No Place Like Home

Last week the Cross and Crown staff ran our normal schedule Monday and Tuesday but then closed up shop to head to Cincinnati Wednesday through Sunday. We attended the CCDA conference with much anticipation (http://www.ccda.org). Just like two years ago, we weren't disappointed.

I enjoy the CCDA conferences in large part because it is a gathering of people, ministries and Christ followers with similar intentions. Their main focuses are "community development" (that's the "CD" part), social justice and intentional relationships while reclaiming and restoring under-resourced communities.

After going two years ago and being blown away by the speakers and workshops I had high expectations this time around. This year was just as successful. The speakers were great (Shane Claiborne is always intriguing... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4TjXZNeBZ0 ) and the workshops had just as much practical application and ideas for youth that I could ask for. But, the biggest thing I took away from the four day conference was how relational Jesus was while He walked this earth.

One of the workshop teachers said, "No significant learning occurs unless there is significant relationship", and I think Jesus modeled this best. Jesus invested the majority of His time into twelve men, His disciples. It confirmed that no matter what kind, how many, how effective or ineffective the ministries are at Cross and Crown we are to be relationally focused, as Jesus was. The food panty, clothing room, medical clinic, youth activities at Rock Island, optometrist ect. are all hooks. Hooks to get us into relationship with the people in our neighborhood.

It puts a new twist of the scripture in Matthew 28:19-20, which says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Disciples. Disciples. Not just believers, but disciples. Jesus had 12. He invested the majority of his time with these 12. I need to do the same. The One who spoke everything into existence choose 12 lives to invest in. I need to be relationally focused and intentional about spending time and energy with a specific few.

If you're ever interested in doing the same, come check us out.

Finding Jesus?

Recently a family that is involved with Cross and Crown did something that was pretty respectable. It was also a very cool idea. One of their children was getting ready to celebrate a birthday and so, like most other kids, she wanted to have some sort of a birthday party. But, rather than have a pizza party, a pool party (probably too cold for that I guess, it is October...), sleep over...what other kinds of partys do kids have these days? A Finding Nemo party? You get the idea. Instead of doing a party with the intentions of receiving presents and celebrating a day about her, she wanted to have a party and someone else receive the gifts.

She and her parents contacted me and asked if there were a couple girls from the neighborhood that we were in relationship with that would enjoy going shoppping and out to eat. The following Tuesday at Rock Island during our elementary hang out time I talked to the two best candidates for the party and they overwhelmingly said that they would like to go.

This past Friday I went to the two girls houses and picked them up after school. We then went to Rock Island and anxiously waited for the birthday girl, her mom and ten or so other girls that were apart of the party. When the girls arrived they all piled out of the cars and came to meet and great the two other girls and then they were on their way. They went to the mall to shop for a couple outfits and to eat.

After it was all said and done and I heard all that happened during the party I realized I had witnessed a practical example of the scripture in Luke when Jesus says, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Remember growing up and telling other kids in elementary school, "I'll invite you to my birthday party if you invite me to yours"? Let's be real, the biggest threat you could hurl at someone back in the day was, "IM NOT INVITING YOU TO MY BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!" Basically you invited certain kids to your party not necessarily because you wanted them to have fun, but rather to ensure yourself of a spot at their birthday, for your own good.

That wasn't this girls intentions. She knows there is not a very good chance she will receive a return on her birthday invitation to these girls. Whether or not she knows it, she did just like the scripture says. She extended an invitation to someone that won't be able to offer her the same type of invitation. She will not be repaid. Not on earth anyway. Rather, she will be blessed.