Jesus was Homeless

 
"Bryan Stallings sat in the store he managed, lost in thought. It wasn’t the phone business that preoccupied his mind. He and Amy had only been married 4 years and had enough on their plate already—two careers, six kids from two divorces, negotiating a Brady Bunch lifestyle. How can we take on anything else, Lord? Bryan prayed silently.

Yet he and Amy agreed they had to do something. They had both tried to start ministry initiatives at the Missouri church they attended  t the feeling they got was that their lives had been too messy for ministry, and it was best left for the professionals. They could volunteer at the info counter or serve in other ways, but real ministry required degrees and expertise. Nobody specifically said those words, but they got the message.That’s when it started. They had volunteered a few years earlier to serve Thanksgiving dinner for Branson’s working poor. As Thanksgiving approached and they couldn’t find the ministry that organized the dinner, Bryan felt a prompting. You serve the dinner. It was that distinct Holy Spirit nudging he had begun to recognize since starting to follow Christ five years earlier.

Bryan and his family responded and catered a turkey dinner that fifty people attended, but they didn’t expect the ambush of their hearts as they personally encountered the plight of the working poor. The overwhelming gratitude people showed them, mixed with the painful stories of families scraping by to feed their kids, caught them by surprise. These people lived unnoticed by society, living in run-down motels and doing seasonal work in the Branson entertainment industry.
That day at the phone company, Bryan called Amy and both decided they had to do more. The family made sack lunches for those fifty families and delivered them that week to the motels. The next few weeks, over and over they’d hear, “Thank you so much! You know, the family in room 224 could sure use this right now too.” With that simple step of faith in obedience to God’s Spirit, Bryan, Amy, and their girls soon found themselves making 150 sack lunches a week as word spread.
Bryan’s family found it very gratifying not only to meet physical needs, but also as they befriended these forgotten people, they found God doing something in their own hearts—growing them spiritually. The word spread, and more meals were needed. Bryan and Amy began to recruit others to join them, and after a year, Jesus had multiplied that first sack lunch like the fish and loaves into 11,000 lunches assembled and delivered with love by the many volunteers they had recruited." John Burke from the Mud and the Mastetpiece

I know you are probably tired of hearing me tell you that you need to get this book but you do! This is
one of many stories John tells of the risks people take to Love the forgotten. Following Jesus' example and words! We had a chance to meet this amazing couple and some if their team last year at Vault in Las Vegas. It's amazing to hear some of their stories of how Gods love is changing lives and it all started with a feeling, a dream. Their ministry is called "Jesus was Homeless." Check them out sometime!

Their story is not much different than ours. It all started with, "We have to do something!" Will you partner with us? We need your help. There is so much that needs to be done and we can't do it alone! If you would like to get involved with ReMerge, email us at remerge@hotmail.com. We would love to hear from you!

Waves of Impact

"I love waves. There’s something mysteriously beautiful and majestic about a wave. I grew up surfing and experienced the awe-inspiring power of this invisible energy rolling through the ocean, creating a playground of adrenaline for us teenagers. It’s easy to underestimate the power of a wave. When my dream finally came true and I landed a trip to Hawaii, I was determined to surf the famous breaks I had only read about in Surfer magazine. I’ll never forget paddling out about 300 yards to the reef that first day. The closer I got, the more I realized how much I had underestimated the size and power of these waves. When I finally reached the break, all I could think about was how to get back in alive! My sudden reverence and awe for the power of waves was not unfounded. A cleanup set came in (surfer talk for a series of huge waves) that cracked my board in half and pinned me to the reef. I found myself praying to a God I didn’t yet believe in!
Waves can have enormous power! But what makes a wave powerful? Even a monstrous North Shore wave is actually made up of many small circular movements of tiny little water molecules all working together. Huge waves grow from little ripples caused by a steady, consistent breeze that keeps building and building. Each little molecule of water doesn’t move very far, but as a wave moves through water, the wave’s energy gets transferred from one water molecule to the next, moving together in a circular motion under the surface, allowing the power and impact of the wave to grow. The longer the wind can move across more and more molecules of water, and the longer the molecules of water work together in a growing circular motion, the greater the impact of the wave.
What does this have to do with us? It has everything to do with us. I believe God desires to make a huge wave of impact in this world through you. Jesus once described the way the Spirit of God works like the wind: “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). God’s Spirit is like the wind blowing across the hearts of those who willingly follow Jesus. If we follow the Spirit’s direction, little ripples of simple life on life investments, serving, growing, working together can build into a huge wave of impact. God can start a ripple effect that goes out from you and a small group of friends to change the lives of thousands."John Burke, Mud and the Masterpiece.

Another excerpt from a great book written by John Burke. I have been posting excerpts from his new book the "Mud and the Masterpiece" all week. I promise that after tomrrow I will be done.

This excerpt comes from the second portion of the book which begins to break down the how of what Jesus has called us to do. John does an amazing job communicating how ordinary people can do extraordinary things and impact the world with God's love. You don't need a degree or seminary training, just a willingness to see yourself and others how God sees you. Tomorrow I will share a story of an amazing couple in Branson, Missouri who did just that. Stay Tuned.

Cross the Divide

Many Christians today think their job is “telling” rather than “asking.” We want to tell people “the truth”; we want to tell people “the gospel”; we want to tell people even if they don’t want to hear. Jesus didn’t do this. Jesus provoked curiosity and willingness to hear by asking questions first. In John chapter four, it says Jesus and his disciples were going through Samaria but stopped at a well at noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) John 4:7–9

Jesus knew more than we do at this point. He knew all about her sketchy marital and sexual past—she had been divorced five times and currently lived with a man. Yet Jesus dignified her by asking her for a drink of water and engaging her in dialogue. She felt valued: “He’s talking to me, a Samaritan woman? He’s treating me with dignity rather than contempt?”

We should ask ourselves, do we cross society’s divides to dignify people? Do we cross racial, socioeconomic, and gender divides to engage in dialogue? How about crossing lifestyle and behavioral boundaries? We can be like Jesus by asking questions, listening, and dialoguing rather than telling, fixing, and changing. Trust

God’s Spirit of freedom to guide you. See, when we try to change people by making them conform outwardly, it doesn’t solve the real problem
we all have—a deep spiritual thirst that, apart from God, drives us all to drink muddy water. Jesus knows that unless we have spiritually satisfying water that comes from God’s Spirit, trying harder on our own just spiritually dehydrates us. Paul told us to simply stay willing to walk with the Spirit, knowing that changes us: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. . . . So I say, live by
the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature“. . . If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. . . . But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Galatians 5:1, 16, 18, 22–23
 People change when they willingly follow God’s Spirit in a moment-by-moment way. God doesn’t run over your free will; his Spirit works with your willingness. If this is how people change, not by trying to shape up and follow the law, but by following God’s Spirit, then we need to be people who help others willingly trust and follow the Spirit of God. That’s our only job, not fixing or changing people, but encouraging them to see why God is good and they can trust his Spirit to produce great things in them. Do you trust God’s Spirit to do his part of producing fruit in others, if you do your part—crossing divides to dignify, asking and
listening, encouraging others to freely love and willingly trust a God who is good? John Burke from the Mud and the Masterpiece.

This portion of the book really resonated with me simply because we will live in a city where there are so many social divides. It is really freeing knowing that all we have to do is take the risk and cross those divides. God will do the rest!

What about you? What risk can you take to help someone know God's Love and trust in His goodnes?

If you want to read more about what John is sharing here, get his book "Mud and the Masterpiece," buy it between now and the the 8th and get some really cool free stuff by going to www.mudandthemasterpiece.com.

Mud or Masterpiece?

"This is just not right!” Tracy thought. “How am I supposed to worship God with that right in front of me?” Tracy sat completely distracted by the woman with short, spiky blue hair occupying the seat in front of her. She quickly processed the information—no makeup, short hair, blue-jean jacket, pierced, and tattooed—and delivered the verdict. Tracy nudged her husband, pointed to the woman, and slid him a note, “She’s gay, let’s move.”

Tracy and her husband came to Gateway at the request of her daughter. Tracy had been in church her whole life, even worked on the staff of a church for decades. She knew right from wrong, and this was wrong! “My husband seemed a little less interested in analyzing her than I did,” Tracy recalls, looking back. “I think I stared back and forth at her during the entire church service. I was angry. Yes, I was! I felt as though she had no right to even be in church, much less sit in front of me. I was there to worship Jesus, and she was a total distraction. I peered inconspicuously at her ‘friends,’ wondering what perverted things they probably did. I was totally disgusted, absolutely disgusted! As I tried to pay attention to the message, my eyes were drawn back to her over and over again—still sizing her up, watching her gestures, analyzing, judging. I felt creepy sitting behind her, in church of all places. I wondered, Why, oh why, couldn’t I have just sat where we normally sit? As the service was concluding I thought, Good! I can leave.”

But as they stood to sing the closing song, something grabbed Tracy’s attention and threw her over backwards. The tough looking woman was wearing a skirt! A very feminine, white-lace skirt. For some reason, it confounded Tracy so much that she couldn’t stop watching, even following this young woman all the way across the courtyard. People she knew to be strong Christians greeted and even hugged this woman. Then it happened! Tracy watched in shock as this woman turned and gave a big hug . . . to her daughter. That night, her daughter came over, and they had a long conversation about “that woman.” Tracy found out the rest of the story about Lisa. Lisa grew up with a mom addicted to hard drugs. Her father left them only to be replaced quickly with a stepdad who sexually abused Lisa before she was old enough to know the word sex. After enduring years of abuse, wanting to protect her younger sister from getting abused, Lisa went to court to testify against her stepdad. She was too young to be believed, and her whole family turned against her. She was forced to move in with her biological father at age twelve, not only having the close friendship of her sister ripped away, but her biological father quickly began to sexually molest her as well.  Lisa turned to drugs in middle school to calm the hurricane of anger and disgust she felt toward men. She didn’t trust men, or her dangerous femininity. The only guy she felt safe to date in high school was very feminine himself. But when he got her pregnant, he too turned into a violent monster. He beat her so badly, she miscarried her baby at age sixteen. Feeling horribly alone by age twenty-two, Lisa tried to reconcile with her mom, who then introduced her to crystal meth. “I couldn’t stop the waterfall of tears,” Tracy remembers, “as my daughter shared the amazing, healing work Jesus had been doing in Lisa’s life since she got baptized one year earlier. I found out Lisa had overcome a drug addiction, worked the twelve steps, and even forgiven her family. She was in a small group, and an older couple now mentored her like loving parents. And the skirt?—well, Lisa felt like Jesus had made it safe enough to start to love her feminine identity again.
“I was brokenhearted as I saw myself more clearly than ever before. I was a Pharisee! I was just like the religious rulers in Jesus’ day who demanded perfection of everyone and looked down on others.  I felt sad, ashamed, and prideful. One year later, I see that day as a divinely orchestrated appointment. Jesus used Lisa to help me see my own sin, and I too am overcoming by his power. I have forgiven myself and am enjoying this new and fresh perspective on life.”

Survey Says…We just conducted a national survey of American Christians based on a study I did comparing the attitudes and actions of Jesus with those of the religious Pharisees. Survey says? 86% of all Christians are more like the Pharisees in either attitude, action, or both. Before you say, “Not me,” let me give you a few of the discoveries I explore in Mud and the Masterpiece. Because I’m convinced there are many shades of gray between being Christ-like and subtly Pharisaical.

What caused so many people who seemed far from God to flock to Jesus? Why did he have such a magnetic pull on people in the world? I observed and analyzed his words, his attitude, what was recorded about his body language, and how people must have experienced him. I realized that people far from God could see something in the eyes of Jesus that conveyed an attitude we must adopt. Somehow Jesus could see the Masterpiece of God’s image shining through the cracks in the mud of sin and stain covering the most broken person. He saw sin for what it was—foreign matter that needed to be removed in order to restore His artwork to its original value. Do we see what Jesus sees—in us and others? Something of such value, it was worth dying for? Do we convey the same to those around us? What you hold in your heart toward a person, the mental framework in which you picture them, is what people react to interpersonally. Understanding this can transform you into a more life-giving person. I looked at the actions of Jesus and what he had his followers do to walk in his footsteps. I looked at his kind words, his hard words, and the timing of all of them. I studied the four Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life and teachings in chronological order, and I discovered revealing insights into the timing of Jesus’ words and actions.
When you look around you, do you see many people wanting to know about your God because they see a glimpse of a greater love, more abundant life, and new kind of freedom in you and your friends? Is God restoring what’s lost and damaged in this world through you? If not, we ought to ask ourselves a very provocative question: “Why aren’t we more like the One we follow?” Because that’s exactly what Jesus did, and calls his followers to do as well. Maybe it’s not just what we’re doing wrong, but what we’re failing to do right that hinders a Jesus-like impact.
This led to an important realization that can help all of us if we’re willing: Falling into the trap of the Pharisees is not something anyone ever does intentionally. It happens slowly, gradually, in little incremental ways that rob us year by year of becoming the kind of people Jesus intended—people who actually follow Jesus in attitude and action, bringing life, love, and a truth that sets people free. We all must fight pharisaical creep. For us to become the kinds of people God intended, we have to let God restore us into more of the Masterpiece he intended us to be. We must see ourselves through the eyes of Jesus, so we can cooperate with him in restoring others." John Burke-Mud and the Masterpiece


In 2007, I was given a book at a conference called "No Perfect People Allowed" by John Burke. I read the entire book on the way home from Chicago. When I got home I read it again. Within a few months, we were going through it with our small group. That book changed my life! It helped me to see myself and others as God does and how to reach people who are very far from God.

For the last few weeks I have been reading another book that has had an even greater effect on me. I can't tell you how excited I am because today you can read this book too! Like I have said in previous posts this week, I really believe this book is bringing a message for the church today. A message we desperately need to not just hear, but also to be living out! What I love about this book is it gives us steps to follow and thought provoking questions to answer and ideas on how to live out what we are learning. John has done such an amazing job communicating God's heart for us and others through a candid look at the Life of Jesus in The Gospels. It is a must read for Christians today!

The other great thing is if you buy this book today, February 1st, you can get a free copy of the audio version as well. Buy the book Feb 1st through February 8th and get a lot of great resources for free as well. Buy your copy and head http://www.johnburkeonline.com/mybooks/mudandthemasterpiece/to get your free stuff!

All proceeds from the book go to the "Life giving Life" campaign. Check this out at http://www.lifegivinglife.com/

Late to the Party?

"When Jesus looked beneath the surface, it moved him with compassion because he saw people distressed, downcast, wandering, alone, and disconnected from the God who alone sees their true value. Then Jesus says something shocking to his followers: “The harvest is great, but the workers are few” (Matthew 9:37 nlt). So he commands them to pray for more workers! Then he sends them out to be restorers (9:37–10:1). The problem is not primarily that people don’t feel broken by sin (many are distressed and downcast). The problem is not that God doesn’t care (he has compassion). The problem is not with people’s openness or willingness to respond (the harvest is plentiful). The problem is with us! Think about it this way: Have you ever felt a stirring or prompting in your mind to stop and help someone in need, but you were too busy and ignored it? Have you ever had a thought urging you to go comfort someone or challenge them spiritually, but you decided it might be intrusive? Have you ever felt led to say something encouraging, but it felt awkward? God nudges everyone, but most everyone says no! The workers are just plain unavailable."

Another great excerpt from the "Mud and the Masterpiece" by John Burke due out in just 2 Days. For the last few days I have been posting excerpts from the book because I truly believe God wants to change our perspective on how we view people. I do a lot of reading but have found this book to be one of the most timely books for the Church today.



Here in Miami alone, we know that 97% of the population does not go to church. We need to be asking ourselves why?  Here in this excerpt we find Jesus able to see the need is great. Instead of acting like some kind of crazy super hero, like he could, what does he do? He invites me and you to come to the party! So will you come to the party? Will you get in there and get to know people or will you stand in the corner?  C,mon let's not be late for the Party!

Splagna

"When Jesus encountered people, he had spiritual vision to see the river of hurt and pain flowing beneath the surface of those who drink and drug to numb the anger or hide the loneliness. He saw beneath the surface of people who get entangled in degrading relationships because they fear being alone. He could see through the shield of those who shut everyone out, terrified of being hurt again. He understood why people work themselves to death trying to prove they are worth something. Jesus could see that beneath all our adult pretense and posturing, hidden under the sands of time, are just little boys and girls, let down and confused, hurt and angry, wounded and afraid, rebelling and running from the only One who can ultimately make it better."

Another excerpt from "Mud and the Mastetpiece," A new book coming out this week by John Burke. I love how John describes the kind of compassion Jesus has for people. 

"The word compassion in the original Greek language of the New Testament comes from the word splagna. It literally means “guts.” Remember from English class the term onomatopoeia—a word that sounds like its meaning? Splagna sounds like your guts, doesn’t it? Ever felt something so deeply it hit you in the gut? Maybe you heard tragic news, or someone hurt you deeply, something happened to a child or loved one, and you could feel it down deep inside, couldn’t you?"

We read in Matthew 9:36, "When He(Jesus) saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a sherpard."

What it is saying here is that he felt it deep in his gut, I can imagine he felt it so much it hurt! So how do we respond when we feel that kind of hurt and pain for someone? Do we act as Jesus did? 

When we moved to Miami to start a church for people who don't like church we prayed and asked God to give us his eyes for people. We prayed that we would have the same compassion, or splagna as it may be, for people.

Will you pray with us? Will you pray for us?
E-mail us at remerge@hotmail.com to join our prayer team. Starting February 1st, we will be emailing daily prayer requests.

Mud Management

"When you look at people, what do you see? I am convinced that people intuitvely pick up on our attitude toward them. What's in our hearts toward people will be felt by them. Do we have good will toward all people? Are we for people or really against some of them? Do we truly believe they have immense value and worth to God? Or are we secretly disgusted, bothered, shocked, judgemental, wanting to "fix them" quickly? I've come to believe that many Christians repel those who don't follow Christ because we don't share God's heart for them. Why? Some of us may have come to faith in Christ under a Gospel of Mud-Management rather than a Gospel of restorative Grace"

This is an excerpt from John Burke's new book "Mud and the Masterpiece." Over the next week, I am going to be sharing little excerpts of the book. Why? I believe this book could possibly change your life! You will definetly be asking yourself the same question I did after reading this one small excerpt, How do I really look at people? We are all God's creation. God desires a relationship with every single person he created.  Am I helping to facilitate that or am I hindering people from seeing who God really is and how much He loves them.

The book comes out February 1st and I encourage to buy it. All of the proceeds go to "Life giving Life," a campaign that John Burke has started in Austin, Tx. If you want to know more about "Life giving Life" check out Gateway church in Austin, Texas.

Please pray for us as we seek God and that ReMerge will be known for being able to see poeple as God sees them. That we will spread the Gospel of Restorative Grace and not Mud Management.

Also email us at remerge@hotmail.com if you want to join our prayer team. Be a part of praying for what God is doing in Miami.

Gear Trouble

So a few weeks ago we showed up to the park to do our normal Saturday morning breakfast, we set up our tables and got all the food out while everyone was eating we noticed a guy sitting in the parking lot in his car. After a few minutes I walked over to his car, knocked on the window and invited him to join us.

After a few minutes of drinking coffee, I inquired why he was there. He started explaining how his car won't go into gear. One of our regulars jumped up with his flashlight, headed over to his car and worked on it, before long, it was working. I am sure he was pretty greatful.

The interesting thing is, he keeps coming back. Every Saturday he shows up, has coffee, eats some breakfast. He's not homeless, he has a job, I think he even has two jobs.

So why does he keep coming back? This thought has been going through my mind a lot this week.  One thing I know is that people crave community. They want to belong to something, they want to feel like they are a part of something.

Please pray that every week that we spend at the park that these lives will be impacted with God's Love and that everything we do and say will show God's love in a practical way.

We have realized that we live in a very different city, there is a lot to do here and we can't do it alone! We need to develop a team of people who will pray for us everyday. And so we're doing it, Starting February 1st, we will email out one very short prayer request everyday. Will you join our prayer team and take a moment to pray for us every day. Email us at remerge@hotmail.com if you would like to join. You may live very far away but you can impact the lives of the people of this city too!

Good News Today!

Blog Post by Wendy Kauffman

“Jesus hates suffering, injustice, evil, and death so much, he came and experienced it to defeat it and, someday, to wipe the world clean of it. Knowing all this, Christians cannot be passive about hunger, sickness, and injustice. Karl Marx and others have charged that religion is ‘the opiate of the masses.’ That is, it is a sedative that makes people passive toward injustice, because there will be ‘pie in the sky bye and bye.’ That may be true of some religions that teach people that this material world is unimportant or illusory. Christianity, however, teaches that God hates the suffering and oppression of this material world so much, he was willing to get involved in it and to fight against it. Properly understood, Christianity is by no means the opiate of the people. It’s more like the smelling salts.”  Timothy Keller

I read this quote by Timothy Keller and it really struck me. I grew up in church. I have attended churches that illuded to better days coming as the sweet ole bye and bye. I think there are hymns where we can even sing about it.

On Monday this week I sat in a local park with some homeless people over a pot of chili. I can tell you right now that our conversations were not about how they know it is o.k. because someday their suffering will be over. We talked about how hard it is to keep someone from stealing their bikes when they go to the local shelters to eat. We talked about where they were going to be eating their Christmas dinner the next day because they have no family to share it with. We talked about how cold it was the few days before and how hard, even in Miami, when the temperature drops to 47 at night, it gets really cold sleeping outside.

The good news of Jesus, when properly communicated, gives hope for people today! The good news of Jesus when properly communicated says I will fight for you when no one else will! The good news of Jesus, when properly communicated offers life today, not in some distant future!

How can we communicate the good news of Jesus today to someone who needs hope, freedom, and even life today?

A Homeless Christmas

Christmas Eve is only 2 days away. Many of us will be celebrating with family and friends in homes decorated with trees, lights and great food.

For some, the lonely streets will be where they spend their holiday. Can you help us today to make their holiday just a little brighter.

On Christmas Eve our family plans to share our annual Christmas Eve chili with those who don't have the warmth of family and friends to share the holiday with. We could still use your help! You can donate by using the donate link on this page or e-mail us for other ways to help.

Take Heart

Blog Post by Wendy Kauffman

I woke up a few days ago to the news that a homeless man had been killed. He lived behind an auto parts store not far from where we live. Everyone in the area knew him and knew him to be a kind-hearted man that spent a lot of time on his laptop. It was his prized possession, and that is what they killed him for. 2 young men attacked him behind the auto parts store. Fortunately, they were caught, but not before they took the life of an innocent man. My heart broke. I cried.

Fast forward a few days and I was crying again. Crying over the horrific tragedy that happened in Connecticut. No one knows why! It is not explainable! We struggle to understand why life on this earth must be so hard sometimes. I wish I knew! I heard this song yesterday and it reminded me of just how much God Loves Us. It reminded me that God used the ultimate tragedy to bring life. It reminded me that we are not defeated,  That we have overcome.

I hope and pray that no matter what you are experiencing whether related to this tragedy or another, that you will know God loves you so much and He weeps with you and He tells you, Take Heart, I have overcome!

Trash Can Love?

So I was pulling out of the driveway the other day when my neighbor approached me. She wanted to talk about our trash cans. So apparently before moving in to our house our landlord told our neighbor she could have one of our big trash cans for her little recycling can. 

This really took me back. Since moving in, we have not met any of our neighbors. Although we plan to do so, we have been gone and just being back for a week or so, just have not had the time to get out and do it.

I guess it felt heartbreaking to me that the first conversation that I was having with my neighbor is about our trash cans, but this is the reality of living in one of the most unfriendly cities in the country.

I hope and pray we can be a catalyst for change. We moved to Miami to show God's love and grace to those here in this city. I guess we are going to have to get creative and do it, even if it involves trash cans!

Joy to the World

Blog Post by Wendy Kauffman

I love Christmas. I always have. It is my favorite time of the year. There are so many traditions that our family has had over the years. It always starts with the annual Christmas tree cut down the day after Thanksgiving, trimming the tree with hot chocolate and "The miracle on 34th st", hanging lights, setting up our Christmas village and chili on Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpas.

This year is different. This year we will have a fake tree most likely. We don't even have it set up yet because we are still trying to get settled in our new home. Our village is in green buckets in our son's garage in Missouri and we won't be traveling home for Christmas this year. It is hard for all of us to get into the spirit of the season this year because so many of our traditions are not attainable. We were talking about how we can't let it steal our joy just this morning.

I was thinking about the song, "Joy to the World". What is it that should bring us joy this time of year. As the song goes, "Joy to the World, the Lord has come".
The joy of the season should come in remembering what the season is about. The Joy of the season comes from knowing that Jesus came to free us.

Mark Twain once said,"To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with." This season there is a whole lot of people who don't know joy and don't feel joy. So instead of thinking on the traditions we are missing out on, we are going to start some new ones.

We need your help! We plan to put together care packages for the homeless this year. These packages will include these items. T-shirt, socks, toothbrushes, soap, personal care items and holiday goodies.

If you want to divide the joy with us you can use the donate button on this page or contact us for information on how to donate.

Offline

So for the last few weeks we have been offline. Literally and figuratively. We have spent a few weeks getting things together for our family. After the accident a few months ago, everything seemed to go haywire. It has taken time, prayers, blessings beyond belief and sheer exhaustion but we are almost there.

We have found a cute little house, bought a car to replace our minivan and gotten back to work. We also spent some time in Las Vegas with a great group of church planters and pastors who have helped us refocus and revision.

That being said, we will be offline for another week or so. Tomorrow we are leaving for Missouri for about 10 days to see our second son, Jason marry a wonderful, brave(not just for marrying Jason), loving, and courageous young lady. We love Annie and can't wait for her to become part of our family.

So if you follow Operation Miami here is what we need you to do. Pray, Pray, Pray. Pray that God would help us to stay focused on what he sent us here to Miami to do. Pray that our time offline these past few weeks will not cause us to lose momentum but instead will strengthen our resolve. Pray for those that we are leaving for the next few days.

When we return we will be back and in full force. We will update everyone and on all the happenings and all that we are excited to see come for 2013.

We pray you have a wonderful happy Thanksgiving! Can't wait to share all that is happening with Operation Miami upon our return.

What If?

Blog Post by Wendy Kauffman

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

So a few weeks ago, we had the privilege of attending Vault in Las Vegas. A group called G.O.(Great opportunities in Global outreach) paid for us to attend. They are a group dedicated to helping people like us impact their community locally and globally! Really impressed with what they are doing and their dedication to those who are less fortunate and bringing the gospel to the most sinful places on earth.

The main theme of Vault this year was, What is your why? Jeff and I both know exactly why we are in Miami. We have felt this call for a very long time. It was a very important reminder for us.

Last week I flew to Tampa for work. I arrived fairly late, picked up my rental car and headed to my motel. I did not get to pick out where I stayed as my employer was taking care of these details. When I pulled up in the parking lot there were emergency vehicles everywhere. I thought maybe the place was on fire. Here it was almost midnight, I had to be up at 3 a.m. to head to the hospital for my event, needless to say I was a little upset. I decided to park and head into the lobby. A short time later the desk clerk came running in, really flustered and concerned. I asked her what was going on and she started telling me the story of this lady who had just tried to commit suicide. She had been staying there at this hotel for a while and was really down and out as this lady described. I just could not help but think: Had anyone told her the good news. Had she ever heard the story about this guy that loves her so much that He actually came to die for her, to save her. Had anyone ever done that for her? Did she know it did not have to be like this? Had anyone ever told her there was hope and peace for her and that a full life was waiting for her?

I don't know the answer to any of these questions, but I do know one thing. It marked my resolve! My why just got a little bigger and became all the more clear!

What about you? What is your why? Why do you do what you do?

God?

“Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?
Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?
Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

Then I thought, “To this I will appeal: the

years when the Most High stretched out his

right hand. I will remember the deeds of the

Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of

long ago. I will consider all your works
and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Your ways, God, are holy.
What god is as great as our God? 

~Psalms 77:7-13

hurricane

After a quick trip to Jamaica, hurricane Sandy is pounding the Bahamas today and threatening the East coast over the next couple days. Usually when a hurricane is set to hit the area, everyone is busy preparing by stocking up on food, water and fuel. They will even close the schools a day or two ahead of time to allow for preparations.

The cities will open up hurricane shelters and the homeless will flock to them. It's a time when they get "three hots and a cot" meaning 3 meals and a bed to sleep in and place to weather the storm.

ReMerge has the dream of opening a center in an old motel on Biscayne Blvd. A shelter for different kinds of hurricanes that people experience.  The storms in peoples lives that destroy, like fires, foreclosures, abusive relationships and addictions. Please pray that God will make this dream a reality soon and that he will provide the perfect location.

criminal offence

Since moving to Florida, we've noticed there are a lot of strange things here that you don't normally see or experience in the rest of the country. The customs and culture are just a little different and if you don't know or understand them, it's easy to offend someone. In particular, there are some state laws on the books that are a little unusual.

So, I thought it would be a good thing to give a heads up in case you plan on visiting Florida soon. You wouldn't want to unintentionally break the law and end up in trouble, right? So, as found on dumblaws.com, here is a small list of Florida laws you may want to be aware of-

• Doors of all public buildings must open outwards. (ok, I guess that's good to know)
• It is illegal to sell your children. (seems a little obvious, though I have had offers)
• One may not commit any “unnatural acts” with another person. (however, sole unnatural acts are ok)
• The law prohibits unmarried women from parachuting on Sunday or she shall risk arrest, fine, and/or jailing. (this law has probably ruined many weekend plans)
• Men may not be seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown. (speedo bikinis are ok, but, no gowns!)
• It is illegal to sing in a public place while attired in a swimsuit. (hmmm, must be a problem around here)
• It is illegal to skateboard without a license. (wonder if they have a written test)
• It is considered an offense to shower naked. (huh?)
• You are not allowed to break more than three dishes per day, or chip the edges of more than four cups and/or saucers. (excessive Greek partiers must hate it here)
• Having sexual relations with a porcupine is illegal. (OUCH!!!)
• If an elephant is left tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid just as it would for a vehicle. (it's only fare, right?)
• You may not fart in a public place after 6pm. (all other times are acceptable)

You can consider yourselves warned!