Uffizi Mission Project

I feel like I should write quite randomly now, about my mental state and also what strikes my heart.  So, here it goes, and total random free writing.  (You know, I used to want to be a writer, so this is quite natural for me, though it may make no sense to you - my apologies ahead of time)

*I read a blog a friend sent me, where a pastor critiques The Shaping of Things to Come.  Most of it was fine, until he stated the church in California is quite fine, still working, and still largely respected in the culture.  Maybe Santa Barbara is not in California?  Can someone show me a map?  It is not what I pick up on the streets - is there a parallel universe?  And there was also the following statement, feeding people is not as important as sharing the gospel.  Well, just how do we separate it out like that?  I thought Jesus followers would be known for their grace, generosity and love?  If we don’t have that, can we just claim assent to the verbal gospel then and be done with it.  You know, I talk with Jesus every day to help me…

 *I experience real senses of “lostness”… for sure humanity has lost its way.  This is verified to me at Pershing Park, State Street, and the West Side.  You have all kinds of addictions - some because of riches and some because of poverty.  The addictions of the rich are found at Starbucks and stores where you can buy jeans for $500, the ability to buy whatever you want and hide your addictions… the addictions of the poor are obvious and don’t really need mention, except to know where our following Jesus occurs… (you can see the other pages for that info!).  But how about the crazy little thing called the lostness of the church, which may be a little bit harder to see.  But we have lost our love which compels us out and we have lost our mission.  We should be honest about both.

*I don’t like the phrases - “God only” or “God’s best.”  I hear God only all the time, like God only works in this way or that, as if we know all the mysteries of God.  Surely I hold on to this, Jesus is Lord and the Lordship is central.  I believe He as Lord gets to do whatever He wants whenever He wants… I heard “God’s best” today in a meeting where a gentleman said that “God’s best is immediate healing.”  While I agree that we pray for immediate healing, I know from my friends with addictions that healing is at best a long term process, and I don’t want to heap guilt on them for not getting better right away.

*I hear the liberals talk about doing the things of Jesus on radio 134o but they don’t necessarily want Jesus.  I hear the conservatives on 990am talking lovingly about Jesus but not necessarily wanting to do his works.  What?  Is there another radio station I can tune into?

*Do we want to be a Christian nation?  Surely a Christ following nation would be cool?  But how have we become the #1 arms dealer in the world?  I can’t get my head around that one.  I don’t think I am a complete pacifist, because I realize we need a military in a real world.  But perhaps Jesus would move us down the list to be #2?

*I am thankful for my friends and my family, whoever they are.  I am refreshed that I have some friends.  Thank you for being my friends and taking the time to read this.  Join in the adventure any time.

I was listening to the Nick Beeson radio show on am 1340 on Sunday afternoon.  I hardly ever hear someone on the radio talking about the homeless situation in Santa Barbara, but lo and behold someone cares! 

He had a guest on from the Santa Barbara housing authority, who shared that on any given day there are 6,300 homeless people in Santa Barbara.  Now this number includes all kinds of people, including individuals and families, who are sleeping on floors and couches with others, but nevertheless it is a daunting number.

After two years of meal sharing with these men and women, I can remark a bit about the challenge and some potential solutions… but I think the main need is for men and women to get involved personally and build friendships, and see where it goes from there.  Over these few years, some of our solutions are developing organically and because we are together - a process is developing.

Here is where we are headed:

#1 - We are committed to friendships.  This is first and foremost, because friendship is redemptive.  This is the wonder of the incarnational way, of the leading of Jesus.  Other things may grow, but we won’t leave this simplicity.

#2 - We are moving from relief to betterment and development.  We have set for ourselves the goal of developing a community that cares for itself and is empowered to do so.  This will take some time, but it is where we are going when fall 2008 hits.

#3- We are considering developing a church for our friends without homes.  We will keep meal sharing the way it is at the parks, but a few of us are considering a place where are friends can gather more specifically for relevant and culturally saavy prayer, teaching, worship.  This dream has come from talking with them as much as from the organic leadership which is developing.

#4 - The dream is no homeless friends on the streets.  There are no homeless in heaven, which is the model for earth.  Who can forget the memorable words - “on earth, as it is in heaven.”

Today I talked with a friend outside North Star coffee who is willing to work, but his construction skills are not necessarily needed.  Two Wednesdays ago I met a family who lost their home, and found us by chance on their way back to the midwest to live with family.  And recently I talked with a friend with a mental illness who drinks because he cannot afford medication, and drinking softens the voices.

Remember, there is no one story, so don’t believe those who don’t have friends who don’t have homes.  Come join us Wednesday night at 5:30 at Pershing Park and keep the dream of God alive.

I remember watching the old Bugs Bunny cartoon with Pete Puma.  Bugs Bunny asks him how many lumps he wants in his tea, and wallops him five times on the head when he says, “oh, three or four.”  (see the complete story at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045063/quotes)  I am sure some of you have seen the cartoon and get the whole idea…

I often find myself in this tug of war within the current church culture.  What kind of a prophet is God sending?  Does she or he need to be cold, luke warm, or hot?  Does the prophet come in fluffy silent slippers or with a hammer and a garbage can lid?  No, I am certainly not advocating violence, more just wondering what does it take to wake us up?

The argument for me comes from Ephesians 4 (a very biblical passage) and the idea that we need apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the maturing of the church.  I still argue that the pastors and teachers get a pretty good say, but what about the prophet.  I am not speaking about offices here, but ordinary people who are being swept up by the Spirit in unique ways.

My sense on the streets, via the sacrament of conversation, is that many of those who are having problems with current church models (though still loyal to the church Jesus died for, and lives for) are having issues because the apostle and the prophet have to be silent.  If we just keep the talk local - why is there such a difference between Montecito life and West Side life? (though a mere 5 miles separate them); what do we do with brothers and sisters who live on the streets?; what do we do with the disappearance of the middle class in our city?

People I know are receiving their lumps (hopelessness, addictions, being weathered by outside living, spiritual darkness, etc…).  Admittedly, each of us must take responsibility for our own lives.  I believe that - we can’t fix everyone and everything.

As a church, we are taking our lumps as well (not being effective missionally, having fears of “the other,” being isolated, etc…)

These five (and more) giftings must spin a web back to themselves.  We should revive the voice of the apostle and the prophet, while not disarming the pastors and teachers.  The apostle wants to press the kingdom of God to the fringes, and the prophet cries out to be very practical in our living out of the gospel.  We can talk about the heavenly and the very practical together.

I went on a prayer walk with my friend Hans on Sunday at the Village.  We were about to have a pancake breakfast there, and we decided to pray around the area beforehand.  We met three women who were trying to pack their car before leaving on vacation.  We were able to help them fit far too many things in far too small a vehicle.  A very practical gospel thing.

I am willing to take my lumps and move forward.  I don’t believe in a cosmic Bugs Bunny with a mallet - no I believe in a loving Father and a world in need of salvation.  The lumps are just about being human.  We can’t avoid them.  I hope the church can take the lumps from its prophets - whether cold, luke warm or hot.

Invite a prophet over today…

Comments?

A friend of mine who leads the blessing charge on the West Side, mentioned to me a few weeks ago that he saw a little girl at the Carrillo apartments jumping with an “invisible jump rope.”

This leads me to wondering, is the family so poor that she cannot afford a jump rope?  Is that a real possibility in Santa Barbara?  Sadly, I now realize that it is indeed a reality.

 If you drive by the apartments on the corner of Carrillo and San Pascual, the Carrillo apartments are indeed in a sad condition.  Since I work at the Village apartments now, I get to see these other apartments several days a week.  I have done several prayer walks through the area.  A few of us mapped out the many ways that we could bless the apartments.  Many have no screens, ancient doors - all settled in the midst of a setting of dirt (no lawns, play area, pool, community center).

What does it take to get a new jump rope to a girl with an invisible one?  Is that the question that might open the way to greater blessings?  How would you find her such a simple thing, and get it to her?

Meanwhile, good things are happening on the West Side.  In the past month we have witnessed a baptism, a new Christ follower this past Wednesday, and a prayer gathering of community members and Village dwellers.  The prayer gathering asked for a weekend of complete peace on the West Side, and they got what they asked for.  (If you want to find out about the Village apartments, you can click the link on my website)

But there are still areas of “invisibility.”  What I mean are things quite possible but not yet realized, and with the power of God these things can come into being.  I believe God would have us partner with Him in this.  After all, I don’t know if an angel is going to appear with a golden jump rope and give it to the child we are considering here.

There are “invisible” better jobs needed - there are “invisible” father figures for children without dads - there are “invisible” addiction cures - there are “invisible” friendship builders - there are “invisible” prayer walkers.  The list could go on…

 God is creative - creates out of nothing.  He is the master of miracles and most of the time these miracles are quite practical.  Let’s do away with dualism.  Dualism might say that giving a girl a jump rope is not a spiritual act - but Jesus does away with this by his comments on the power of giving someone a cup of cold water.  But someone, some community, must be committed to the simple work of being there.  I continue to invite you all in, to make the invisible visible.

Please comment on this - how would you find this girl and get her a jump rope?  Can this simple act be essential to the larger idea of redemption and salvation?

I can remember walking into a pastors’ prayer meeting, holding a copy of the Bible and another book, The End of Poverty, by Jeffrey Sachs.  I have to admit that I was equally excited about reading them both (though the one of poverty was on top that day!)  Another pastor wandered over, gave me a bit of a condescending look, and said, “You know, Jesus said the poor would always be with us.”  I got the message - “don’t get too excited about the social justice bit…”  I know this because he did not stick around to talk about it.

Could that be the kind of Jesus we have - telling us not to try too hard because the poor will always be here, so get used to it buddy.  Sounds a bit depressing to me.  Especially since you can go back to the gospels and see at the announcement of his birth (the song of Mary) and see God’s heart for the poor, you can find it in His message (the beatitudes), and you can find it in who he associated with on the streets.  God loves those who are poor, and in fact aligns Himself with them.  If you really want to get pressed, start reading Everything Must Change by Brian McLaren.  (It gets good more in the middle for me…)

Now, I spent a good amount of time in Deuteronomy 15 today, praying through it, considering it.  You should read it for yourself… but in it God flips you around like a rubix cube (do they still make these things?)  He says that if you follow Him and His commands, you won’t have poor in the land, while at the same time He tells us indeed the poor will always be with us.  So, which one is it?  Well, to me I think His thought that the poor will always be with us is more like a call to move in compassion toward them.  He specifically says for us not to “close our hand” toward those who are in need.  So I would suggest that there is a plan, a loving strategy, to move toward those in need and work side by side with them for their welfare.

 You know His first message, tied to Isaiah 61, was that He came to bring “the favorable year of the Lord.”  This is tied to the idea of “jubilee,” which in turn is connected to forgiving debts and equalizing the financial playing field.

The Uffizi Mission will continue to work hand in hand with Jesus in bringing the favorable year of the Lord, and determining what that means in a 21st century culture.  New things are in the works - partnering with new churches, developing a commission to understand and meet the needs of the poor through the Turner Foundation.  Please join us of course.  Jesus invites you in.

I want to consider the top three issues in Santa Barbara, specifically related to the poor.  If you have thoughts on what those are, please leave a comment - or comment on other things.

It was a lively one on San Pascual Street on the West Side.  Monday - a car of West Side girls and a car of East Side girls clashed and one literally crashed right by the The Village apartments.  Tuesday - someone takes a beating outside a local grocery mart.  Wednesday - a mother comes by our sharing stories group and fills us in on her missing 14 year old daughter, who had been missing for two days (she has ultimately been found!).

We live in times of local and global war - and we expect that we will continue to do so.  Should we?

The idea is challenged this morning when I hear from Psalm 46 that “He makes wars to cease.”

I join with Him in wanting wars to cease, in wanting peace, in learning to become a peacemaker.

I am concerned about us (the church) when we do not get beyond the message of our “individual” salvation.  It seems that our culture has excelled in talking about our own individual salvations, and now we need to move into the mode of our community/city/world salvation.  We need to expand our vision.  Babies and children are concerned for their own needs and increase toys - men and women move beyond that to seek the good of others, whether it is family, tribe, community, world.  We create a salvific way for others.

Salvation is a grand biblical epic - salvation of people groups in really the heart of God.  I believe maturity moves us beyond thinking of ourselves to thinking of our neighbor.  And salvation is freedom now and freedom coming… so we must be concerned for the salvation of our city - for the safety of the East and West Side (so that some day there will be no “sides” at all!).

The sad thing is that we do not have a corporate strategy… and so I work to develop one.  Honestly, I hope to make a way in the desert - where streams of men and women will generously follow.  The strategy is coming.

 It comes down to “tribes” and “Tribe.”  When Israel entered the Promised Land, they were “tribes” and a “Tribe.”  Santa Barbara has tribes and a tribe as well.  We need to learn to become one larger tribe of love, compassion, holy ’spirited’ empowerment, etc… that will believe that Jesus makes wars to cease.

There should be no more East Side and West Side.  There should be no more missing children.  There should be no more violence on San Pascual.  I say this because it is not so in the kingdom of God, and that kingdom is promised as coming.  We have to literally follow Christ and stop talking about it - for in following Him we will make the war to cease.

Christianity is not an intellectual argument, philosophy, or religion.  It is a way of life. 

In May you can join the peacemaking way on Wednesday Night, May 14 at 7pm at the Village Apartments community center on 524 West Canon Perdido.  It will be gathering for those who want to “ask for peace” and pursue a way of “ending war.”  Doesn’t matter who you are, we can pursue peace together.

For me, the bottom line of Christianity, is communities becoming like Christ.  It is not about individuals, because God is a community (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).  It is also not primarily about building churches.  Building a new church does not necessarily guarantee that the community is becoming like Jesus.  In fact, I would argue, that sometimes we are actually hindered by the process.  My argument rests primarily upon one foundational argument - the seats (or for some of us, the pews).

 The clergy/laity division is literally killing a movement.  I would argue this - Jesus said, “As I have been sent, I am sending you.“  Occasionally they sat (by the sea, on the mountain, etc…)  But we have it backwards, almost as if Jesus said, “As I have sat, I am seating you.”  Occasionally we go (to the soup kitchen, to the overseas mission field, etc…)  If we examine the gospels, we see in the life of Jesus the reality and truth of the first statement - He was sent (mission) and He sent (mission) and He sends now (mission).

Alan Hirsch states in Forgotten Ways that perhaps our biggest problem in the church today is “consumerism.”  I would heartily agree - it is something we must address.  For all who argue that the church must not become like culture, I would say that we already have in several ways.  We allow ourselves to sit and examine the product we are receiving and judge whether it is up to par with the product a few blocks away.

For me, I have found the only way to combat consumerism is mission.   There are a couple of reasons for it.  In mission, you are not allowed to sit much.  In mission, you are overwhelmed by the needs of the neighborhood, and you have to call on the name of Jesus consistently.  In mission, you find how unlike Jesus you really are and are driven to His side to learn and become like Him.

I am shamed by many of my friends who have joined me in mission.  With our friends without homes - many of my friends listen better, pray more, love generously - while I galvant around trying to talk to someone.  I met with someone this morning who went out of his way to get a women a specific item - 1% chocolate milk.  He got it for her and her countenance changed and a whole new world opened up in the relationship.

While I am here with you too, I have to talk about love.  I don’t think any of this works without love.  I don’t know if you have seen Jesus Camp (the movie), but sometimes I worry that even mission goes all awry and strange because we save souls like its like a baseball game and we want to most runs.  Believe me, I want people to know Jesus, but I think I want to be like Jesus as I help people get to know Him.  Coming full circle, that is why I think the whole journey here is for us to become like Jesus.  If we will do this one thing, then all the other problems seem to melt away.

You know what Jesus said, you know you are living on the rock when you practice what He says.  Simply put, it does not matter how small or large your “church” or “community” is, it matters whether you are living the way He lived.  The earliest believers were called “The Way,” which I think is something we should return to.  Let’s not ask where do you go to church, but how are you living the Way.  As He was sent (out from the love of the Father) we are sent <not seated> out of the love of the Father.

Your turn to comment….

“One Small Step for <a> Man; One Giant Leap for Mankind” - supposedly this is what Neil Armstrong said upon walking on the moon.  No one has ever been able to discern the “a” in his announcement.  Needless to say, he walked on the moon!  (go to www.youtube.com and listen to Brian Regan talk about “I walked on the moon” to get a few extra laughs)

Now, the Uffizi Mission is not about walking on the moon, but it is about “one small step.”  It is basically all we can do.

At the beginning of the ministry, I could not explain the vision beyond I was supposed to follow God and open the doors of the Uffizi Museum for the church in Santa Barbara.  (see the about the Uffizi Mission page)  My friends, ex-friends, no longer friends, and becoming friends were quite confused by the whole thing.  But, for the first time in my life, I was getting the “faith” thing…

We read the Bible, but we don’t get it.  We clean it all up because now we can see from this side.  We read the whole story of Abraham, but he had to live it.  We get to witness the faith of Joshua, but he had to have it.  We swoon at the song of Mary as she considers the wonder of birthing the Messiah, but she had to deliver him, raise him, and let go of Him to the work of the Father.  Faith is raw, emotional, desperate and a great clinging.  It is not intellectual alone.

And more than anything else, it is about taking a small step.  And it may be about taking a small step where no one else has gone or been willing to go.  (This is the only way that we are close to the idea of walking on the moon)

 But, the small steps are paying off.  One small step may in fact lead to hundreds joining in.  You can’t find a biblical matriarch or patriarch who did not start by taking one small step.  And by far what we are talking about is more important that a moon waltz, it is a Kingdom of God welcoming event - where heaven meets earth.

But, I can’t let you off the hook.  I am wondering why most people are Christians of late - is it to escape hell or to follow Jesus?  Now, that is an important question.  It goes back to core of the gospel, and the actual call of Christ.  I believe none of us who hold the name of Jesus dear can argue other than we must follow our Lord.  Of course following Him means inheriting salvation and eternal life, but it is in the following that we are saved.  The first step is receiving, but there are many more steps to be taken.

Have your own moon landing this week - take the step you need to - the one that Jesus is asking for… each step is one small step for a woman or a man, but one giant leap for the Kingdom.

Your Comments?

I hear through the grapevine every now and then that my friends are worried about my theology.  I think I am a bit worried about that myself of course, but sometimes I am more worried about our “practice.”

I once had a conversation with someone in a coffee shop who found out I had become friends with Brian McLaren.  He was asked what he thought of Brian McLaren, and he stated that “Brian is a just a practitioner, not a theologian.”  Point taken, I don’t think Brian would argue it.  I would argue however, that it may be the time for practitioners who hope to stumble back to orthodoxy by doing the scriptures.  Theologians have lead the way - it may be time to pass the baton.  Maybe we could make it like a relay and pass it back and forth so everyone gets a shot.

If the bottom line of our orthodoxy is the simple statement that “Jesus is Lord,” then perhaps we had better start acting like it.  As Alan Hirsch would say, perhaps we think Jesus is “nice, but not that smart.”  What Alan means by the statement is that we feel the freedom to not do as He says precisely because we see it as good advice from the nice guy we know.  I have a tough time seeing Matthew 5, Isaiah 58, etc… as good advice.

This post may seem a bit of a defense, or an apologetic.  I feel it is more of a desparate cry - a call out “is anyone listening?”

When we practice our faith, like simply feeding, being with, sheltering, clothing the poor - we find out things about ourselves.  We learn we are not really that compassionate, we aren’t really good listeners, we are at our wits end with resources - we cling to God. 

I met with someone today in a family crisis.  This person is making crazy decisions that are leading to isolation.  But she told me know that she understands what people who are lonely and nuts feel now.  She has become in one moment both less and more human, both closer and further from God - but has learned how the lonely feel.

I went down State Street the other day before one of meal sharings at Pershing Park.  I stopped and talked with friends on the streets and invited them.  I tried to learn and remember names.  At least now I notice lonely friends who to many are “sub-human.”  I still am not sure what to do, but I can gracefully baby step.

I saw a bumper sticker one time that said, “Orthodox since 33ad.”  I won’t share the denomination, but I wonder how that statement can be made.  I will stay with the simplicity of Jesus is Lord, and aim toward orthopraxydoxy - I believe we can find a good foundation of who God is by the practice of loving God and others.  I believe love is complicated, but it is surely orthodox.

Who Wants to Follow Jesus?

I have been greatly challenged by Alan Hirsch, as far as the future direction of the church.  His main challenge is a return to “Christology.”  A rediscovery of who Jesus is and who He is not.  I think I have to admit that most of us in the United States have been challenged to follow a middle class Jesus.  He has some good thoughts for us, but not too much that would challenge the “American Dream.”  The question is - do you find the American dream in the gospels?  I believe you find a larger dream than our American one, but that is up for a discussion of course.

My life is more like an exodus now - I don’t have the same home but I have a promise of a new one.  Some will read this and understand what I am saying because they are experiencing it, and some will not because they still have a home.  I just speak from my current experience.   I think I am walking in a whole new Jesus gig - understanding the nomadic theme in the scriptures.

 I don’t think I can escape the gospel stories now.  Pershing Park with our Friends without Homes is a parable experience - clearly like the parables of the kingdom.  It does not fit a Greek mindset of order - it is more like Jesus meets chaos.  But that seems like exactly where the Holy Spirit would be, hovering over rough waters ready to create something beautiful.  At times we seem to be helping people, and at times they seem to be helping us.  I get the strange experience of knowing friends who don’t have food but live in a 3 millon dollar home.

Being at North Star, and living on State Street is something like one of the conversations Jesus might have with anyone and everyone.  I went by the coffee shop to drop off some International Justice Mission fliers, and while on the way out spent a half hour with some Westmont students who took spring break time to live on the streets.  They were offering free hugs to passers by - having a fun time while also being willing to embrace the life of their friends at Rainbow Park.  Several conversations occured throughout our time.

Being at the Village Apartments is always a unique experience too.  It can roam from me calling 911 to being with kids while they learn to use the computers.  I get to help families plant new gardens, deliver welcome baskets, and pray for men and women in the midst of crisis continually.

It is all wonderful, but it is not yet home…  And I am inviting you into this?  Do you yearn to follow Jesus into this as well?

Love God with all your Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength.  And love your Neighbor as Yourself.  I do it because I can’t escape the grip that Jesus has on my soul (He owns it) and because I fell in love with these new friends. 

 Please leave your Comments!