Orthodox Icon of Christ's Nativity

charity -  [char-i-tee]

The generous actions or donations to aid the poor, ill, or helpless: to devote one’s life to charity

This Advent season I have been spending time thinking about the the greatest gift ever given – the gift of Jesus Christ.  The birth of Christ is what humanity (through Israel, its kings, priests, & prophets) had been waiting for – for generations since Abraham.  And now – in a manger, in the little town of Bethlehem the CHRIST, in the form of a baby, was freely given to the world!  Son of God – Son of Man.

So what does His birth mean?  What does this gift imply?  Well – it means that humanity has finally received its promised reconciliation with our Heavenly Father.  In our disobedience we had lost our way.  Even though there were signs, answered prayers and His provision humanity went astray.  We chose our own path.  Now – God chose to make, what may have been cloudy, clear.  He chose to send His Word to become flesh and dwell with us.  No longer could we deny.  God was (and is) real…living as we lived…even experiencing the harsh realities of this world.  Yet He who was without sin, became sin for us that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).   

It is this gift that I have been thinking about.  And it is the gift Christ offers that has really “screwed” up my Christmas season.  See, to be honest…I am usually thinking about me.  What I want.  What I hope to receive.  But this year has been different.  Things that usually interest me have not held my attention.  And, when I have thought about those gadget’s that I hope will make their way under the tree have faded in their perceived importance.  They are things…that when acquired…lose their luster very quickly.  What was important before Christmas day lost their significance once purchased, given, opened and utilized.  The fact is this…last year I wanted an ipod.  I spent alot of time thinking about how cool it would be.  What a blessing it would be to have when I traveled and worked.  What a handy device…I could record, take the news with me and have easy access to all my pictures.  It’s educational…I loaded books and podcasts on it so that I could grow…right?  However, once I received the ipod – the significance, its allure and all this excitement was gone.  My friends in Africa were still hungry, children in Honduras we still surviving on one meal a day, and my neighbors were still living in tenement housing. 

I realized…and have been reminded through out this Advent season of one significant aspect of Christ’s birth.  The gift of self-giving.  Giving everything…even life itself in order that others may live.  Christ gave charitably…out of love to those who were in most need – people like YOU and ME!  Now, it is our turn.  With Christmas day now in our rear view mirror we have the opportunity to mark this season by following the greatest commandment(s).  To love the Lord our God with our heart, soul and mind…and love our neighbors as we love ourselves.  My challenge…to love my neighbors…to love you as much as I have loved myself. 

May this Advent season be marked by charitable self-giving that others may come to understand the true meaning of this season.  Then we will have a gift that, “moth and rust” cannot destroy.  May God work through our collective, selfless giving during this difficult economic crisis that many may come to understand the depth of Christ’s love for all humanity. 

And may God richly bless you, your family and relatives… 

M. Teresa of Calcutta

“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass – grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls.”

 –M. Teresa

The call of Christ is not just a call to practical service – serving the marginalized, sharing His redemptive story, praying for those in need and assisting those who have just begun the journey of faith.  All of these activities are good – proper responses to Christ’s call to deny ourselves take up our cross and follow Him.  However, the longer I walk with Him the more I sense being called to develop my “interior life” as well.  This interior life is a call toward quiet, intimate, union with Him.  It is about reorganizing my day to ensure that Christ is truly the central figure of my life.  It means that I consciously quiet myself [mouth + mind] and purposely turn off “life” [TV, radio, phone, facebook etc.] to allow Him total and complete access to me.  It means that I respect my Heavenly Father enough to give Him my full attention and not my left over’s after I wake up late, in between TV shows, or just before I pass out in the late hours of my evening.   It means that I embrace a rhythm of life that emphasizes the centrality of Christ in my life, my commitment to my family, and our collective mission among those cast aside by society. 

It is in these moments that my soul is refreshed – for I have fulfilled the first part of the Great Commandment.  “To love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with your entire mind.”  At this point I have the strength to fulfill the second part – to love your neighbor as yourself. 

Let us never forget the wisdom in the simple act of silent communion with Christ -especially during this Advent Season!
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Daisy's Jeep

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”  -Jesus

A week ago on Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. we were startled by the clarity with which we heard, “pow, pow, pow, pow, pow!  Immediately Heather jumped off the bed and onto the ground and encouraged me to do the same.  Realizing that we just heard 5 gun shots outside our bedroom window I called 911 and reported what all of our neighbors simultaneously reported…gunshots on our block!

The morning after the police had come and gone I awoke early to walk, pick-up our trash lined streets and pray for our neighborhood.  As I was finishing my prayer walk I was greeted by our next door neighbor – Daisy.  She explained that her car was the receipent of a “bullet wound” and that she had called the police to file a report.  After our conversation was over I returned home to have my morning coffee and reflect on what happened the night before.  I was not happy.  For the first time since moving into Fairhaven I was angry…angry that bullets were flying 35 feet from my bedroom window.  Angry that people just don’t care.  Angry that our police department cannot seem to get their act together and respond to the problems of our city well.  Angry that our inner cities in America are like war zones.  Angry that 18 people have been murdered in New Haven in 2008. Not far from New Haven’s record of 24 homicides in one year.  Angry that my wife and kids can’t just pop out the front door of our house and talk a walk for fear of what could happen.  And…even though we moved into this neighborhood to help those on the margins of society…I still hope to live a long and prosperous life.  Just being honest!

Now, a week and three days later, I find myself on bended knee in prayer…seeking to make sense of it all.  And, it was in prayer that I heard the voice of our Lord.  “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.  Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.”  -Jesus (Luke 10: 2-3)

It all made sense.  The anger and frustration I had felt towards those causing so much pain and strife (i.e. those shooting, killing, dealing drugs, prostituting, pimping, & slum landlords) they are the “harvest” that the Lord is referring to.  The harvest is not only plentiful but it is beautiful as well.  See, I was looking at the situation (along with other similar situations) from a purely “earthly / material” perspective.  HOWEVER, the LORD looks at each person, in whatever situation they find themselves in, in whatever activity they are participating in, as a beautiful son / daughter – HIS beloved.  Though they may be far from the “promised land” of relationship by their own choosing the Lord is chasing them, HE is sending US to chase them and tell them the wonderful story of redemption and reconciliation that is found in Christ.  Instead of focusing on the situation – I am choosing to focus on the person…those in desperate need of hope, peace and personal reconciliation.  Those in need of a friend and a Father.  Instead of trying to find ways to “lock up tight” I will focus (w/ the help of my family and friends) on how to open our doors wide and invite those in that are “weary and heavy laden – that they may find rest for their souls.” 

See, I think this is the answer.  We can no longer watch the “war” on TV…we have to jump onto the battlefield of life and be a hearld of Good News.  I for one hope to spend my remaining days fighting the good fight…

From the ESV Bible – Philippians 3:8-12 & 17, “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith – that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ has made it his own…Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the exmple you have in us.”

Two years ago we made a decision to leave our life in Dallas, TX. and “follow” Jesus into into a inner city neighborhood to begin a work among prostitutes, drug addicts, and at risk families.  Our short term goal – to share the message and love of Christ through the development of urban restoration projects and a local food pantry.  Long term, we want to open a home for prostitutes who desire to leave “street life” and begin again. 

I remember when I talked with our Senior Pastor, Mark Brand and informed him of our desire to end my work as a staff pastor at Hillcrest Church and become a full-time missionary…to live and work among the marginalized.  He agreed with our decision, we talked over the details of my transition and prayed.  As I returned to my office that afternoon I remember the pure excitement I felt in my heart to begin this next chapter of my (our) life.  This is the day I had been waiting for – for over 10 years!

It is always exciting to start a new chapter in life…but with every new chapter that we begin in our journey towards Christ there are new challenges.  New challenges for our family, friends, and the work we were to begin.  With every new step came insight from the scripture as to the committments and cost of following Him.  A couple of days ago – I was reading through the book of Philippians and was challenged anew by the words of Paul to the Church at Philippi.  As we journey towards Christ I find it interesting that Paul, not only asks us to know Christ and the power of His resurrection, but to share in His sufferings as well.  Over the years I have heard many talk about the fact that Christians are invited to enjoy the benefits of Christ’s resurrection – how He overcame death and brought reconcilliation between man and God for those who believe.  But, as it is with the story of scripture, there was much more to Paul’s admonition.  As we are enjoying the benefits of the resurrection we are invited to share in His “sufferings – becoming like him in His death.”  I don’t know about you – but I don’t wake up in the morning and look forward to a day of suffering.  Most of the time – me (& others) try to avoid suffering…and for good reason.  But when we talk of a relationship with Christ and our desire to “follow him” Paul is clearly calling out to the Church and asking us to embrace His sufferings, to bear our cross and follow him. (Mt. 10:38)  Suffering is the call to responsibility, to embrace what is difficult, to give our entire self, to go beyond and in many ways to do without. 

Each of us who choose this life will be challenged by this embrace…but it was (and is today) through Christ’s embrace of suffering that each Christian enjoys our adoption in the family of God.  It is through suffering(s) that others will enter into the joyful mystery of salvation, and it is through the path of suffering where we find His peace and joy.  We are called to imitate Paul and other faithful men to make a real difference in our world. 

In this political season – let us keep our eyes fixed on Him in whom we have hope.

I recently read a bit of Saint J.C. and was challenged by the content of his sermon.  Here it is in its entirety with my reflections following.

“Do you want to honor Christ’s body?  Then do not scorn him in his nakedness, nor honor him here in the side where he is cold and naked.  For he who said: This is my body, and made it so by his words, also said: You saw me hungry and did not feed me, and in as much as you did not do it for one of these, the least of my brothers, you did not do it for me.  What we do here in the church requires a pure heart, not special garments; what we do outside requires great dedication.

Let us learn, therefore, to be men of wisdom and to honor Christ as he desires.  For a person being honored finds greatest pleasure in the honor he desires, not in the honor we think best.  Peter thought he was honoring Christ when he refused to let him wash his feet; but what Peter wanted was not truly an honor, quite the opposite!  Give him the honor prescribed in his law by giving your riches to the poor.  For God does not want golden vessels but golden hearts. 

Now, in saying this I am not forbidding you to make such gifts; I am only demanding that along with such gifts and before them you give alms.  He accepts the former, but he is much more pleased with the latter.  In the former, only the giver profits; in the latter, the recipient does too.  A gift to the church may be taken as a form of ostentation, but an alms is pure kindness. 

Of what use is it to weigh down Christ’s table with golden cups, when he himself is dying of hunger?  First, fill him when he is hungry; then use the means you have left to adorn his table.  Will you have a golden cup made but not give a cup of water?  What is the use of providing the table with cloths woven of gold thread, and not providing Christ himself with the clothes he needs.  What profit is there in that?  Tell me: If you were to see him lacking the necessary food but were to leave him in that state and merely surround his table with gold, would he be grateful to you or rather would he not be angry?  What if you were to see him clad in worn-out rags and stiff from the cold, and were to forget about clothing him and instead were to set up golden columns for him, saying that you were doing it in his honor?  Would he not think he was being mocked and greatly insulted? 

Apply this also to Christ when he comes along the roads as a pilgrim, looking for shelter.  You do not take him in as your guest, but you decorate floor and walls and the capitals of the pillars.  You provide silver chains for the lamps, but you cannot bear even to look at him as he lies chained in prison.  Once again, I am not forbidding you to supply these adornments; I am urging you to provide these other things as well, and indeed to provide them first.  No one has ever been accused for not providing ornaments, but for those who neglect their neighbor a hell awaits with an inextinguishable fire and torment in the company of the demons.  Do not, therefore, adorn the church and ignore your afflicted brother, for he is the most precious temple of all.”

This passage reminds me of why we serve in Fairhaven, CT.  Why we live among and work with the marginalized – poor, outcast & refugee.  We do it because in so doing we are actually serving Christ.  We are trying to faithfully obey his command to, “Love your neighbor” (literally).  We are trying to live out the gospel in word & deed!

There is no time, no room any longer to ask ourselves, “who is my neighbor?”  Look around…in your neighborhood, your office, on campus or around town.  They are out there…and most…are crying for help.  And it is through their voice that we hear and respond to Christ.  See, it is Christ, through the poor, that is crying out and asking us to respond.  To give alms, to share your food, to clothe, and to invite in.  But – it does not stop there.  At this point, in my experience, the door opens wide for believers to share the WHY behind what we do.  Why do we serve freely?  Why do we give?  Because there is good news about Christ’s cross and our reconciliation to God (for those who believe).  Lately, I have encountered many opportunities to share HIS story with those hungry to believe. 

Be challenged.  Enjoy.

Prison walls still standing tall
Some things never change at all
Keep on building prisons, gonna fill them all
Keep building bombs, gonna drop them all
Working young fingers bear to the bone
Breaking your back make you sell your soul
Like a lung its filled with cold, suffocating slow
The wind blows wild and I may move
The politicians lie and I am not fooled
you don’t need no reason or a three piece suit
To argue the truth
The air on my skin and the world under my toes
Labor is stitched into the fabric of my clothes
Chaos and commotion wherever I go
Love I try to follow

Love will come set me free
Love will come set me free, I do believe
Love will come set me free, I know it will
Love will come set my free yes.

When I first heard this song – I was blown away and moved to tears.  Brett has captured a set of “truth’s” regarding our society / culture.  The truth that captured my attention is how we have a propensity to live independently, without regard for one another – for the consequences of our actions.  We see the evidence of this in almost every corner of our society.  The financial crisis (both personal / corporate), the environment, the use & abuse of energy, unfettered consumerism / materialism, modern day slavery (sexual / sweat shops), and a host of other global issues that affect everyone.  And WE live as if everything’s cool. 

In general people don’t like change.  Therefore, our buying / consuming habits stay the same – no matter the implications.  As a matter of fact, we get “hacked off” when the price of gas causes us to think more carefully about our driving habits.  Americans are carrying so much personal debt that some have to choose between groceries, the electric bill, rent / mortgage, or paying the credit cards…etc.  We have such a passion for fashion, electronics, and other gadgets that we turn a blind eye to where it is made and then where it has to go when we discard it.  Sure we didn’t like Saddam – but what about the thousands of innocent lives that have been lost b/c they were simply “casualties of war.”  I am sure that mom’s, dad’s, brothers and sisters aren’t so happy…but what are WE thinking about?  What do we hear on the news or read in the polls?  How can we bring our troop’s home to the U.S. with a simple “political victory?”  Remember, while we are thinking about victory for the U.S. – Iraqi families, businesses and neighborhoods are decimated.  GONE!   Iraqi civilians and many of our 19-20 year olds will NEVER come back.  But – we are still not thinking.  And we usually don’t think about the implication of our “corporate” actions until it comes and rests on our doorstep!

In all of this I do have hope.  The reason why I am writing about these issues is for one reason.  I believe WE can change.  I also believe that in our personal transformation there is opportunity for corporate rehabilitation.  No longer should we allow ourselves to be defined by our society / culture – but men, women and children of faith – taking compassionate & faith-filled action can transform a neighborhood, a city, a nation and finally be an influence around the world.  But – it starts with US.  It starts at home, behind closed doors when no one is looking.  It starts with personal conviction, a growing desire for personal integrity / accountability and an ever-maturing faith.  I write this in my personal desire to be a world changer – not one seeking fame on the front pages of a magazine but a world changer in the example of Mother Teresa (meek, humble, and selfless).  Actively living a life that changes not just the outcome of the game but the rules by which the game is played.  I encourage you – listen carefully to Brett Dennen’s, “Ain’t No Reason” and ask yourself…what God is asking of you? I am!

From 1649-1660 England was a republic. Oliver Cromwell joined in signing a death warrant for the then king, Charles I, and proceeded to lead a parliamentary government as Lord Protector. Cromwell was a puritan – a C17 born again Christian – and his legislative programme was a mixture of policies designed to promote the interests of the landed gentry, such as himself, and also introduce God’s kingdom on earth.

Succeeded by his son, Richard, the country soon wearied of this attempt to create heaven on earth and ousted Richard in favour of re-establishing the monarchy with Charles’ son who became Charles II.

There is a common feeling amongst committed Christians that the Kingdom of God can be established through the appropriate legislative programme. Hence many look to the political parties in any election campaign and explore the extent to which they might implement a programme based upon the Bible. Sadly it always ends in disappointment. Sadly it always will!

This is because Jesus did not call us to create a political kingdom; he challenged us to take personal responsibility and live it. Yet each one of us wants a short route to our goal – God’s values informing and shaping society today. We can see the values enshrined in the Kingdom and know that society and its members would flourish within such a Kingdom.

We also soon discover that the problematic of our own humanity remains the biggest stumbling block to the manifestation of the Kingdom on earth. How far do I implement the beatitudes in my everyday life? How far am I able to? G. K. Chesterton once responded to the question, ‘What’s wrong with the world?’ with the simple answer, ‘I am!’ The answer may be short but addressing it takes courage, discipline, and God’s help.

It is so much easier to sub-contract responsibility for bringing in God’s Kingdom to politicians. They make the speeches filled with promise. Many are God-fearing men and women. Yet once in power and therefore empowered by the electorate (me and you) they make so little headway. Economically, socially, internationally nothing appears that much different when they leave office to when they came in.

Taking the American example, if there was ever a party that appeared as though it would legislate the Kingdom it has been the Republicans since the time of Ronald Reagan. He was guest speaker at a gathering of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). He was courted and himself appealed to the Evangelical community across the USA: a community that defined itself by its commitment to Christ and his values. The Republicans picked up the benefit of that huge constituency vote, which propelled them into office with both Bush Sr. and Jr. So where is the Kingdom?

Many are found asking that question. For some it is a major cause of confusion. They had equated Christ, Kingdom, and Republicanism. But the world was no more Godly as a result of Republican government.

Take the issue of abortion as an example. In America for many Evangelical Christians a defining issue. The prospective Republican candidates always took a pro-life stance. However, in office they have proved unable to legislate effectively on this one issue. The unborn is probably more at risk today than twenty years ago. So will we learn the lesson from this one issue, as well as from many others that could be cited? It is impossible to legislate for the Kingdom of God.

Well where as a confused and disillusioned voter should I turn? Is it time for the Obama effect? Will this give me more ‘Kingdom’ than I have experienced to date? Sadly the answer is NO IT WON’T!!!

The writer to the Hebrews advises us that God attempted to communicate in many and various ways but by inference, without success. Eventually he sent his own son Jesus. His role was to live among humankind as a man, mortal yet divine, and show everyone what the Kingdom was like. What we know about God we know by looking at Jesus. So it is perhaps essential for the Kingdom that I must live it so those around me might see what it is like. There is no way around this incarnational model. I must live the change I pray to see. I must be the evidence of the Kingdom in my home, workplace, street, and neighbourhood.

Good news can sound like bad news. It is my responsibility to live the Kingdom and I cannot sub-contract it to a politician or anyone else. The Kingdom is about securing peace on earth by securing access to resources for all humanity, for each of us is an image bearer of Christ. It requires right living – the favoured moral liturgy of the Evangelical community – but it equally requires both economic and environmental opportunity. It demands that I consider the social and economic imbalances and advocate for justice and reconciliation. Jesus wants me, and the Kingdom requires me, to roll up my sleeves and get involved.

As a friar who is a whole life therapist committed to social enterprise I start within my own neighbourhood. I don’t just ‘do good’ but I live and build with the many stressed and burnt people around me and create opportunities for conversation. A conversation is the start of a voyage of discovery – about myself, my neighbours, and the potential for my street and my community.

Strangely it is not Presidents Reagan, Bush, or Clinton, nor Prime Ministers Thatcher or Blair who history celebrates as those who best served the Kingdom. It is individuals such as Mother Theresa, Jackie Pullinger, Jean Vanier, Dorothy Day, and in our own day Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw. In a world so infatuated with liberty perhaps there needs to be a recovery of personal and corporate responsibility. Anyone want to subscribe to a Statue of Responsibility in San Francisco Bay?

Groundworks is pleased to partner with Compassion Corps. Together we are committed to understanding the Kingdom and supporting each other in manifesting the Kingdom. At Groundworks those who have completed our ‘Make Believe’ programme are now engaging with their worlds and seeking practical social and spiritual transformation for the King and his Kingdom. May that Kingdom come of earth as it is in heaven.

I direct a non-profit charity called Compassion Corps.  Our long-term goal is to provide transitional housing for prostitutes who desire to leave the streets to regain their dignity, hope and a new life.  Our pathway to fulfilling this dream has been the development of several, smaller initiatives around the idea of Urban Restoration / Renewal – allowing us to build strong ties to the area.  We began, through prayer, to simply clean up the streets, mow common areas, plant flowers / trees and generally work to beautify Fairhaven.  These activities have opened doors and allowed us to develop relationships through conversation. 

Knowing our heart to serve the poor and marginalized – Jeff Neal engaged in a series of meetings which led to the development of an idea…let’s help Compassion Corps organize and underwrite an annual Block Party on Grafton Street.  Together, with the help of Jim Mitchell, Kevin Ewing (the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven) and concerned neighbors we developed and implemented this idea.  Our theme – An Old School Block Party: Taking Back the Streets.  Our focus was to foster relationships between neighbors and encourage people to work together for change.  Change in the direction of Fairhaven.  We want our neighborhood to be an affordable, peaceful and beautiful place for families to live in New Haven, Connecticut.  Personally, I will not be satisfied until this is accomplished. 

So – on Sunday, August 17 at 3:00 pm we “opened the doors” of our block and boy did they come.  As usual with parties – the beginning was slow.  However, by 3:30 as the first burgers, hotdogs, and fried fish hit the plates it was non-stop for 3+ hours.  Our neighborhood committee provided the main dishes / drinks and neighbors brought side dishes.  We had volunteers cooking and serving an estimated 300 members of the Fairhaven community.  In addition, we provided piñata’s, face painting, various games and a DJ.  And yes – we had dancing.  The BEST part of the day was watching our neighbors, after the cleaning was done, just standing around talking with each other.  You could feel the peace and ease in the air!  It was an amazing event for our community that has been plagued by a constant stream of negative news. 

Correspondence:

Compassion Corps

P.O. Box 4283

Hamden, CT. 06513