Weekend

It's the end of the last Sunday night here in Indy this summer. The warmer months are valuable treasures, yet each year I'd often arrive at the end surprised it was over still stuck with a long list of things left undone. However, this summer was different. I think after careful analysis I'm declaring this summer the best yet. I know it's bold, but I'm convinced. Coming out of the IUPUI work, plunging into the Near Southside, preaching, teaching, praying with countless for Holy Spirit, prayer meetings, not to mention the Lord's Days, the volleyball, the beans and rice, tri-tip, 4th of July and all the folks who made up the Indy household. It's offical this summer wins.

Early May, 8 of us descend on Indianapolis - Northside, Broadripple, Eastside, all over. Nathan and Jon get lost looking for a portion of the southside and decide to just get out and start. We'd gotten a word that day to preach whether or not folks listened. A lot of folks didn't care to listen, but that night Nathan and Jon would end up praying with a woman for the Holy Spirit and see God's Kingdom breaking out there in the Near Southside. It's been ballooning ever since.

We'd go all over the neighborhood in the following months; running into folks who'd prayed to God to send someone, a lot of folks who'd heard the gospel, drugs, some wicca, humble folks, a ton of confusion, some door knobs (slammed in our faces), people asking for the Holy Spirit and the Kingdom of God breaking out. It was real, and often exhausting but the Lord went before us and continues to call us to run harder each day, and discern on our feet.

Friday we did a prayer meeting with the neighbors after our guerilla dinners. For the last few Fridays we've been assembling dinner at our place (thanks to Cook Brummer) on our free Thursdays and sticking it in the frig. Then we pray for people to eat with and show up with a ready meal. Shortly after Beth Couch, Naomi Caneff and I set up a dinner with John and Krissy, we learned that one of our friend's relatives had been shot some months back and was still recovering. She and her niece decided to repent of the their anger, pray for forgiveness, and begin anew with God. God be praised. John, Krissy and the rest of us devided to eat over there. At 5 the food was dropped off, we had a great meal, shared stories of the Lord, and His work in the neighborhood with about 10 folks crammed into that living room. The light shone in the darkness.

Saturday was the one of the coolest Lord's Days ever. Wanting to eat in Southside at our new rental, we had to think creatively to cover enough food for the neighborhood. Again Cook Nah hatched a food plan. In pairs, we knocked and invited folks to dinner while asking for the food needed to preapare it. It was amazing. People gave us yellow cake mix, Bush beans, noodles/pasta, hamburger and even 6 Salsbury steaks. After only an hour we had more than we could eat, and Hannah with her crack team of sou chefs began Macgyver-ing the feast. The rest returned to inviting, preaching, and teaching. That night's feast brought neighbors, a TONAGE of kids, Missionary and visisting V&B crew together for the first of many Lord's Days to come.

Sunday's prayer meeting capped us off at 45 people. It was huge. Chairs filled, kids on the floor and still more leaning against the walls. Soon though some kids began squirming so an exodus led by Laura Ficker engaged the kids outside while Nick spoke on troubles with the rest inside. It was exactly what the Lord wanted to say. The talk on perservering and doing something turned to prayer as folks asked for God's help and direction in their lives. We prayed against addiction, money problems and one 20-something year old gave his life to the Lord. God be praised. God is gathering His people and writing His WOrd on their hearts.

Pray for this last week, to "leave it all on the field" and the coming semester.

Update

People. With the sun set, missionary work done for another day, I thought I'd blast out a post. Some familiar things happened today. Got up this morning with a little extra snuff from an early down time last night (God be praised), personal prayer yielded a more of discussion with the Lord on how to serve.

I've recently learning a lot that you can't read about, you know, you've got to live in it. The realizations like, 'ah that's what Jesus is talking about.' This morning was about Christ being our food. It came a live as I've been hungry a lot recently. Wow, food that makes you full forever - it just made sense when hunger is a part of the day. Probably much more like Jewish life. The Lord was also sharing with me about if we want the places closest to Jesus, we must serve each other. It really struck me that in fasting, we can get caught up in the hunger and not grow closer to the Lord in the same way we can serve others and end up thinking only of our own service rather than growing in love for those we are caring for. In this He's been talking about how I need to be hungering for more of Him and His body of Christians. Hunger for more of the Lord and His People, for His Kingdom come and His Glory proclaimed and if I want more of these I must serve Him and His Body. Praise God.

Then PT (9:43 on the 1.5 mi), I'm coming for you Allendale Junction - the sword is coming to Indy next. Breakfast o' oats - fantastic as usual. And then work began with work teams. I was heading up the Real Estate Research which continues here in Indy, and dinner happened at 2PM. Then a Spiritual Exercise and off to the Southside for mission work.

Tonight's mission became sorting clutter. Many of us experience a lot of spiritual clutter in folks lives, like someone whose been collecting stuff for years without ever sorting it. So a lot of the work of listening for the Lord is about trying to find the light switch and discern what's actually in the room. Taught 2 folks how to do forgiveness and reconciliation, 1 got down on her knees and prayed the sinners prayer - giving her life to the Lord and deciding to start a new relationship with her creator. God be praised.

Also, face update on the rabbi-action...


Now, it's time to sign out and grab some square footage o' flooring. God Bless y'all.

Shalom

Hey y'all.

My Bday just happened (sweet) and with it a web cam (also sweet). The Bid deuce-deuce was great. Nick and I celebrated our Birthdays the weekend before (June 23rd) and had a cake race. I won, though I did have a few less candles to blow out.

Today we had 2 mens and 2 womens groups over on the Southside. I got to play 'oboe-shinatin-totin' and blob tag with the kids, while their parents were meeting.

Tomorrow is the 4th and the Indy household will be traveling to a state park half way between South Bend and Indy. The one:ten household will be meeting us there for some realization (immediately followed by total volley ball domination).

In other news I've decided to officially begin work on the rabbi beard. More on this later.