Love Life, Embrace Risks, and Live for Eternity

Trash Talking with the Monday Night Group

                            

                          

       Monday Night in Royal Oak. Bochie Ball with 10 of us. Lots of trash talking. Lots of fun!

An Unusual Small Group

The Monday Night Coffee Shop Group has stretched me big time over the past several years. It is atypcial type of Bible Study. It is probably the most diverse group I have ever been a part of.

We welcome all types of people. The rich. The middle class. The poor. Drug dealers. Artists. Athiests. Agnostics. Pastors. The unchurched. Casino dealers. Teachers. Those decked out in fun tattoos and piercings. Nurses. Transgenders. And even the downright broken.

It is one crazy group and I love it!

Everyone is there because they are exploring spirituality to some extent. This is wether they are exploring Jesus Christ or they are not too sure what spiritual truth is. All that I know is that each individual is exposed to Biblical Truth every Monday evening. 

Here is the deal. It is not our job to fix people or change people. However, it is our responsibility to love them and point them to Jesus Christ. It is our responsibilty to dish out grace to them. To lead them to the beauty of the cross and the resurrection.

I pray that God truly empowers the Church to move forward with the sweet mission.

Update on the Monday Night Coffee Shop Group

Every Monday, I gather with individuals in a coffee shop who are spiritually curious. We have some that believe Jesus Christ is God while others are not too sure. Until then, I continue to use the Bible as our curriculum. We have read over the Gospels and now we are in the sweet book of Acts.

Lately, we have been spending around ten minutes looking over archeological evidence that proves that the Bible is real. We have also dove into the scientific studies as well as historical proof. We have discussed the findings and the meaning behind Dead Sea Scrolls. We have also discussed the big hoax of the half ape half man when it comes to evolution. We have had some great discussions!

We have been slowly diving into the book of Acts. We read a chapter. Discuss it. And then apply it to our lives. The book of Acts stirs me up big time to make an impact here on earth. I love reading when...

• Peter healed the crippled beggar
• Peter and John were filled with the Spirit and spoke with great boldness before the major big wigs
• The apostles performed mriacles, signs, and wonders in front of the crowds
• More and more were added to the church
• The apostles never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news of Christ even amongst major persecution

Just if we saw this nowadays!

The Gift of Time

Jesus gave his time to people when he was here on earth. I love reading about when Jesus was surrounded by a gigantic crowd of people and he stopped. He stopped and put his focus on one particular man named Zacchaeus who was spiritually curious. They ended up having a leisurly dinner together while talking about the spiritual. As a result, one man's life was changed drastically. Zacchaeus was changed from the inside out all because Jesus gave some time to sit and dine with him.

The gift of time is what so many need especially when it comes to the spritually curious. Lately, I have been realizing how important the gift of time is when it comes to the Monday Night Coffee Shop Group. The gift of time is critical even before the group starts and even when the group meeting ends. There are many in the coffee shop that are spiritually curious and all they need is the gift of time.

Not everyone feels comfortable being in a group setting but they are o.k. with one on one conversations before or after the group setting. Individuals confront us with questions or even thoughts when it comes to Jesus Christ.  All of these individuals are ordinary people who do not go to church. However, they are spiritually curious. They admit that they are searching or wandering when it comes to the spiritual.

Here are a few thoughts or even questions that have been brought to me over the past few weeks.

• Isn't the Bible full of folk tales?
• Is the Bible a historical book?
• I believe in the supernatural but I am not sure about the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Do you really think Jesus is God? Don't 80% of religions believe that he was just the son of God?

All of the conversations were healthy and pointed towards Biblical Truth. People are bringing up honest questions or thoughts in which they want answers to. I just pray that they keep asking away. I pray that they are exposed to the Biblical Truth. I pray that they experience the thrill of who Jesus Christ is. Until then, I will continue to give my time.

Monday Nights: Learning to Love!

Monday nights in Downtown Royal Oak are well worth it. It is a time where we bring spiritual Truth in an area that is desperately in need of Jesus. The coffee shop we gather in on Monday nights is always jam packed full of people. I enjoy seeing the regulars along with the newbies. I just love the people!

While reading through the book of John on Monday nights, I am constantly reminded how important it is to love others. It is so critical that Jesus commanded us to do so. It is especially important when you face those who believe the Bible is just filled with folktales and not actually history. Or when one picks and chooses what to believe in the Bible. Or when one believes in the supernatural but has a hard time believing that Jesus was raised from the dead.

Arguments and debates will not win them. But, love will! I pray that God gives all of us Christ-followers the strength to love!

"And I think that's what our world is desperately in need of - lovers, people who are building deep, genuine relationships with fellow strugglers along the way, and who actually know the faces of the people behind the issues they are concerned about." Shane Claiborne

The Monday Night Coffee Shop Group

Christ-followers inquire all the time on the Monday Night Coffee Shop group in downtown Royal Oak. So many questions get thrown at me. How was it started? How many attend? What do I use for curriculum? Are we affiliated with a church? What is the goal of the group?

Lately, I have been thinking and reflecting on the goal of the group. The goal is not to fix those in the group. It is to connect them to God. The goal is to introduce them to the Word. To let the Spirit speak to them and help them understand it. To help them apply it to their lives. The goal is to love them. To represent Jesus to them!

Here is a quick update on what has been going on:

• We are currently reading over the book of John and just finished chapter 12. We have had great challenging discussions as we read verse by verse.
• I love how everyone stays afterwords to drink coffee and chit chat.
• This Monday night we are having our monthly desert and game night at my place.

I pray that God's authoritative Word speaks and cuts to each one of our hearts as we read it. I pray for salvation, redemption, healing, and reconciliation. I pray for more to join in on exploring the Scriptures on Monday nights.

Conversations in A Bar

On election night, I was sitting at a bar in between a man who follows Jesus Christ and a man who holds onto atheistic beliefs. Talk about opposites!

I had a chance to connect with both individuals that night. After we had a casual connection with the atheist, we asked him questions and listened to his story on how he came to that particular belief system.

That evening, we had great conversations at the bar! It was not about being narrow-minded or judgmental. It was not about having a cookie-cutter mentality when it comes to christianity.  Instead, it was about being real. It was about engaging in conversations that can spark spiritual interest in others. It was about being relational and dishing out love!

On the way home, I was reminded of the importance for Christ-followers to be in the community. Just think about it. Jesus didn't stand behind an podium all the time. Instead, He went to the people. He made Himself available and lives were changed. He dined with "sinners" and tax collectors. He walked into a graveyard to encounter a demon possessed man. He spent time in town where the crowds were. Wow!

We need to do the same. We need to go where the people are which will take time and energy. We need to listen to their stories and ask God to lead the conversation. We need to dine with them and meet with them knowing that it may need to be on their turf.

Conversations in a bar! Crazy, isn't it?

Church Outside of Church

Months ago, I was threatened that if I was ever to call the Monday night coffee shop group "church" then some action will need to be taken. I was completely shocked that one said that to me. It just shows me how the enemy is at work.

There is no need for me to turn this group into a church, non-profit organization, or even a business.  I will not file for a 501(C)3 with the Monday night group seeing that I do not take up tithes. Actually, I refuse to take in tithes. We have no incoming revenue however there are expenses. Money is invested in people by purchasing Bibles, coffees, deserts, and even dinners.

Over the past year, I have learned that "church" is not a building. It is the body of Christ. On Mondays nights, a few of us reckless followers of Christ have decided to take a risk by investing in those that do not believe and/or who are unchurched. We have chosen to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ outside of the typical Sunday morning thing and outside of the four walls of a church.

Running church outside of church has been a trip. Taking the Gospel to the coffee shop has been interesting but God has surely been at work. We have seen decisions made for Christ. We have had those that are spiritually confused have their questions answered. We have seen people crack open the Bible for their first time. We have helped some talk with God for their very first time. And lately, more and more are starting to purchase their own Bibles. I love it! There is nothing better than seeing those that rarely cracked open the Bible take it upon themselves to purchase one. I crack up when I see them get so excited when they bring their brand new Bible to the group.

I love it. But please know that I am not anti church inside of church. There are times when we are called to have church outside of church to reach different people groups.  You should try it sometime!

Hanging with the Irrelegious, Unchurched, and Spiritually Confused

Hanging out in Downtown Royal Oak is what I have done for many years. I have fallen in love with that city and I have also developed a deep concern for that city.

Til this very day, I gather with individuals that are irreligious, unchurched, and spiritually confused. I have taken risks and developed friendships with many hoping that God has a purpose behind it. While engaging in conversations I constantly ask, "God, what are you up to with this particular person?"

The painting posted here is a piece of work from a man that I have known for awhile now. He decided to paint a picture of me last Wednesday evening while I was meeting with a woman. He attends the Monday night coffee shop group every now and then. When he attends, he doesn't crack open a Bible. He just listens. Little by little this man shares his life story that has much heartache and some hard lessons. And little by little we challenge him spiritually when appropriate praying that he will one day respond to what God has to offer him. Everyone in downtown knows this individual. I can just sit back and imagine the eternal impact he will have on people when he experiences the Living Water. 

It is all about loving, sowing, and reaping! If that is the only reason why I am still living then so be it!

"Smart players are clear on what lasts and what doesn't. It is wise to store up treasure in what's eternal: God and people."  John Ortbert

Investing in People on Monday Nights

Monday nights are a time where a few of us pour into the lives of others that would not typically walk into a church setting. I love Monday nights in downtown Royal Oak!

Here is the update on the group!

• We are in need of a new male leader. Nick moved to New York! :(
• We are currently walking through the book of John verse by verse. Great discussions! Great Q & A time!
• This past Monday we had two new guests join us. One just sat right across from me not seriously not knowing what he was getting himself into. The other was given a personal invite to the group. I love how God draws new people in!
• Week after week we expose people to who Jesus is and now we are seeing some discovering the Truth of who He is.
• Last week was rough seeing that one of the guys that attended is spiritually confused big time.
• Those that do not attend the group but hang out with us before or afterwords are starting to develop a trust which leads to deep honest discussions about their status in life. Before, I would get frustrated that they wouldn't join the group but now I see that God is at work with them. He is piquing their spiritual curiosity.  

The group is a diverse group and I love it! That is what it is all about! Call me crazy but we will continue to openly accept seekers, skeptics, cynics, and all to the group. We encourage them to throw out questions, doubts, and concerns when it comes to spiritual truth.  

Infecting People With Love

Jesus amazes me when it comes to His relational skills. He hung out with a wide variety of people. Think about it. He spent time with the tax collectors, the poor, the sinners, the little ones, the sick, the disciples, and all. People were attracted to Jesus. People were changed by the words He spoke and the bodies He touched. I am amazed!

Jesus is the One I want to shadow.

Over the past year, I have had the great opportunity to spend time with people I did not have time for in the past. I have even had the opportunity to develop new friendships with those outside of organized religion. Drinking coffee, eating dinner, walking together, working out together, going to concerts, or even shooting pool. I have listened to many life stories. I have listened to the hurts, struggles, joys, and dreams of others. It has been an experience that I am so grateful for.  

There have been some where I have engaged in spiritual conversations with. Others, I continue to wait for the right moment and pray that the Spirit guides me.

Until then, I ask God to give me an intense favor in these relationships. I ask God to give me an intense love for them and a desire to truly get to know them.

Lord, help me not to screw these relationships up! Let them be attracted to You!  

  

The Art of People Watching

Downtown Royal Oak is constantly filled with swarms of people. People flood the restaurants, bars, coffee shops, ice cream joints, and even the streets. Those that know me know that I love swarms of people which is one reason why I love downtown Royal Oak.

I have two friends that sit outside of Starbucks every Sunday evening and take part in the art of people watching. Just recently, the guys extended an invitation for me to join them. We sat back, sipped on our coffee, and observed people as they walked by. We even engaged in conversations that evening with random strangers. It was a blast!

There have been so many times when I have been disengaged with the needs of others. There have been times when I have stopped short with people. That Sunday evening, I fell deeper in love with people. I saw that most people are in need. Whether it be a physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual need.

As I go over the Gospels, I realize that Jesus was one that always saw the crowds. He saw that individuals were in need and His heart broke. He was filled with compassion and He responded to the individuals. He had many conversations. Food was provided. Sins were forgiven. Healings took place. Lives were touched.

Jesus didn't just take part in people watching. He didn't just sit back and preach about impacting lives. Jesus was a man that took action!

Coffee Shop Gatherings

There is just something neat about gathering together with others in a coffee shop to discuss spiritual truth. For years, I have been in small groups that were located in church or even in a home of a Christ follower.

We all know that coffee shops and even restaurants have a different type of atmosphere. They tend to be a bit more inviting when it comes to the unchurched.

God is at work in the midst of the Monday night group. Check out what is going on!

• A few more are purchasing Bibles and books without me even encouraging them to do it
• I have been challenging the group every week to apply what we have read to their lives. Lately, a few have been coming back sharing stories on how they applied the Word throughout the week. Some even share how they did not apply what we read.
• The group continues to invite their friends
• People keep coming back week after week
• We average around 12-18 individuals
• For the longest time we always opened sharing our highs and lows with each other. Now, it just comes naturally. They are eager to share about what is going on in their life.
• The group is diverse. This past week, I sat at the table looking at every individual. A few different races are represented. The rich and poor. The young and the somewhat old.

I will say that some doubt, wrestle, and even struggle with what the Bible says as we examine it on Monday nights. Every week I welcome the open dialog and the questions. I respond with truth, love, and compassion. That is what small groups are all about. I don't preach at them or pop in a video to listen to someone else preach. Instead, I welcome open discussion but I always make sure the truth is exposed and held in high esteem.

May God continue to work in the midst of all of us that gather on Monday nights in downtown Royal Oak around a table sipping on coffee. May He be pleased and smile down on what is taking place. May each one of us come to a greater revelation of who Jesus Christ is. May you hear more and more stories of what God is doing.

Monday Nights in Downtown Royal Oak

Seekers, skeptics, cynics, and the unchurched are all welcomed in the Monday night small group that we run out of the coffee shop in downtown Royal Oak.

The goal is to love them and get to know them as individuals. The goal is to engage them in dialog over what the Word of God says. The goal is to get them in the Word which at one point seemed to be so foreign to them. The goal is for them to experience Jesus Christ and to be transformed.  

Here is what's been going on:

• Major battles have been taking place with the group. Words cannot even express to what extent. I personally faced major discouragement two weeks ago. Thankfully, I have been reminded more and more that I need to approach God over every individual in the group including myself.
• We have been reading through the book of Colossians which has been quite challenging
• One particular man in the group continues to get so excited about the Bible. You can hear it in his voice when he reads and even points to others verses which shows that he cracks open the Bible throughout the week. Gotta love what is going on behind the scenes! This man is not a committed follower of Jesus Christ yet, but he will be.
• We have a young woman who was addicted to alcohol and has not touched it for several months.
• Some doubt, struggle, and even wrestle with what the Bible says as we read through it. Over and over again, I explain to them that it is not my words, thoughts, or opinions. It is the written Word of God and if they question it they need to take it up with God. I challenge them to have a conversation with God about it.
• We had three new guests joined us this past Monday night. One of the guys is a nurse at St. John's hospital. I met him a few weeks ago down in Royal Oak and invited him once I found out that he is searching for spiritual truth. This man sat and listened the whole time. He didn't even crack open the Bibles that were provided which is o.k.. Another man works full time for the casinos in Downtown Detroit. He never pulled up a chair to join us. Instead, he stood listening. His prayer request at the end was that he would get to know God. The third guest is a waiter in downtown Birmingham. I have known him for several years and even brought him to a church gathering when I first met him. This man is spiritually confused. He leans towards Judaism along with Wicca. However, he had so many real genuine questions this past Monday night. This man didn't understand the Trinity and he questioned about what we read in Colossians that Jesus was in the beginning.  

Every individual that attends the Monday night group is a very important person in God's eyes. Simply spending time with this diverse group on a weekly basis has been well worth it.

Re-presenting Jesus at Work

All of my co-workers and employees recognize that I am different. At times, I get a lot of slack for it and there are others times where they know who to turn to when they need a listening ear.

I have learned a great deal while working with a large diverse team along with serving thousands of individuals. I have learned...

• To create a habit of listening and interacting with those who do not believe. 
• To have a genuine love for people. They recognize when Christ-followers are being fake.
• Not to be pushy or overbearing when it comes to talking about the spiritual.
• To cover my day in prayer seeing that I am continually surrounded by the unchurched and those who are not committed followers of Jesus Christ.
• To be other-centered!

Everyday I face a battle. A fight between my flesh and the Spirit working inside of me. A battle with choosing to follow my agenda for the day or God's agenda.

I had a large speaking event on Wednesday evening. I spent a good amount of the afternoon preping to speak in front of 300-350 adults. I was concentrating on my agenda when God had something else in mind.

A woman knocked on my office door and asked if I had sixty seconds. Well, I didn't. According to my agenda, I had no spare time. I had to finish preparing for the evening speaking event. My ugly flesh wanted to say no because I didn't want to get off track from what I was working on. I was pressed for time. However, I knew what the Spirit of God wanted.

The woman came into my office and shut the door. She dropped to the floor weeping. She asked if I could prayer for her right then and there. This woman was in desperate need of God. She is not living in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Last year, I invited her to church probably a total of five times and she never came. I then decided to step back and take a whole different approach. I chose to love her and get to know her. I chose to listen to her. To point her to Jesus Christ when I felt lead.  

That day in my office, I put my hands upon this woman and called on the name of our sweet powerful God. I know that the employees standing outside of my office heard and probably even saw through my windows. Call me crazy, but I didn't care! God was at work! It was His agenda! This woman who I work alongside with needed a divine encounter from the One who is hard core after her.

I am telling you. Everyday it is a battle. A fight between my agenda and God's agenda! I want to get to the point where my flesh is completely dead where I can just easily respond to the work of the Spirit.

"The Christian life is a process of laying down our agendas and getting in on God's" Andy Stanley

Investing in People

We had a small group of seven individuals gather for the Monday night coffee shop group this week. It was a holiday so a few where out of town and others were barbecuing. 

Seeing that it was Memorial Day, we ended up taking a field trip to the memorial in downtown Royal Oak. While sitting in front of it, we finished up the study on Communicating with God. We then spent a moment of silence remembering all those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. We also prayed for the men that are currently serving our country. It was a great way to end our Memorial Day and celebrate the freedom that we have.    

Afterwords, we went out for desert to celebrate two of the guy's birthday. We had some great conversations and some great laughs. Their personalities crack me up. I am really enjoying getting to know every individual in the group. The time that we have spent with each one of them has been well worth it!  

                                                  

                                                  

                                            

                                                     

"Let me ask this: How better could you expend your time and energy than investing it in people, many of whom will thank you for all of eternity in heaven? What other investment will reap so high a reward?" Bill Hybels

Soaked in Grace

Networking with the lost boils down to grace and lending a hand to those who need it. It is about looking after others and really loving them. It is about welcoming them into your circle with open arms no matter how messy their life might be. Grace is about love. It is where others can experience God's amazing grace through our love towards them.

Yesterday morning while I was taking a long walk,  I prayed that the Monday night coffee shop group would be marinated in God's grace and love. I prayed that there would be a culture of hope and healing in the group. I prayed that they start to mature spiritually and walk in transformation. I prayed for each one of them by name and for their salvation.

On the way to the Downtown Royal Oak last night, I ended up driving behind a police officer.  The police car reminded me of the beautiful transformation with one of the women in the group. This 32 year old woman is well known in Royal Oak. She did not grow up in church and she had no spiritual belief system when I first met her around two years ago. She has been an alcoholic for 13 years and was an extremely angry woman. Lets just say that the police knew her well.

Over the past 9 months, this woman has been transformed. She is now engaged to a great guy. She has been sober for well over 130 days. She is now working and resides in an apartment just south of downtown Royal Oak. She is now getting to know who Jesus Christ is and she is learning how to communicate with Him. This woman has experienced God's grace and everyone sees it. The owner of the party store store that she bought liquor from sees it. The police see it. Her old friends see it. I see it. Everyone sees that she is different! Everyone is talking about it!

There are times when I can get impatient when it comes to networking with the lost. There are many times when I want to see immediate change. Yesterday, I was reminded on how powerful grace is. I was reminded that it is God that does the work and it is in His own timing. I am just the vessel.   

Are We, the Church, Missing it?

At times, I feel that there is a barrier with the unchurched and the churched. A barrier with those far from God and with the churched. A barrier with those outside of the four walls of the church and with those inside the four walls of the church. What an enormous challenge which has great possibilities!

I just recently picked up the book called "No Perfect People Allowed" by John Burke. It is a book that helps followers of Christ rethink how they do ministry when it comes to reaching today's people. Here is what stuck out in chapter one.

• "Unless Christians leading the church in America change, and unless the church begins living out the magnetic attractive force Jesus had on the world, the Christian church in America will be completely marginalized within decades." John Burke
• John Burke described a small group out of Gateway Church that took smoking breaks. I laughed as I read that cause it sounds just like the Monday night coffee shop group in Royal Oak.
• "Our goal cannot simply be a timid, powerless survival; it must be the role that Christ called the Church to play, that of a loving, authoritative, healing, and compelling influence upon the world...lacking such a turnabout, we may rightfully anticipate the virtual disappearance of the Christian Church in this nation." George Barna
• John Burke stated that the US has more unchurched people than most in the world which we are not aware of.
• We as committed followers of Christ need to jump in. We need to jump into the mess of cultural America. We need to die to our comfortable churchy lives and stop gathering with just followers of Christ. We need to engage with the unchurched and the lost. We need dive into the lives of others. We need to make Jesus visible to those who need it.
• "God is responsible for the growth, for changed hearts, but the soil is the responsibility of the leaders and the Christ-followers who make up that church." John Burke
• John Burke believes that it all starts with the leaders in the church in order to be effective. He stated, "Yet all too often, leaders implement new 'seeker' services or 'postmodern' services with cool music, candles, art, aesthetics, or whatever the latest conference hypes up, but miss the most essential nutrients for healthy Body-growth."
• I have personally seen the above quote in action. Where others tend to copy methods and strategies from other churches or by what they read in the latest postmodern book yet they struggle when it comes to church growth or reaching the lost. It is where one looks to see what others are doing when it comes to outreaches or creative elements. Then, they bring it to their community hoping it would draw people in. The outreach ends up attracting the "churched" instead of who Jesus has called us to reach.  
• He stressed that the people in the church are what matters. It is not the sweet hip music, the atmosphere, the edgy look, or even the movie clips. It is the people!  

Yesterday, I met a middle-aged woman at the salon that asked me about the book that I was reading. I explained it the best I could in one minute. This woman replied to me with many other women listening, "That is exactly what my girlfriends and I were talking about this past weekend. It's been years since we have been to a church." 

Today, I met a young man in a coffee shop who had the Bible cracked open and was journaling. We ended up engaging in conversation. I found out that he is a solid man of God yett he is unchurched. He was on staff at a huge church in the area and transitioned out. I asked him why and he stated, "I was convicted." This man has been unchurched for awhile because he feels as if the church is just missing the mark right now.  

It has been such an eye opener as I cracked open this book and had a conversation with those two individuals! Are we, the Church, missing it?

Sticking Out Like a Sore Thumb

There are so many out there that believe in a god and they consider themselves to be spiritual. Now, what god they believe in is the question.

About a week ago, I had lunch with an individual from the Monday night group who regularly gathers in a holistic center in Farmington Hills once a week for an hour of meditation. He explained to me that the hour of silence can consist of thinking, reflecting, praying, and journaling. The meditation room can be filled with followers of Christ, Jews, Muslims, and Buddhists all at the same time. He ranted and raved about the diversity in the room.

I also love diversity . Here is the difference between us. The diversity in that room breaks my heart over the fact that they all are missing out on who Jesus Christ is. I explained to him that they are missing out on the joy of salvation and the freedom from the power of sin. He then gently called or labeled me as a fundamentalist. I explained to him in love that he can call me what he wants but Jesus clearly said, "I am the way, truth, and the life..."

Jesus was very specific!

Christ stuck out like a sore thumb when He walked the earth and with the words that He spoke. He was different. Many loved Him and wanted to be around Him as much as possible. They knew that there was just something about Him. In the same way, followers of Christ need to stick out like a sore thumb when it comes to spirituality. Sticking out in a positive way where we others become curious. Sticking out when it comes a relationship with Jesus. Sticking out when it comes to loving the unchurched and the lost. Sticking out when it comes to loving and taking care of the misfits, orphans, and widows.

Sticking out while carrying a great reputation!

The Monday Coffee Shop Small Group

For many years, I have been praying for God to come down on the individuals that live or hang out in Downtown Royal Oak. For many years, I have recognized the spiritual warfare that is taking place there. Lots of darkness. Lots of spiritual confusion. I still see it to this day. The area is desperately in need of God's presence, power, and activity.

Our Monday night coffee shop group in downtown is one minor way to expose individuals to who Jesus Christ is and what He is about. It is a time when we can reach those who do not normally walk into a church. It is a time wen we can develop authentic relationships with those who are unchurched and pique their curiosity when it comes to spiritual truth. Here is a run down on what has been taking place recently.

• We had "church" on the streets last week. It was perfect weather so we took the crew outside on the sidewalk of Downtown Royal Oak. Many stopped by or even listened at a distance that evening. I love taking the group outside. It exposes more and more to the Word.
• We have been going over the book of Matthew focusing on what Jesus said and did. So far, we touched on murder, anger, adultery, lust, retaliation, and loving our enemies in Matthew 5. Huge topics! We are tacking real issues and applying that Word to our lives. Here is what's so challenging. Some agree with what Jesus said while others did not.
• I have been learning to become more and more transparent with this group. To share my highs and lows. To share about my life and struggles. They never let me get away without sharing a prayer request or even talking about my week when we go around the group. I gotta love them!
• Individuals in the group are beginning to call me to come to church with me. Wow! I love what God is doing! On the other hand, there is one man who refuses to walk in a church. He resides in an apartment in downtown and years ago he was hurt by the church big time. My heart breaks for him!
• After our small group last week, a group of followers of Jesus Christ laid hands on Nick and I out on the streets of downtown Royal Oak and prayed for us. They were down there prayer walking. What a perfect way for Nick and I to end a night ministering on the streets of Downtown Royal Oak. I love how God brings encouragement just at the right time. I didn't get home until 11 p.m. but that time of meeting up with that crew was sweet. We shared with each other. Spoke the word over each other. Laughed and prayed. Gotta love those times!

Building Relationships with My Small Group

My schedule is completely different from what it use to be a year ago. Last year, a good portion of my time outside of my career consisted of meetings and then some more meetings. I am not saying that my schedule was good or bad. It was just different.

This year, I have been focusing more attention on hanging out with those in my Monday night coffee shop group outside of Monday nights. Crazy idea, isn't it? There have been a few dinners, concerts, wedding dress shopping (and no not mine), coffee gatherings, and movie nights.

I have enjoyed every minute with them. Building relationships with those in my group has been such an experience! It's taken a great deal of time but it has been well worth it!

Mark Got Dunked!

                              

Months ago, I met a man named Mark in Downtown Royal Oak. After engaging in conversation with him, I realized that he was on a quest to find spiritual truth. Naturally, I invited him to join the Monday night small group in the coffee shop which is geared for the unchurched and those who are not committed followers of Christ. I explained to him that he is a perfect fit for that group.

Over the past couple of months, we have had several intense conversations in the small group. At times, I became frustrated and wanted to throw in the towel especially knowing that he has a new agish spiritual background. However, we continued to investigate the Scriptures to figure out who Jesus Christ is. In the midst of that, Mark decided to go all in. He decided to go all in for Jesus. Mark committed his life to Jesus Christ and last night he got dunked. Mark's baptism was a beautiful act of obedience and a public confession in front of hundreds of people!I know that Jesus was smiling down upon this man!

Even though I do not always see it right away, I recognize that God is in the midst of transforming lives in the Monday night group in Downtown Royal Oak. Jesus is tearing it up!

Conversations at the Gym

Lately, God has been opening up doors like crazy for me to dive into conversations on the spiritual at my workplace especially when I would least expect it. Conversations would come up in my office, in the front lobby, in the locker room, in aerobics class, on the treadmills, and even in the parking lot.

Most of the time, I was not ready for the conversation. I was focused on a specific task whether it was doing my work or even while I was running off towards my car. I need to learn that people trump tasks especially when it comes to those who are in need when it comes to the spiritual.

Here is what I am learning hard core in the midst of it in which I have failed at many times at.

• Always be available especially outside of the four walls of church
• Move when the Spirit of God prompts me
• Pray that every conversation sinks in
• Sit back and watch God transform those lives

"...the Church needs to take a hint from the life of Jesus and spend more time out with the goddless than we currently do."  Craig Borlase

My Mentor for Small Groups

My ministry internship for the license to preach has surely been a handful. I have been learning a lot about different areas of ministry. You can check out the list of projects that I need to accomplish here!

This past Thursday I spent a good portion of the morning at Kensington Church tackling my student designed project which has to do with my Monday night small group that I run out of the coffee shop. The small group is for those who are searching for spiritual truth.

Before I had my meeting, a friend of mine who works full time in the church's finance department gave me the grand tour of all the offices at this church. The tour was one long tour with several introductions. He stated that they have around 250 staff at the church. Unbelievable!

I spent the rest of the time there with Tim Cooper who is the Director of Small Groups at Kensington. Tim graduated from Denver Theological Seminary in General Studies. He has been on staff at Kensington for two years and he oversees small group at all four campuses. I decided to have Tim as my mentor in this area of my internship because of the vision he has along with his experience of running out of the box type of small groups. He is all about going out into the community.

Tim had question after question thrown at him during the time period we met. I barely gave him time to breathe. Here are a few things that I took out of our meeting.

• Small groups are "church" outside of church. It is para-church in small pockets of the communities to reach different people groups
• Run small group trainings that are more relational based than information being tossed out
• With small groups, communities change and nobody can deny that
• Read the following books espcially with the type of ministry that God has stirred up inside of me:  The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missonal Church by Alan Hirsch and No Perfect People Allowed: Creating a Come As You Are Culture in teh Church by John Burke.

Tim said something just before I left that hit me big time. He said, "If we were to lose the four walls of our church, my goal is that we would not lose momentum."

I will admit that my goal is to improve when it comes to running small groups. I have some weaknesses that need to be worked on. Tim helped me a great deal in regards to encouraging me and giving me direction when it comes to running out of the box type of small groups. Now, I just need to sit back, pray,dream and take action!

Finding my Calcutta

As we know, the Father sent Jesus to the earth for a mission. The mission was accomplished and now the baton has been handed off to all those who are committed followers of Christ. We are all being sent with a mission with the help of the Spirit. A mission to change communities with Christ's radical love. We have the incredible privilege to venture out and take a genuine interest in people just like how Jesus did.

Those that know me know that the Acts 1:8 mission that Christ has given us to accomplish here on earth is something that gets me revved up. Mother Theresa once said, "Calcutta's are everywhere if we only have eyes to see. Find your Calcutta." As the days go by, the Spirit has been stirring in my heart more and more to find my Calcutta. Then to love and represent Jesus to those that are in my Calcutta. To be creative and to move under the guidance of the Spirit.

Now, where is my Calcutta? For years, my Calcutta has been downtown Royal Oak and Birmingham in which I have grown to love. However, I am fully aware that my Calcutta may expand or it may even be moved. Until then, I will continue to represent Jesus to those in Royal Oak and Birmingham.

Within a week, I have had coffee and even dined with some in my Calcutta that are radically different from me. I had coffee with a woman who has prostituted herself in an escort business for extra income. I had coffee with a wealthy business owner and a well known drug dealer. I had a meal with a woman who has been a keynote speaker to thousands of people at conferences across the nation on Religion and Homosexuality.  I had a meal with a woman who was water baptized about a year ago and now she has been unchurched for several months. 

My heart broke over every individual that I met up with. Just about all of them are unchurched and disengaged to the things of God.  As a result, I personally invited each one of them to the Monday night coffee shop group as a stepping stone. Some came and while others did not. I will keep praying for them and keep inviting them. I will continue to love them and get to know them. I desperately want to see those in my Calcutta experience the Saving Grace.

Early this morning, I looked over Mother Theresa's quote over and over again. I was reminded that we all have a Calcutta. We all are being sent out to represent Jesus. But, do we realize it? Do we embrace it? Do we live it? Do we truly understand that there are lives that need to be rescued?