I Should Learn This One!

Saw this on Rick Warren's twitter - he follows me, the least I could do was follow back!

RT @RickWarren B.Graham's counsel on false attacks: "Rick, if you wrestle with a pig, both of you will get dirty, but only 1of u will like it." Pr26:4

I should learn this lesson! Recently I have spent too much time and energy arguing with SBC guys on incorrect info posted about A-29. And then there are those who want to accuse me of not loving our homeless community downtown. Now I learn that there are others questioning me indirectly - not based on Scripture but based on a church culture's religious construct.

Write this 100 times:

I will not wrestle with pigs, I will not wrestle with pigs, I will not wrestle with pigs, I will not wrestle with pigs, I will not wrestle with pigs...

Moving? Need Some Wisdom! Pray.

Our Start:

Even before our first public meeting in August of 2007, we knew that New City Church would strive to engage our culture and work hard for the good of our city. We had no idea exactly what that would look like, or how well we would be received.

Shortly after starting weekly gatherings in 2008 we leased space at 567 Cherry Street. We needed a place for our bands to practice, for our people to gather for training, for our kids on Sunday morning, and an office for myself and others. Leadership knew that we did not want to create a "Church" space but rather a community space - a space that would lend itself to cultural engagement and be good for our city. So we created the 567 Cafe.

The 567 Cafe:

The space was set up as a cafe - cafe tables and chairs, a a warm cafe feel, and a small coffee kitchen. We built a stage for local musicians to play on. We had huge wall boards built that would help with acoustics in the room and also serve to hang the visual art of our local artists. The 567, after a slow start, has been everything we dreamed it could be - and more!

Local musicians play the 567's stage every week - they and their fans love the intimate feel and the great sound. We have had more people than 100 people in our small cafe at a time for music. We have artists of all kinds and some of our humble art openings have been full and fun! The 567 has opened many other doors of opportunity and consistently serves as a great place for cultural engagement. Even non-church goers agree that the 567 has been great for our city.

Our Future:

We have known from the start that at some point, it would be better economically for us, as a church, to move to another location. One that had more space (space for offices and kids ministry) and could be used more than once a week. Over the past year, with the success of the 567 it has become clear that our space must continued to be used for the good of the arts (music, visual arts, and other forms of art). I have dreamed of a space that would allow for a continuation of our small, intimate musical events, and a space that would allow us the ability to host larger events as well. I have dreamed of an area that would be set up as a true art gallery. But more than that, a space that would allow for expanded use as we engage our culture and seek the good of our city. I have dreamed of a place that would allow us to teach music and art, a place that would give us the opportunity to do art and music camps for kids from all over Middle Georgia.

In the past months we have begun working on setting the 567 up as a non-profit, the 567 Center for Renewal. We have incorporated as such in the state of GA and we are completing IRS paperwork now. Doing so will allow us to apply for Art and City Renewal grants that a church is not eligible for - last year we passed up $31,000 in grants.

A building that could house the 567 and serve as offices and gathering space for New City Church has been located.

No decision has been made on formally pursuing the building but we are talking with a real estate agent and beginning to count costs. The agent has asked us to make a formal offer. The building is for sale or lease. There is not much of a chance (miracles excluded) that the building could be purchased - so a lease is most likely at this point.

The Building:

The building is 5 blocks from our current location. It has space for children, for offices, for a true art gallery, for intimate smaller concerts, and an unfinished warehouse could eventually serve as a 400 +/- seat music venue and church gathering space. Honestly, it looks like the space was designed for the 567 Art Center!

I am asking our friends and supporters to pray for our wisdom as we take steps forward.

Of What Do You Dream?

On this day in 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous 'I Have A Dream Speech' in Washington, DC before more than 200,000 people. Here is a portion of that speech:

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the
true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of
former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state
sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression,
will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation
where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content
of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day down in Alabama, with its vicious racists,
with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition
and nullification - one day right there in Alabama little black boys and
black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as
sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every
hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain,
and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord
shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together.

My plea and prayer is that we might realize that the 'Dream' did originate with King. Jesus came to reconcile His people to God, AND to one another - to redeem and restore.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, (Eph 2:14)

To Whom Do We Show Compassion? Homelessness in the City (5) Accused

Last night someone from our downtown homeless community called me outside. She introduced me to a non-homeless friend. Then quickly the conversation shifted to an accusation from my homeless regular at the 567. She said that a mutual friend and advocate for the homeless told her that "he just wants to get homeless people off the street." The statement from the advocate for the homeless was meant as a warning, at least that is the way the homeless person took it. The warning - don't trust him he just wants you to go away.

I asked my homeless regular - 'Do you believe I love you?' Yes, she answered.

'Do you believe that I care about what happens to you and want what is best for you?' I do, Rev - she answered.

'Then don't worry about what other people say. I love you and want what is best for you," I said.

Now - thinking more about the accusation - it is true.

I do want her off the street.

I do want her out of here.

I want her healthy, and fed, and sleeping in a comfortable bed - safe. I want her restored. I want to see her taken care of as she needs to be.

Almost every day we talk. Almost every day she gets a soda from me. I have given her clothes, and food, and more - and every day she is there - on the street. Sleeping at night in her cat hole each night. She receives food from local 'soup kitchens.' She gets clothes there as well. Others help her in ways I don't even know.

And even now she sits on the bench in front of my office.

Yes - I want her off the street.

For my accuser(s) - the soup kitchen and sodas isn't working... what will?

What Others Are Saying and Seeing

Thought I would share a couple of great posts:

1) From Patrick McConnell about the 567. If you have questions about the 567 and aren't sure of how the 567 fits with New City and works for the good of our city - read it!

2) From Brad Evans at the 11th Hour. It is the first in a series on homelessness in our city.

To Whom Do We Show Compassion? Homelessness in the City (4) More Complex

The Homeless I Have Known

One of the difficulties with the issue of homelessness is that there are many levels and reasons for homelessness. It is impossible to deal with every homeless individual in the exact same manner, or to help each homeless person in the same way. Let me introduce you to some of the people that I know or have known from the streets - I will not use their actual names:

John - 19 years old. grew up with his grandmother. worked off and on. liked to drink and smoke pot. got caught up with 'the wrong friends' and ended up kicked out of his grandmother's house. I met John living on the streets for only a short time. he wanted to get off the streets, get help, find a job. he did.

James - 17 or 18 years old. was from twiggs county. had a family who loved him. grew up in church. hanging with the 'wrong crowd.' hungry and living on the streets. talked about his faith and his family. last I heard James went home. never saw him on the streets again.

Donna - 40 years old. living pay check to pay check. lost her job. kicked out of her apartment. met her on the street scared to death. took her to a local shelter where she stayed until they found her an apartment and a new job. last I saw Donna she was happy, attending a church, working, and contributing to her community.

That is the end of my success stories - though others are still in the works...

Crooked Hat - lived on the streets by choice. worked as day labor when he wanted some money or couldn't bum enough on the streets. spent that money drinking or smoking crack. didn't want help. didn't want to enter any program. was always nice to me.

Bill - Grew up in my neighborhood - 42 now. been on the street since 17. an alcoholic. periods of sobriety are generally short. 30 days sober Bill told me he didn't want to live in a house or apartment - too much responsibility. he liked doing what he wanted when he wanted. his was a lifestyle choice.

L and C - in their 40s now. L has been on the street since she 12ish. C has been on the street since serving time for murder. L seems to function at about the age of 12. C is able bodied and intelligent but says he is schizophrenic. L loves to drink beer all day. C I am told drinks beer but spends all his money on crack. by late afternoon L and C are usually fighting - with each other or with someone else. Yelling, Screaming, Cussing and sometimes physically fighting.

Faye - I just watched her pour her beer into a cup so that she is bothered about the open container. Everyday is the same for her. drinking by 9 or 10am. bumming money all day for more beer. by late afternoon she is yelling, fighting, or hugging - her friends and passersby. She has been known to raise her shirt and show her stuff - even if you didn't ask. Faye doesn't want help or a program - just a dollar.

Mike - 50 years old. receives $900 p/month (he says) for his hiv disability. was living in a furnished boarding house with cable and ac for $100 week. he smoked and drank the remaining $400 - $500 p/month. he doesn't want help with drugs, alcohol, or budgeting his money. but he wants whatever else you will give him.

Tony - takes out the trash for restaurants in exchange for drinks or money. is able bodied, intelligent enough, and has a good personality. he frequently asks for money and can be scary as he approaches you. i have never seen him yelling or fighting. doesn't want help. satisfied with his lifestyle.

Curt - likes to drink. manipulates to get what he wants. doesn't want help. only comes around when he wants money or food.

James - eats from garbage cans. never asks anyone for anything. sleeps in a parking deck. is a hard core homeless guy who needs to be taken care of in a facility - but there are none. These guys (with mental issues) make me the saddest.

Truthfully I could go on and on with the people I know who live on the street and refuse the help that would take them off of the street and out of the lifestyle of drugs and alcohol that is destroying them. They take, and take, and take. They will lie, manipulate, and some even steal in order to get what they want for another day. They eat at the places downtown who feed for free. They get their clothes from the clothes banks, and when they can they get food from the food banks that they can eat on the street or trade for what they want. They shower occasionally at Loaves and Fishes. Many get food stamps. Some get disability. I know of some who have been given a place to stay - 1 in a furnished place - he sold everything in it, smoked it up and was back on the street. Another who had 2 weeks paid for in a hotel - he cashed out and smoked it up - back on the street.

Continuing to give freely is not really helping - instead it seems, in some ways, to be hurting many. It isn't mercy - it is often merciless, providing the means for an alcoholic to keep drinking, and a crack addict to keep smoking.

And their public lifestyle - on the streets of downtown is hurting downtown.

To Whom Do We Show Compassion? Homelessness in the City (3) Complex

Between the blog and facebook, this has been a great discussion... one that I hope reveals that tip of a very complex iceberg! I don't pretend to have all of the answers to the myriad of difficult questions. Let me share a little of my journey in this issue:

At 24 I became a follower of Christ. The church that I began to attend was located in downtown Macon. In those weeks following my conversion I wanted desperately to be useful to God. I prayed, I read, I prayed, I read... and then reading the Bible one day I came across Matthew 25:

⁴⁴"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' ⁴⁵"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

I began walking downtown - riding my bike up and down the streets, in and out of the alleys and I was moved to tears by what I saw - the hungry, thirsty, needy, and sick all around my church. I asked my pastor if the church might donate some blankets that I could take our to the people on the streets - and they did - dozens and dozens and dozens - old and new. I would strap as many blankets onto my bike rack as possible and ride the streets handing out blankets. Soon I knew many of the regulars and they knew me as the 'blanket man.' I took out Bibles, food, coats, blankets and anything I could. Some weeks I was downtown 5 or 6 days. I did this for at least a couple of years... living and working outside of the city, dropping in for an hour or two at a time to 'minister.'

Fast Forward more than a few years... God calls us to plant a church in the heart of downtown. The church gathers Sundays at the Capitol Theater, I have an office on Cherry Street, I am involved in the city now more than I am outside of the city - heck I might as well already live in the city! As a church we have members of our body who are serving at the Macon Rescue Mission every week. We have others who minister through a picnic every Sunday afternoon. We have held multiple canned food drives on our own and through partnerships with others donating hundreds of pounds of canned goods. My study is OFTEN interrupted by homeless people who want money, or a cold drink from the fridge, or use of the bathroom.

One Sunday we had a new family visiting with us at the Theater. The family moved in that weekend from Texas and NCCd was their first visit as far as churches go. They returned the next week. I scheduled lunch with the husband and father. He met me at my office on a beautiful sunny day. Fifty feet from my office I was met by a man who appeared to be homeless - and smelled homeless as well. He asked me for $1 so he could get some tea. Truthfully I told him I had no cash on me... so he quickly headed to the visitor from Texas. I turned to the visitor and walked over as the man was asking for money. I interrupted him and said, 'they are serving lunch right now at Macon outreach. It is just a couple of blocks away, why don't you head over there.' The homeless man turned to me and began to yell and cuss: 'I don't want that ________! That's _____________! I ain't eating their ____________ ________________ ___________! Just give me some ________ __________ money so I can get what I want __________ _______ want!'

He was still yelling at us as the visitor and I walked away and down the street. The visitor and his family (a wife and 2 little girls) never came back. They never came back to New City Church, and as far as I know - they never came back to the Greek Corner Deli, or anywhere else for lunch. I have not seen them downtown since.

Then there was the man who ran into my office white as a sheet and shaking because someone who appeared to be a vagrant stood at his car banging on the window saying that he wanted money and wouldn't leave the man's car. And the homeless guy who stopped right in front of our plate glass window on Cherry Street, unzipped his pants, and urinated right on the sidewalk. I could go on... I realized that at least part of the reason that so many stores remain vacant and so few people come downtown was right there in front of me.

Given the option to go to a North Macon restaurant or shop where you are not asked for money, or yelled at, or cursed at or to go downtown where you get all of that and sometimes the excitement of seeing a fight between drunks or a drunk woman raising her shirt to show off her not so good goods which would your family choose? Yeah - almost always the choice is somewhere besides downtown. And what happens to businesses when people don't frequent them? They close. And what happens to those jobs when they close? they are lost. And what happens to all of the money that the business man invested in his business? Gone. Often he/she is left with a stack of bills and a failed business.

The problem is complex. Much more complex than a friend suggested - just love them both (the homeless and the business owner) and let God take care of it. I do love them both.

To Whom Do We Show Compassion? Homelessness in the City (2)

In my previous post I asked the question:

Who should we feel most sorry for - the homeless community who drinks on the street corner all day urinating and defecating in the alleys, or the business owner who works 80 hours a week and has invested his life savings in a struggling downtown restaurant?

When I posed this question to a member of the Coalition to End Homelessness in Macon his immediate response was - I will always answer, the homeless. When he said this I responded with another question: Is that the right answer? Head tilted, he looked at me as if I had asked the craziest question in the world! The discussion was good. The lines became less clear. Neither of us came to a black/white resolution.

The problem in answering the question is less theological for me than it is in the practical application of that theology...

It is true that both the business owner and the homeless addict share a common need - redemption and restoration. It is also true that the solution to their common problem of sin and separation is shared - Jesus.

It is true that both the homeless addict and the business owner are my neighbor and I am to love my neighbor as myself.

So - practically - what does it look like to love the homeless addict who spends the day begging in order to buy alcohol or drugs, uses on the street corner or in the alley, uses the alley as his rest room,...

AND

love the business owner who works hard in his store, employs others who work hard, and yet potentially loses customers because of the homeless addict and his public life?

Your thoughts?

To Whom Do We Show Compassion? Homelessness in the City

Discussions on homelessness and our city seem to be occurring more and more frequently with the divide between 'sides' seemingly enormous. At a recent meeting with folks from the Coalition to End Homelessness in Macon I posed this question:

Who should we feel most sorry for - the homeless community who drinks on the street corner all day urinating and defecating in the alleys, or the business owner who works 80 hours a week and has invested his life savings in a struggling downtown restaurant?

The immediate response of the Coalition member was - I will always answer the homeless.

What are your thoughts - and why?

What is the Gospel? Good News part 4 A Recent Conversation

I recently sat down at the Rookery with a new friend for one of those 'life' conversations. We talked for almost three hours. I was reminded through the course of that conversation just how desperately my over churched city needs the Gospel! My friend has not been to church in several years(other than perhaps for Easter or Mother's Day to make mom happy). In fact, my friend has not even been able to talk about church for the last several years without becoming angry, upset, and bitter. I am the first pastor that my friend has had a real conversation with in about 5 years.

Why? While my friend's story could fill many pages - here are a few of the highlights:

My friend grew up in church with a family who was very devoted to their church and their Christian beliefs. My friend became very involved with her church and as a teen began to lead worship at a local church even taking a part time staff position - working with the kids and leading youth worship. For $50 a week my friend worked and attended functions (as was the requirement) 7 days a week most weeks. On the occasion that a meeting or church function had to be missed, even for reasons of sickness, family needs, etc., my friend's pastors and their wives would respond in anger - even telling my friend that God was not happy with the lack of commitment. My friend was made to feel like an utter failure. So my friend would try harder, work harder, do more in order to regain the love and kindness of the pastors and God. If there was a night of youth worship when the kids were not energized enough, that too was my friend's fault. My friend was told that something was wrong with their relationship with God or otherwise 'worship' would have been better.

I could go on and on. The short of it is that my friend was manipulated and abused by a church built on rules and man-made expectations instead of the Gospel. My friend was spiritually raped by a Religious Church - and they manipulated, abused, and raped in the name of God. My friend was young and naive and though my friend grew up in church - had no idea of the true Gospel. I am reminded of my last post on What is the Gospel and Tim Keller's vivid contrast of Religion and the Gospel. Here are a few that I hope my friend will one day come to understand...

Religion: “I obey-therefore I’m accepted.”

Gospel: “I’m accepted-therefore I obey.”

Religion: Motivation is based on fear and insecurity.

Gospel: Motivation is based on grateful joy.

Religion: My identity and self-worth are based mainly on how hard I work. Or how moral I am, and so I must look down on those I perceive as lazy or immoral. I disdain and feel superior to ‘the other.’

Gospel: My identity and self-worth are centered on the one who died for His enemies, who was excluded from the city for me. I am saved by sheer grace. So I can’t look down on those who believe or practice something different from me. Only by grace I am what I am. I’ve no inner need to win arguments.

Fight Club Video and Audio Online

You can check it out HERE.

Thanks to the Journey crew for all the hard work.

Cultural / Societal Transformation by the Gospel - Newbigin

From Lesslie Newbigin's book The Gospel in a Pluralist Society on pgs. 232-233.

If the gospel is to challenge the public life of our society, if Christians are to occupy the "high ground" which they vacated in the noontime of "modernity," it will not be by forming a Christian political party, or by aggressive propaganda campaigns. Once again it has to be said that there can be no going back to the "Constantinian" era. It will only be by movements that begin with the local congreation in which the reality of the new creation is present, known, and experienced, and from which men an women will go into every sector of public life to claim it for Christ, to unmask the illusions which have remained hidden and to expose all areas of public life to the illumination of the gospel. But that will only happen as and when local congregations renounce an introverted concern for their own life and recognize that they exist for the sake of those who are not members, as sign, instrument, and foretaste of God's redeeming grace for the whole life of society.

From Greg Wood @ the Carpenter's Project blog

Downtown's National Night Out

If you came to National Night Out last night, THANKS!

If you helped setup or tear down, THANKS A TON!

If you weren't able to make it, you missed out! :-)

We had a great time on the Poplar Street parking deck, with bouncers for the kids, music from local artists Jowin and Al K!ng, facepainting, and hearing from people like our very own Patrick "P-Mac" McConnell; Warren Selby, founder of Crimestoppers; Sheriff Jerry Modena; Police Chief Mike Burns and Sergeant Zac Self of Crimestoppers.

One of the goals of a National Night Out event is to choose a Project 365 for the community to work on over the next year. Patrick announced that City Watch's Project 365 will be graffiti removal downtown. New Town Macon was awarded a grant to use graffiti removal equipment and will be partnering with Crimestoppers this year to make Macon beautiful!

Overall, the event turned out really well. A lot more people came than I expected, and we got news coverage on Fox24, 41WMGT, and 13WMAZ. You can read the Macon Telegraph's article here. Check out some pictures below, and be there next year when we do it again!

Patrick employing the rhetorical skill of hand motions

Sergeant Zac Self and a Crimestoppers agent

Sheriff Jerry Modena (check out the aweome bouncer in the back!)

A sweet Crimestoppers car

Downtown Destinations

You don't have to go a long way for a Nu-Way. It's just up the street.

In the Limelight: Nu-Way Weiner Stand
Where it's at: 430 Cotton Ave
What to do: Get a taste of Macon's history in a hot dog

I have been interning for New City/567/City Watch for over two months now. Most weeks I'm in Macon at least 6 days (I live in Warner Robins). Most of those days, I'm downtown. But until today, I had never eaten at the legendary Nu-Way Weiner
Stand. Some might call that a travesty. Others might call it God's mercy...Amy. :-)

My reason for not going was that it's HOT DOGS. Why would I go to a restaurant to eat a hot dog? It's like going out for breakfast and ordering a poptart. I was told, though, that not doing a post on Nu-Way was NOT an option, because that Nu-Way right there on Cotton Avenue is the original and has been sitting there serving weiners all the way since 1916. For more history, check out Nu-Way's website.

There must be something to it, because it was completely full except for seats at the bar when I was there. As I've said before, a full house says a whole lot about a place. I had a hamburger, hot dog, and fries. (No, I didn't eat every last bite, but I ate most of it.) The hamburger and hot dog come "all the way" meaning they have a chili-like meat sauce with pickles and onions. I asked for no onions, so I guess mine were "most of the way."

I will say that I was cured of my Don't-go-out-to-eat-and-order-a-hot-dog mindset. The hot dog is definitely worth going somewhere to get. The hamburger was good, too, but I particularly enjoyed the hot dog. I think sitting at the bar added to the Nu-Way experience as well.

If you're going on a budget, Nu-Way is definitely the winner for the cheapest lunch downtown. A hot dog is $1.69, and you can throw in a small fry for $1.49 and a drink for $1.59, with their special flakey ice. The lovely smell of Nu-Way and any effects the food may have on your digestive tract are completely free. Let's just say, your Nu-Way experience doesn't end when you leave.

Apparently a lot of people would go a long way for a Nu-Way, and you don't have to go far at all. So don't be like me and go two months without making a visit to the original Nu-Way Weiner Stand!

Keith and our waiter Quinn