I will need to begin with Thursday night, because I wrongly wrote on the last post that we went home Thursday night after dinner - and I am glad we did not - even though we were so tired. No, we went to McAllister Recreation Center, for our normal time to get together, to hang out and enjoy some time chillin. We started with some time to recognize the coolness of God - we brought flowers from all over - small and large - some which grow on the side of the road, some carefully planted, watered and fertilized. We were reminded of how beautiful they are. Even if we might mow them down if they grew in our grass, or even pull them if they were in our flower beds, they are fabulous...and we were reminded that people are the same way - no matter what society thinks of them - if they care for them and think they are the greatest, richest, most wonderful people, or if society puts them down, treat them like weeds, and mows them over like they don't matter, they are all amazingly beautiful - unique creations, crafted by a God who intended them to be here on this earth. We would do well to remember this, in each day, and honor all of God's creations, no matter what.
After this time of focusing on the coolness of God, we took some time to notice each other. We do this by talking to God about each other - you see, we believe that the same God who made us all equally valuable wants us to talk to Him and ask Him to be part of each moment of our lives. We notice each other by, if we choose, writing something we are concerned about, some hurt in our lives, etc and this can be done with a name on the paper or not - and then we, without knowing who wrote what, exchange them by drawing one out of a plastic lid. Then, for the next 2wks, when we think of it or see the piece of paper, we talk to God about that person's problem - it is a wonderful way for us to care for each other and to involve God in our problems.
Last, we had some teaching. This time I handed out puzzle pieces to each of the people in the circle. They were then asked to put the puzzle together. The problem was that not all the pieces fit. This simple lesson was used to remind us that we often try all kinds of things in this life to see where we "fit" - that is, where we have fullness of life and joy and peace, usually finding that things like money and relationships and possessions and power and education and religion, etc, etc, etc, do not seem to fully satisfy - they do not completely "fit". We find our "fit" when we begin to go to God as the placer of our puzzle piece and allow Him to put us where we belong. We are not saying, by any means, that all our problems go away when this happens - only that this way of living (trying to invove God in the moments of our days) has a very real sense of our piece being in the right "puzzle" and our life moving in the direction toward what it was always supposed to be. We are at home - finally. We wrapped up with a time of celebrating all God has done for us and went to our homes to rest for Friday.
Friday dawned and we scooted ourselves to Howarth Center with 6 dozen eggs,banana bread, zucchini bread and a breakfast casserole and our skillets - ready to make fried eggs. We arrived to the familiar line of people, waiting to get some food for their needy families - many already having been there for hours. After enjoying our last breakfast of the week with the wonderful folks at Transitional Housing - who downed those 6 dozen eggs in about 20minutes - we went to the clinic and outside to the parking lot to again face those "flowers" beautifully made by God, who waited in line. They came through - one by one, family by family - so thankful for the chance to get something to feed their hungry families. Who knew there we so many who needed something to eat in our own town? The wonderful people from More than more greeted each, helped them sign up for food, and let them know how much they mattered to 
us - that there was care and hope in the world - and it wasn't based on how they were dressed, what job they had or didn't have, or any characteristic about them, but only based on the fact that God made them wonderfully and beautifully - their value no different than ours.
us - that there was care and hope in the world - and it wasn't based on how they were dressed, what job they had or didn't have, or any characteristic about them, but only based on the fact that God made them wonderfully and beautifully - their value no different than ours.This morning was different than the others for 2 reasons: 1) We had our friends, The Ashcrafts, with us. They are a wonderful and caring husband and wife dentist team from our town, who volunteered their time to do dental screenings for school and to help teach about good dental health. They were awesome - pointing people to the resources in our community that could help them and giving those with less dental problems advice on how to best care for their teeth. and 2) We began to receive mail - we got thank you after thank you slid under the door at the clinic, hand written notes hand delivered to Melissa - the outpouring of thanks was humbling - I wanted to say, "We only did because we love you!!!" but instead, with head usually lowered simply said, "Thanks." One of the cards even suggested that the person was going to write to the president to tell them how great we were! Little do they know - we care no more what the president thinks of us than what they think of us!
The middle of the day meant taking lists to be filled at WalMart, then loading up, paying and organizing the orders by family so they could be easily picked up in the afternoon. It was so amazing to see the kids helping along side the adults - all seemed to be catching the wonder of God in the caring for those around us!
Then came to the passing out of the food. Andrea simply beamed at the chance to share bus tokens with those who had no other means of transportation. It is humbling to see the need, right around us - we drive by these people everyday. People kept coming up and telling us about how the shoes or clothing was working out - so many of them were wearing nice shiny new shoes! My heart leapt with joy to see them enjoying and savoring our love for them in the form of leather, and soles and laces!
We finished the day with dinner with our new friends from Transitional Housing. There were many hugs all around. We spent time sharing the delights of the day and the week - how it had changed us, then a little time trying to dream what might be next for this little group of "people lovers" - wondering what this kind of idea, this unselfish loving, this marvelous love that God has given us and we so desire to share might do to a world so broken as ours...
We hope that if you are one of the ones we have served this week and are reading this, that you have felt the love we feel for you this week and in these words. If you are one of those who was serving - I am so proud of you and proud to be associated with you -you exemplify that kind of life that More than more is all about. If you are neither - don't you want to be involved something so grand and wonderful as this?
For those of you who are already trying to involve God in the moments of your life - please take this week as a challenge to you - look into your heart, your soul, do you find a true willingness to love Jesus' way? If not, begin asking Him into the everyday moments of your life - ask Him to fill your world with His love. Look around you for people to reach out to - they will be intrigued and called out by this kind of love - if they are not interested in church - please bring them to More than more, we would love to have you.
For those of you who are simply fascinated by how people can be so loving and willing to give freely of themselves - make no mistake - we do not do this because we are "good people" - we are totally messed up! Our lives have invovled so much mess and problem - most people would shake their heads in disgust if they only knew. We are only capable of this because of this amazing love of God in us and our consistent attempts to invite Him into our lives on a moment by moment, day by day, basis. This is not about keeping sets of rules, sticking to your pew and making sure that you do all the things you are supposed to do, not about being good or even right. It is about loving and understanding the beauty of a God who made us all beautifully - no matter where we are planted.
If this kind of life appeals to you - please join us - many have been nervous about it - and they have not regretted joining a place where everyone loves - because we are loved. We hope to see you 8/6/9 6:45-8:00PM McAllister Recreation Center, 20th and Schuyler Ave, Lafayette.
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