Drinking from the firehose

Thinking back and reflecting over this week.  After having heard a moving sermon on Sunday, I started Monday with a small group of men (15-20) down at the former Crosstown Station across from the Kansas City Star.  Great bunch of guys, but I continue to be reminded that even in a group of "Christians", not everyone has Christian attitudes all the time, even towards people new to the group.  Despite being human - and because we're human - we had another good, fruitful discussion, and I was again reminded of the numerous blessing in my life.  We talked about ministering to those less fortunate than we are - or at least those who appear to be less fortunate compared to us.  Was reminded that for those people we choose to help, we cannot dictate how they repond to our offering - we can merely offer and then leave their response in God's hands. The pastor shared about two homeless men who had recently joined the church, and they shared that when deciding to join, that that particular church was one that had not treated them as a "project", but instead had gotten to know them, to know their stories, and to just care for them.


Saturday, I worked with the Heartland Walk to Emmaus community, in preparation for the upcoming Walk. I heard some god-centered men sharing from their heart what God has prepared for them to share with others.  Pastors and lay-people alike, trying to share from their hearts what God has done for them. I am humbled to know these men, and to call them friends. A few of these guys were with me during my moment "closest to Christ", and they know that I continue to struggle with God's calling upon my life.


Sunday morning during Sunday School we finished up "A Clearing Season", which is our Lenten Study. It's been a challenging study, and as one of the members said today, "We should be thinking about this more than just once a year", which I appreciated hearing.  This group seems to have such an understated hunger to learn. Today, the part that struck me the most was the part that said: "The work of clearing space is therefore the work of letting go, of saying, 'Thy will be done.' When space is cleared, we lose a bit of our old control over things; we clear the space and allow God to fill it, agreeing to tend whatever growth God engenders."  That last part really spoke to me - we clear the space and allow God to fill it.  And I thought about some of the goals I had set for myself this year, and some of the things I had hoped to have accomplished I have not accomplished - some due to me, some due to other circumstances. I have more adjustments to make - more space to clear for God to fill.


I also learned today that "Hosanna" means "Save now", so when Jesus approached Jerusalem and the people were waving palm fronds, they were awaiting their Messiah, their Savior, and they were saying "Save us! Save us!"  The people were dealing with Pontius coming in from the West, King Herold Antipus from the North, and Jesus entering from the East. I also learned that Jesus rode in on a donkey in fulfillment of the prophecy from Zechariah (http://bg4.me/Hdzjif).


Ok - that's all for now.  I'm taking tomorrow off, but I'm still going to Men's group. Thanks for sticking around.