Here's Anna Grace making pottery... while sleeping.
She loves her daddy and her daddy loves her.
A smile!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
A tough mind and a tender heart
One of my favorite preachers of all time is Martin Luther King Jr. He is, by general consensus, one of the most persuasive speakers to ever step into a pulpit. In his collection of sermons entitled the Strength to Love, he uses his typical imagery and alliteration to state that Christians are to have both a tough mind and a tender heart. He draws from Jesus' command to be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves to solidify his point.
I never really understood what Jesus or Dr. King meant until this past week. We here at the Bridge Project had our first outreach event in east Asheboro just a couple of days ago. By the grace of God, and with the help of a lot of committed church people, we delivered over 1500 dollars worth of school supplies to some financially less fortunate young people. Some of those who worked with us had done this before. Most of us hadn't, and it showed. We were perhaps naive and over anxious to be of service. Maybe we gave some of those book bags to the wrong people. Maybe there were people who needed them worse than those who got them. Maybe that old lady with the unlit cigarette in her mouth really doesn't have sixteen kids whose book bags all got stolen by a masked bandit with a hook for a hand. I know I need to have my mind toughened, and that until I do, I might get taken a few times. I just hope I don't trade my tender mind for a tough heart.
I never really understood what Jesus or Dr. King meant until this past week. We here at the Bridge Project had our first outreach event in east Asheboro just a couple of days ago. By the grace of God, and with the help of a lot of committed church people, we delivered over 1500 dollars worth of school supplies to some financially less fortunate young people. Some of those who worked with us had done this before. Most of us hadn't, and it showed. We were perhaps naive and over anxious to be of service. Maybe we gave some of those book bags to the wrong people. Maybe there were people who needed them worse than those who got them. Maybe that old lady with the unlit cigarette in her mouth really doesn't have sixteen kids whose book bags all got stolen by a masked bandit with a hook for a hand. I know I need to have my mind toughened, and that until I do, I might get taken a few times. I just hope I don't trade my tender mind for a tough heart.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Doozie of a Two-zie
Usually on this blog, we deal with issues related to our ministry. But right now, I would like to pause and reflect upon the pleasures and perils of parenthood. I apologize in advance. We took Anna Grace home from the hospital on July 22. Since then, we have experienced the full-range of highs and lows, all punctuated by a seemingly endless supply of poopy diapers. During her first two days at home, there was virtually no bowel activity to speak of. Naturally, we were concerned. I found myself doing what I never imagined I would do; praying for someone to poop in their pants. That prayer has since been emphatically answered.
That her intestines are functioning at full capacity was never more clear than yesterday afternoon. What began as a routine diaper change quickly descended in to an astonishing display of fecal fireworks. Perhaps sensing that her hiney was finally unfettered, Anna Grace let loose with a barrage of human waste. Laura and I stood by helplessly as our little princess morphed into a merciless projectile of poo-poo. Our baby room used to be decorated in pink. Now it's decorated in a mixture of pink and a brownish-yellow. I just hope the world is ready for her highly interpretive art work. Call me old-fashioned, but I find it all a bit too edgy.
That her intestines are functioning at full capacity was never more clear than yesterday afternoon. What began as a routine diaper change quickly descended in to an astonishing display of fecal fireworks. Perhaps sensing that her hiney was finally unfettered, Anna Grace let loose with a barrage of human waste. Laura and I stood by helplessly as our little princess morphed into a merciless projectile of poo-poo. Our baby room used to be decorated in pink. Now it's decorated in a mixture of pink and a brownish-yellow. I just hope the world is ready for her highly interpretive art work. Call me old-fashioned, but I find it all a bit too edgy.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Patrolling for Prostitutes
Have you ever been shocked at your own capacity to hate? To me, there's nothing more humbling than coming face to face with my personal monster of maliciousness, especially when he springs forth unannounced. I had such an encounter just this afternoon. Driving through the east side neighborhood which we hope will become the home of the Bridge Ministry Center, I was approached by two young black males. Before I had time to think, I had two new, uninvited passengers in my pick-up. I was instructed to peruse the block in search of "chicken heads" (don't ask). After mentioning that I was a pastor, my two companions thought better of my abilities to locate prostitutes, and I was alone once again. Yet what remained was a lingering skittishness regarding people of color.
As tempting as it is to chalk this skittishness up to common sense, I suspect it has a lot to do with fear's dominion over my fallen nature. Common sense is not driving down Brewer Street with my doors unlocked. Locking out an entire race just to be on the safe side is another matter entirely. To fear is to hate, therefore you cannot love that which you fear. That's why, for Christians, the fear of man is not an option. But the fear of man is not the only emotion that I must guard against in these situations. In many ways, the only thing worse than fearing/hating a people group, is feeling guilty about fearing/hating a people group. Guilt-induced pity is nothing more than a sugar-coated poison that only serves to secure the chains of those that we feel bad about oppressing. In my relationships with those of a different persuasion, I need less fear, and therefore less hate, and therefore less reason to feel guilty. Only through the annihilation of these base emotions can love rule my actions. I could also use power locks, but that's beside the point.
As tempting as it is to chalk this skittishness up to common sense, I suspect it has a lot to do with fear's dominion over my fallen nature. Common sense is not driving down Brewer Street with my doors unlocked. Locking out an entire race just to be on the safe side is another matter entirely. To fear is to hate, therefore you cannot love that which you fear. That's why, for Christians, the fear of man is not an option. But the fear of man is not the only emotion that I must guard against in these situations. In many ways, the only thing worse than fearing/hating a people group, is feeling guilty about fearing/hating a people group. Guilt-induced pity is nothing more than a sugar-coated poison that only serves to secure the chains of those that we feel bad about oppressing. In my relationships with those of a different persuasion, I need less fear, and therefore less hate, and therefore less reason to feel guilty. Only through the annihilation of these base emotions can love rule my actions. I could also use power locks, but that's beside the point.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Gettin' Settled
About a week and a half ago we moved into our new home here in Asheboro, and I (Josh) have only eaten at Bojangles twice. We've been extremely busy these past couple of weeks, but feel that the Lord is already confirming our calling . Pastor Charles and I are currently mulling over an idea for a ministry center in an impoverished section of our city. Every vacant building I drive past has become a possible suspect. I'm spending a lot of my time driving through the streets and praying for open eyes and open doors. Yesterday morning was spent in "Real Cuts" on Martin Luther King Drive. I exited the premises with an impeccable fade and a pocketful of stories.
In other news, Laura is doing great, and looking beautiful. Today is our fifth anniversary, and we plan on eating somewhere really nice (Bojangles perhaps?). The little one seems to be doing great, but her mama is starting to get a bit anxious.
Continue to pray for us as we spend our summer presenting our vision to the local churches.
In other news, Laura is doing great, and looking beautiful. Today is our fifth anniversary, and we plan on eating somewhere really nice (Bojangles perhaps?). The little one seems to be doing great, but her mama is starting to get a bit anxious.
Continue to pray for us as we spend our summer presenting our vision to the local churches.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
On the Move
The Bridge
Laura and I are happy to announce that the Lord has led us to begin a new church plant project in Asheboro, in partnership with the NC East District and Foster Street Wesleyan Church. We will start out on staff at Foster Street and begin laying the groundwork for a multi-racial, socially conscious church in this Randolph County community.
Many of you may be asking, “Why start another church in Randolph County?” That’s a good question, seeing as how there are more Wesleyan churches in Randolph County than there are Sir Pizza’s. Yet, by some accounts, there remain some 82,000 unchurched people in this county. In addition, there are approximately 3,000 people living below the poverty line in Asheboro alone. There is still much work to be done, and we want to be part of the solution to the spiritual, physical, and social problems present in this city.
We long to recapture John Wesley’s vision of a salvation that touches every aspect of the human condition. It was a vision birthed by our Lord Jesus Christ himself, who was compelled by compassion to consistently act on behalf of “the least.” And so, we call our project “ The Bridge.” By means of this bridge we hope to provide community for the outcast, opportunity for the oppressed, deliverance for the addicted, and grace for the hopeless sinner. We'd love to have you join us in the bridge-building business. Let us know if you want to help, because we need plenty of it.
“Called to be a prophetic witness of personal holiness, racial harmony, and social healing within the community of Asheboro.”
Laura and I are happy to announce that the Lord has led us to begin a new church plant project in Asheboro, in partnership with the NC East District and Foster Street Wesleyan Church. We will start out on staff at Foster Street and begin laying the groundwork for a multi-racial, socially conscious church in this Randolph County community.
Many of you may be asking, “Why start another church in Randolph County?” That’s a good question, seeing as how there are more Wesleyan churches in Randolph County than there are Sir Pizza’s. Yet, by some accounts, there remain some 82,000 unchurched people in this county. In addition, there are approximately 3,000 people living below the poverty line in Asheboro alone. There is still much work to be done, and we want to be part of the solution to the spiritual, physical, and social problems present in this city.
We long to recapture John Wesley’s vision of a salvation that touches every aspect of the human condition. It was a vision birthed by our Lord Jesus Christ himself, who was compelled by compassion to consistently act on behalf of “the least.” And so, we call our project “ The Bridge.” By means of this bridge we hope to provide community for the outcast, opportunity for the oppressed, deliverance for the addicted, and grace for the hopeless sinner. We'd love to have you join us in the bridge-building business. Let us know if you want to help, because we need plenty of it.
“Called to be a prophetic witness of personal holiness, racial harmony, and social healing within the community of Asheboro.”
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