A Very Necessary Shout Out!!

What are you going to say to 40 youth and a dozen adult chaperone's who take their summer vacation and serve 15 hours a day for four days straight?

Thank you Westgate Chapel Youth!

Thank you is the most uncomplicated yet complex utterance known to man. In just two simple words gratitude is known by all and the depth of its meaning makes one curious.

Friday morning I stopped by our Bancroft house which is being prepared to open for much needed transitional housing for women at the Sparrow's Nest. The love and dedication of these fine examples of God at work is astounding. All .. I mean All, of them were working. Not one was complaining about the heat or about the amount of work. As a matter of fact, I observed the exact opposite - they were All smiling, laughing and enjoying their service.

The group I saw at the Bancroft house was only a portion of their group. The other half were equally hard at service at our Madison Street facility preparing, cooking and serving meals - well over 2000 in just four days.

It gets better. Westgate also raised their own money to purchase the food they would serve.

What can you say to such a complex love and service?

Thank you!

On another note, the Bancroft facility will open this month .. by the grace of God and will be officially named Abigail's House.

My final Thank you at least for today, goes to Luann whose love of others and dedication to the ideals of Cherry Street have in great part contributed to Abigail's House and it's opening.

Dan
A Runner

He's Still On Fire!

Exodus chapter 3 and 4.


I've always loved the behavior God exhibits in these two chapters. The rhythm of His watchful eye in chapter 3 verse 4 as well as the cadence and manner of His speech toward Moses give us attention to how loving and persistent He is.


As God was burning in the days of Moses, He burns yet today. It was the trouble of people He loved that caused Him to draw Moses' attention away from his daily routine. His people were in bondage, enslaved as a result of past generations, beaten, tormented and far from any hope or better future.


Sound familiar?


It should - this sounds like most people who are within arms distance from us any day of the week .. maybe even twice on Sunday.


Here's today's question: 'Where is God on fire in your life?'


As sure as you're breathing today, God is burning somewhere on your horizon. You know He's burning because there are people He loves who are yet enslaved, broken, beaten, forgotten, prisoners of their past - you remember, because you and I used to be one of them.


His burning will challenge your routine, just like it challenged Moses' routine that day.

Are you available?
Will you turn your feet in God's direction?
Will you be the one who takes one step forward?
Will you be the one 'out of line?'

I think you will.


Dan
A Runner

The Barking Dog

You've had this happen to you, seen it happen or heard of it happening.

The dog in the front yard waiting ... waiting ... waiting - and he's off. Running and barking like his life depended on catching the car speeding by his yard. It's an interesting sight really. A case to be studied for sure.

This dog displays amazing agility. He has impeccable timing. Remarkable Stamina. Disciplined patience. Unflinching resolve. Determined focus. Nerves of steel. Uncompromising in his agenda. He is in fact .. Relentless.

He's the barking dog.


Unfortunately for the dog his focus, patience, stamina and timing don't seem to be connected to a specific outcome. Was this his intended fate? Or is endlessly chasing automobiles what he has been reduced to? Designed to companion in the great out doors, like an animal at the zoo without the cage, he is now confined by his experience and limited by his environment.

I must confess - from time to time I've behaved a lot like the barking dog. With great precision, agility, stamina, determination, focus and unflinching resolve I've chased issues that shouldn't have been chased - needn't have been chased. At least not by me.

To be candid, there are one or two 'cars' I'm chasing right now.


If a measurable impact through social innovation is the goal - and it is. Then I've decided it would be much better to walk quietly if that's what it takes, than to run loudly for the sake of motion or noise. It is in fact the product of purposeful intent to experience the kind of freedom not confined by experience nor limited by environment.


Take the quick barking dog test:

1. Does your today seem a lot like yesterday?
2. Do you believe or behave your experience to date disqualifies you in some way?
3. Do you believe or behave that your present surroundings has confined or limited you in any way?

If you answered yes - you have barking dog syndrome.

Here's the antidote. Stop it! Stop it now! Seriously ... stop!


The behavior of the car told you a long time ago it didn't care you were chasing it. With not so much as a mechanical yawn it just keeps driving by. Unaffected by your diligence, uncaring for your pursuit and untouched by your focus the issue you've been chasing remains unchanged and perfectly intact.


It dawns on me the only lasting impact of the barking dog is the rut left behind from constant chasing and endless pursuit. Here's the lesson. You and I possessing perfect skill, tireless ethic and unwavering focus may still wind up in a rut.

May I suggest the wrong thing is being chased. Instead, let's turn to the open road ourselves - that's where God is waiting. He waits for us to join Him far and away from the familiar motion of things. Clearly His desire is for us to run alright, but be the kind of runner that attains, strengthens, solves and leaves behind better.

Here's today's question: 'What is the internal adjustment you need God to make inside you?'


Dan
A Runner

No Pastel Thinking Allowed!

Pastel; any of various pale or light colors

As I said last week, because we live in a platitude accepting drive-by-conversating world, you and I will have to say something different, and be willing to do something different just to be the one person in the 'row' of lined up public opinion who dares to take one step forward.


Stepping away from the crowd of commonly held opinion is awkward and away from the order of things.

I do like order though, and the positive outcomes of well thought out and executed chain of command. I like the progress and power of agreement and the fruitfulness of unity. I love the 'getting on the same page' moments shared with people in my life. The Bible speaks about agreement and unity repeatedly in an effort that we may understand the depth of greatness acquired when we are together - truly together.

There are times though, when the majority of opinion is not right. There are times when you will be the one who breaks rank to find yourself alone on a topic. Don't be afraid. Remember there's a difference between lonely and being alone. Taking a stand may be a lonely place, but you're never alone. There are those all around you who wait for leadership - they wait for you.

One of the great aspects of Cherry Street Mission Ministries, and certainly one of the many reasons I love serving here, is that we live in a platitude free environment. Here, the phrases of 'kind of'' and 'sort of' have no meaning because they are not resistant to the acidic nature of serving in the river of the human condition.

Lives weighing in the balance of heaven and hell don't respond well to direction that is unclear nor love that has no sharp contrast against the backdrop of trouble.

That's the problem with pastel colors - you're never really sure what the color really is. So we're forced to describe the color as pastel [pale] yellow or pastel blue.

It's also the problem with pastel thinking or pastel leadership - you're never quite sure what the decision really is. 'Not really sure [pastel] thinking' works well when you're looking at a menu or trying to decide what you really want at the ice cream stand.

But - when people are placed into the equation, that's a whole different matter. People in the equation will require decisiveness. These are decisions that stand in stark contrast to the problems of life and decisions that will most often stand in stark contrast to the opinions of those around you - no pastel here.

Decisions of stark contrast are made at Cherry Street Mission Ministries [and I hope where you serve] every day. Whether a meal, a conversation, a prayer or a moment of kindness - all stand in sharp contrast to the 'pastel colors' of life.

Here's today's challenge: Make a decision that stands in stark contrast to____________ (you fill in the blank).

Dan