jail and there are court costs and time lost and if they're trying to get their life together and have a job, now, they lose it, and like that. So "running" everyone in response to a complaint of squatters in the basement is kindof intense...
Just prior to the arrival of the police, Maurice got in a fight on the street. He's a 15-year old kid. He's 6'3". He mouthed off and got jumped for the second day in a row... So the cops are there, he's complaining, and Zach walks right up and enters the house, checking on M.
M. has blood on his shirt, is talking about getting jumped and jacked, and Zach is wondering what's up, and the cops threaten to arrest him and all this is going on, and Zach has issues with disrespectful authority and whatnot, and the police aren't being professional or wise...
and I'm outside, now. I have heard that there's a situation at M's house, specifically that he's been jumped. Zach is inside (getting threatened) and I'm walking up. I stop at the perimeter of the scene, where I see the first officers. I stand in view, waiting to be looked at, but they are ignoring me right now.
an officer finally looks at me, but looks away. I have trouble reading these guys, but it seems like they're hoping I'll just move on. I won't. I'm waiting to talk to you, officer.
The officer turns to me as he sees four more of us converging on the perimeter.
I step forward and offer my hand, stating my name and my profession (pastor), indicating my residence, next to the church, there.
Officer looks annoyed, speaks sharply, gestures rudely and dismisses me.
I offer to him that I'll be right over there if I can be of any assistance, since the family is in the care of our church, and the young man in there who was assaulted is one of our regulars... He assures me that I'm not necessary and gestures rudely again, obviously exasperated by my presence and interest.
I wait on the perimeter, and when things calm down, I leave...
There is good conversation among us about how the police have lost/never had a professional attitude toward the people of this area...
The police arrived in response to a complaint about people crashing in the basement of the house (a duplex). The basement is shared space, and the other tenants in the bldg are... kinda wild. So when people started living downstairs, and whatnot with all that goin' on and all... they called the cops.
The arrival of police was a good thing at first, but then they "ran" everyone in the house. this means tha tthey took the opportunity to police check everyone's record, right then. this takes a long time, and usually someone has some outstanding ticket or something, so they haul them off to jail and there are court costs and time lost and if they're trying to get their life together and have a job, now, they lose it, and like that. So "running" everyone in response to a complaint of squatters in the basement is kindof intense...
Just prior to the arrival of the police, Maurice got in a fight on the street. He's a 15-year old kid. He's 6'3". He mouthed off and got jumped for the second day in a row... So the cops are there, he's complaining, and Zach walks right up and enters the house, checking on M.
M. has blood on his shirt, is talking about getting jumped and jacked, and Zach is wondering what's up, and the cops threaten to arrest him and all this is going on, and Zach has issues with disrespectful authority and whatnot, and the police aren't being professional or wise...
and I'm outside, now. I have heard that there's a situation at M's house, specifically that he's been jumped. Zach is inside (getting threatened) and I'm walking up. I stop at the perimeter of the scene, where I see the first officers. I stand in view, waiting to be looked at, but they are ignoring me right now.
an officer finally looks at me, but looks away. I have trouble reading these guys, but it seems like they're hoping I'll just move on. I won't. I'm waiting to talk to you, officer.
The officer turns to me as he sees four more of us converging on the perimeter.
I step forward and offer my hand, stating my name and my profession (pastor), indicating my residence, next to the church, there.
Officer looks annoyed, speaks sharply, gestures rudely and dismisses me.
I offer to him that I'll be right over there if I can be of any assistance, since the family is in the care of our church, and the young man in there who was assaulted is one of our regulars... He assures me that I'm not necessary and gestures rudely again, obviously exasperated by my presence and interest.
I wait on the perimeter, and when things calm down, I leave...
There is good conversation among us about how the police have lost/never had a professional attitude toward the people of this area...
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