Coat Drive in full swing now...

We are having a "Good Used" Coat Drive at the Ministry Center for the month of April and the first two Sundays in May. The deal is that folks can drop off coats at the Ministry Center on Sundays from 8:30 a.m. - 12 noon. A drop box will be provided! Hope it gathers lots of good coats for Joseph House and the Christian Shelter.

5000 plus youth in one room...

Wow... what a large group of Senior High youth are gathered this weekend at the O.C. Convention center. Last night's speaker was okay... the band was better. I did manage to fall asleep several times during the sermon... but not because the speaker was so bad... just because I was so tired. Slept all night, even though the guys in my room were up till 2 a.m. Don't recall waking up too much!

I hope they are having a great time today! I came back this morning and have been hard at work cleaning out a closet and getting ready for a yard sale. NOW I am really TIRED!

What a meal...

In a previous blog about the shelter in February... I made the comment that at Community of Joy, we don't give out "half-eaten hamburgers"... and that we don't! Thanks to Tri Townsend who was willing to ask a guy he knew at Texas Roadhouse, Texas Roadhouse in Fruitland donated 60 - 14 oz. rib eye steaks... they even cut them fresh yesterday! What an awesome donation! The guys really loved them! It was a real treat!

Needless to say... next time you are looking for a place to eat... consider Texas Roadhouse... Sharon and I ate there Wednesday night!

Tired....

Last night was my last overnight at the shelter. It closes tomorrow! A lot of the guys are really stressing about what they are going to do.... so sad!

It's now 6:30 a.m. and I will stay awake until the family gets on the road and then I will sleep as long today as I can, because I am on duty this weekend at the youth retreat in Ocean City... which means little sleep. Hopefully I have someone coming tomorrow to stay the night Saturday with them.

Pray today for Donna Clark... she is meeting with some influential folks who have a vision for a day center, shelter, and job opp for the guys... all in one location. If that happens it will be a dream come true! And it is so needed to help some of these guys get their lives turned around an headed in a new direction!

Awesome Prayer....

The last two nights at the shelter... the guys were asked who would like to say the blessing for the meal. Both nights received an immediate response. The first night, the guy who prayed said the "God is Great" prayer that most of us learned as a child.... that was cool to hear him and see him be so willing to pray. Then last night, the guy who prayed... had an original prayer and it almost brought me to tears... hearing how grateful he was for the blessings that he had experienced that day... the biggest one was life! And the greatest request was for strength to do what was necessary to survive. So humbling and yet profoundly beautiful.

Serving out of comfort zone....

It's great how God made all of us with different passions and interests! That allows us to be concerned about more things than if we all had the same interest.

One of the things we are learning at Community of Joy is to let people serve out of their passions and interests. Doing the homeless shelter is not for everyone! And we need to be okay with that.... there are other areas of ministry that those folks have interests in and serve well in and maybe those areas are ones that the folks who love serving at the homeless shelter don't like serving in so well. It's all good.... but only if we work hard at not making those who aren't comfortable in a particular ministry feel guilty.

When we all serve out of our giftings and passions... look out... we can do so much for the kingdom of God... BUT when we heap guilt on folks or force them to serve in ways they aren't comfortable in... we don't do so well.

For instance, I love youth... but I don't like serving in youth ministry so well... because that really isn't my area of passion or expertise...and so, I realize that because I am wired that way, I put a wet blanket on youth ministry sometimes and I don't serve as well as I could or as well as I do in the homeless ministry area. Same deal with me and children's ministry... not an area I am particularly gifted in nor do I like serving in that arena... but I am so glad that others do and can serve well!

What an awesome picture we paint when we all serve out of our giftings and passions and we allow others to do the same!

Gotta love the people at Community of Joy!

What an AWESOME bunch of people God has assembled at Community of Joy! We sure know how to serve others and to do it with flare! Last night we served the BEST chicken corn soup and the BEST Pork BBQ and the BEST chocolate cake with chocolate icing! The hot cherry cobbler and white cake looked good too... just didn't have any! The guys were really appreciative and the staff really took note. Had lots of people telling me what a great group we were! Tonight we will serve fresh cut steaks from Texas Roadhouse... grilled by the Master Chef in Training... to order. By the way, Texas Roadhouse donated all 60 steaks! I am sure they will be good... Sharon and I ate there last night and they were wonderful!

The challenges of helping the poor....

I knew it would be hard to be part of the last week of the Community Emergency Shelter Project... not because the guys have made it so... but because it is tough saying so long to the guys... many of whom are back on the street when this is over.

I know that each person has a story and most are responsible for finding themselves right where they are.... still doesn't make it any easier. I also know that when you are down on your luck, it doesn't take much to put you farther down. And once you loose so much, it is a real hard battle to get yourself picked back up! Consider how hard it is to get a job, when you have a couple sets of clothes and no ability to wash them... or don't have a phone number to give out so a potential employer can call you... or for that matter, don't have an address to give them... then there are the issues of job skills and earning a living wage... even if you get a job, it takes several weeks to get a paycheck (Caroline has been working three weeks and just got her first check). Then there is the security deposit and if you are in a place of your own... the electric bill, gas or oil, if that's how you heat. Not to mention food. And if you are in a hotel room... even the economy hotels, you face the challenge of what to eat and how to fix it.

Needless to say it isn't easy.... even if you are trying hard to change the situation you are in!

This is why we desperately need a day facility and transitional housing apartments. I hope in the next year we can find both!

Getting old....

Gonna help Caroline buy her first car. We took it for a ride tonight and shook hands with the people who own it. It is just the kind of car we were hoping to find for her... one owner, low miles, great shape, well cared for, below kelly blue book price. The folks who have it were so nice, they took it today to have the oil changed and tires rotated before we got it. They took $200 off the price because it is Caroline's car. Sweet folks... nice clean car... she is so EXCITED! Now I have to get it inspected and tagged so that she can learn to drive it for her big test in a month.

We will loan her the money and she can pay us back over time, now that she has a job. Gonna be an experience! But I am happy for her!

This chapter... sure makes me feel old! I can remember when I bought my first car, dad and I went into Talbot Bank and he helped me get a loan and then I went to Easton Ford and bought a Ford Escort.... guess what Caroline's car is ... a Ford Escort!

Shelter...

Once again, we are helping in a BIG way with the homeless shelter! It is so awesome to be part of a group of people who are so willing to reach out and help. Several of us have and will spend the night, we are providing the supper meal twice and lunches once as well as others are helping to serve meals, register folks, etc.

Last night we had 40 guys... more tonight! This is the last week for this shelter. So many sad cases... sure wish we could encourage more of them to make wise choices that would turn their life around. It is so hard for guys in this position to get the breaks they need to get out of the hole. So glad to be part of a ministry that is helping as much as we can!

An interesting experience....

I am a little uneasy blogging about this experience, because I don't want to be misunderstood, but it was such a teachable moment... I want to try. Please know at the outset that this is NOT a slam on our sister church-- Bethany Lutheran, and I am looking forward to many more joint efforts.

We had our outside Sunrise worship gathering in our lot combined with the Lutherans... there were lots of things that distinguished us.... they were dressed up... we were in casual clothes.... we knew contemporary songs, they didn't as well.... they knew the response to "He is risen" and we didn't!

But the biggest divide came after the gathering was over and it was time for breakfast... but first the Lutherans needed to do communion in the sanctuary... the invitation was open and a few of our folks went... BUT when I walked into the fellowship hall 20 minutes after breakfast was to have started and it wasn't even being served... and I looked around and noticed that the gathered body was largely CoJ folks... who were waiting patiently for breakfast... I thought... this is a teachable moment.

How many times do we in the church do what is so important to us at the expense of excluding those who aren't part of the tradition? It was definitely an insider/outsider moment! When we are trying to reach out to others... we must watch these occasions. This morning gave our folks a good taste of what it feels like to be a stranger in foreign territory. The goal is to make strangers feel welcome and want to connect with us and ultimately with God.

Awesome Easter 08!

Today was an awesome day! The sunrise worship was well attended and the sun was gorgeous! We could have been a little earlier so that we ended just as the sun crested. It was a little cold but folks seemed to enjoy our combined worship gathering. Pastor Kevin Wackett had a great message and Joy Miller did a great job leading our singing.

Easter Sunrise...

Tomorrow @ 7 a.m. we will have our first ever Easter Sunrise worship gathering. It will be in our lawn, but will be jointly held with Bethany Lutheran Church (our neighboring church). It is exciting to see two churches working together for the cause of Christ! I hope this is one of many many times we will do so.

Breakfast will follow and will be in the Bethany Fellowship Hall.

This week, I was visiting some of our folks and one, who happens to be in her late 80's told me with great enthusiasm that she was so excited about this sunrise worship. In all her years she has wanted very much to attend one and has never been able to do so... and this is the year she was sure she would be able to come! Can't wait to talk to her afterward. Imagine that... 80 some years of wanting to do something and finally getting to do so...wow!

Week Two...

Saturday night, Community of Joy will jump into our second week of the Cold Weather Shelter for homeless men... this time we won't be hosting the guys at our ministry center... don't have room to host all of them (60). But will be supplying support staff to the efforts of Donna Clark as we host them at Blind Industries. Looking forward to this opportunity to serve some very special people. This will be the last week of the shelter.... the guys will be on their own once again.

Please pray that it goes well... I've been told that Blind Industries will be watching closely and if they see things they don't like, they will shut us down.

Tonight... one of the most meaningful...

Tonight @ 6:30 p.m. at the ministry center, we will participate in one of the most meaningful worship gatherings ever... We call it the Love Feast. It is taken out of John 13... Jesus' last supper with his disciples. We spend some time reflecting and sharing, then we eat a simple meal together and then you guessed it, we wash feet. Finally we receive communion, sing a song and go on our way.

Lots of people get freaked out about the feet washing deal... but Jesus calls us to be humble servants and there is not an act we can do in worship that is more humble or servant than wash some one's feet.

Always a highlight for me... looking forward to it!

A week of anniversaries...

Yes, in many ways it is hard to believe that this week is a 5 year anniversary... It seems like so much longer... Yes, today is the 5 year anniversary of our invasion of Iraq.

I don't wish to have a political discussion here... I simply have been struck all week by the Palm Sunday Story... as Luke records it...Luke 19:29-47. After Jesus enters Jerusalem to the fanfare of the crowd and the pharisees' dismay, he looked upon the city and wept over it... then he said, "If you, even you, had only recognized on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes."

And I wonder... Is Jesus crying over the state of the world today?... Do we recognize the things that make for peace?... When will our eyes be opened to the ways of Jesus and his love for ALL people? When will the lion lay down with the lamb?

Do we even hear Jesus saying... "when you did it to the least of these, you did it to me?"

Jesus made his entry into Jerusalem on a donkey... not on a white horse. He disappointed many because he was not the military leader they were expecting. Yet, he makes possible a relationship with God and peace within our hearts.

What are the things that make for peace? And how can those of us who follow Jesus recognize them and live them?

Shelter....

One of the guys we sheltered in February when we did the homeless shelter at our ministry center, stopped by last night as Tri and I were setting up for Love Feast. He had been told that they were at our place this week. Which was incorrect... but I took him over to Cathedral of Love where they are being sheltered this week. He had 3 big bags of clothes and a duffel bag, so I helped him carry them in... and I got to visit for a while with some of the guys. It was good to see them again... we will get to see them this coming week as we are helping with the final week of the Community Emergency Shelter Project that will be at Blind Industries.

I still hope that we can find a place soon that could serve as a day center where we could bring together the services these guys need to get their lives turned around and back in a normal groove. It is so sad the hopelessness and despair that drives many of them... oh how a day center would help turn that around for some of them. Join me in praying for a building in the downtown area that can be easily walked to and can be used as a sort of "one-stop- hope center!

An interesting call...

Just got a call from a local Doc, whose daughter lives in the apartments across the street from our ministry center. She was calling in reference to our coat drive... but went on to say that she "loves our marquee and how inviting it is". They attend another local church but are delighted to see what we have done to the property and love our welcoming presence! So COOL!

Easter Sunday another connection

About a year ago, I was still needing some attitude adjustment in relationship to the idea of purchasing this small church building... I was meeting with our realtor and a roof contractor on the front sidewalk, when Bethany Lutheran's pastor Kevin Wackett, stuck his hand into our threesome to say "Hi" and to tell me that his church leadership was praying for us... he had seen my truck in front of the building several times and he knew what we were doing. Kevin was one of the people God used to get me on board with his plans.

One of the neat things has been an ever growing cooperation between us and Bethany Lutheran (our adjacent neighbors)... we hosted a homeless men's shelter together in February, and will host the Easter Sunrise 7 a.m. outside worship gathering together this week. It is a cool thing when churches work together and show the community what the body of Christ looks like. We are NOT competition... we ARE partners in mission.

Looking forward to more opportunities to work together.

The pic is the cake that Bethany brought over as a surprise and welcome on our FIRST Sunday... not only did they bring a cake, but plates, forks, and napkins as well! AWESOME!

Another comparison....

This week is a week of reflection! As we move toward Easter... the celebration of Jesus' resurrection and the new life he offers all of us!

Community of Joy, sure experienced that new life in this last year! We only ever had one worship gathering... but about a month into our transition, we needed to go to TWO worship gatherings... we had anticipated that we would need to do that sometime... but were delighted that it was so soon!

Still haven't let go of the possibility of a Sat. p.m. worship gathering that would be around tables and more interactive. Time will tell!

This week is a week of reflection...

On the journey Jesus took toward the Cross and ultimately his resurrection!

And it is a week of reflection on the journey our congregation has taken since last years Easter resurrection for us... It was Easter Sunday last year that we got the major momentum of a HUGE offering to be used toward the purpose of purchasing our ministry center.

God has done some AMAZING things in this journey... (you can read about them in my past blogs if you go back to April 1, 2007)

Here is another before and after picture... surely you can tell which is which....

A Recap of Yesterday...

Yesterday was Palm Sunday... looked at Luke's account of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem... (see Luke 19:29-47). In that... Jesus tells his disciples to go into town and untie a donkey colt and bring it to him... and if someone asks... what are you doing... tell them "the Lord needs it!" They untied the colt and sure enough someone asked and they replied... "the Lord needs it!" No resistance... no problem... they took the donkey to Jesus.

I see this story to be about what Jesus came to do in the world and in our lives... to untie us and set us free to be available to God.

One thing I know... as long as you and I remain tied to the fence, we can't do much for God. But when we untie ourselves, we can join Jesus in his mission to proclaim good news to the poor, set prisoners free, release the oppressed, help the blind to see and announce the year of the Lord's favor (see Luke 4:18 for Jesus' mission statement).

So, my challenge to us was and is... what do we need to untie, so that we can be available to the Lord? The Lord needs it! The challenge is what is "it"? Is it to let go of fear of following Jesus? Is it our schedule that needs to be untied? Is it our check book? Is it our gifts/ abilities? Is it our compassion? Is it our praise? What is it that needs to be untied so that the Lord can use you for his mission?

An Anniversary of Sorts...

One year ago, on Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter), our leadership team announced that we had a contract on a property and that the next Sunday -- Easter, we would be receiving a special sacrificial offering... That next week, we took in over $125,000. And for the year over $185,000 for the building fund.

What a year it has been! What a real Easter experience for us!

For fun... here is a before and after pic of the sanctuary. Though the current pic of the sanctuary is not real current... lots has been added and more on the way.

Just when....

Just when I think I am going to take down the billboard sign at the Ministry Center.... Something happens that makes me reconsider! Just this afternoon while unloading some things at the ministry center, I met two of our neighbors who were jogging by and had recognized me from our website as the Pastor. They wanted to know how long our worship gathering was... then told me that they really liked our sign that announced all the activities we do!

I try really hard to change the sign regularly and to never have it be like the typical church sign... Looks like it is working!

Looking forward to seeing Becky and Jeanie again on Sunday!

My Favorite...

time of year that is! Gotta love these warm spring like days and the effects it has on things... Signs of resurrection all around!

Praise God for the beauty of his world and the regular reminders of his resurrection and new life!

Watch Out....

Today, three very nice looking, well dressed ladies came around the neighborhood going door to door. I saw they had bibles in their hands and I chose to keep working...

You probably guessed it by now... they were Jehovah's Witnesses. I know that because they left some literature in my door... inviting me to a "celebration of Jesus' death" on Saturday March 22.

If you weren't a discerning person, you would look at the material and think... that sounds like a great christian church and I want to go... BUT beware! They have many strange beliefs including denying the trinity, Jesus' physical resurrection, only 144,000 people will be selected to dwell in heaven, and on and on... Many strange beliefs that make me say... BEWARE!

And besides... why not celebrate Jesus' resurrection too... on their official website, the only holiday celebration they allow is the annual celebration of Jesus' death NOT his resurrection... I am sorry, but not for me.. his resurrection is a cornerstone of my faith!

Here we go again...

What do you do when your doorbell rings at 1:45 a.m.? This is the second time that this early a.m. thing has occurred! Not sure why or who. Last time it happened, it was scary... as I was dealing with a domestic violence situation and I was concerned for the safety of my family.

This time, I am not worried about that... BUT... it is a real bother.

So, what do you do?








I got up and checked it out... but no one was there!

Time....

In spite of the "extra" day we got a week ago, I am sure missing that hour I lost last night!

Last night was Caroline's first night of working at the Movies... she worked until closing ... which we thought was 11... turns out, it was 12:20. Which in today's time means it was 1:20. Since she and Emma are dog sitting for some friends, that meant I had to take her there. Which means that I didn't get in bed until 2 a.m. today's time. SO, when the alarm rang this morning at 5:30... I didn't much want to get up!

The only good thing in this time change is that this year it didn't happen on EASTER! For years I thought there was a conspiracy against Christians in the East.... because the time always changed on Easter or so it seemed!

Mistakes...

If you make a mistake... admit it... don't try to make it someone else's mistake! How hard can that be?!

Today's scripture reading was our of 2 Samuel 11 and 12.... Where King David makes a mistake and tries to put it off on another person. In the end he gets called on it.

Another lesson from this is... when you make bad/unwise choices, they nearly always come back to haunt you!

It makes a difference...

We've been told that we need to believe in Jesus! (No argument from me!) But what difference would it make in our lives if we also believed that Jesus believes in us? Yep, you read that right... Jesus believes in me and you! What difference would that make in our lives?

You see, I actually believe that Jesus believes in me and you! That's why he invites us on this journey to become the persons God created us to be!

Knowing that Jesus believes in me and you...empowers us to become the persons God created... and that my friends, I think makes a huge difference in how we live our lives!

It's Official.... get ready!

Got word today that the last week of the homeless men's shelter will be held at Blind Industries (the former Lowes building) on Old Ocean City Rd. It will be March 22 -29. I am so glad that Donna was able to get the facility and now we can look forward to helping them.

So, we will need people to spend the early evening shifts, overnight shifts, to register folks, to help serve meals, to prepare meals, to prepare hot breakfasts. To provide candy and other food items.... LOOK for a sign-up sheet at the Ministry Center this Sunday! Let's show God's love to these guys again!

2 Options....

Whenever we face a challenging situation, we have two options... we can turn tail and run OR we can face the challenge head on! If you want to accomplish great things in life, then how you face challenges matters! When we turn toward our challenges and face them head on, especially if we take God with us, we will make progress! But when we turn tail and run... NO progress is made!

So, when we face challenging situations, it's all a matter of where we look and what we do. Looking down and turning to run from the situation only makes it worse and keeps you from making forward progress. BUT when you take steps toward the challenge and take the Lord with you... LOOK OUT! Great things happen!

By the way, I learned that lesson from the Bible... I Samuel 16-18. When the young boy David is faced with a challenging giant, he turns to face him head on... taking the Lord with him and he defeats the challenge! For 40 days prior to that, Saul's army ran from the threats of Goliath and all it got them was more threats and humilation!

As Instructed....

During my daily Bible reading today, I was in I Samuel and reading about the anointing of David as King and his battle with Goliath. In the begining of that story... God instructs Samuel to go to Bethlehem and anoint one of Jesse's sons as king. Samuel questions that ... but then the writer says, "Samuel did as the Lord instructed him."

That's what I want people to be able to say about me... I did as the Lord instructed!

What about you?

Met our neighbor today...

The Ministry Center neighbor... two houses down on Smith St... our side of the street. She came by to meet me while I was trimming the hedge between us and Chris and Cheryl's place. She was very affirming of all the improvements we have done to the property and was delighted to see all the activity we have going on! It was a delightful conversation! That's the kind I want to have with our neighbors.

Also had a conversation with Chris, when I asked permission to walk on his property to cut his side of our hedge. It was good to connect with him again!

God uses the lost, least and last!

I was reading in I Samuel this morning... the calling of Saul to be King and I was struck by Saul's comment of surprise that God would choose him because he came from the smallest, weakest tribe of all! Isn't it neat how God often chooses the least, the last, the lost to use for his purposes? Isn't it neat how God uses average people to accomplish great things! Isn't it neat how God strengthens the weak, empowers the powerless, and lifts up the lowly!

Today, I am feeling very grateful to be on this incredible journey with God! I feel so unworthy of all that God is doing in my life and in the life of our congregation! Truly amazing things are happening right now at Community of Joy and God gets ALL the praise! Ministry is often a roller coaster ride, and right now the view is spectacular! Thanks be to God for using average, everyday people to accomplish great things!

Almost....

Got a call today from Donna Clark, who co-coordinates the CESP (Community Emergency Shelter Project) that uses various churches to house homeless men through the cold winter months.... CoJ has been willing to host the last week of March if another site could be found to take the overflow of people... she called to say that tomorrow she will find out if a non-church site will be available. The good news is that it will host all the men. Pray that it happens.

When it does, we can get on board with them and support it in many ways... I am ready to spend a night or two!

A Walk Down Memory Lane...

Today, I took a walk down memory lane... It started with a very nice Celebration of Life service for a special lady... Mrs. Jean Judy, at the Ridgely Church of the Brethren. LOTS of people came to support the family and to thank God for Jean's life and ministry.

Then I went to the woods at my parent's. First walking through the woods I hunt that my parents own... in the process... saw this little guy above. It is a flying squirrel... very nocturnal until someone knocks over the tree they live in. It was about to fall over and I pushed it and down it came... I had no idea the little guy was in there... but he was and out he ran... and I snapped this picture.

Then I went to a woods that I hunted a lot as a boy and used to trap muskrats in the stream there... The woods has sure changed, but the memories came flooding back. What great memories and what a great place to grow up.

Then I enjoyed spending some time visiting with my parents... it was a GREAT DAY! Just what I was needing!