All In

Neale & friends in Chicago

This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:  “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." Jer. 29:4-7


My husband and I had lived in SC for 40 years, and then almost out of the blue, God called us to Chicago.  When we moved there, I literally felt like I was going into exile.  During our stint, the verses above in Jeremiah jumped off the pages at me, I felt like God was saying - invest here, right where you are!  So we did, and 6.5 years later, he called us to Atlanta.

We moved from Chicago to Atlanta about 1.5 years ago.  When we were first interviewing here, we met with the Sr. Pastor, and I remember him saying how he always let his children go back and visit their friends as they moved from place to place.  For some reason, that just stayed in my head.

My daughter, Neale, has been begging me for months to take her back to see her friends. So after much hesitation, I booked the trip - 3 round trip airline tickets to Chicago - about $900.  I so hated to spend that much money, but I knew that I needed to honor our kids & their friends.  After all, we had moved them there and invested all of ourselves there for 6.5 years.  You know...bloom where you are planted.  And then we pulled them up by the roots again and moved them to Atlanta.

A few days after I booked the trip, we received a $1000 check - an unexpected gift.  Enough to cover the cost of the trip. I felt like God was affirming this trip for our family.

As we began to land in Chicago, my son, William, began to cry.  And then again, when we drove in our old neighborhood, tears again.   The move was extremely difficult for him.  And it was evident again how hard it really was even 1.5 years later.

Neale had decided to surprise her friends with her visit. We had conversations with all of her friends' parents to make sure everyone would be home. At the first house, she jumped out of a box. Literally.  Her friend screamed and seemed thrilled to see her.  The screaming continued as we went from house to house visiting old friends.  It was fun for me to see how glad they were to see her.

William also went from house to house.  Spending hours with each friend playing video games, hanging at the baseball field, spending the night, and eating pizza together.  Some moments were awkward, but most of the time, it was good, very good to reconnect. 

During the visit, I realized that the 6.5 years we spent there we were "all in."  As a Pastor's family, we never know what will be "next."  We had to choose to invest completely in where God planted us.  And because we decided to do that, we have friendships there that have eternal significance - to us and to them.

As we left Chicago, William had no tears.  I think he realized that we were "all in" while we were there, but now we must turn our attention to being "all in" here in Atlanta. Build homes and plan to stay. That is really what God calls each of us to do. Invest right where you are...where he has placed you....right now.

Questions to Ponder:

• Are you 'All In' where God has planted you?  If not, why?
• What steps could you take to be more invested and present to where you are right now?
• Ask God for his help to take those steps.

Food for the Tummy and Soul

Rebecca, Lynn & Carla
Georgia Ave. Chruch

Our church is promoting not just Giving Up, but Giving Back for Lent, so they are offering a chance to serve  the under-resourced each day in many different places for 30 days all throughout Atlanta.

Carla, my adventure friend in Atlanta, and I decided to serve at Georgia Avenue Church's food co-op. So we went this week, but we didn't know what to expect.  When we arrived, Brian told us how their church serves 250 families per month and brings in groceries from the Atlanta food back.  They only have to pay $3 to get about $80-90 worth of groceries.

A truck arrived carrying 1 ton of food that would serve 50 families.  So, we began to unpack the truck and sort the groceries with some of the co-op members.  The groceries included meat, fruit, and canned goods.  The boxes were arranged based on how many members were in each family - 1-3, 4-7 and 8 or more.  So the more people, the more food they received.

After the food sorting was done, they read scripture from Ecc. 3, sang "I Am Somebody," and prayed with passion - thanksgiving for the food, for those that came to help, the sick, the mayor, the government.  I was in tears.  It was without a doubt a church service for me! 

As I left, I thought about the food and what had taken place. Part of my story is that I don't have a good relationship with food. I was teased as a child for being overweight, and as a child and young adult, I was on  every kind of diet that has been developed.  I realized that food as been the enemy of sorts.  I realized that I have never needed for food. It was in plenty as I grew up and in plenty throughout my life.  I have always had it in abundance. 

On this day, I realized that food is a gift and a necessity.  It is not the enemy.   Food provides energy to go to work and to nourish the little children that were running around at Georgia Avenue that day and their parents to raise them.

As Brian at Georgia Avenue said, the Co-op provides food for the tummy and soul.  That day it did for me as well. 

F.T.T.

Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about?When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.' Matt. 25:37-40 MSG

A few days ago, I dropped off my daughter at a restaurant to have dinner with some friends.  As I left the parking lot, I noticed a very tall, hunched over man carrying a plastic jug of OJ (or something) as he walked down the street.  He was dirty and looked homeless.

I wondered about his story.  Was he ever loved? Did he have parents that cared - ever? Where is he going?  Where does he sleep at night?

The next day, I was driving to bible study, and I saw him again - same busy road. This time going a different route.  During the study, we talked about the term, F.T.T.  Failure To Thrive - the subject is part of John Ortberg's book, The Me I Want to Be.  He describes it as languishing - the condition of someone who may be able to function but has lost a sense of hope and meaning. 

As we discussed the term at our table, this "homeless" guy came to my mind, and I mentioned him and how he is looks to have F.T.T.  As we continued to talk, my mind wandered from the conversation and back to him, and then I remember a ziplock bag in my car that had toiletries.  It was put together at Vacation Bible School by my son.  He was to give it to a homeless person, and it is still in my car. Oh, I could give it to him! And then I thought, I'll put a $5 bill in the bag, and then I thought that I should get a gift card to McDonald's instead.

While I am having these random thoughts and not speaking them aloud, the woman next to me hands me a McDonald's gift card.  She told me to give it to him. Are you kidding me?  She had no idea I was having those thoughts!  She just said that someone had given it to her to give to homeless person and that she just hadn't given this one away.

So now as I travel around Atlanta, I am watching for him.  One bag of toiletries and one gift card will not fully restore his sense of meaning and hope, but maybe it will give him an ounce of hope to get through another day.

Question to Ponder: Who around you is F.T.T.?  How might you be able to give them hope for another day?

UPDATE: A few days after I posted this, my husband and I went out for a breakfast - that is a rare thing for us to do!  As we left the restaurant's parking lot, we saw the guy walking down the other side of the street.  We turned the car around, so that we could get close enough to hand him the bag.  He asked us something like - you got any money?  And I said, "No, but I do have a gift card so that you can have lunch at McDonalds."  He came, got the bag and smiled.  My husband said, "God Bless You." And down the road he walked.  Now I know my small offering will not change his life, but maybe this was about God changing my life and my heart.

UPDATE JAN 2011: About a month ago, I had dropped my son off at the church gym for basketball and as I sat in my car, my homeless friend passed in front of my car headlights.  He had a nasty, old blanket covering his head, and he was just walking down the street.  He is a very tall guy, so I was sure it was him.  As the days went by, I continued to get a visual of him in my head. 

As Christmas approached, my family and I were doing a Jesse Tree devotional, and it said something like how could you help God bless someone today.  And the homeless man again crossed my mind.  So I asked  my family of ideas of what we could do for him.  My 11 year old son, William, said, "Mom, why don't you make him a fleece blanket like you made us?" 

I had made them the "no sew" fleece blankets for Christmas a couple of years, and they have used them almost daily since then.  I decided William's idea was perfect.  So I went to the fabric store and purchased a camoflauge & brown fleece.  I thought it might camoflauge the dirt overtime.

So on Sunday, we knew we might see him coming or going down Roswell Road.  We were looking everywhere for him.  He was no where to be found.  We went to church and had several things to do before we could leave, so we were later leaving then usual.  We road the bus back to the parking lot to get our car.  As soon as we got off the bus, he was DIRECTLY across the street. 

We all raced to the car and jumped in.  My husband quickly drove out and went into a parking lot across the street. so that he would pass us by as he was walking. I rolled down the window and told him that we had a Christmas present for him.  We had included the blanket, new hat, gloves and a little money.  He said, "God bless you." 

God bless me?  I don't know why him saying that to me was such a shock.  He believes in God even though he lives on the street and has virtually nothing.  That is hard for me to take in.

The past few weeks, I have been watching for him and seen him several times.  I just was hoping to see him carrying or wearing my blanket around, but I have seen no sign of it.  I have seen him with a sleeping bag and other Christmas bags near his outdoor shelter.  I have seen apple sauce and canned goods that others must have dropped off to him.  So cool to see that others are giving to him as well.

As I discussed this with my husband, he said that it was ok that I haven't seen the blanket.  I just need to remember that I following through on what God prompted me to do through my son, and that is all that is He is asking of me.

Breathless Haste

"...At a destined hour it will come with breathless haste. It will not fail. If it delays wait for it, for when it comes there will be no time to linger…” Hab. 2:1-4

In the early part of 2009, Jay and I were sensing that our season at Willow Creek was drawing to a close. We had had an amazing six year run there, but we were feeling restlessness in our souls. In April 2009, Jay and I decided to do a 30 day challenge with a scripture in Habakkuk 2 that my Spiritual Director had read to me. We were both going to read it each day and then discuss what we were hearing or learning from it. We had never done anything like that.

One day I read it and then read the sidenotes in the bible on Habakkuk, it said that he was on the watchtower (with an attitude of expectation - not fear), because he wanted to be in the best position to hear God's word.

One day, I read and reread the scripture, and I noted, "I will stand...I will climb...I will take up my position." Habakkuk acted while he waited for the vision.

It also said, "write down the vision." Jay and I decided it was time to write a resume, so that it was "ready to be carried."

At one point, Jay and I began taking turns on the watchtower. One night, he would be up at 3 or 4 AM and then another nite, I would wake up, and it would be my turn. One of those early awakenings, Jay journaled until he got to his "resignation letter" that he had written earlier in the back of the journal. He had written it, more as an excercise to express what words he would like to say, not necessarily something that he would send to anyone. He said that he felt like God was asking him to resign before he had another job.

In this economy, quit without another job?

I told Jay that I thought he should not quit before our upcoming trip to Africa. He had put a great team together and that was what he was passionate about, so we agreed to hold on a little longer.

Another day, I read the scripture again, For WHEN it comes (the vision), not if, but WHEN. Ok, God has a plan. Hang in there.

On another day, I was reading from Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton. She said, "The discernment process involves a major commitment to listening with love and attention to....those who will be most deeply affected by our decisions." In my spirit, I heard that we needed to talk to our kids about what was happening inside our souls.

So, we told our 13 year old daughter and our 10 year old son that we felt like God was up to something, but we didn't know the details - not when, not where. The conversation was holy ground. It was another confirmation that God was moving.

I began to see in my mind a trapeze artist - one that has to let go of one bar, before he can catch the next. And God was asking us to be in that place of letting go of Willow before the next bar was in sight. Frightening for sure. At one on my nights on the watchtower, I was reading John Ortberg's book, If You Are Going to Walk on Water, You Have to get Out of the Boat. And there I read the story about a trapeze artist. Confirmation again.

Jay decided to make a few phone calls to make some connections about other job possibilites. He talked with Reggie McNeal who is leader in the missional movement. Reggie suggested several places for Jay to check in to and several places for him to stay away from. Always good to know someone on the inside!

Reggie mentioned Vic Pentz at Peachtree Presbtyerian and the Peachtree Global Fellowship, PGF. That night, Jay and I looked at the PGF's website and we both were astonished at how much their vision lined up with Jay's vision. Jay decided to email Vic. Of course thinking that his email would fall into the bit bucket. Within a day, Vic emailed Jay and asked for his resume and his story.

As we prepared for our trip to Africa, we had a strong sense that it would somehow mark the finish line for us.

On July 2, Jay’s first day back at work after Malawi, he was contacted by Peachtree Presbyterian about a role that really fit his sense of calling. Over the ensuing weeks, God has made it clear that He is not just releasing us from Willow, but He is calling us to something new.

In August with breathless haste, we put our house in Chicago on the market, packed our personal belongings and moved to Atlanta - just four months after we intently sought God's will for our family with four verses of scripture.

Questions to Ponder: What trapeze bar is God asking you to let go of? What would it feel like to fall into God's will for you life?

Memory Book Video Clip - Malawi 2009

Click here to see George and Jill of World Relief introduce the Memory Book project to HIV/Aids families in Chitipa, Malawi in June 2009.

Memory Books in Chitipa, Malawi

oneLife at a Time

I was sitting on a mat outside of a one room mud brick home in Chitipa, Malawi – thousands of miles away from my two story, 4 bedroom home in Chicago. The husband and wife both have HIV/Aids, and they have a six-week old daughter.

We had arrived there to do a home visit to encourage them, pray for them, and deliver gifts of sugar, oil and soap. We were asked to take pictures of us giving the gifts to the family.

It felt like a photo-op – white, rich girl gives to poor. I was overwhelmed and uncomfortable with the poverty, sickness, and sadness of all that I had seen. I just wanted to run back to the comforts of my home – far away from all of this.

The next day, we were helping HIV/Aids families make memory books. (I have been scrapbooking since I was seven years old, so I was thrilled when I was asked to be a part of this project!) We brought instant cameras and film to take pictures of the families. We also had scrapbooks, supplies & questions to answer that would help them capture their family history, traditions and desires. I also found out that these books would also help by serving as a “will” that would help them to preserve their land and home after death.

We had about 20 families to show up to do their books. One of those was the women with the six week old baby that I had visited the day before. I had no idea that I would ever see her again. We greeted and hugged each other.

We made progress with each of the family’s books, and then we told them to return the next day with other family members that they would like to have pictures made or to bring photos that they might have at home, so that they could add them to the books.

The next day, my lost luggage arrived, and it contained all the extra scrapbook supplies – including alphabet stickers. All of the participants wanted to put their name in their book using the stickers.

At one point, I walked over to the women with the six week old baby, and she was spelling out her name in stickers: R-A-B-E-C-C-A. How many women in Africa have my name? I can’t imagine very many. I felt like God was saying to me…I know that you are overwhelmed with all you have seen, but I am asking you to bring hope to one person at a time, and I am confirming that by connecting you with someone else that has your name. I don’t think that she will forget me, and I certainly will not forget her.

I (we) can't individually tackle the global or continental or even country-wide problems of AIDS, poverty, or lack of drinking water that exist in our world, but if we all help one person, we can make a difference - oneLife at a time.