I think I can officially consider myself a missional “blockhead.” That’s fine by me. I am motivated to write this post after watching Linus fail at bringing the Great Pumpkin to earth once again.
I could definitely write “A Missional Book for Complete Idiots” or “Mission According to Peanuts” for sure. Because everything we have done together has met with as much failure as success, but we are dedicated to plodding onward…
Like the Peanuts gang, we misfit children have taken on the biggest issues in our city. I need counseling from Lucy – need to dance with Snoopy – and need the gospel read to me again by Linus.
But I think every blockhead is perfectly set for the charge. To bring peace to the west side and a bit of brotherly/sisterly love to friends on the streets.
We had an amazing time last night on the West Side with residents, discussing the Promised Land in Numbers, and whether the West Side would always be avoided by the majority of the population, or whether some day it will be a land of milk and honey. We decided to own the problem together, and like the spies with good report, trust God for peace and that a generation from now would see the West Side differently. But the Peanuts gang will have to work hard – it won’t come from prayer at a distance.
As far as friends without homes – seems like a forever and ever whacked out dilemma. Yet we seek to work with individuals and families toward work, housing, if desired. But, we are one Peanuts gang with them, learning from them as we go. Last night got alot of lectures actually, and one friend sang me Popeye the Sailor all night long. A friend read an article about the street med team in the local paper, and decided he must do something! We will talk more about that…
I got a call today from a woman who wants to know about any family in need and wants to raise funds. Believe me, I know a family.
Today I facebooked in a discussion about whether feeding the homeless necessarily makes you missional (meaning -that it is equally a part of the mission of Jesus as anything else) Pardon my fury – but why is everything separated at one level or another? A better question may be, can you be missional and not care about the poor. A good honest reading of Luke may reveal an answer and it may not… I often wonder why we are ok with friends on the street or a lack of peace on the West Side? Maybe we don’t believe we can actually change it.
Well, blockheads can 