But, I hate asking for help for me, or my family. I guess I have this rugged individualist nature in me; Maybe I’m allowing dominate Western culture to shape me more than the gospel? Or, maybe I’ve watched far too many John Wayne and Cline Eastwood movies…Okay…maybe not!

When Jesus said it’s hard for the rich man to enter heaven, this is what I think he means, the very nature of the gospel is doing life together and serving one another. Rich people (people who can care for their own needs, with their own resources) can care for their own needs, they don’t have to be vulnerable. Even if they’re broken, they can hide their brokenness with the “stuff” they have.

Not so for the poor!

Nothing belongs to me, it all belongs to us, should be our natural position.

When you’re rich, you don’t need help as much. When you’re poor, you have no choice but to ask for help.

Jesus calls all of us to be poor (in Spirit), even if we have resources. This is exactly why it’s hard for the wealthy to embrace gospel community. The poor have no choice but to accept help, the rich have to CHOOSE to embrace the fullness of gospel community. (submit to one-another)

I don’t want to ask you for help, but that is not the posture of the gospel. And this is why the gospel is so transformative!

I ask you for help, you ask me for help, together we ask God for help!

We’re all poor and in need of a savior, so we all come together under God’s grace, and because of that grace…we embrace a humble posture that says it’s okay to ask for help!

Photo taken in Haiti Nov 2010 by Blanca!

Next Thursday we will be hosting an event called Stories From Africa. Click the link for details.

Steven & Amy will be sharing a bit of their experiences while in Africa the past two years. Looking forward to that.

Also, Kyle Lent will be performing after the conversation. You won’t want to miss him.

Props to Charles and Crestview for hosting the event. They have one of the best “church” coffee shops around.

Can’t wait for this event.

They are doing some great stuff in Sub-Sahara Africa. Anyhow, I’m trying to set up some meetings-it will be a great time to hear what God is doing in Africa and maybe find some practical ways that you and your church/ministry can help.

So if you have time to hang and grab some coffee/lunch-please let me know.

I’ve got to hit the gym hard next month. My “healthy” eating has been flushed down the toilet the past few weeks. So many great places to grub-it’s ridiculous.

BTW-Football starts soon. WOO HOO!

Hopefully I’m not sick tomorrow night

I love vision-casting, dreaming, planning, sharing and pouring into people. It’s just so freaking vital that we pastor types spend time pouring into people and helping them on life’s journey.

Sample of my week: I preached Sunday, hung with our Africa missions team last night, met with Com Group leaders today, studied theology with Jeff and Bedwell yesterday morning at Starbucks, meeting with some folks tonight to train them to take over our greeters ministry on Sunday and now I’m getting ready for an outreach that we are doing next Tuesday in E. Austin and I also get to prepare a message to speak next Sunday. I

love it. Rock on!

Usually when folks find out I’m from Cali, they ask me what I miss the most…Hands down I say the beach. I love Austin, but man I just miss the beach.

Tuesday we are going to head to South Padre. I just hope I like it. By no means am I expecting S. Padre to be Cali or NC (NC beaches ROCK BTW!) but I just need to hear the sound of the ocean, feel the salty breeze and enjoy the eternal rolling of the waves.

For all my Cali, NC, & WA peeps-PLEASE NO COMMENT

Plus Virb just rocks. The layout is simple and clean and they allow for some coding so you can really create a great site. Too bad I suck at coding

So if you Virb let me know.