Are you running?

Are you running?  Tales from the Street.

Hi. 

‘Wait, another tale from the street?  I thought you write Bible study-kinda things, where you take a scripture and apply it to life?’  The question she asked was logical since her friend had told her about Morning Briefings, that they find their inspiration directly from God’s Word.  So, what are these writings about Long Beach and the homeless?  It is true, the lion’s share of my writing is based on teaching straight from the Scriptures; however, I also write a little from my life and ministry, particularly serving, because folks need to know my heart and mind.

See, it is one thing to read a devotional book or even complete daily Bible study homework; these are great.  But I believe it is valuable to take what Jesus teaches and do it.  I truly believe that when we are immersed in the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit inspires us to apply what we have learned by loving and serving others in the ways that we are able.  We serve out of obedience and also because people have no desire to hear about the love of God unless they have seen love from us, his spokespeople.  We Christians are the only representatives Christ has on this earth.

Since serving the mentally ill, former criminals, homeless folk, addicts, and a street-worn Vietnam vet named the Duke of Earl, (all from Long Beach, California), is part of my story, and a glimpse into my heart, it deserves another telling.  And – the Duke of Earl?  Well, you will never believe what he is doing now!  Stay tuned.

Now, where did I leave off in my last Morning Briefing?  One Spring day at the Basement Gathering, I was teaching a lesson about Jesus, particularly as he was growing up—raising questions about what Jesus knew when, what his brothers and sisters thought being raised with him, and just what it would have been like to have the Messiah unfurl his bedroll alongside you every night! Scripture mostly gives us some vague notions about Jesus’ existence before he began his teaching and move toward the cross, and we are left with a lot of gaps in what we know for sure.  Things like: Jesus was a carpenter, so when he smacked his thumb with a hammer, did he holler?  Did Jesus have friends from his village he played with as a child? Did any girls have a crush on him?  And after all, how did he explain being a bachelor even as he left home and went into full-time ministry at age 30?  What would it have been like to be Jesus’ brother? John 17.5 tells us that Jesus’ brothers didn’t believe in him; not even when he launched his earthly ministry.  Don’t you think that must have been hurtful to Jesus?  Now they eventually believed that Jesus was the Messiah—their Messiah, but not until after the Resurrection.

So on that day in Long Beach, we talked about these variables, and I could tell I had the Duke’s rapt attention.  Yes, he was back, and politely raised one long finger with a question, ‘When did Jesus know he was God?  Do you think he told his brothers then?’  That blew the discussion wide open.  Fascinating, it was, as folks around the big old room joined in, and then we prayed together.

After I said ‘Amen’, the Duke came up and asked, ‘Am I doing better?’ 

‘What do you mean?’ I turned and looked at him. ‘You know…participating?’ 

‘Oh yes,’ I said, ‘and you have valuable things to say.  People listen to you.’ 

‘Something’s happening to me,’ he said, with kind of a far-off look on his face.  ‘I’m changing.  Do you think I could talk to you a minute?’  So we stepped outside. 

‘Duke, somebody raised you to know God, who was it?’  ‘My mother and my grandmother, back in Illinois.  It was prophesied over me that I would be a preacher.’  He stood silent, just thinking.  ‘I’m a Jonah, you know,’ and I instantly knew he meant that he was running from God.  ‘I’ve done a pretty good job staying away, and then you came along… and now something’s happening—he’s trapping me.’ 

‘Duke, he’s not trapping you; God is coming after you, because he loves you and he wants you back.  So are you going to just keep running--are you?’  ‘I don’t know, I guess I’m afraid I just can’t do it… what if I can’t do it?’  By that, he meant he was afraid he couldn’t stay faithful, and he knew better than to play around with God.   ‘You can do it, Duke.  One day at a time, you can do it--with God’s help, by God’s grace.’   The Duke of Earl wants to come home to Jesus - he wants to stop running.  How about you--are you on the run?  Just drop to your knees and tell him you want to come home.  He is waiting.

Christine

PastorWoman.com