There are two kinds of people on earth to-day;
Just two kinds of people, no more I say.

Not the sinner and saint, for it’s well understood
The good are half bad and the bad are half good.

Not the rich and the poor, for to rate a man’s wealth,
You must first know the state of his conscience and health.

Not the humble and proud, for in life’s little span,
Who puts on vain airs, is not counted a man.

Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years
Bring each man his laughter end each man his tears.

No; the two kinds of people on earth I mean
Are the people who lift and the people who lean.

read the full poem from The Charlotte Democrat, Jan 10, 1896

So what is it about the poem that makes it’s words seem to transcend time? While the poem in its entirety holds some theological challenges for me, like the fact that the Bible would tell us that we should be both a leaner AND a lifter by lifting each other while sharing one another’s loads, within the words seemed to exist a sliver, a thread, of what seemed like the truth.   That is what grabbed my attention.  You see, truth is timeless.  In it’s absolute, Truth is eternal.  It can cut through the clutter and move the background into the foreground.

On Tuesday of this week, I am going to be heading to a club in downtown Boise to accept an invitation from an old college buddy.  He contacted me by Facebook and invited me to listen to his younger brother sing and play acoustic guitar. I have a feeling, however, that he thought there was no reason why I would actually accept the invite.  In his invitation, he said “Maybe he isn’t right up your heavy Christian roots alley, but it’s powerful music all the same.”  That struck me.  Truth once again?  Sure, there is the chance that his brother’s music isn’t “up my alley”, but why would he suppose I would simply dismiss him out of hand?  Even better, why would he feel that if the music is powerful, I wouldn’t be able to extract value, to draw truth, from it?  Is my faith so fragile that I can’t find value in things that may lie slightly outside of it?

I checked out his brother’s stuff on MySpace, and what do you know… it is powerful music.  It’s honest music.  The truth in it makes it powerful.  Sure the themes aren’t what I listen to every day, and sure there are songs that I could find good reason to refute in principle (like “Damned”) but many resonate with experiences I’ve had in life, and I can feel the emotion in his brother’s voice.  I’m looking forward to Tuesday night.  It’s a chance to get outside of my typical and keep my eyes open for that thread of truth.  I’m learning that it gets easier and easier to find it when you know what you’re looking for.  The more I understand my own faith, the better I understand my own beliefs, the more I find that the truth that they are based on is threaded through so much around me.   I just have to discern the threads.  (In a touch of irony, while on his website, I also noticed that he is a supporter of TOMS shoes, so I guess our worlds aren’t that far apart after all!)

So here is my question for you.  Have you done, seen, or listened to something lately outside the typical scope of your faith that resonated with you and, possibly to your surprise, reinforced your beliefs?  What was it, and what about it, rang true to you?  I look forward to hearing your responses!

Baseball players all have specific positions on the field.  Some are better at the quick moves required on the infield, others at making the adjustments needed and having the leg speed to cover the relative vastness of the outfield.  One is specialized at delivering the ball, and another specialized at catching it.  There are multiple coaches, some working with the pitchers, others focusing on other aspects of the game, and finally, the GM who heads up the whole show. 

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.  From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting
ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its
work. – Ephesians 4:15,16

The team trains, each person on the team studies and practices his role, and finally, the team suits up in the team's uniform bearing the team's name, and…

You see, that is where the vision turned odd.  The team was all practiced up, all suited up, and fully equipped…

…BUT NEVER LEFT THE DUGOUT AND TOOK THE FIELD.

Our churches are not the game.  Our churches are the locker room where we put on the name of Christ.  The dugout is where we prepare for the upcoming challenge, but eventually, we have to take the field, each to our own position, and take on our opponent who stands at the plate waiting.  On the field is where churches become "the Church".

Do not be confused.

WE ARE NOT THE SPECTATORS.

WHEN YOU CHOSE TO FOLLOW CHRIST, YOU LEFT THE STANDS.

Now it is time to take the field.

Are you ready to play ball and get a little dirt on your knees, or are you hangin' in the dugout?

This is just one example of how God is using people just like you to meet needs from the simple to the more difficult.  If you would like to be a part of what God is doing with and through Share5, we have a few specific needs for you to consider.

What started as a conversation about butternut squash soup quickly turned to Jesus and the joy of serving him.  I (Chad) spoke with Pat as Amy and Carol conversed, and our little divine fellowship moment lasted the better part of 15 minutes in the soup aisle!  After we had exchanged contact information and talked about connecting with Pat and her husband sometime down in Orlando, the two ladies thanked us for encouraging them and headed for the checkout.

About 30 minutes later, Amy's phone rang.  It was someone from White's Funeral Home in Burnsville, MN about 10 minutes south of where we were.  It turns out that our two new friends had been very busy since they left us!  They had immediately driven to Carol's church, Faith Covenant Church, and asked the staff there if we could park there for the week.  It turns out the church was hosting a HUGE urban camping event called MUUUCE -  the "Most Unbelievable Ultimate Urban Camping Experience" for approximately 750 JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS!!!  Instead of saying no, they called the funeral home across the street and gave our information to them, which is why Amy got the call.  In the meantime, we got connected to help and voluteer for the MUUUCE event, so this morning we were able to help them serve breakfast to the 750 sleepover attendees.  Emily and Dillon did an excellent job at putting smiles on the faces of sleep deprived teens, to say the least, as they handed out apple juice, orange juice, and milks.

Shortly after breakfast, we took a ride to one of Burnsville's many parks.  While the kids were playing in the water, we got to spend a bit of time (30-40 mins?) talking with and encouraging a person who was there at the park monitoring the facility.  It continues to amaze me how God is opening divine appointments with opportunities to encourage people along the way.  We went for groceries on Thursday and ended the day today completely taken care of for a parking spot, with the opportunity to encourage yet another few individuals in their struggles and in their walk with the Lord.

Thanks to everyone who makes this possible.  I wish there was a way to tell you how much it impacts people when someone with no time agenda can just sit and listen to whats going on in their life, and then respond with biblical encouragement.  Thank you for granting us that opportunity!