Catching Up - Shipping Off

Last week was a F U L L week - normal meetings, normal (steady) flow of visitors, counseling, church plant coaching, and football coaching. Add to that attempts to squeeze in personal study and preparation for Sunday and you have a busy week... then add to that all that is involved in evaluating a property for a potential move and you have overload!

This week included multiple meetings with contractors, multiple trips to Planning and Zoning, a meeting with Inspection and Fees, and a lot of 'figuring' as we count costs and discuss possibilities.

Because this move would take us out of the entertainment district of the city center, I have also tried to talk with various people within New City, and people who are New City friends but are not affiliated with us as a church. The response from all has been positive in moving forward with the potential move - we'll see.

The latest: still counting costs, getting estimates, and will meet

with all departments week after next for a Pre-development Meeting to finalize things like parking questions, capacity questions and more!

Tomorrow I will meet up with Alex Early, A-29 Planter of Four Corners Church in Newnan and we'll head out to Houston for Boot Camp and to help with A-29 church planter assessments.

On a personal note... I am continually humbled by my own inadequacies and short comings. Sunday after Sunday I share with many of you what God has been convicting me of. Sunday after Sunday I feel as though I preach to myself and over and over I preach from and to my weakness. I am constantly amazed by God's grace and mercy!

See you Soon!

Maybe You Should Listen

For those newer to New City, we spent 4 weeks last year on the subject of Engaging the Poor. The series was an attempt to help New City people begin to think through our urban context and some of the realities of poverty. It may be helpful to take a listen (these are on i-tunes):

Week 1 - Series Intro (Keith)

Week 2 - Engage the Poor, Engage God (Cameron)

Week 3 - Some Practical Ways to Engage the Poor (Cameron)

Week 4 - Q and A (Cameron and Keith)

Uncle Jerry

I needed a laugh - so I checked out some Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy.

"I remember how my Great Uncle Jerry would sit on the porch and whittle all day long. Once he whittled me a toy boat out of a larger toy boat I had. It was almost as good as the first one, except now it had bumpy whittle marks all over it. And no paint, because he had whittled off the paint."

To Whom Do We Show Compassion? Homelessness in the City (6) My Final Answer

Today included an additional meeting and one more lengthy e-mail with regards to my position on homelessness in our city. Below is an e-mail response that I sent out this afternoon. It will serve as my 'Final Answer' with regards to the issue for now...

Dear Sam,

I do wish that you had called me. Yes I am busy. Busy all the time - that is just life. I am not too busy to make time for you guys.

I admit that my handling of personal attacks regarding the blog was not best. I should have simply not responded. I should have let the critics speak and leave it at that. You guys were different (from these critics) - you were here (at New City) and an active part of the fellowship - I will make time to listen and talk - to hear your side and express mine.

What you and the critics do not know and see, is how much food, clothing, soup, deodorant, cold drinks, and the like that I give away. You don't see the checks that I have written for rooms.

You don't know the many times I have given rides or just listened.

I am helping _______ and _________ get settled in a room at the ____________ - delivered a microwave, tomorrow a tv (that is being donated). They have food, and clothing. We are working on getting a bed and other things. I tried to express that in the blog at various times.

I love these people and want to see them get better, get healed, and become a thriving part of society.

I do admit that my patience is low for some.

The maybe 50% who lie, manipulate, and use.

The ones who are already drinking when I get here at 9 and who are fighting by 4.

They hurt the businesses and therefore hurt owners and employees as well as the potential for growth in the city.

One of these is named __________. He is 50ish. He came to church for a while - mostly ate donuts, had coffee, and slept.

I have listened and talked to _________ much - he is a good talker and tells great sad stories.

But what he wants is for you to give him money and anything else that he needs or wants.

He gets $948 a month disability (I think that is what he told me).

He eats every free meal downtown

He gets food stamps and groceries from shelters and food banks

$948 with all of those services could provide for ________. My grandfather lived on less for many years (and I never knew it)

Instead, ________ drinks and smokes all of his money

He uses and manipulates so that he can get more money to get more alcohol or more drugs

I do not believe I am loving _________ by feeding his laziness or his addictions. I do not believe that is what Scripture teaches us to do.

I also firmly believe that there are many who give and minister to the homeless and to the vagrants and they do so to the detriment of the business owners.

God loves both and so should we.

So - I believe that we should work hard to help both.

And I do.

One of the positives of stirring both sides on this issue to think and act differently is this:

I am talking with a 501c3 downtown who lacks money but wants to start a Day Shelter to help those who will be helped and to get them off the street during the day - showers - services - clothing...

I am talking with developers and foundations who have money but lack know how - they want a Day Shelter as well.

My hope is to get the 2 together and make it happen.

So - contrary to what you think, or (others) - I am working hard to help those on our streets. Likewise I am working hard for our businesses.

I will gladly sit down with you guys at any time.

Keith

Still Learning, and Learning is often difficult

I have occasionally had to deal with criticism - as in a person here or a person there. Usually that criticism has come from within the church body and has been minor. So recent criticism from outside and by people who do not know me has been new.

I admit (as if you needed me to) that I do not always handle that criticism well! The truth is, because this is new, I must learn to deal with the criticism.

In the past, I have been able to sit down with critics who are vocal and talk, face-to-face. I can't do that with anonymous posters and people who live in other cities and attend other churches, or who would just rather toss out their criticism and move on.

I have been reading a little and seeking some wisdom - knowing I am deficient. Here is 1 post I read:

7 Effective Ways to Deal With Criticism

1. What Can I Learn from Criticism?

Most criticism is probably based, at least in part, on some truths. Criticism may appear negative. But, through criticism we have the opportunity to learn and improve from their suggestions.

2. Respond to the suggestions not the tone of the criticism.

The problem is that people may make valuable critical suggestions. However, there tone and style of criticism means that we respond not to the suggestions but remember there confrontational manner. In this respect we need to separate the criticism from the style of criticism. Even if people speak in a tone of anger, we should try to detach their emotion from the useful suggestions which lie underneath.

3. Value criticism.

The problems is that quite often, we only value praise. When people speak kind words we feel happy. When people criticise we feel miserable. However, if we only received insincere praise and false flattery, how would we ever make progress? If we wish to improve and develop we should invite constructive criticism and appreciate their suggestions.

4. Don’t take it personally.

This is often the biggest problem which occurs with regard to criticism. If I criticise my Mother’s cooking, she feels personally offended. But, it is a mistake to identify ourselves with an apple pie. Somebody may find good reasons why our cooking is bad; but, this does not mean they are criticising ourselves. When people criticise us directly, we should feel they are not criticising our real self; but, just an unillumined aspect of ourselves. When we criticise others, we are perhaps criticising their pride or jealousy; but, the jealousy is a mere passing emotion, it is not the real person.

5. Ignore False Criticism.

Sometimes we are criticized with no justification. This is a painful experience. But, potentially we can deal with it more easily than criticism which is justified. One option is to remain aloof and ignore it completely. We should feel that false criticism is as insignificant as an ant trying to harm an elephant. If we remain silent and detached the criticism is given no energy. If we feel the necessity of fighting it – in a way, we give it more importance than it deserves. By remaining silent we maintain a dignity that others will come to respect.

(I Must Do A Better Job With This One)

6. Don’t Respond Immediately

It is best to wait a little before responding. If we respond with feelings of anger or injured pride we will soon regret it. If we wait patiently it can enable us to reflect in a calmer way.

7. Smile

Smiling, even a false smile, can helps us to relax more. It creates a more positive vibration and smoothes the situation. It will definitely help psychologically. Smiling will motivate the other person to moderate their approach.

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.