meanderings of a restless wanderer

I have a responsibility…one that is not put on anyone but myself. The responsibility is to bring people’s attention to the realities that still exist in New Orleans as the entire area continues to try and rebuild.

Already, I know that some will have stopped reading this post…which makes me sad and angry…because I have to ask the question why? Why have so many moved on? I think its because people do not understand the realities. Right now we have a team gutting a house, feeding homeless people, and doing a VBS…all in an effort to not only help people rebuild…but to help them overcome and give hope when so many have been so deeply scarred by the experience…especially the children.

I want you to take a look at this trailer for a documentary called Katrina’s Children. I want you to understand the realities that exists because that is the responsibility I have. The need is overwhelming and it has been almost three years. We have moved on, but so many have been unable to…which is why I ask you to continue to pray and help in whatever ways that you can.

Thanks to Kim Bechtel for bringing this documentary to my attention so that I can share it with all of you.

Revolution will be leading another trip the week after Christmas. If you are interested it’s never too early to sign up.

Until next time…

So here I sit watching “Idol Gives Back” and I am dealing with a barrage of thoughts. I struggle. Not because of the awareness being brought to the forefront or the millions of dollars being raised to make a difference in lives around the globe…but because I can’t help but ask..where is the church?

I am so glad that God is doing such amazing things through the generosity and creativity of people around the world. I am inspired by those individuals, organizations, and churches that are leading the charge in meeting the needs of those around them. At the same time…I still ask the question…where is the church as a whole?

Now I know there are those Christians, there are those churches that are actively involved with changing the world. I know there are those Christians those churches that are in the mud - cleaning wounds - touching the untouchable - providing for those in need - sharing love and encouragement - and serving in whatever way that they can. However, the reality is - in the fallen world in which we live the need is overwhelming and instead of leading the charge in taking care of those in need…we somehow focus our attention on us. On our stuff, on our needs, on filling our buildings, and starting programs that benefit us.

The sad reality is that most Christians watching “Idol Gives Back” will be more moved and excited that they closed the evening with “Shout to the Lord”, then the need and opportunity that the show was bringing to light.

It’s as if we are blinded.

I hope that those that watched or will watch “Idol Gives Back” will give and give generously…But I also hope that people will be willing to not only give money but they would be willing to step up and go.

In the next 12 months what will you do to make a difference?

Don’t know where to start…well let me be a resource. Here are just a few of the things I am connected to;

Long Beach Rescue Mission

Trips to India

A new orphanage and ministry in Kenya

Missions in Russia

Wrapped in Love

Adopt a Block

Rebuild New Orleans

Metro State Hospital

Long Beach AIDS walk and awareness

Home building in Mexico

Christian Outreach in Action

Tutoring

TESOL

Local Home Renovation

Medical Missions in Haiti

Bellflower Convalescent Home

Royal Family Kids Camp

and several others…

The time is now. The opportunities are everywhere. The people are waiting. What will you do?

It’s time to take off the blindfold.

I’m still tired.

As I sit here in my office listening to music I can’t escape the odd silence that surrounds me. It’s a contradiction really. Music playing, but I here nothing…time standing still as I sit and ponder the realities I am involved in. As I look back at what has transpired these past few days my brain fumbles…Friday seems like it was weeks ago. Sunday came and never in my life did I think that I would have to stand in front of people and share the kind of news that was given. They don’t really teach you about how to handle things like that in Bible College.

As I watched the shock give way to confusion, the confusion give way to anger, and the anger give way to sadness - I realized something…God is still God. It seems like a simple statement, but the truth is it’s a deeper concept than any of us can fully grasp. The reality is, what has happened does not change who God is. What has happened does not change who Jesus is. What it does change is us…and what that change entails is determined by how we handle this painful time.

It would be easy to rest in anger, pain, guilt, hate, irritation, hopelessness, and sadness…and believe me it is OK to feel all of those things…but when we rest in those things…when we give in to the negative we slowly become hardened. We become mere memories of our former selves…and we loose sight of the truth that is right before our eyes.

Romans 5:4-5 says, “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because We know that suffering produces endurance; endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to us.”

I believe in hope. I believe it does not disappoint us. I believe it is a gift from God. I believe that in this time we have a unique opportunity to be honest with our spouses and friends about our feelings, thoughts, struggles, and weaknesses. I believe we have an opportunity to bless particular families in ways they could have never expected. I believe we have a chance to learn from the mistakes of others. I believe we have a chance to rise above and show how beautiful the bride of Christ really is. I believe that it is in this hope that we are able to see the church at it’s best.

Satan has not won…and I will not stop fighting.

Although the future is unclear, I believe more than ever that God is calling me to be a person of hope, compassion, truth, and love. And I know it is in those things that I am able to surrender and trust God to lead me through the battles. Let our attention not be on those that have caused the pain, but on those that are wounded by it. We have to keep singing. Let us crawl into the lap of God and weep…let his compassion wash over us and give us strength…allow him to sing over us…as he prepares us for the celebration of victory that is Easter. I refuse to let Satan steal that from us.

My friends…my hope and prayer is that we find time to rest, that we are honest with how we feel and wise in how we share it, that we are realistic in that all of this can’t be fixed in a week, month, or even a year…my hope and prayer is that those that have been affected by all that has happened will be willing to show patience to each other, that we can love one another and serve one another, that we can wash each others feet, that we can help one another up out of the mud and allow God to lead us forward…together as one body…united…broken but beautiful.

I don’t know when this silence will break…or when confusion will give way to clarity…or even when anger will give way to peace…What I do know is that there will come a day when we will begin to hear something faintly around us…it will be a sweet sound, one of celebration…one of victory…until that time comes however, know that I will keep fighting…I will keep pursuing…I will rest in hope and trust God to lead me through the battles…and I hope you will join me in the journey.

When men fall we weep…but never forget that hope endures.

Sadness and disappointment fill my head, as my heart breaks at the reality of it all. Not understanding adds a confusion I’ve never had before and in the process anger rears it’s ugly head. But I will still trust….I will still believe…I will still have faith…and I will lead with conviction, love, grace, hope, passion, balance, boundaries, boldness, and humility. For the bride of Christ may weep and the dress may be a bit soiled…she is still beautiful and radiant even amidst the pain and brokenness.

My friend and co-laborer Jamie Petersen had her last Sunday with us yesterday. She is moving to Minnesota to be closer to her fiance Chris whom she will marry in April.

For those of you lucky enough to know Jamie my words may seem like reiterations of things you already know. However, for those of you who do not not Jamie, trust me when I say, you are missing out.

Jamie is a rare person who captivates people not only through song but by the mere fact of who she is. She is someone who cares for the people around her, cares for the people she is leading, and cares for truth being presented through worship. She is gifted in ways many only wish but maintains a humility of someone who knows that the gifts she has are not her own.

Even though she lost to me and Rachel at FRIENDS trivia, and even though she pointed out all of my spelling and grammar mistakes of which there are many, I could not have asked for a better co-laborer than her to begin this journey that is Revolution Downey.

Jamie will be missed by many, but she can rest knowing that she will always have family here in So. Cal that she can count on. Make sure you visit her blog and leave lots of comments so she remembers who all of us (the coolest people she will ever know) are.

Jamie, as you enter into this new chapter know you are loved by many and will always have the support of your fellow Revolutionaries.

Stick a fork in me…I’m done!

I have tried to give this company several chances to prove to me that they deserve my business…however, they don’t! And they don’t deserve your business either. Today I went to buy a fan for the baby’s room. As I carried the car seat I asked an employee where I can get a shopping cart…He said, “I don’t know”. I went to the section that said fans…and there were no fans there. When asking an employee where the fans are located…the response is…”go to the front and ask someone in the paint department. I go to check out and the credit card machine doesn’t work in the self-check out lane…when I share this information with the employee her response is…”well go to another one”.

Argggghhhhhh!

These are my top 5 reasons why I will no longer shop at Home Depot…

5. 75 friendly Hispanic men waiting outside asking me to pay them 14.00 and hour to put in a bamboo shade.

4. It’s always hot in there.

3. Employees who say the words…”that’s not my department”.

2. Unhappy employees that make the 35 year old guys who work at frozen yogurt shops look positively euphoric.

1. When I ask for assistance the employees look at me like I just asked for their first-
born…followed up by the words…”that’s not my department”.

At least I still have Lowes.

A while ago I saw the movie “Saved” and I felt much sadness in knowing that many people view Christians the way that movie presented them. However, I also laughed my butt off at the movie because there was a lot of ridiculousness in it.

Well, recently as I have been perusing different blogs and websites and I have come across several sites that make me sad and laugh at the same time. They make me sad because I see so much hate. They make me sad because it is so hurtful to many people…and done in the name of “truth”. It makes me sad because although I am sure they have the best intentions those intentions are lost through the degradation they show for other people.

However these sites also make me laugh. They make me laugh because there is much ridiculousness. These sites make me laugh because I don’t know what else to do. These sites make me laugh because in my head I say, “they can’t be serious”, but in reality I know they are.

The only thing I know how to do is trust that God can use all of us…even when we think each other are crazy and wrong.

If you want to be saddened…don’t say I didn’t warn you.

http://www.apprising.org/index.html

http://christianresearchnetwork.com/

http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/

http://www.oldtruth.com/

http://www.teampyro.blogspot.com/

http://www.reformedgadfly.blogspot.com/