Misrepresented

By -
Jesus has been misrepresented by too many for too long! Why do we seek after power, wealth and fame when we've been called to represent our Lord by embracing the powerlessness, poverty and alienation of our crucified Saviour? ... is it because we fear the revolutionary words of Jesus; telling us how we need to love our neighbors, the "least of these" and, yes, even our most bitter enemies? 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Two Worlds Colliding

By -
Image
I sit here on this beautiful Chicago morning looking across the lake at the highrises downtown, while reflecting on and missing the gorgeous West Coast beaches nestled by the Waitākere ranges. Contemplating.  Realising.  There are people, places and things in Chicago I'll never find in Aotearoa.  There are people, places and things in Aotearoa I'll never find in Chicago.  It hurts.  It's painful. Why can't I be in 2 places at once? I lament, knowing my whānau is going through the same pain.  I lament, wishing there would be no separation between friends, family and acquaintances. I lament, questioning my decisions, knowing I have to live with them. I lament, seeing well over 50 tents nestled in the Uptown parks, while many neighbors live in luxury. I lament, knowing many are sleeping in cars and under bridges in Auckland, while many neighbours live in luxury. I lament, as I watch both governments play with numbers, pretending they're solving a solvable cris...
read more......

Old Paths. New Paths. Our Ever-Evolving Journey!

By -
Image
In late 1996, I hopped on a plane in Aotearoa New Zealand and ended up in Chicago. I was scared, anxious and excited. I didn't know where it would lead, but I knew it was the beginning of a new adventure. I had decided to travel to Chicago the year before while studying at the Bible College of NZ (Laidlaw College). I'd read about an intentional community called  Jesus People USA  and their work with those experiencing homelessness. After graduating and driving taxicabs for a stint, I got a visa for a year and took a leap of faith into the unknown. My original intention was to go and learn, and then return to Aotearoa to start a similar ministry here in Tāmaki (Auckland). I arrived in JPUSA in November 1996 and began working for JPUSA's homeless shelter Cornerstone Community Outreach  (CCO) in January 1997. I felt at home. I felt I was using my gifts and talents. I made lifelong friends. I felt I was discovering who I was. I remained there until August 1997. The following ...
read more......

Smoke and Mirrors!

By -
Image
I hadn't been in Uptown for over 3 years. I expected change. I'd heard of the changes. Then I walked into my old neighbourhood, my old community, my old stomping ground, and a plethora of emotions welled up. Good emotions, bad emotions, and a few of those "it-is-what-it-is" emotions, because so much has changed, but then again, so much is just the "same-old, same-old!" The most obvious change is all the high rises that have sprouted up around the 10-story building I lived in for almost 25 years. Building up hasn't caused a reduction in poverty or homelessness. Those on the ground aren't getting any trickle-down relief. In stark contrast, I didn't have to look far to see a considerable increase in people sleeping in tents!  Uptown may look flashier and fancier, but I counted over 50 tents on my walks! Yes, over 50, and many of those tents have more than one person living in them. These are real people with real health concerns trying to navigate t...
read more......