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..

Missions Minded

Missionaries are funny. People who go on missions  trips are even funnier. Now I'm speaking from a point of NEVER going on a missions trip (ill explain why in a bit).  But when someone comes back from a missions trip, it's ALL they can talk about. I mean in their mind we have missed out on the greatest opportunity God ever gave to any man, woman, child, or martian.  We must have missed God by like 4 states by not going on this missions trip. If were involved in another ministry....HOW DARE WE. Consequently one young woman this morning chastised the congregation. She made everyone stand up who had NOT gone on a missions trip, then exclaimed WHAT A SHAME....and continued to tell us how embarassed we should be for not going. (Funny note: This prompted a gentlemen next to me who also stood up to say: "But I supported over half that team...NOW WHAT?" I chuckled. A young lady who happens to help on my leadership team, and is in my college ministry, and is the pastors daughter. Shared her 3 week expierience with passion and conviction. In between both services I told her "BE THE FIRST". She looked at me quizzically. I said be the first to drag us to where God brought you to....Not allowing us to drag you back to "normality". 

     See for 11 years, I've heard of every missions trip is the most amazing. Only to watch every soul become the same shell they supposedly left here. It's like when they were unpacking from their missions trip, they went right ahead and unpacked that lazy, ego driven, complacient, critical christian they originally took with them. 

See the first young lady (the WHAT A SHAME lady) said about a 5 things completely offiensive to me. And you know what? I LIKED IT!!!!!!

        Seriously, I loved it. I was totally offended, and loved every second of it. You know why? I was in the prescence of passion. I was in the prescense of a EXPIERIENCE WITH GOD....The pastors daughter spoke on DREAMING BIG, in one of her points. I was hit with DREAM OBNOXIOUS....

DREAM OBNOXIOUS.....Think about that. Obnoxious people have absolutely no worry about who they are offending, where or what. They are obnoxious, and don't care WHO cares about it! A couple of these missionairies were seriously obnoxious, and offensive. And I loved every minute of it.

James 1:5 says (the message)

Ask Boldly. believing without a 2nd though. People who "worry about their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the mast that way, adrift at sea, keeping your options open

here's to OBNOXIOUSNESS.....

(to be continued....)