Blogged Arteries

So, during church today (like a good Christian boy) I was attempting to blog this via cell phone. After about a half hour of cell blogging, I realized there was no “post” button and had to lose all my genius work! Here’s the gist of what you missed:

If Jesus chose to come to earth in the present day instead of early AD, and came to Akron, Ohio instead of Jerusalem, how would he do his minstry? Specifically with urban ministry (of which I am especially passionate), how would Jesus handle some of these incorrigible or “bad” kids (of which I am especially drawn to)? Would he yell at them for asking questions without raising their hand? Would he tell them they are not allowed to come to church? Would HE even be allowed in our nice, country-club buildings?
Sorry if I’m just complaining and whining, but I feel very frustrated and uncontent with the suburb-exclusivity that I feel with my church. How do you think Jesus would do uban ministry? And how should we, in light of that? Are our requirements higher than the King of kings? Are we better judges than God? How come we are doing ministry differently than Jesus?

I have just completed a blog-fast that lasted over a month.  Not sure if you were disappointed, glad, didn’t notice, or just don’t exist.  For the past month, I have done nothing spectacular.  I did complete my associated in Biblical studies, though.  My 2-year degree in only 5 short years!  I know, I know, at least I have something now.  Not sure what’s coming next.  More Bible school?  Change schools?  Change majors?  Change personality and passions?  Who knows.

Another juicy tid-bit: Brittany and I got a dog!  Tucker is a 6-year old West Highland Terrier that we rescued from a shelter.  He is a well-behaved (for the most part) little guy.  He was tentative at first and kind of snipped at us when we got too intrusive on his boundaries, but he is definitely warming up quickly and is a joy to have around.  Anytime one of us sits on the couch, he jumps up and rests his head on our leg.  aww!  I’ll put some pictures up sometime.

Other than school and Tucker, everything else is about the same.  I know this isn’t my online diary, but I’m sitting at Panera with Brittany while Tuck’s getting groomed, and I felt like blogging.  Next time I have something that I deem worth sharing, I will return.  Could be 2 hours.  Could be 2 year.  Probably somewhere in between though.

Love!

Whether you read the newspaper, or watch the news, or have seen Invisible Children, you know that Africa is not the most stable or safest place in the world right now.  With the genocides, and child soldiers, and AIDS pandemic, and food crisis, etc., etc., Africa is (and has been for some time) one of the most impoverished places in the world.  Uganda, a tiny, southern central country in Africa is one of the most affected.  With Sudan to the north and Rwanda to the south, Uganda is packed full of terrified people.  Uganda is definitely not the only country that is struggling, but it has a very special place in my heart.  Through Compassion International, I support a little girl who is about to be…..seven!  Wow, I didn’t realize she had gotten so old. haha  Anyways, Sarah Okwakunda has not only changed the way I think about poverty/Africa/Uganda, but she has helped change the way I feel about it too.  And I believe that, in order for anything to effectively change is our actions, our motives and desires must change first.

When I decided to write a post about Uganda, I didn’t have an agenda planned out.  I didn’t quite know what I was gonna say about it.  But now I know.

If you are a Jesus-follower, then follow him.  If you don’t know Jesus, but feel there is something you should do to help the poor, you are correct.  Compassion is a fantastic way to help children all over the world go through school, get sufficient food, and learn about Truth.  Tri is also a movement that asks only 3 dollars a week that go towards delivering children from forced violence and war.  If you look, there are many opportunities to help.  If you help, there will be many opportunities to change the world.

My heart is in Uganda.  Figure out where yours can be.