The Behavior of Salt

Salt is an interesting way to describe what God is looking for in you and me. Salt is good. But salt by itself or too much salt is not so good. Salt has this wonderful preservative interaction with whatever it touches.

The covenant of salt referred to in the Book of Leviticus talks not only to this preserving agent, but also the perpetuality of salt - so the salt covenant spoke of the perpetual, ongoing covenant being made by God through the sacrifice being offered by man.

Cultures of old rolled an infant in salt. While the salt had real benefits to the skin of a newborn in rough climates - there was also the parent saying of the child; my covenant to you is perpetual.

I like the word perpetual when it comes to describing this ongoing relationship I have with God. Perpetual lives beyond time and space. Perpetual exceeds the limited horizon of the next failure or success. Perpetual challenges the boundaries of the possible and explores the vast reaches of the probable.

For someone who should have been released long ago from the covenant I made with God on the grassy stadium floor on a cool summer's night in 1975 - I'm grateful from the depth of me for this word perpetual regarding the covenant made on that day.

God has truly been faithful to His word.

"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
Matthew 5:13

Here's today's question: Are you salt or a salt shaker?

From time to time, people have referred to me as a 'mover and shaker'. To be honest, it sounds good. The whole idea of living in such a way that would have this kind of recognition was appealing. It was appealing right up until I realized the disappointment associated with the disconnect of not being His intended representation in any conversation.

The shaker was not my place [you'll have to decide whether it's yours] for many reasons, but only one that truly mattered - God didn't say I was the place of salt, or the movement of salt, or the holder of salt, he simply said I was the salt.

Would I represent His perpetual nature, through close contact and deep penetration toward those around me - like salt behaves.

God is the Mover and Shaker and as He said, I'm the salt freely dispensed and used at His will for His purpose to represent His perpetual covenant.

When it comes to the complex problems of our city and region I don't think we'll survive one more person standing up as a self proclaimed 'shaker'. We've had enough - or we should have by now.

Recently, I've been wondering how many days we [Soma; The Body of Christ] have between now and the day we truly become salt to the tasteless around us. How many days yet remain between our today decisions and the better decision to become the perpetual of God?

I hope not many. Humanity groans all around us - waiting.

Dan
A Runner

What would you do?

• A few weeks ago on an early Saturday morning, I was approached by a man in his early twenties in a Rite Aid parking lot. His appearance was rough, his eyes not well, his clothes had paint splattered all over, he was tall, thin and approaching a stranger in a parking lot - he needed money.

• A man about my age sat on my front porch not too long ago. His wife had just left him, his countenance was calm, almost matter of fact but his eyes were swollen with the pain of many bad decisions, his adult children were confused, one of them was on drugs and he was contemplating the complexities before him - he needed help.

• A friend arrived at my door several years ago with a friend of his whom I had not met. His friend was in his late fifties, proud, excellent eye contact, strong handshake and earning 6 figures as a business man. My friend brought him to my doorstep because this man was addicted to pornography and he didn't know what to do with him any more - he needed freedom.

Here's today's question: In either one of these situations, would you know what to do?

The Biblical Rescue Intensive is designed with you in mind. Among many other vital techniques, you will learn how to 'slow the shutter speed of life down' If you will succeed where God leads you, vital knowledge is needed to realize that you cannot solve problems at the same speed in which they were created.

The Church is the most powerful certainty on this planet - by the way, that's you not the building you go to on Sunday. YOU are the most powerful certainty in any situation because Jesus is the head of you, the Holy Spirit leads from inside you and God the Father covers you.

All you need now is to be equipped in order to do the work of Rescue.

Join me and others as the Biblical Rescue Intensive is kindly being hosted by Pastor Josh and Pastor King of The Dwelling Place and Westside Community Church. The Intensive will start this Thursday evening [May14-16] at 6:00 at The Dwelling Place on the corner of Angola Road and Eber and will conclude on Saturday at 4:00 pm.

I'll also be presenting a new Rescue construct [May 17-19] called; The Five Core Behavioral Elements of Drunkenness on Sunday morning and Sunday evening [11-1 and 6-8] Monday and Tuesday evening [6-8] at New Life Church of God in Christ on Oakwood off Detroit.

For additional information on either of these opportunities and to register email Ashley Shaffer at ashaffer@cherrystreetmission.org or by calling Ashley at 419-242-5141. You may also drop me a line, if you have questions at danrogers@cherrystreetmission.org.

A Runner not a walker be,

Dan

The Runner's Attitude

Bloggers note: This is the fourth installment of 'The Runner'

The Philip Project is based upon a very unseen, but very certain horizon. This, as mentioned in the last posting, is the Runner's Horizon. The Runner is running not to race, nor to compete - but to win. To be a Philip kind of Runner, the win doesn't go to the swift, but to the one who understands the unseen and unverified horizon.

The Philip Runner understands the horizon without permission. He runs free of collective consensus and she puts one foot in front of the other without hesitation.

Many people may see the need of humanity all around them. The need to house the unhoused, the need to feed the hungry, the need to answer the rising crisis among our youth - all of this can easily be seen. But the behavior and outcome of our work betrays us. We do not have a fix on the proper horizon because of our lack of understanding of it, and therefore possess not the proper attitude.

The Runners Horizon cannot be satisfied within the confines of a cause. On that horizon homelessness and poverty are reducing, low birth weights are rising, our young men are staying in school instead of populating our places of imprisonment, our young women are off the streets and in places of commerce, our veterans, ravaged by the sounds of war are living out their days in peace, our elderly are in safe places of housing, parents are once again honored by all sectors of society and the family is once again whole.

The horizon I'm talking about is where the river of humanity that once flowed with the grief of many generations – now blessed by God’s mercy runs through the tributaries of our communities as a life giving flow once more – my brothers and sisters, that’s what I'm talking about!

The Runner has attitude - can that be your attitude?

One of my favorite vocabulary words [at least lately] is prescient; the ability to perceive the significance of events before they occur. To me, this is the word that describes best the ability to see and to understand.

Prescient is the proper vocabulary when describing Philip in Acts 8 or the Chieftains of the Sons of Issachar in 1st Chronicles 12;32

The reality is you cannot change the world around you, nor be the change you want to be, by just seeing the world differently - with the seeing, must come the understanding that presents in you the proper Runners Attitude.

The topography between the Runner and the horizon is perilous indeed. Cavernous valleys, mountainous expanses and vast open terrains await the Runner. This topography does not elicit many takers. To be a Philip kind of Runner is to often be alone.

Here's today's question; Do you still want to lace up?

Dan - A Runner

The Runner's Horizon

This, now growing, series on 'The Runner' has been yielding some interesting reactions from readers. On FaceBook I've read comments ranging from; 'I'm lacing up my running shoes', to 'I'm ready to join the marathon', all in response to this series.

I admire sprinters in track and field events. With a tremendous blast of speed they're out of the starting block and down the track in a matter of seconds. But sprinters are not runners. While they too have a horizon, it is within eye sight and their goal quickly reached. Sprinters train to be sprinters - they do not train to be runners.

Those who run in marathons, or cross country have my respect as well. These runners do not do well in the sprint - they did not train for the blast of great speed and quick finish. They train more in the endurance of running - how to stay in it to the end. But as is for sprinters, marathon racers have a finish line, it is simply reached a bit later than the sprinter reaches hers.

To be the kind of Runner I've been writing about - Philip kind of Runners - is dependent on two specific functions; horizon and training to the horizon. Philip Runners have already seen what cannot be seen and by default pursue a different horizon than most.

Running in the Biblical context is not about finishing and it’s certainly not about competing with other runners – but it is about winning. At the end of his days, after 20 years of not hearing about Philip in the book of Acts we find him in his place of service now with four daughters all of whom were like their father - Runners. Philip ran with endurance. He possessed the ability to see and understand what he saw for his generation and passed his competency along to the next generation - he won!

For those of you who would be Runners of your generation, take note; you must train in such a way that focuses upon the horizon only. You must abandon the notions of competition and finish line. Neither exist.

The Philip Project is based upon a very certain but very unseen horizon.

Here's today's question; 'Are you ready to have a Runner's Horizon?'

Next? 'The Runner's Attitude'

Dan
A Runner

A Runner

I'm grateful for the many comments received from last week's posting; 'Are you the runner of your generation'. There are many of you who desire to be more and to have more from your followership of God.

You've come to that place, found in every relationship [whether its ever recognized or not]. That place where pursuits of absolute lead you to holy frustrations. You begin to say; 'There must be more.' You begin to dream big audacious dreams and you begin to see yourself as a solution to the corruption around you.

Can I encourage you, do not ignore, try to appease or calm the growing frustration in you. This is the place where greatness is conceived and the power of generational innovation is born.

In the Biblical Rescue Intensive I'm reminding attendees and would be Rescuers to 'slow the shutter speed down.' If you see too fast, you understand too little and your response is too shallow. You cannot solve the problems around you with the same speed in which those problems were created.

And so, if you will become a Runner in your generation you first need to slow yourself. Even expert marksmen will say; slow is smooth and smooth is fast. We see but don't understand because we see at the speed of life rather than the speed of God. Remember, He [God] ALWAYS moves slower than you and I.

For those of you paying attention and desire to be a Runner with understanding. This is lesson one; Slow the shutter speed down. Lesson two? Learn lesson one.

Please also get out your concordance, look up and read every reference in the New Testament on Philip. By doing so, you'll begin to understand why he could have been called upon by the Angel that day to run with understanding to the Ethiopian man.

Lastly, let me encourage you in this verse found in I Chronicles 12:32. It's one of my favorite verses on the topic of understanding.

"The sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command"

Did you read? They understood the times, they knew what to do and everyone else followed them. What else do you think God desires from you except to be the one in any situation who can be called upon to Run.

Dan
a runner

Are you the runner of your generation?

It's great imagery.

Philip, a disciple of Christ having received instruction from an Angel of the Lord ran to catch up to a man of Ethiopia traveling in a chariot, who was a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians.

This man had traveled to Jerusalem to worship and was returning to his country when Philip got the 'call' to run.

As Philip ran along side the chariot he observed the man reading Isaiah the prophet and said, 'Do you understand what you are reading?' The man's reply? 'How can I, unless someone guides me?' and he asked Philip to come up to his chariot and join him.

In the conversation, Philip preached Jesus to him which ended up in the man being baptized.

This example of a 'run along beside' ministry can be found in your Bible in the book of Acts, chapter 8.

We are living in a world where more and more people fit the description of the Ethiopian man. People who see but have no understanding.

Many people see the need to serve meals to the hungry,
Many people see that pregnancies are out of control among our youth,
Many people see there is a need to house the unhoused,
Many people see the importance of reaching parents,
Many people see the incarceration rates among African American men is astonishingly higher than any other demographic,
Many people see the recidivism rate of incarceration and addiction moves like a merry-go-round,
Many people see that the median age of the unhoused is getting younger each year,
Many people see the church is AWOL in areas of justice,
Many people see the church is still the most powerful certainty on this planet,
Many people see that unaccompanied youth in our society is a growing concern on our streets,
Many people see we need change at every level of all sectors of our communities.

Many people see - but not many people truly possess an understanding of what they're seeing.

It is this lack of understanding that is creating, and in many cases exasperating the already existing problems within our communities, homes and churches. For example, because we don't understand the fundamentals of poverty, we think just because we can see where poverty exists we know enough of what to do - but do we?

Here's today's example question; "Since the impoverished of our communities continue to receive the same treatment year after year which amounts to hand outs of everything from backpacks and school supplies in the fall to block parties in the spring and summer, what has changed?

Are the impoverished no longer impoverished, or are we instead seeing new generations of poverty; the sons and daughters of those we have 'served' year after year.

The outcome and perspective regarding the work and service being conducted in our communities should tell us that we see, but do not understand.

Are you the runner of your generation?

Can you be called upon to run?

It's runners we need - those who not only see, but understand.

Now, more than ever we need the development and release of the 'run along beside' function of following God. It's time to add to our seeing the ability and function of understanding.

This year, I'll be participating in and releasing along with other key leaders; 'The Philip Project'. Our attempt is to identify and recruit men and women of all ages who see, but desire more - they desire to run. I'll keep updating this initiative as it unfolds. If you desire to know more, drop me a line; danrogers@cherrystreetmission.org.

How will they understand if there is no one to guide them?

Dan
a runner

Reject Sameness!

There is an article in today's Toledo Blade [Sunday April 5] with the headline; 'Charity cuts ties to food distributor'. If you read the article you know the charity is Cherry Street Mission Ministries and the food distributor is the Toledo Northwest Ohio Food Bank [TNWFB].

The headline should have read; Food distributor cuts ties with Charity.

Cherry Street has had a very long relationship with the TNWFB - well relationship may be putting too fine a point on it; they sell food and we buy food. However, in the past two years the leadership of the food bank has engaged in direct mail marketing that is misleading to what the food bank actually does - sell food.

The direct mail campaigns they've conducted suggest that if you send them a certain amount of money, they will be able to provide families who are hungry, a certain amount of meals. This is a lot like a grocery store suggesting they serve meals.

Do they? Does a grocery store serve meals to families? NO!

Grocery stores do however provide the community a place to shop for food. The community then goes to their places of residence and makes meals from the food the grocery store sold them.

After numerous attempts to reach the leadership of TNWFB to discuss my concerns, and having received no return contact I instructed our Food Service to cease providing the numbers of meals we were serving.

On March 24th our Food Service department was told by TNWFB that we would no longer be able to purchase food from them until they received our meal counts. That being the proverbial straw, we officially severed ties to the food bank.

Even though there may be trouble for taking a stand, what trouble may come is dwarfed by the slow and steady erosion of hope summed up in; 'same old, same old. If we are to be a challenge to this darkness, then we will need to possess the virtue of indifference toward those who promote sameness in our community.

It's time to reject sameness!

Allow me to suggest, that if the world around you seems to be the same, day after day - you may be a candidate to take a stand for something. Rather than wait for the world to change, you change the world. Each of us have within us the ability to be nation and generation changers.

In a world where integrity is at a premium, right will often be at a premium as well.

Dan