The Narrow Gate: Day 316 - Part Time Passion

The Narrow Gate

Welcome to the continuation of my blog, post-seminary. Ministry and evangelism have brought me back home to Chattanooga. I welcome your company on my journey.

The original blog, Down In Mississippi, shared stories from 2008 and 2009 of the hope and determination of people in the face of disaster wrought by the hurricanes Rita and Katrina in 2005, of work done primarily by volunteers from churches across America and with financial support of many aid agencies and private donations and the Church. My Mississippi posts really ended with the post of August 16, 2009. Much work, especially for the neediest, remained undone after the denominational church pulled out. Such is the nature of institutions. The world still needs your hands for a hand up. I commend to you my seven stories, Down in Mississippi I -VII, at the bottom of this page and the blog posts. They describe an experience of grace.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Day 316 - Part Time Passion

When Tom Peters wrote these words in his management development book, Thriving on Chaos, it seems to me that he really hit the nail on the head for what is wrong with a good part of our church and our culture. I wonder if he'd been reading the address to the church of Laodicea in Rev. 3:14 ff?

"Would that you were cold or hot!"

No one can work beyond their limits, at least not for long; but I am saddened when I see so much of an attitude of "take it easy," "don't rock the boat," or deference to a "rule" made on the spot not to help rather than help a person standing before you it has is in need. We have too many folks looking to work well below their limits, folks who may never soar and see how much they can do if they try.

Every person that we fail to help is a heartbreak for me, yet for some, it is just another day at the office. I wonder sometimes, good people that they are, if they know what heartbreak feels like?

Peace

1 comment:

Yesterday's Blessing said...: Henry, you are in my prayers. You seem weary. The ministry to which you are called is important, and your sharing in this blog is a vital part of it for people like me. I hope to meet you next month when our Central NYS mission team works in Pearlington.; February 11, 2009 at 7:01 AM

Gates

The gate pervades the Good News. Peter entered the temple gate after the Jesus’ arrest to deny him. Poor Lazarus lay at the rich man's gate, longing for the crumb's from the table, while dogs licked his sores. The blind, lame and paralyzed lay at the Sheep Gate at the Jerusalem temple waiting at the pool with five porticoes for healing water. Jesus warned of the easy road and wide gate to material ease and spiritual destruction and calls us to the hard road and narrow gate to the waters of life.

necessary disclaimer

This blog is created solely to communicate to my brothers and sisters how one person sees adversity bringing out the greater character of humanity. It's early part relating connection to the volunteer relief effort in Mississippi after Katrina and later work with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Program and the Presbyterian Church(USA) is solely through my participation in them; this blog does not carry any sponsorship from these fine organizations or purport to speak for them. All original content is that of the writer who holds the copyright to all original writings and art or other works (See Creative Commons License above). Every effort is made to identify content from other sources which have been obtained from open internet sources. It's more recent content contains sermons and lessons used in preaching and teaching. The url to scripture are obtained via http://bible.oremus.org unless otherwise indicated.

Texts quoted from oremus bible viewer are from "New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved." and "New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved."