With Wounds That Bleed Compassion.

Tonight, I commit a crime.

Against my soul. I commit a crime, that has shaken me, I feel so much remorse, and I seek repentance for it. I ignored a woman in need.

Her name is unknown, and she lives on the street (presumably). She came up to me, in a tattered old coat, and dark denim biker jeans, and asked “Food or shelter? One dollar, please. I need help.”

“No,” I replied “I’m trying to get tickets to see one of my favorite bands. God bless!”

What kind of sick monster am I?

Maybe the money is a bad idea. Yes, we all know homeless people are automatically on drugs, and going to rape you, (sarcasm.) and the money would probably strike up temptations for them, the nasty ones, that involve needles and/or bottles. But what if I asked her if I could pray with her? What if I asked her if I could buy her a big mac with large fries, and a warm coffee? Or perhaps bought her a blanket, so she could sleep in semi-warmth? But no, instead, I decided to selfishly go to find extra tickets for a show. I didn’t even have one minute to waste to spend with this woman in need.

By the way, I didn’t find the tickets…

Now, that woman MIGHT be dead. The chances may seem slim, but if you observe it, they aren’t slim at all. They’re about 50/50, if you ask me. I don’t know what Downtown Clifton is like in the late night/early morning, but one thing’s for sure: it’s scary during the daylight hours.

I guess what I’m getting at, is that if we expand our hearts to encompass the poor, then we could do SO much. One prayer can impact the lives of many, one small little good deed, done selfLESSly, can change a person’s life forever. Maybe even save it.

So as of December 19th, at 1:27 in the morning, I propose that we change this world, and move mountains. It doesn’t require money, but if you have it, it would help. It doesn’t require much time, but if you have it, join with me. It doesn’t require going into hell to save those at the gates, but if you have no fear, then join with me. It doesn’t require much, but it requires devotion. A commitment. A passion, to save the world, and stand in the face of injustice, and spit in it. Mock the mockers, and silence the oppressors. Cold shoulder the critics, and shush the scoffers. It takes the faith the size of the mustard seed to move a mountain, so what can be done in a mere city?

They say the world can’t be changed, but I say they lie. I say that the comfort of our homes is an illusion that is brought upon by the world’s harsh view on society. It’s a dog eat dog world, and we have no time to spare. The church has turned its back on the homeless, the hungry, the prostitutes, and the abused, but I say by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can show them the most passionate, intense, unimaginable, illogical love. I say illogical, because the society we live in tells us that prostitutes are bad people. Even though sex trafficking is a TREND in many countries. INCLUDING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

The homeless make the mistakes that many Americans already make, and we have the right to judge them? We hold no right. How many of us are alcoholics? Let’s not lie to ourselves, we all know at least one of our friends that does drugs. Maybe it’s you. THEY NEED JUST AS MUCH HELP AS YOU DO. And us a generation say it’s crazy? Well maybe it is, but love is crazy, and unconditional love can change the hearts of many.

My heart has been changed by the burning fires of love, and the flames of the Holy Spirit, why must it only be me? If we pray with, and for those in need, and help them in any way possible, then we can achieve so much. Many of us think that if we follow God, and do the church things, we’ll be great Christians. NO. Although, we are to follow the words of God, and the teachings of Christ, being immersed in the waters of baptism, acquiring the Holy Spirit, but we tend to overlook one of my favorite bits of scripture. James 1:27. “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit widows and orphans in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” - Why can we sit in church, and ignore this? Why can we go home, and know of the poverty in America, and be okay with it? You may say you aren’t okay with it, but if you do nothing to stop it, you are an enabler, and therefore allow it to go on.

Now, I’m not saying the church doesn’t help, I know many that do, but we are a generation that cares more about iphones than the homeless. Is it wrong to have an iphone? No. Is it wrong to enable the poverty in America to occur, and ignore the ones that James specifically states in James 1:27? Yes. Now, what I will say, is that if you read this, you are not alone. I’ve known of the poverty in America for awhile now, I’ve even distributed food out to the homeless of Cincinnati, OH before (one year ago), and I’ve done nothing to help. Starting now, we will be a generation that changes this. We will be walking revivals, in the name of Jesus Christ. Spirit filled preachers, who preach the news of love, in a non-judgmental way.

If you do not believe in God, and would like to, I am always here to talk. If you don’t believe in God, and would like to help, I would be happy to accept your help. The actions that need to be taken are many, and can be from saying a prayer, to buying a sandwich for a homeless individual.

There are sex slaves, there are homeless people, there are addicts, there are abused, cutters, drug users, alcoholics, suicidals, addicts, poor, abusers, sinners, saints, and the in between. We all know of them, we all are at least one, listed or unlisted. We are called to love, and I urge us to love, and love in a radical way.

  This is not safe, we must abandon safety. Paul abandoned safety to speak the name of Christ, why must we live in safety? The homeless do not. In saving these people, you will be persecuted, you will lose friends, and some of us you may even die, but let that not discourage you from doing the work of the Lord. Let us lift our hands, and bend our knees. Wash the feet of our house guests, and feed the hungry. Give water to the thirsty, save the sex slaves, cure the drinkers and drug users, comfort the abused, heal the self wounded and self mutilated, love the unloved, and kiss the feet of those who’s feet hurt.

In Christ’s precious, holy name, as our Lord and Savior, let us lead this revolution, and change society. Let no one stand in our way. 

propertyofzack:

As Cities Burn performed a reunion set this past weekend in Dallas at the annual Unsilent Night festival. You can check out videos from the band’s entire set below by clicking “Read More”.

Read More

triplee:

Here’s some video from a sermon I preached earlier this year in San Diego. The theme of the conference was “Driven”, so I chose to preach on Romans 12:1-2. What does it look like for a believer to be “driven?” My main points were that the believer should…

1. Be Driven By Mercy

2. Be Driven to Worship

3. Be Transformed

Hope its helpful!

When we kneel before the Father, do we kneel out of love, and adoration, through passionate worship, or do we kneel for hero worship from the community around us?

and still I have yet to write a song in which I’m 100% happy with. Blah.