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Engaging the Ragamuffins

July 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I just finished reading the book Under the Overpass by Mike Yankoski about his journey with Sam Purvis living with the homeless in America.

This is a very compelling book!  If you are a Christian, then this will challenge you to your innermost core.  It speaks to the very heart of the final verses of Matthew 25:

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ BibleGateway

Mike and Sam allow us to lift the cover that we use to ignore the homeless world and peer inside for all of its sadness and despair.

There is still so much to be done, and with the recent downturn in the economy over the last 5-6 years, there are more folks homeless than ever before.  I grieve with them.

Consider picking up a copy of the book and reading their story.

Here is some of it in video form below:

Filed Under: Book Reviews, Story Tagged With: , , , ,

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance

May 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Memorial Day was a day set aside to remember those who died in service for this country.

This is necessary, that we look back, and remember those who made it possible for us to blog, own businesses, own computers, own cars and simply live in the most free country in the history of the world.

Memorial Day

Who do you remember this Memorial Day?

And yes, I have already had a hamburger and a hot dog, and I will have one again.  Isn’t it great!

We have that freedom because of the men and women who served this country to preserve the freedoms we have.

Let us remember them!

There are others who serve this country and served us.  I think about both of my grandpas.  I also think about police and firefighters.

Grandpas

One of my grandpas had a farm we went to every year.  We awoke somewhere between 5:30 and 6:00 in the morning and didn’t care!  He was usually on his CB radio.

After breakfast, we usually fired up the tractor and went to the pond to fish.  Can you imagine little boys fishing for hours?  We did, even if my brother had to walk around the pond some to stay moving.

When we got back, my grandpa would “clean” the fish and fry it along with hushpuppies for lunch.  That was usually by 10:30 am or so.  Life on the farm was different.

We did whatever in the afternoon, and there was plenty to do on a farm.  Everything form playing with the dogs to exploring the farm.

Usually, we went to my other grandpa the next week.  He lived in a small town in rural Arkansas, not on a farm, but not far from many of the farms.  He had an usually car with blue interior.  I remember that.

We usually got around a little later at his house (no 5:30 am wake up calls!).  We went to the post office and then the local general store where we visited with the other men in the town.  Sometimes, we would go to the Senior Citizen’s Center.

Oh, and the stories.  That is how we went to bed.  He told us stories.  Yes, he told us stories!

. . . . Just remembering those men.

Fire and Police

On 9/11, they were the ones who were risking their lives when we were attacked on our soil.  The NYPD and the FDNY were heroes.  They helped get as many as they could to safety, without regard to their own lives in one of the most egregious actions to have ever happened in America.

However, I think we take them for granted.  They protect us, and they serve us.  Many, like Hank Nava, a Fort Worth Police officer, have given their lives in service for the community.

My friend Larry was a police officer before he became a Pastor.  However, he continues to serve his fellow officers as a volunteer chaplain for his local police and fire stations.  Well done my friend!

Question

So, here’s my question.  Who are you remembering this Memorial Day?  Feel free to tell us in the comment box below!

Photo source:  Eric Henderson

Filed Under: Blog, Lessons, Story Tagged With: , ,

When we reboot our lives

April 25, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Reboot is a common word now.

That’s because of computers.  Reboot is how we restart a computer without going through the process mandated by Microsoft.

It has become an analogy we can use in life.  Sometimes, we reboot.  Things can spin out of control, and the only way to get back on course is to reboot.

I rebooted a little over a year ago.  Circumstances demanded it.

I moved to Conway, AR.

Driving Home

Driving Home

I was living in Fort Worth, TX which is a wonderful city.   I highly recommend visiting there!  However, the time had come for me to reboot and move back to Arkansas.  So, I unloaded about 95% of what I owned and packed the rest in my car and headed home.

It was January, so it was cold.  More like brisk.  I couldn’t sleep real well because I was trying to sleep on an air mattress.  My back was killing me.  I hoped to be up and out by 4 or 5 am.  After trying to sleep, I woke up at 1 am, got things together and was driving out of the drive way by 2 am.  I was buying myself some breakfast a little after 3 am in Rockwall, TX.  That was the first of two breakfasts that morning!

I won’t forget that drive.  It was dark for most of it because of how early I left.  There were feelings of dread, excitement, anxiety and uncertainty.  I felt, in some way, that there were lots of people waiting for me.  My parents, my brother and his family and my friend Sam were going to be coming to a birthday party my mom was planning.  So, I was excited about that.  We were also expecting a snow storm and I was trying to get to Conway before it hit.

Seeing the dawn break was symbolic of me rebooting my life.  Maybe that is why much of the drive was dark.

And, of course, when I got to Conway, I was wired.  I’ve had my share of things to keep me going and just overwhelmed to be there.  Therefore, I was going pretty strong when I got there while unloading my belongings and such.

Afterwards, it didn’t take me too long to crash.  I was tired from the drive.  I was tired from my need to reboot.

The next day, the snow came.  With it came newness.  I’m glad.

Have you had to reboot?  How did it work for you?

Photo Credit: alternatePhotography

Filed Under: Lessons Tagged With: ,

Connecting Story to Your Mission

April 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Chris Brogan has challenged his readers.  Therefore, I accept the challenge.  We are supposed to write a post about story.  Here is my post about story and from my perspective.

We all have a story.  My story, much like yours, contains comedy, romance and tragedy.  I have experienced them all in the past couple of years.

Church Building

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jstephenconn/

In fact, folks resonate with us when we share our story.  However, I want to take it to a different level.  What if we connected our story to our mission–not just as a business person or writer–but our mission in life? What if we share our story for a different purpose? What if we share our stories in a way that transcends what we do to make a living?

For me, the most powerful story is Jesus.  Now, that story is engaged in my story.  God engaging in history–my history.  I haven’t always liked my history, but I have always respected one who would throw off the cloak or royalty and become a simple peasant to  give his life for a ragamuffin like me.

Because of God’s great love, I have decided to do this.  I believe that all churches should have an online presence.  There may be a rare example of one that doesn’t need one, but most do.  I am willing to help churches have an online presence by offering my services for 50% off what I would normally charge.  Further, if a church simply can’t pay that, we can make a different arrangement.  This will undoubtedly benefit small and start-up churches, and those are who I am looking at when I offer this.  Because of my time, I can only participate in a limited number projects at a time.  It makes no difference what denomination you are as long as you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

I do not want a church to use being small or money as a reason to not have an online presence.  I will help you get a site up and running and train a volunteer and staff member to use the website.  If you desire, I will also set up a social media presence for you as well to integrate with your website.  I will then offer tech support for you and your website for six months.  All my services for a church or faith-based non profit will be 50% off plus the cost of hosting and domain registration.

Now, Chris, that is connecting my story, and God’s story, to my mission.  What do you think?

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