A word from Edna

Last night, Mark Lawson, the Gowans, the Bird family, the Cliftons, Coach Crouse, and several players from the MCHS basketball team traveled to Walk on Water on West Hancock in Athens. It's an overflow shelter in the Winter, a church/soup kitchen on Sunday nights and Tuesday nights for the rest of the year. It's a great place where people with literally nothing more than the clothes on their backs worship their hearts out, share a meal, and share community with each other. I always meet the most interesting people there, and it's always a great time. Last night, it was too hot and there were too many people to worship inside, so we sat out in the sun, praised God, and I preached the Word as trucks and cars passed by us. There were children and old men; alcoholics and cocaine addicts; prostitutes and college students.

Then there was Edna. Hardly a tooth in her head, flip-flops that were barely hanging on her feet, clothes torn, and a little more than three sheets in the wind. Edna wandered up long after church was over, and actually, long after the food was gone. When she arrived, all we had left after feeding about 100 people was less that half a bag of Laura Lynn ranch style tortilla chips. I told her, "Edna, this is all we have left". She smiled the biggest smile I had seen in weeks, hugged me as tight as she could, and said "Baby, that's okay...I'll just visit a while."

I hugged her back. My wife, Carly, saw and scrambled to put together the fake doritos, some cookies, and a pound cake that was hidden in a box under a table. You would have thought that Edna had won the lottery...What a smile! She told Kay Clifton later on,"I don't have anything or anybody...I don't have no place to stay...But I've got Jesus, and that's all I need!"

Jesus, make me more like Edna.

"I was hungry, and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink. I was alone and away from my home, and you invited me into your house. I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me...I tell you the truth, as you have done to the least of these, you have done it unto me."----------------------------------Matthew 25:35-36; 45

Welcome to 34 A.D.

The apostles were doing many miracles and signs, and everyone felt great respect for God. All the believers were together and shared everything. They would sell their land and the things they owned and then divide the money and give it to anyone who needed it. The believers met together in the Temple every day. They ate together in their homes, happy to share their food with joyful hearts. They praised God and were liked by all the people. Every day the Lord added those who were being saved to the group of believers.----Acts 2:43-47

Acts gives us a clear picture of what 1st century church was like---believers lived together, shared their money, ate together, and met in the temple every day. They lived in true community---supporting, encouraging, and helping each other. They gave up everything---their homes, their money, their jobs---To spend time with each other and with God.

In today's world, we would consider these people crazy, cloud-cuckoo fanatics. What's interesting is, they were living exactly how Jesus commanded them to---to sell all they had and give it to the poor; take up your cross daily, etc.

Theology teaches us that we shouldn't take these commands of Jesus so literally---Maybe he just intended the whole "sell your stuff" thing for one particular individual; Maybe "taking up your cross" just means being nice, doing good things for people, and maybe occasionally praying or reading your Bible.

Or just maybe He meant exactly what He said.

These are hard teachings indeed. Many of us Christians highlight the hound out of Bibles, underlining the verses that inspire and comfort us. We don't usually make much note of the things that drive us toward community--- It's not a style or worship music or a cool 5 step growth program, it's a lifestyle that draws the kingdom of heaven closer into being reality; a lifestyle of giving, sharing, loving, laughing, crying, and pouring out our lives for the sake of the cross, and for the sake of each other.

The end results are fabulous---Acts says that they were liked by all people...every day people were added to the numbers of new believers.

This is the concept that Delta is striving to get across to students when we do 34 A.D. on Sunday nights---community. Community where you share your hearts, hurts, and triumphs. Community where you pour out your worship to Christ, and give your lives to each other. This is the ultimate growth program for churches---advance the kingdom of heaven by loving God, loving people, and truly taking up your crosses...Then you'll see miracles happen.

It's been a long time...

Yes, it's been a woefully long time since I posted. It's been a really busy summer---We had an awesome mission trip to Blood-N-Fire in Atlanta, where we met some amazing people. Carly, Jonathan Russell, Hannah Chapman, Candace Homer, Josh Tiller, Mark Lawson, the Gowan triplets (Michael, Brittni, and Melissa), and myself spent a little over one week living in community with the homeless folks at the shelter---Actually, the folks there aren't homeless---Blood-N-Fire is their home. They're more like "relationless", lacking the support they need to make it in a tough world. We also did VBS at South Jonesboro Homes---what a tough, incredible experience! We also did initiative conversation in parks around the city. Within a span of about 5 minutes in Centennial Olympic Park, we met a guy named Zebedee, a lady named Ephesians, and another lady who said SHE was Jesus!

We started a new Sunday night program last night for 6th-12th graders called "The Deep End". Last night, we had our first night ever of "34 A.D."---a first century-style worship service. We worshipped, shared our hearts, prayed as a community of believers, and learned from God's Word. Edward Krizinski gave his heart to Christ last night---Be sure and congratulate him! Next Sunday night is our first ever "Sobre La Mesa" ("Across The Table")---You don't want to miss it!

Thank God for all He is doing in the lives of our students, and in my life, as well....

Peace---

Pastor Lee