The Last, The Lost The Least

This spoke volumes to me today. It's a cry, a prayer, a lament, a shout from the margins. for the church to take serious it's call to care for the least of these.

Live a life of privilege
Pushing back the last, the lost
The least of these
To dull the edge of concscience
With conceit
Live a life and see the world
Feel it's weight on the shoulders
Of the least of these
It spins and twirls
Without rest or relief

We all, we all wear dignity
It covers the strong, the weak
We all, we all wear dignity
Even the last, the lost, the least

Step into a spacious place
Where pride and right will give way
To the least of these
To know the face
Of who a man can be

We all, we all wear dignity
It covers the strong, the weak
We all, we all wear dignity
Even the last, the lost, the least

His image shown
We give our lives, our time, our own
To feed, to clothe
Those in His image we have left alone

We all, we all wear dignity
It covers the strong, the weak
We all, we all wear dignity
Even the last, the lost, the least

We all, we all wear dignity
God help the blind like me
Finding at last a voice we cry
And see with clear unblinking eyes

God's Greeting and Radical Hospitality

God's Greeting

As an expression of Jesus' prophetical ministry, Jesus exposed a significant flaw in pharisaical religion. The Pharisees were more exclusionary - and thus, less welcoming - than God. They erected boundary markers that kept people out, rather than let people in. In essence, they had their own table in the middle of the Cafe, and it was obvious who was welcome. Even more, it was obvious who was not! By failing to be inclusive, they failed to live a kingdom life in a fallen world.

Our greeting is to be different. Jesus calls us to greet others with warm welcome. Our greeting is deeply influenced by the grace we have experienced in Christ. Instead of erecting boundaries to keep people out, we are to remove obstacles to people's participation in God's kingdom community. Instead of boundaries, we focus on the centre. All are welcome, for there is "neither Jew nor Greek, male nor female, slave nor free, but all are one in Christ" (Galatians 3:28).

In contrast to exclusionary religion, Christ calls us to no less than the practice of radical hospitality.

Radical Hospitality

In order to comprehend the rich depths of radical hospitality, we must first lift the word from its common use. Henri Nouwen offers excellent insight in this regard and is worth quoting at length:

At first the word "hospitality" might evoke the image of soft sweet kindness, tea parties, bland conversations and a general atmosphere of coziness...

If there is any concept worth restoring to its original depth and evocative potential, it is the concept of hospitality. It is one of the richest biblical terms that can deepen and broaden our insight in our relationships to our fellow human beings...   

The term hospitality... [is] a fundamental attitude toward our fellow human beings which can be expressed in a great variety of ways...    
So we can see that creating space is far from easy in our occupied and preoccupied society. And still, if we expect any salvation, redemption, healing and new life, the first thing we need is an open receptive place where something can happen to us. Hospitality, therefore, is such an important attitude. We cannot change the world by new plan, project or idea. We cannot even change other people by our convictions, stories, advice and proposals, but we can offer a space where people are encouraged to disarm themselves, to lay aside their occupations and preoccupations and to listen with attention and care to the voices speaking in their own center...   

Just as we cannot force a plant to grow but can take away the weeds and stones which prevent its development, so we cannot force anyone to such a personal and intimate change of heart, but we can offer the space where such a change can take place.

Such hospitality reveals an openness to others. It welcomes others into our world, just as they are, with no strings attached. "Hospitality means making a space for others, not so that we can exploit them or get something from them, or even so that we can make them be like us. It is showing them the same kind of grace and mercy, the same presence, that God has given us."

"It's time to change the face of poverty, to live our faith authentically and to get involved with the people who need help. It s time to sub-merge ourselves, to go deep beneath the surface of shallow living and make a difference in our world! Follow author John Hayes as he lives out his faith on some of the toughest streets and poorest ghettos in the world. Learn what real compassion looks like in the trenches. Discover why people of faith cannot ignore the poor and how the St. Francis model of compassion can help alleviate suffering today. You ll also be energized to action through an inside look at the workings of InnerCHANGE, a mission organization that seeks to work among the poor, rather than just offering aid and handouts. Readers will come away with practical ways they can work for justice and find significance in the process."


This book is one of the more formative books that I have read in recent years. It has again pressed upon me the need for ministry and mission on the margins. The books sets out a vision for a different kind of missionary endevour from what we are used to. It is not a "Cut and Run" model or a "loitering with intent" model. It it's heart it is a John 1:14 model. It is about moving into the neighbourhood. I have read it as preparation n for my sabbatical. One of the best books i have read this year. In fact if I am honest one of the best books written on Submergence.

Extreme Hospitality out of Extreme Poverty

Hospitality is when an invitation to a reception or meal is extended. Extreme Hospitality is characterized by a willingness to give that exceeds one's means to give. It is more than treating invited guests warmly and generously; extreme hospitality includes providing a sustaining environment to those who need it, wherever or however they need it.

Jesus described Extreme Hospitality in Luke 14:12-14. He taught that when you host a party or a dinner you should invite the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. They cannot repay you, but you will be blessed.

Extreme Hospitality occurs when one gives without the possibility of return. When the church in Jerusalem was suffering from great poverty, Paul was commissioned to take up offerings for them wherever he traveled (Galatians 2:10). After Paul took the gospel to Macedonia, the believers suffered because of their faith, which resulted in a loss of income. Even so, they desired to help the church in Jerusalem with its great poverty.

Paul cited the Macedonian churches as an example of Extreme Hospitality, saying, "Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty well up in rich generosity. For i testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability" (2 Corinthians 8:2-3). Paul encouraged the Corinthians to follow this example. We would do well to follow it as well.

Jesus said, "The righteous ones will be invited into the kingdom because they aided Me when I was hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick and in prison" (Matthew 25:31-46, paraphrased). The righteous ones wondered when they had treated the King in this manner. The King responded, "What you have done for even the least, you have done to Me." In other words, the way one treats others is the way one treats Jesus.

Extreme Hospitality is an attitude and an act of the heart that says that I will not just give on a convenient level. No reluctance, a freedom of giving that is beyond means and measure. (In Effect "Grace")  Extreme Hospitality is offered without regard to any return on my investment? This seems to be the level that Jesus works at.

Topdog or Underdog

WOE

Woe to the church who mistreats and abuses the underdog.

Woe to the greedy for power and adulation.

Woe to the pastors who put 'church' before love, 

before compassion and before grace.

Woe to the filled and the satisfied and the self appointed,

Woe to the rich who steal from the poor and ignore:

the pain and the suffering and the needs of the broken, the desperate, the messy and the unclean - for the sake of the 'good name' of their church and the wealth of their reputation and position

WOE

to the learned and the knowledgeable with their titles and positions, their creeds and their expectations which flow so eloquently from their mouths but neglect the heart of the outcast and the underdog who are waiting mouths open to grab at the scraps from the table they preach from.

WOE

to those who continue to peddle the evil of legalism, to freeze out the ones who are fighting to breathe and to survive and escape their demons only to be beaten and rejected by the hands they were told were sent to free them

WOE.

For Jesus he came for the sick for the sinner for the needy and broken for the soul that has crashed and burned and faltered and realised their need - only to be told by the 'church' upon entering that they are no good that their sins are crimson and go ever before them - but with words that say 'we love you' 'we accept you' and 'we include you' while at the same time rejecting and cursing and eliminating them from the ranks of 'their' chosen'

WOE.

Woe to the church who mistreats and abuses the underdog.

UNDER THE BRIDGE

Under the Bridge is a collection of poetry and stories by homeless people in Melbourne. While showing the despair of the reality of being homeless, it also shows the hope as lives begin to change through ongoing encouragement and support. The themes of despair and hope are accompanied by photographs taken by secondary and tertiary students in Melbourne as well as professional images by Casamento Photography.

Looking at rain, longing for summer

Im sitting in the office and it's raining. It's 8 weeks till I leave the UK and fly to Australia for the first part of my sabbatical. To say that I'm looking forward to it is an understatement. I'm looking forward to meeting a whole new set of people and to exploring some of the wonderful delights that Australia has to offer. It will be good to meet up with people who share a similar outlook on life. I'm looking forward to a bit of travelling around to see different situations. It would be great to do this on a Harley. I think this is not going to be possible though.