I hear people talk about home. Most talk of obviously flawed places of a combination of peaceful familiarity and predictable conflict. It must be true. Houses filled with flawed people, must inherently be flawed.
But my earthly realities don't keep me from longing for the place of warmth, the place of peace, and the place of belonging to which my thoughts climb. For me, the idea of home brings to mind, not those broken or thwarted memories, but a magical place filled with joy, true joy. Heck, no! Its not real. But a guy can dream, can't he.
I'll dream that my kids always agree with me. Heck I'll believe they even think I'm smart, all the time. I'll believe there's always enough of everything I need and to spare. I'll dream that the church is the perfect embodiment of Jesus ... and when it isn't it falls to its knees.
Wow, some days the thought of heaven on the horizon sounds good to me. Take me home!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Homeless in Lubbock
Broadway and the entire Lubbock community are banding together to bring awareness to the breadth of the homeless dilemma in Lubbock.
Join us if you can.
www.innercitylubbock.org
This is a reminder and an update on the movement to provide shelter for our homeless friends in Lubbock, TX this winter.
Reminder: Prayer Vigil for the Homeless this Saturday, Oct. 18th from 8-9pm at the Mahon Library downtown (1306 9th St). Participants are also invited to spend the night on the sidewalk alongside the homeless.
The Point: Together we will ask God to provide shelter for the homeless of Lubbock, TX this winter and in the future.
Logistics:
From 8-9pm we will have a focused time of prayer during which several community leaders as well as some of our homeless and formerly homeless friends will lead prayers asking God to hear our cries and respond.
There will be access to toilets.
The ground is concrete and will be cold and hard! Participants are invited to make this experience as real as they like (e.g., sleep on cardboard, newspaper, etc.), but if you need sleeping pads they are also welcome.
During the night participants are invited to sleep, pray and get to know each other. But please be aware of those who need to sleep! Those wanting to pray or talk are asked to do so in the parking lot west of the Library.
Safety: Come in peace and expect to stand (or lie down) alongside our friends. There is no reason to fear this community or the idea of spending the night. There will be plenty of people around, we will have Police proximity and the area is well lit. But please be wise about how you participate. Here are a few tips to ensure safety:
Please stay in groups and do not go anywhere with people you do not know.
PLEASE DO NOT GO ANYWHERE ALONE WITH SOMEONE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX.
Please keep track of your valuables! Do not leave purses, cell phones or other items unattended.
If you are spending the night, try to sleep next to a few people you know.
Please do not give cash to the people on the streets; if there is a need you want to meet please try and meet the need directly (i.e., if they're hungry, give them food or a gift card)
Creativity: Most of us will be guests to the Library which has served as a "home" to many homeless people over the years. As guests we want to be a positive presence. Feel free to bring food, bottled water, hot chocolate, breakfast burritos! or anything else to share with those in need.
Shelter: Currently we do not have a facility to use as a shelter this winter! This is our main concern this winter: finding a facility with floor space, toilets and a heater. For information concerning a facility, property or donation for a shelter facility please contact Dale Milhauser at 1745@suddenlink.net or (806)368-7334.
Backup: Carpenter's church has decided to continue the prayer vigil on a nightly basis starting Nov. 1st through March 15th. We will continue to ask God to provide shelter for the homeless and we will invite our homeless friends to join us in prayer each night from 8pm to 8am until that happens. All of those who are interest in volunteering to be on a rotation for prayer and supervision please contact volunteers@innercitylubbock.org or call Chad Wheeler at (806)543-0526.
Standing together with God we can do anything! Let us stand together with the marginalized and forgotten of our society and we will house the homeless!
Check out this video produced by Aldersgate about homelessness in Lubbock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8CeCoj-kP0
Let me know if you have any questions and see you Saturday night!
Chad Wheeler
Carpenter's Church
chadwheeler@innercitylubbock.org
(806)543-0526
Join us if you can.
www.innercitylubbock.org
This is a reminder and an update on the movement to provide shelter for our homeless friends in Lubbock, TX this winter.
Reminder: Prayer Vigil for the Homeless this Saturday, Oct. 18th from 8-9pm at the Mahon Library downtown (1306 9th St). Participants are also invited to spend the night on the sidewalk alongside the homeless.
The Point: Together we will ask God to provide shelter for the homeless of Lubbock, TX this winter and in the future.
Logistics:
From 8-9pm we will have a focused time of prayer during which several community leaders as well as some of our homeless and formerly homeless friends will lead prayers asking God to hear our cries and respond.
There will be access to toilets.
The ground is concrete and will be cold and hard! Participants are invited to make this experience as real as they like (e.g., sleep on cardboard, newspaper, etc.), but if you need sleeping pads they are also welcome.
During the night participants are invited to sleep, pray and get to know each other. But please be aware of those who need to sleep! Those wanting to pray or talk are asked to do so in the parking lot west of the Library.
Safety: Come in peace and expect to stand (or lie down) alongside our friends. There is no reason to fear this community or the idea of spending the night. There will be plenty of people around, we will have Police proximity and the area is well lit. But please be wise about how you participate. Here are a few tips to ensure safety:
Please stay in groups and do not go anywhere with people you do not know.
PLEASE DO NOT GO ANYWHERE ALONE WITH SOMEONE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX.
Please keep track of your valuables! Do not leave purses, cell phones or other items unattended.
If you are spending the night, try to sleep next to a few people you know.
Please do not give cash to the people on the streets; if there is a need you want to meet please try and meet the need directly (i.e., if they're hungry, give them food or a gift card)
Creativity: Most of us will be guests to the Library which has served as a "home" to many homeless people over the years. As guests we want to be a positive presence. Feel free to bring food, bottled water, hot chocolate, breakfast burritos! or anything else to share with those in need.
Shelter: Currently we do not have a facility to use as a shelter this winter! This is our main concern this winter: finding a facility with floor space, toilets and a heater. For information concerning a facility, property or donation for a shelter facility please contact Dale Milhauser at 1745@suddenlink.net or (806)368-7334.
Backup: Carpenter's church has decided to continue the prayer vigil on a nightly basis starting Nov. 1st through March 15th. We will continue to ask God to provide shelter for the homeless and we will invite our homeless friends to join us in prayer each night from 8pm to 8am until that happens. All of those who are interest in volunteering to be on a rotation for prayer and supervision please contact volunteers@innercitylubbock.org or call Chad Wheeler at (806)543-0526.
Standing together with God we can do anything! Let us stand together with the marginalized and forgotten of our society and we will house the homeless!
Check out this video produced by Aldersgate about homelessness in Lubbock: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8CeCoj-kP0
Let me know if you have any questions and see you Saturday night!
Chad Wheeler
Carpenter's Church
chadwheeler@innercitylubbock.org
(806)543-0526
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
One line blog updates
Often, especially recently, I find I must make a difficult choice. My heart finds incessant opportunities for ministry. Truth be known the opportunities are beyond incessant, they are overwhelming. But the choice in the balance is to be engaged in these ministry opportunities or to take the time away from the ministries to report, blog, reflect, and share what these experiences are doing for me, to me, and around me.
I even feel guilty writing this, but felt my heart would explode if I did not vent just a bit.
How about you? Does your involvement in ministry preclude your opportunity to tell the stories?
Lord, show me balance, give me strength.
I even feel guilty writing this, but felt my heart would explode if I did not vent just a bit.
How about you? Does your involvement in ministry preclude your opportunity to tell the stories?
Lord, show me balance, give me strength.
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