DUDE! READ THIS!

"Alright so last week, Brooke and i were telling some people about Adopt A Jesus, and a new friend of our's down here by the name of Megan (who i believe is a newer follower of Christ) was so inspired that she spent Thanksgiving Eve sleeping on the street and hung out with homeless folks all Thanksgiving! She didnt say anything about it, i just found out through someone else! haha That just REALLY pumped me up and i wanted to share it with you. Be encouraged!" God's using this!

Gardner Webb University

This event was a couple of weeks ago, but I wanted to share the experience. The Gardner Webb University event was AMAZING! So many kids showed up that not only did they pack out the room we had set up, but they spilled out into the halls trying to lean in and catch a view. I ended up setting up my computer and trying to sync the movie so we could have a second 'screen'. It warmed my little heart, haha.

When I first got to gardner webb, I was a little intimidated by its 'prestige', but found yet again that you can never judge the people of a compound by the compound itself. Every 'warzone' is home to real people. Families, kids, grandmothers. Not only terrorist. Im not saying that Gardner Webb is a 'warzone', but that its (what seemed to me at the time as overindulgent) landscaping and brick buildings took me aback at first, only to be taken aback yet again by its people and the beauty found in their stories and lives. My stigmas are being broken left and right.

The discussion time was so fantastic. I am loving that this film is seeming to create environments conducive to free thought and conversation. A place where every opinion is freely welcomed and honored. I think one of the biggest reasons for the chasm we see in the church is due to a lack of communication. There is such a pride in the church, and that spirit has to be broken and deconstructed. We have to become a people who learn to disagree well, and in love. Most of the reasons there is such an ignorance in our lives is because we are terrified in sounding and being 'wrong'. As finite as our minds are, who TRULY incarnates the 'truth' apart from God? Its time to start talking about the 'tough stuff', because the root of loving our neighbor is knowing them and understanding their hearts. We have to begin to love one another, not only in word, but in deed.

I stayed in that lounge after the Q&A until about 5am talking with some of those students. Most of them didn't want to go to sleep that night feeling the apathy they have felt the night before. I honor that sort of desire. The bible says that those who diligently seek God, find God. There is no better time to begin seeking Him then now. Jesus said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. That burden only becomes light when it begins to be shared. Its time to bear our hearts to one another. The time for change is now.

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh was a pleasure. I hosted a screening at the "Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community". After the film, we prayed and cried together and spent lots of time sorting out fears and insecurities and answering questions that most of us never allowed ourselves to ask. The southside is a beautiful place. For all the old church buildings that have been converted into hotels, houses, and even bars, its amazing to see an old bar converted into a 'church'. God is moving in such amazing ways.

The pastor during the Q&A asked me a very tough question to answer. "We in the past have been kicked in the nuts over and over by people we have tried to help. When is enough enough." My answer was pretty simple. I told a couple of stories of hope and grace, forgiveness and enduring love, and finally finished with... "God has never given up on me, and if we are to incarnate our Father in Heaven, we should try our best not to give up on anyone. Jesus had no litmus test to help folks, and neither should we".

I thank God He has never given up on me. That there is no limit to my foolishness where He would finally call it quits. We cant help people hoping to change them. We love people, and love brings the change, and if no change occurs (in our eyes), we love anyways. Thank you Lord for your enduring love.

Thank you Hot Metal Bridge for yet again showing me the beauty of community.

New York City

Wine and Cheese at SALT artspace (NYC)

Kings College Screening (Empire State Building)

Thank you Kings College & SALT artspace for two small but amazing screenings. Now I can not only say that I visited the Empire State Building, but that huge piece of architecture was actually home to an "Adopt-A-Jesus" screening.

After spending three days in NYC and Brooklyn, it hit me at how much of an amazing family God has given me. Every day and night on this tour, I have had a place to stay, meals, and new people that I wish I would never have to leave. Its outstanding to think that this movie was once just an idea, and now its becoming some sort of movement. Not so much the movie, but the "Adopt-A-Jesus" lifestyle. People are truly beginning to realize that Jesus is TRULY hidden in the identities of these poor and broken folks we have been taught to ignore. That when we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned, care for the sick, and meet the needs of those most forsaken, that we are truly adopting Jesus into our lives, and it becomes so contagious.

Every night there have been folks crying out to God for forgiveness, because we are all guilty of passing Jesus on the streets (in one form or another). We are ALL very capable of getting to know someone. We all have the ability to start a conversation. Its that simple. The rest takes care of itself. I am just blessed. Richer then I could have ever imagined being, not because of what I have, but because of what im able to give. I pray my heart never forgets the way I feel in this moment.

Philadelphia Biblical University Screening

PBU Screening

PBU Q&A

Students crying out to God after the Q&A

Tuesday night was Philadelphia Biblical University. It was beyond amazing. 100+ kids came out with open minds and open hearts and amazing things happened. Im still in awe at how the "Adopt-A-Jesus" idea is beginning to spread. Dont think that its anything new, but rather something very ancient being called back into existence. If youre asking what it means to "Adopt-A-Jesus", you dont have to go any further then the parable Jesus told about the sheep and the goats (and if youre not much of a reader, come out to a screening and I will explain it lol). God is good and I cant thank Him more for the incredible relationships im making every day on this tour. Lives and hearts are changing, and the poor are slowly being recognized for what they truly are, children of God, brothers and sisters. Our neighbors.