Posts tagged as:

church

Feeding the Homeless

by Jessica on October 27, 2008

“There are thousands of people dying for a piece of bread. There are thousands upon thousands who die for a little bit of love, for a little bit of acknowledgment.”

Mother Teresa

Last night was our monthly trek downtown with the college kids to Horizon Urban Ministries where we serve and minister to the homeless. This was our fourth time down and each time gets better and better, and I think as a group we are continually growing. There’s not as much apprehension, even though you never know what will happen or who you’ll meet or what they’ll say.

We are more eager to get out and have conversations with people rather than simply serve them. All in all, we’re becoming involved in their lives. Getting to know them by name, their stories, their families, their likes and dislikes–after all, they’re not just homeless, they’re people too.

(L-R: Coy, Bryan, Pastor Joe, Jace)

Our ministry has expanded over the last few months. We originally started off fixing a meal and inviting people in the park to come. Now, our time downtown includes preparing a meal, decorating: set-up tables/drinks/cutlery, going out to the park praying for and inviting people to come for dinner, foot washing and handing out new socks (homeless people love clean socks), praying for them, worship, and we even have a chiropractor come down and do adjustments for people!

This was probably my last trip downtown for at least a couple of months. I’d like to continue going after Joey is born, but we’ll have to see how that will pan out. I wanted to take some pictures to show you guys, they’re not the best (due to lighting and I didn’t want to just snap pictures of unsuspecting people).

I’ll miss going down seeing the people and serving them. Coming home last night what it felt like, for me, was when Jesus sent his disciples to go get lunch and he ended up talking with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). When the disciples returned Jesus said,

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”

That phrase kept going through my mind and even though I was tired and a little bit hungry, I felt satisfied.

Tagged as: church, missions, quotes

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The Burden of Revival & Healing of a Nation

by Jessica on October 10, 2008

in Uncategorized

I’ve been doing a bible study with a group of women at church called Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit by Beth Moore. We just finished week 2 of the study, which has been a look through Galatians building a foundation of understanding how the Holy Spirit works in our lives and studying the context for which those famous verses are based.

In the study the other day Beth spoke on something that connected with me in relation to TheCall and all that is happening here in recent months and weeks. This is what she said (talking about the “natural man” or man of flesh),

“We should not be surprised at the depravity that surrounds us. I am somewhat puzzled by a common attitude in today’s church. We believe that abortion clinics, godless school districts, pornographers and the like are the hindrances to revival in our land.”

At this point I went, ‘Oh, boy. I know where she’s going with this.’

She then posed the question: Who does the burden of revival and the healing of a nation fall upon (2 Chron. 7:14)? It falls upon the people of God.

“…and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves
and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

She continues, “God expects unredeemed people to sin. Revival has nothing to do with unsaved people. If God’s people would humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways, then this nation would be healed in spite of every bar, every gambling hill, every gang, and every crack house.”

It’s up to us. We do not battle against flesh and blood, “but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12), and this type of battle will only be won in repentance and prayer.

Tagged as: Bible, church, election, life, prayer

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“As California goes, so goes the nation.”

by Jessica on October 3, 2008

in Uncategorized

Click here for an extended, more thorough version of this post.

Beginning on September 24^th many Christians and churches across California entered a season of 40 days of prayer and fasting. Why? Because these are desperate times.

The Issue

On March 7, 2000, 61% of Californians voted that marriage is defined as between one man and one woman. However May 15, 2008 four activist judges overturned this vote deeming it in violation of the equal protection clause of the California Constitution. No one thought that this election year God would be moving the Church to take a stand for the truth in such a way. Now, Prop 8 is on the ballot. Prop 8 seeks to amend the California Constitution to include the phrase, “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”

The Heart & Focus of TheCall

During these 40 days, Christians are joining with TheCall in prayer and fasting for the Church and the nation.

Ramifications of a no vote on Prop 8

There is much at stake on the November ballot. The redefinition of marriage will not only affect California, as TheCall so poignantly puts it “As California goes, so goes the nation.” The redefining of marriage will have sweeping consequences. We have already seen this in countries and states that have redefined marriage. Pastors have been imprisoned for preaching their biblical views on homosexuality, Christian adoption agencies have shut their doors rather than compromise their beliefs, parents have been denied the right for parental notification to opt their child out when homosexual viewpoints are being taught in school, and the list goes on. This will not only affect California, but the whole country.

Here are five consequences is the vote fails, as noted by WhatisProp8.com:

Children in public schools will have to be taught that same-sex marriage is just as good as traditional marriage.
Churches may be sued over their tax exempt status if they refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies in their religious buildings open to the public.
Religious adoption agencies will be challenged by government agencies to give up their long-held right to place children only in homes with both a mother and a father.
Religions that sponsor private schools with married student housing may be required to provide housing for same-sex couples, even if counter to church doctrine, or risk lawsuits over tax exemptions and related benefits.
Ministers who preach against same-sex marriages may be sued for hate speech and risk government fines.

What the Church Needs to Know to Respond

First, the Church needs to boldly speak the truth.
Second, the Church must boldly speak the truth in love.
Third, the Church must repent of its own sin.
Fourth, the Church must have a correct understanding of sin.

Ways to Get Involved

There are many ways to get involved even if you are not part of the Church in California. You can join us in prayer, repentance, and fasting. You can speak the truth on the biblical perspective of marriage in a loving, Christ-like manner. You can educate others on the issue and its ramifications. You can encourage others to pray, get involved, or vote.

Resources

TheCall – www.thecall.com
I Protect Marriage – www.iprotectmarriage.com
What is Prop 8? – http://whatisprop8.com
Protect Marriage – www.protectmarriage.com
Exodus International – www.exodus-international.org
Responding to Pro-Gay Theology (Joe Dallas) – www.leaderu.com/jhs/dallas.html
How Then Should We Respond? Developing an Effective Answer to the Gay Rights Movement (Joe Dallas) -