bound as givers

As followers of Jesus we give up ownership of this world
of stuff
of our requirements,
our measures of success.
accomplishments.
making it.
We give this all up. We are not bound to this world as "getters" but as "givers". We will lay down our lives - give all - for another.
We are not disconnected and merely waiting for heaven - No! we surrender all we have and all we are to be used as God leads us - our heart's blood intricately connected to the pain and sorrow of this world,  committed to living out the hope and joy we have in Jesus- even to following him to the cross.
So it is a burden, yet a release of a burden.
We release the pressure of success for this world, recognizing that our purpose is about something so much bigger than us. It is about God and what he is doing, not merely our own lives and personal happiness.

"We will not give up. And when we die, then we die pure and peaceful, resigned to God in our hearts." - Maximilian Kolbe
 Maximilian volunteered to die in the place of another prisoner at his concentration camp in Germany, and led the other prisoners who had been randomly selected to be shot in singing hymns and praise while they waited for their death)

I want to live like this. Ready to lay down my life, purposeful and excited to live it for the days i have.

perhaps more on this later... but thats it for now. feel free to leave comments/ questions/ thoughts

I matter

Im ready. we're going to make some money.
everybody thinks im so young. that i can't do anything. But He believes in me.
Im fast, and despite the fact that most of the big stores recognize me and kick me out when i come close, i still do pretty well shop lifting.
He doesn't have to worry. I'll follow through.
My cousin has the job set up, and she sticks to what she says. she aint on drugs or anything like that.
He reminds me to smile - gosh, of course i know that. Im no spring chicken. Yeah im 15, but i know the ropes now.
I can contribute my fair share. He doesn't have to work so hard tomorrow if we pull this off. If i can please this guy. well, hopefully just one. I hate it when im surprised by a whole group of them.
but im strong.
He says he just wants a real job again. I don't remember, but he tells me he used to work for a Taxi company in Quincy. They hate his guts now, and owe him $300.00. bummer.
Geeze he's talking so loud, and we're on the T.
This girl next to us has her buds in, but i wonder if she's hearing him joking about lifting the widescreen TV? Oh well. who cares. Play it cool. Its not like she would do anything about it anyway. What could she do?
Im sick and tired of caring what other people think.
Can't I be treated like everyone else? I just want to matter. I want to belong. I want to be seen as worth something.
But tonight i guess i am worth something. I'll be making him some money. maybe it will help out my family too.
Here's our stop. I guess we'll see what happens.

I overheard a young girl talking with an older guy on the T the other day... i don't know the story, but without a lot of imagination, this is my interpretation of what may have been going on in her head. Sad how many girls are in this same place. 
How are we going to respond?!

Who's loving..?

Hear the cry of the broken

Even when “they” are hurting the other

Perpetrators, deemed evil, they cry out against the status quo. The molds they are put in as troublemakers.. juvies.. inmates. Dropouts

What choice do they have?

Who hears them?

Who loves them?

Trapped in a world where the weak link is gunned down. Resisting the violence is cowardice.

Money is power and power is survival. It’s a game. A very real and present game.

“Im tired of bein’ poor and even worse im black. 

My stomach hurts, so im lookin’ for a purse to snatch”

Their instinct is to protect the ones they care about

They’d die

They’d kill

But who is it they care about protecting?

Who’s their family? Who cares for them?

Where are they accepted?

The drug lord listened to me

He gave me a purpose

I mattered – to someone

This gang - I was part of a family who stood up for me. Who relied on me.

Our lives were intertwined – living, dying, revenging, life is short.

Get what you can, while you can. Im in the game. I can prove my worth. But there’s more than this!

Im trapped in a web of promises, threats, deals and fears.

No backing out – but going where?

We are family but no trust

Manipulation

Lies

What do words mean? Emotions?

What is love?

Im tired!

Listen to the cry 2pac cries- 

“ohhh… tired of the strain and the pain! There’s so much pain!”

“Even as a youngster causin- ruckus on the back of the bus

I was a fool all through high school kickin’ up dust

Bust now im labeled as a trouble maker who can you blame?

Smoking weed helped me take away the pain

So im hopeless rollin’ down the freeway swerving, don’t worry

Im about to crash up on the crub cause my visions blurry

Maybe if they tried to understand me, what should I do?

 Had to feed my f***n’ family, what else could I do

but be a thug”

2Pac gives voice to our youths' heart cries.

Church are we listening?

God’s heart breaks to see his kids forced into these cages of violence and despair

Maybe if we tried to understand them?

Truly see the pain they are in

Just stop and listen

Listen past the four letter words

The drugs and tattoos that mask, the weapons that blockade

Listen through the tough skin of hopelessness

I long to see freedom from this bondage

Reconciliation with those used and exploited, to a life lived for justice, mercy, and joy in hope!

Life valued – in themselves and others

Named

Given place and belonging in community

Loved and loving