Summer Storms and a Love Drug?

Once again we were amazed by our God today.  I don’t know why we find it so hard to believe he’d take care of us, except for the simple fact we live in a very small, limited mindset at times.  I don’t think we ever doubt Him.  Don’t get me wrong.  And we never doubt that He shows up every time we venture in to our downtown Omaha corner.  But today as we were leaving our nice, dry, suburban homestead, the skies were telling an ugly story.  I mean some of the ugliest, blackest, thickest, promise to dump a million gallons of water looking clouds on us in a minute that you could ever imagine seeing were hovering over the downtown area.  In fact, they were everywhere.  As far as the eye could see.  We live about 15 miles south and west of the downtown area and all the way down it was ugliness.  We even had people texting us telling us we’d better be ready.  It was already raining downtown.  One fellow who shall go unnamed even texted us and told us we’d better have a plan B.  Sorry man.  We only have one plan.  We aren’t sophisticated enough to have a plan B.  And anyway, we’ve seen it happen too many times.  In fact, its one thing our friends know.  When we show up down there, it doesn’t rain.  Has nothing to do with us.  Nothing.  Just God giving us a brief window to do a little work.  And I don’t know why in the world it is so surprising to me.  It’s like we tempted fate one too many times.  But it’s true.  It just doesn’t rain on that corner from about noon until whenever.  I don’t care what the weatherman says.  I don’t care what weather.com says.  Oh, we check.  I don’t know why.  But we check.  And it might tell us that it’s going to rain at whatever time.  But if that time falls in the window that we are downtown, forget about it.

So when we got downtown today, it was nice and cool.  And the line had formed.  And it was loooooong.  Man it was long.  Never know what we might find when we get down there.  Especially with the “threat” of rain.  Must not matter.  There were well over 200 people waiting when we got there today.  And when we got there, I was in hurry up mode.  In my mind, as feeble and limited as it is, we had to get this thing going.  We needed to get set up and get everyone served as quickly as possible in case it rained.  It was in the forecast ya know.  The skies were quite black.  And my mind was telling me we needed to hurry.  And for some reason, it seemed like we were short on people to help serve.  I was recruiting Nick, Christian, Erin and anyone else I could summon.  It just seemed weird that we had all these people to serve and not enough people to help out.  But they started showing up and pretty soon we had the serving tables fully staffed.  And poor Robin was about at her wits end trying to get it all set up.  We served tacos with chips and cheese and various desserts.  That menu takes quite a few hands to get everything doled out and keep the lines moving.  Oh and did I mention that we were worried about the possibility of rain?  Oh, us of little faith.  

So I jumped up on the wall with Erin and we did our thing.  One funny thing about that.  Every time we do out thing on that corner, we start the whole thing off with the Lord’s Prayer and then I say a short prayer to bless the food, our times, etc.  Erin always helps me.  We jump up on a short wall that lines the block from 13^th St. to 14^th St.  It’s just a good way for a short guy like myself to get a little more height and for them to be able to hear me if I actually were to have anything worthwhile to say.  As Robin gave me the go ahead today and told me to get up there, I looked around for Erin.  She was stationed at the front end of one of the serving tables.  The look on her face was one of worry.  She was pretty much tied to the table because as soon as we finished praying, the food would start flying!  She looked at me and said something like “…but Daddy, I have to stay here and serve”.  And she was right.  But she also knew that I don’t go up on that wall alone.  That’s our thing.  Me and Erin.  My trusted assistant.  I know I just spent a lot of words telling what may seem to be an insignificant story.  But it’s pretty huge to me.  I pray it’s something that Erin will always remember.  Years from now, that she and Daddy prayed on that wall many times and that she always has a heart for serving.  So Erin and I jumped up and did our thing.  And I really rushed the prayer.  Not in a way that dishonored why we were there.  But I just kept thinking we need to hurry up.  And when I got off the wall, a lady asked me where I “preached at?”  Seriously?  That always cracks me up.

So a few minutes later, after walking the line and greeting everyone, I’m standing on the corner.  What had a few minutes earlier been ugly, billowing, black clouds had given way to a small blue hole in the sky.  A small break.  Was it going to happen again?  A menacing summer storm that looked like it might just ruin our afternoon was going to blow by with not so much as a whimper?  When I looked up and saw the small dot of blue in the sky, you can bet I was on it.  I was talking to another fellow.  A guy who I’m just not sure what side of the fence he lies on, spiritually speaking.  I get the hint at times that he’s a believer.  But I’ve never really sensed a commitment.  But I was able to once again reiterate that we serve a God who cares about this stuff.  And about his people.  Especially those that gather on a corner in downtown Omaha on occasion.  I was able to let this guy know that this was once again God doing His thing while allowing us to also do His thing.  Just another chance to show this fellow that God does indeed mean business.  And He’s in the business of love.

On a somewhat humorous note, another fellow was there today and I think he wishes he was in the business of love.  A little different than God’s love, no doubt.  He mentioned to someone that he wanted to give Robin a love drug.  I am literally laughing out loud thinking that, number one, he actually said it and number two, who he said it to.  He made this proclamation to someone we know very well.  It’s not as if it wouldn’t get back to us.  Of course he didn’t know that.  I guess some of our friends don’t realize that we talk.  I don’t know.  It just hit me as pretty funny.  Not that Robin isn’t worthy of a love drug.  She definitely is.  But I’m going to probably have a talk with my man and tell him maybe he needs to focus his love elsewhere.   A love drug?  Seriously?  Wow…

So we brought enough food for a couple hundred people.  And we had about 250-300 plates.  And about 20 big tubs of clothing.  And all kinds of other stuff.  And we left the downtown area with a pretty empty trailer.  It was amazing.  And you have to remember all of this happens in a pretty organized, chaotic kind of way.  I’ve just never seen anything like it.  I get so many thank-yous.  Like I actually do anything?  I mean seriously.  It just blows my mind that we serve a God who will literally part the skies so we can do this thing and people are thanking me.  I try as hard as I can to make sure the thanks go to God.  And to let our friends know that it ain’t us, but Him they need to be thanking.  And I know that it’s pretty cool to get a good meal, some clothing, hygiene stuff, whatever, but I also know that it all leaves that corner with His blessing.  It just wouldn’t be possible otherwise. 

And by the time we left that corner, actually about an hour after we got there, the skies had completely changed to a bright blue and there wasn’t a cloud to be found anywhere in the downtown area.  Another beautiful, successful day of ‘Fishin.  Starfishin’.  With the blessings of a God who loves us like we will never know.  Very thankful to be able to serve alongside all of those who give up their Sunday afternoons to do this thing.  Because I know that a lot of them drove down thinking the same things we were thinking as we drove downtown today.  Probably along the lines of “…Are the Laneys crazy?  Don’t they know that the skies are about to open up on us?”  Well, honestly, that’s probably about what we were thinking.  And the skies did open up.  To reveal a beautiful blue sky and another opportunity to serve an amazing group of people and an AMAZING GOD!  :)

"Sometimes I would like to ask God why he allows poverty, famine and injustice in the world, when He could do something about it...but I'm afraid He may ask me the same question." Anonymous.

Instead, we always speak as God wants us to, because he has judged us worthy to be entrusted with the Good News. We do not try to please people, but to please God, who tests our motives. ~1 Thessalonians 2:4 Good News Translation (GNT)

Make a difference…it matters.

Thundering Who We Are..

Sunday morning started out a bit unusual for me in that instead of getting ready for our downtown activities and getting ready for church, I was planted firmly in front of my computer on a work call that was supposed to last about 1/2 an hour. It didn't. Almost 3 hours later, as I was already too late to make it to church, my call was wrapping up. Fortunately, I had prepared and loaded most of the necessary items in our trailer on Saturday.  That meant most of the things that we'd need for our monthly meeting in the park with our friends was covered and I was in pretty good shape on Sunday morning. There's just certain things I can't do ahead of time, like make gallons of coffee, lemonade, etc. Some things just have to be done the morning of and those things were staring me in the face after my conference call ended. But actually, I was multi-tasking during my call. Making the great Scooters coffee that our friends at Harvest Roasting so generously supply. I'm telling you, this stuff is so much better than Starbucks. It's not even close. And they've really set us up over the years. Great commercial brewing system. Plenty of coffee whenever we need it. Just great stuff and our friends really love it. So as my call wrapped up and I knew I wouldn't make it to church, a somewhat relaxing feeling came over me. I knew that it wouldn't be a crazy, hectic morning getting everything prepped to go. And it wasn't. And what that bought me was a little less craziness when we got downtown. You see, normally when I get there, my mind is racing about a million miles a minute. Making sure we brought everything. Making sure we didn't forget something that might be important to someone. You may not think lettuce is that important, but one young lady refused to eat a taco last month because we forgot the lettuce. She was really pretty upset about it and I don't want those kinds of avoidable things happening. So today was good in that regard. I don't think we forgot anything. And when we arrived, even though we saw one of the biggest crowds of people I've seen there in a long time, there was something relaxing about the whole atmosphere.

One thing I noticed right off the bat was our good friend Dave Paulsen was there and ready to go. Dave and his wife Amber, of facingGoliath, come most Sundays now and provide live music for our friends. Crowder, Tomlin, and all sorts of other great worship music. There's something about live music that really sets the atmosphere. It creates a festival type of ambience that is just really cool. I'm continually amazed at how God will orchestrate this whole thing into something great as long as we are obedient and willing. So when Dave shows up, it is good. He comes once a month to perform at our Monday Common Table meals at inCommon Community Development also and his music and style just really set the stage for God's message to be shown.

You see, I read somewhere this week that you cannot "show" the Gospel, that is must be proclaimed. A well respected pastor from one of our nation's mega churches was credited with having said that. And while I agree with it to a certain degree, I probably disagree with it more than I agree, if that even makes sense. I absolutely believe that people see the Gospel in our lives at all times. I know we should be prepared to explain and defend our beliefs, especially to those seeking the truth. But our actions speak so loudly at times. I have a friend who lives in the shelter and he's sent me a couple things recently that just really made me pause.

First he said to me in an email - "what you are thunders so much that I do not hear what you are saying".

And secondly, he sent me the following -

Sermons We See

Edgar Guest

I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day; 

I'd rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.

The eye's a better pupil and more willing than the ear,

Fine counsel is confusing, but example's always clear;

And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,

For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.

I soon can learn to do it if you'll let me see it done;

I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.

And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,

But I'd rather get my lessons by observing what you do;

For I might misunderstand you and the high advise you give,

But there's no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

When I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind.

When a weaker brother stumbles and a strong man stays behind

Just to see if he can help him, then the wish grows strong in me

To become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be.

And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today

Is not the one who tells them, but the one who shows the way.

One good man teaches many, men believe what they behold;

One deed of kindness noticed is worth forty that are told.

Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear,

For right living speaks a language which to every one is clear.

Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence, I say,

I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one, any day.

Powerful words on so many levels.

One short thing I'd share today is personal and relates to my son Nick. I'm biased and probably have a hard time separating my feelings for my kids from what I actually see from them when we are downtown. But one thing I know is that it's important for us to go. Nick had an opportunity to go out to lunch after church with some friends. But it would mean that he would miss out on our downtown activities. I wrestled briefly with letting him go. But what it came back to for me was the fact that we only go down once a month these days. And that day we go is important. And I believe it's important that we do this as a family. I get the chance to watch my kids in action on that corner. They've literally grown up on that corner. Nick will be 14 in a little over a month. We've been going for 5 years now. He's spent over a 1/3 of his life going down to visit our friends on that corner. He knows these guys. They know him. He was a bit upset about not getting to go hang out with his friends. As we headed downtown, there was a bit of moping and sadness emanating from the Nickster. But moments after we got downtown, he was in his element. He just does it well. He was talking football with a fellow named Michael. He was working the crowd. And he was thundering who he is. He was letting people see a sermon. It's not always good. We all make mistakes. But it's real. And that matters.

So today, and I'm sure it was because I was a bit more relaxed and my head wasn't necessarily on a swivel looking for the next thing to do, I was able to actually stop and talk to several people. I talked to a couple (not married but they've been "together" for about 5 years) who were experiencing relationship problems. I first explained to them that I'm not a counselor, not a pastor, but just a guy who believes. I tried to explain to them, and I believe they got it, that the battle wasn't between their human selves.  Not of the flesh. But the battle was literally between them. That the enemy was in between them, pushing buttons, picking at wounds and forcing them to fight with each other rather than look upwards. Hopefully it all made sense to them. I think it did. She understood. I think he did.

Again, I'm so far out of my league sometimes when people ask me for advice. But the thing I don't do is "lean on my own understanding". I can't. Because I've learned over the years that it only gets me in trouble. But if I lean on what is really important, The Word, then it all begins to make sense. And then it comes down to living it and letting it thunder who I am. Letting people see the sermon that is our life.

So Sunday, June 26 was really good. The line of people stretched for almost a city block. And in some cases, it was 2 lines. There were just so many people. I wonder where they all come from. But I pray that they saw the Gospel in action today. From all of us. Thundering. Living it out. Oh, and on the way home, about 3 minutes from downtown, the rain came. It never rains on us while we're there. God always gives us a window. But on the way home, he reminded us that we'd better be effective within that window. Because maybe it's not always open. We'd better be a sermon for all to see and we'd better use our time and opportunities wisely. We'd better thunder who we are when the opportunity arises because that window can close rather rapidly. :)

Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill...  Matthew 5:16   ~The Message (MSG)

Make a difference…it matters.