Loneliness: "The great battle against desolation"

I've had several conversations with people this week about something that breaks my heart. I've had the same conversation over the past couple months more then I can count. The subject. Loneliness! (and for those dropping the "youth" watermark on me, it's been with adults as well...GASP!!!!!!!)

To me one of the worst things a person can expeirience is the feeling of desolation. It feels like a lead weight dropped in my stomach when I hear that. One definition of desolation is "deprevation of companionship".  I find it ironic too, being that we are in such a "communicative" time in live (cell phones, emails, face book, twitters, twatters, twangers, blogs, smogs, and whatever form of false communication you subscribe to). The problem is I think we've used these forms of connecting to do the opposite. To disconnect. Listen, I love these things. I have most of the ones I mentioned above (the real ones at least). But I've challenged myself in this area lately. How much of that am I using to either disperse info ABOUT myself VS connecting to others. The harsh reality is I became a Jimmy whore. Pimping all my thoughts, cares, feelings, etc, but less time asking others (friends) about what's going on in their lives. Now relax before you cast that sharp stone. I'm not saying sharing info on yourself to friends is bad. But I believe in balance. 

So I ask you these questions as a friend. 

Do you share more about YOU, then YOU ask about OTHERS?

How much of your general conversations are based around YOU? (what YOUR doing, what YOUR involved in? etc).

Are you a person who has an answer for EVERYTHING?, so much you ask questions about NOTHING?

How much joy do you find in the success of others? VS the success of yourself?

Why am I asking questions about YOU, when talking about loneliness. Because I believe as Followers of Christ, we must make it our mandate, our call, our mission, to build community.  God gives his character in short forms in scripture on loneliness.

Gen 2:18 "The Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone...'"

 1 Cor 12:21 "The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need you!' ..."

God knows the need for community, and the enemy understands the power of desolation. I'm thankful for his promises...
Heb 13:5 "... God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will
I forsake you.

And I'm even more thankful to remind others of these promises.....

Live WITH others, Live FOR one.....

tHe iDiOt......

Birth of (CP) Cornelius Project

Those who are very close to me, and know me very intimately, know that when I say my four famous words...you'll want to run....you'll want to hide.....but you'll be sucked in by the energy force called (INTRIGUE)

my four famous words...

I....GOT......THIS.....IDEA........

(rewind...with a fast forward twist, and a side of current)

The next 48 hours are going to be hell, painful, aggravating, and frustrating. I'm going to be rocked to my core, and everything in me will want to run.....I will hate who I am, and others are. I will sense my worthlessness, and understand I've haven't done nearly as much as I could have..........and you know what? I'M GONNA LOVE EVERY MINUTE OF IT..

About a month ago, I grabbed a very close friend of mine, and uttered these very same words. Jared Berry is slowly becoming one of my closest friends. We are "simpatico", very very kindred spirits, even though almost a decade difference in age. I'm really falling in love with the guy, and his heart to reach people, and still take chances.

I approached him with this idea I really felt God laid on my heart. I've worked very closely with the homeless population since I began ministry 11 years ago. I ALSO have always wanted to do documentaries.....(you see where I'm going with this...) So I said "let's be homeless" Nothing long term (still love my family). But let's say 48 hours?

How can we open the churches eyes to making a difference in those who literally have nothing....the answer....you have to get to the root, show facts, and open eyes. That's what we want to do. 2 guys, wanting to raise home missional awareness I mean what can we do for "THE LEAST OF THESE"....

And out of that CP (or Cornelius Project was born). Jared shared with me today as we took some sacred time for scripture sharing in Acts 10. When Peter was summoned to the centurion Cornelius (and yes my mind went straight to the "damn dirty ape" line from Planet of the Apes) digressiiiiing.

Cornelius was the first gentile convert of the new testament. He was the first that God gave Peter  to "cross the line", when God spoke and said "I SHOW NO PARTIALITY". That simple phrase has been ringing in my head all day. God shows no Partiality towards me...the "good looking" pastor with a family vs the homeless gentlemen who has nothing.....

So our goal is to raise awareness on Hot topic/Taboo issues that Church's deal with. Were giving away whatever we produce, in the name of AWAKENING......For the next 48 hours I am not PASTOR JIMMY SMUDA. I am homeless, I am not a daddy, I am homeless, I am not a husband, I am homeless, My address for the next 48 hours is not the beautiful house I reside in valley stream, but NYC Manhattan, the streets my bed. I will eat whatever I find,  beg for spare change (***and give it away to those in true need, along with any donations given to us****)

I am not a writter, preacher, friend or foe...I am not a mentor, councelor, brother or role model.....for the next 48 hours.....I am homeless........I am homeless....

......and pray that I don't come back as "ThE  iDiOt"  I know right now sitting in front of my computer.....

more to come.........ThE iDiOt..

SIMPLY FOOLISH....

So I'm in my quiet time the other day, and I come across a blog by my good friend John Piper (he actually doesn't know we are good friends as of yet...but that's besides the point). My good friend Johnny P, writes how "KNOWLEDGE INCREASES MYSTERY". Think about that for a moment. Knowledge increases mystery. He argues against the point that more knowledge "reduce the mystery, and therefore diminish wonder and worship". 

    So I'm thinking to myself. John John. Are you saying being a naieve is bad? Proverbs is laced with the descriptions of fools. Saying how we are not to be foolish, and seek prudence. In Proverbs 23:9 it says "Do not speak to a fool, for he will scron the wisdom of your words". But we also know that 

Jesus was surrounded by idiots (fools)

Moses led morons (fools)

and Saul was annointed by God and became a fool.

Paul actaually touts himself as "WE ARE FOOLS FOR CHRIST".

Then even goes on to say sarcastically to the Corinthians "We are fools for Christ sake, but YOOOOOOUUU are wise in Christ".

      I get John's point of Psalm 119 "How great to me your thoughts O lord, How vast is the sum of them". I even get how Paul several times quotes "I DO NOT WANT YOU TO BE IGNORANT OF THE MYSTERY".

But I live by a quote. "THE JOY IS IN THE CHASE"...

When a marathon runner runs, and gets to the end of his race. He's complete. The Joy is in WHAT HE DID, not WHAT HE FINISHED. You cannot rejoice in what you finished if you did not actually DO SOMETHING.

So, our complete knowledge in knowing God, comes in the joy of CHASING after him. 

Our complete understanding of HIM comes on our day of our homecoming. Job says "GOD IS GREAT AND WE DO NOT KNOW HIM"....

So the great debate. Are we too learned. It's funny the last 10 years I think sometimes Christians and followers of Christ refuse to look introspective and say "Were not serving God, were trying to corner God. Figure Him out. Package Him, Market Him, and distribute Him.

I ask myself, how was Enoch able to be in favor with God? So little written about him yet  There's a mystery to that relationship. I would be the house that it was because Enoch loved God for God. Didn't kill himself trying  to figure Him out for domintion purposes.

    Now I'm no one to argue with my best friend Johnny P (and please know I'm not). I'm simply bringing up the notion......"ARE WE TOO LEARNED". So book smart, and "expierince" armed that we've stoped serving/loving/honoring/cheerishing/ God....for just being God. Simply food for thought.

***ThE iDiOt.....