Today started off with another awesome meal via Lupita. I'm sure you're all expecting us to say something about how amazing breakfast is, so here's my input once again. It was basically like a host of angels doing the Cha Cha Cha Slide on my tongue palate. Yeah, it was that good. It's actually one of my favorite meals she cooks: spinach & pepper omelets, hashbrowns, sausage, bread and fresh fruit.
After breakfast the team started the day off with doing this new devotional packet that Ken and Beb left us. So far it is all about the love of Christ. We only did the intro, so I'm sure some more interesting stuff is coming down the barrel on it. After the devo the team went prayer walking at the Venice boardwalk and then over to Montana St. in Santa Monica. This was a unique PW experience for a couple reasons. First, we had two new members with us. Sara Nichalson and Amber McKenzie joined us out here in LA for a few days to come visit and see what LA had to offer. They went on the prayer walk this morning with us which I thought was pretty awesome. I'm sure (actually, I know since we talked about it) that it was a culture shock for them, and you'll have to ask them about what their thoughts were, especially on the Venice area. It was especially awesome for me to have those two people with us. They came out to visit here with me and it was a neat experience having them join our team. Our team definitely felt encouraged by their presence and excited to see other ASU faces. Also, they two of them are in my prayer group of close friends and relatives and having been praying for our team on a regular basis. So, I think it was a neat opportunity for us and for them because not often do members of a prayer team get to go and experience the mission they've been praying for over the past 3 weeks and have committed to over the next 5 weeks. I also truly think it was a blessing for me to see how they reacted and responded to the ministry our team has going on out here. One of the most difficult things our team has discovered over the past few weeks is how to explain what we're doing out here to people back at home. Surprisingly, not many respond well to "Loving people in LA." But, once Sara and Amber got to stay with us for the past few days, I'm convinced they know more about what I mean when I try to describe what's going on out here.
Anyways, thanks Sara and Amber for coming out here! Also, our prayer walk was different because 3 of our bikes are broken, so we walked the whole way. This may seem trivial, but for me as I've processed the day I think the Lord was at work. We've been talking lately about what it truly means to be a disciple of Christ and how to love people with the love of Christ. We've come to the conclusion that it may lead us to some pretty dark and dirty paths, and we must faithfully choose what we would do. One day recently when discussing this, we talked about the African pastor who wrote an eloquent last journal entry of what it means for him to be a disciple. In it, he quotes: I am finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving, and dwarfed goals. The part that has rung like a bell in my ears over the past few days was the "smooth knees" part. It hits me because it's like God is continually showing me just how dedicated my life must be in order to be a disciple of Christ and lover of Him and all people around me. I must sacrifice my comfort, my pride, my well-being (financially, emotionally, and physically if need be) in order to love boldly, live loudly, live holy, and follow Christ. When I'm forced to see just how rough I've made my knees and just how little I've put myself in the way of harm (spiritual attacks, failure, etc.) I see how far I've got to go to live as Christ.
The lifestyle of a Christ and people lover is not one that is cheap. No, it comes with a cost...and an expensive one at that. We're to love at all costs. When Ken asked me to explain that saying, all that came to my mind was loving boldly and loudly so that I would move beyond the fear for myself. In order to make these next 5 weeks to be as successful as could be, I must love harder, more passionately, more intentionally, intently and deeper than ever before and the ONLY way to love that hard is to hide in the shadow of the cross of Christ. For in fact, love doesn't lead us to green pastures and daisies, no it leads us to the same path it lead Christ...the cross, death and fortunately...resurrection in the image of Christ!!
So anyways, all that had a point to our prayer walking. As I've been thinking about the costs I've paid (which are pretty shallow at this point) I've been wondering when the Lord would bless me with an opportunity to be blessed with the blood, tears and blisters of our Lord. So, today as our bikes were broken and we went prayer walking...we walked a lot. And, I being the planner-aheader kind of guy *NOT* decided to wear some sandals, at which point my feet now have blisters and are ever so sore and tender. Each step I take now hurts, but I'm not frustrated about it. Instead, I find myself being reminded of the brokenness I saw in Venice, of the Money God I continued to see in Santa Monica, and of the freedom of the Lord that was promised to these people here in Venice and Santa Monica. So, my knees may still be smooth as before, but my feet are my reminders of what it takes to be a little faithful in prayer, even when it gets physically demanding (walking isn't too bad...but I'll be honest, I was used to biking the whole way).
Finally, prayer walking was especially interesting this morning because as I was pouring in the Spirit while walking through the areas, He opened my eyes to some new things. First, there was a vendor in Venice who was an artist and selling to raise funds for Support the Local Venice Artists. I'm not sure if it was a foundation, organization or what...but this man caught my heart. I felt this tug to be in prayer for him and to think about possibilities for anyone on our team to approach him one day. Secondly, a new shop opened up in the Venice boardwalk. In fact, it's going to be a huge hit. It'll attract lots of customers, lots of people who are lost, and lots of people who are looking for a good time. It'll also attract people struggling with addiction and with no source of visible hope. Yes, another medicinal marijuana house was celebrating its 'grand' opening today on the strip. All I could think about was just how much of a hold Satan has on this place. It's deafening. Finally, the Lord opened my eyes to some more of Montana street. As Luke told you yesterday, Bruce, Kelsey and I found a new spot in Santa Monica. It's pretty much the first 14 or so blocks on Montana St. and all of the locals seem to hang out here. Just days ago I was frustrated we hadn't seen the local hang out spots, but today and yesterday the Lord blessed us with this street. There are several coffee shops, cafes, bakeries, and restaurants that the locals frequent. So, I'm pumped about the upcoming days of ministry on Montana St.
After prayer walking Luke, Thomas and Storm took half a day to recuperate from their intense Kung Fu/Chi Kung lessons they've been taking. Bruce, Kelsey, Sara, Amber and I went site-seeing for the last half of the day. We went to the Beverly Hills area, Rodeo Drive, saw the Hollywood sign, saw the two famous theaters for movie premiers, went to downtown Hollywood to walk the Star Walk and saw a flock of people still lining up to see Michael Jackson's star. We got the chance to pass by his star and we saw his star surrounded by a four foot deep pile of crap (sorry, but it was...flowers, cards, posters, etc.). It's amazing how many people love him, but didn't know him. If only the streets of LA would cry out for a man named Jesus Christ the same way they did for Michael Jackson!!!!!!
After getting back from sight seeing, we had another delish dinner. Then we had team time which went really well. We debriefed the day and talked some about how to connect the gospel and normal conversations. Then we just hung out for the rest of the night, which by the way included a sick-nasty-awesome dance party lead by Bruce Bentley III. Thanks B-ruce!
So, thanks for making it this far. We love and appreciate all of your prayers. Here's some specifics to pray for:
1 - Venice. Satan's grasp got bigger today as another house of addiction opened up. Pray for freedom from those addictions and pray that the team members ministering there would be able to help people find that freedom in Christ!
2 - Montana St. - Kelsey, Bruce and I are going to try going around to these local hang outs in the upcoming days. Pray that through God's love and grace we would be able to minister to the people where they are and increase the Kingdom in a mighty way.
3 - Random Guy - For some reason the Lord wants me to pray and think about this guy in Venice, so pray that the Lord would work in his life and in any opportunities to speak to him.
4 - Tattoo Guy - I've been to a Starbuck's on Montana a few times, and two of the 3 times there I've seen a gut with tattoos. Immediately the first time I saw him, I knew the Lord was calling me to talk to this guy. I know this because I thought of tons of questions, things to say and ask, and felt completely at peace about this man. He seemed to know a lot of people around him, had a fun dog and was an open personality. Yet, I wasn't obedient the first time nor the second time I saw him and felt the Lord calling me to talk to him. So, pray for opportunities and pray for boldness in me that I might seize the next opportunity at all costs, especially the cost of myself.
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