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CHALLENGE #1
Plan a Summer Fun or Back to School Bash for the kid’s in your neighborhood.

CHALLENGE #2
Start a community garden. Or, go together with one of your neighbors to join a produce co-op at one of the local Health food stores. It’s a great way to hang out together, save some money and eat healthy!

We would love to hear your stories! After you complete your challenge be sure to tell us about it. You can email the details of your experience to info@rockwilmington.com, or post it on the ROCK Church Facebook page. Let’s be an active example of God’s Love in our neighborhoods.

THE CHALLENGE
During our series, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor”, we are talking about reaching out to those people in our immediate sphere of influence, specifically — our neighbors. We challenge you to put these concepts into practice. Each Week we’ll give you some ideas to help you get started.

CHALLENGE #1
We see the employees of our neighborhood grocery stores nearly every day. Take time to say a few words to the guy stocking produce as you pick out your tomatoes, or engage in some light chit chat with the clerk while checking out your groceries. Learn their names and make a point to say hello. You’ll be surprised how much you can light up their day — and your’s.

CHALLENGE #2
Get to know that neighbor you haven’t met. Make a batch of cookies or bring them some fresh potted herbs. Feel awkward just walking up and knocking? Start by leaving your gifts on their front porch with a kind note. Eventually, it will lead to a face to face conversation, and quite possibly one of your most rewarding relationships.

We would love to hear your stories! After you complete your challenge be sure to tell us about it. You can email the details of your experience to info@rockwilmington.com, post it on the ROCK Church Facebook page. Let’s be an active example of God’s Love in our neighborhoods.

(11.5.10 – 11.7.10)

Hurry up and Wait

“Jesus had no place to lay His head.” It’s a scripture I’ve read many times and given moderate thought to as I sipped on a hot cup of coffee in a warm room. When this scripture forms a picture in my mind, it is often of God’s Son lying on His back beneath the stars after eating His fill of fish & chips. I imagine His arms propped behind His head communing lovingly with His Father as a perfect rest sets in till morning. What I’ve rarely entertained was how this must have looked on a cold night when little could warm the chill in His bones. My first thought of this image happened last night under a bridge without a blanket on a slab of concrete in the 35 degree air.

My friend, Anthony, and I spent 2.5 days this weekend living on the streets of Wilmington, NC. To be honest, my expectations were low because I felt two and a half days were merely a drop in the bucket compared to the reality of life on the streets. God, however has a way of giving us more bang for our buck when He is behind it. It all began as I layered up my clothes, and packed a modest backpack with a fleece blanket, toilet paper and a scratch pad and pen. I locked up the house and met Anthony at the corner of Broddick & Putnam, a central intersection by our house, where we met and walked a mile to the bus stop. We got off the bus close to the mall about an hour and a half later. We then walked a good ways to our first hopeful lodging, the Good Shepherd House. We were turned away after just missing the 12 o’clock registration time. We continued to walk towards the downtown area and our next potential lodging, the Salvation Army. After passing several blocks of churches and a group of vocal catholic school kids who were amused by the two ‘hobo’s,’ we eventually arrived at the Salvation Army to find there were no vacancies. Our final chance at shelter for the night would be the Mercy House, which wouldn’t consider us for several more hours. We decided to waste time by walking downtown and heading to the library, which would prove to be the homeless hub.

Speaking of wasting time, it’s interesting the way you look at time when you really have no place you need to be. There was a certain freedom that came with no agenda, but it also came with a subtle sense of purposelessness. I’m used to going somewhere to get somewhere with a particular end in mind. Many of my hours on the street were spent walking, sitting and waiting. Time was only relevant when thinking of the next free feeding or registering for a bed at a shelter before the vacancies were filled. The purpose of the day was simply to survive the day.

Dinner & a Movie

We passed several hours in and out of the library mingling with new homeless friends we made quite quickly. As evening was approaching and the temperature was dropping, one of the guys, Rudy, offered me his only coat so I could keep warm. David, who referred to himself as the ‘food guy,’ brought over a small box of mostly canned goods to share freely with all of us. (We have much to learn of community, acceptance and generosity from the homeless). Five o’clock finally came around and we made our way to dinner at the Salvation Army. Dinner at ‘Sal’ was normally served inside on Friday nights and was rumored to send a man to the toilet later that evening. This night, however, we joined others in line for a bagged dinner to go. My bag consisted of ham on a hamburger bun, a Sobe Dragonfruit drink, and by God’s divine providence, a smooshed blueberry muffin donated from Starbucks. My appetite had been curbed by several handfuls of Fruity Dino Bites cereal offered to me earlier by Daniel (aka. Lurch). However, it didn’t stop me from enjoying every bite of my bagged dinner. With a full belly, I began to wonder how our homeless would be perceived in contrast with the homeless in Haiti. Being ‘bad off’ is always measured against what’s considered ‘well off’ within the culture. Where we see ‘three meals a day’ as important in America, those in other cultures might fight for three meals a week.

We made our way to the Mercy House, a one-room men’s shelter that sleeps between 35-40 each night. We were given shelter after completing the application and after the director called our wives to verify our need for shelter. Showers were mandatory at the Mercy House. If you refused a shower, you were sent packing for the night. As I got somewhat comfortable on my 3-man bunk bed just wide enough for my shoulders, I noticed an older gentleman reading the book of John from a large, well-highlighted family bible. He told me he did it every night. Watching him read the Word, brought a sense of peace in this place where peace was hard to come by. To pass a couple hours before everyone crashed, the director decided to send us to sleep with the movie ‘Machete’ playing on the flat-screen TV in the corner of the room. It was delightful turning in for the night to the sound of expletives and body parts being severed.

Mary Alice the angel & John the inventor

Sleep was difficult that night for a guy not used to 30 other men creating a continual symphony of body noises. It seemed to take a while for morning to come, and, unlike most of the regulars on the street, I was excited to begin a new day. I recognized this thought was from someone who knew this lifestyle would end in 24 more hours. I looked forward to hearing the breakfast options this morning until I learned the only option was a bologna sandwich from the back of a nice couples van. I ate the 2 Keebler cookies that came with it and gave my sandwich to another guy. I understood there were no lunch options on Saturdays, but I still couldn’t bring my picky self to eat bologna (Again, I knew I’d be out in 24 hours). We then went back to the faithful library to hang with the other guys and waste time until groceries would be given away at Mother Hubbards Cupboard. While at the library we had some great conversation with John, a good friend we made at the Mercy House. John reminded us regularly that he was “worth 750 billion dollars but no one else knew about it.” He was a man with many great business ideas ready to share them to anyone with a willing ear. “All I need is a truck,” He said often. John had an incredible knowledge of scripture, but a past that was holding him prisoner. He knew the potential of his future but struggled with a present that felt hopeless. We had a remarkable time talking and praying with John and I can’t wait to see God’s plan unfold in his life.

Around noon, we made our way to Mother Hubbards Cupboard to get a box of canned goods. While waiting in line, we met an angel named Mary Alice.

“Are you two brothers?” She asked.

“No ma’am we’re not, but we get that a lot.” We answered.

“Oh, you’re definitely brothers.” She insisted. “Walking up here, I saw the two of you and I just said, “”Lord, touch them. Put your loving arms of protection around them.””

As she waited in line for free groceries in 40 degree weather, she went on to tell us of Jesus’ faithfulness and how He had healed her of about 4 types of cancer. After finally inviting us to her church and insisting that we come as we are, the doors opened and the grocery line began to move. Mary Alice won my heart the moment she began to speak. I saw more of the heart of God in 5 minutes with Mary Alice than some experience in a lifetime. I will truly be surprised if she is not sitting close by Jesus’ side when I arrive in heaven.

Saturday Night = Party Night?

After receiving some groceries from the kind volunteers at MHC, we went back to the library to share our goods with our new friends. Lurch used his military can opener to open a big can of beef stew, turned it up and drank it like a smoothie. Anthony and I went inside the library to rest on a comfy seat in the warmth. We tried hard not to fall asleep to avoid getting kicked out. While talking about our experiences, he decided to call his wife, Rachel, and have her deliver 10 Little Caesars pizzas outside of the library at five o’clock. We spread the word and about 20 guys showed up for hot pizza that night. As we were finishing up, we were graced with the presence of ‘The Whistler’ an old black man with a folded over can lid he used as a whistle. He had some pizza and entertained us with a few tunes. Once he discovered the mission we were on, he invited us to come to his place anytime and he would take us to places where we could truly experience the streets. After eating their fill, several of the guys went to the Mercy House for the night, and most of the others dispersed as well. Anthony and I had decided to sleep on the streets this night so we said goodbye to the others. Several of them thought we were kidding about spending the night on the streets, considering this night would dip to 35 degrees. Once they realized we were serious, they offered us warmth elsewhere, told us where to find blankets, and wished us well. We made our way with our friends, Frank & John, to the Salvation Army to ask for blankets and were told they had none. Frank needed warmth for the night as well, so Anthony gave him one of his coats and his backpack, and I gave him my blanket. He really didn’t want to take them but he finally gave in. The sun and the temperature were quickly setting, and we were becoming more aware that this night would be long.

It was dark now and we made our way to the corner of Market & Front st. where we met up with Tyler, a wondering bicyclist with a choppy beard and primitive looking piercings. He was an incredible guy with an obvious gift of leadership. We sat on the corner with him and played a drum to collect money in a bag. The night began to grow loud with the lively club and party scene. Women were half-naked, trading warmth for attention and men, completely wasted, traded reality for an escape. The later it got, the quicker the money slid from their wallets into Tyler’s collection bag. At one point Tyler remarked that he felt guilty taking advantage of their drunkenness, to which I said, “You shouldn’t. If they’re dumb enough to lose their wits, you should be smart enough to capitalize on it.”

Mark, A Robbery, & A Cold Nights Rest

We played on the corner until the cops made us leave. Shortly before leaving, a teen who was living on the streets came up to let us know he had just been robbed at gun point next to the library. They got away with his ID and the only $5 he had. We decided at that point we would sleep on the other end of downtown. We left Tyler and the others around 12:30am and walked with a guy named Mark towards the Cape Fear River Bridge to find a place to sleep. As we walked, Mark shared a little of his story about his three kids back in Rhode Island and his wife who was currently the secretary to the President of Hasbro. He was mostly drunk but had learned to hold a good conversation in spite of it. We sat under the bridge and talked with him a little longer about Jesus and the power of laying on hands in prayer. Before we parted ways for the night, Mark wanted to pray for us. We stood under the bridge with our arms around each other and Mark prayed simply but powerfully. In that moment, it felt like God removed His attention from all the earth and the cosmos just to meet with us under a bridge.

We climbed the small incline to where the concrete meets the bridge and attempted to settle in for the night. At this point we had one blanket between the two of us and Anthony insisted I use it. About an hour and a half later of very little sleep, Anthony stood up restless. I then insisted then that he take the blanket. Finally, at about 2:30am we both got up unable to sleep from the chilly draft, and trespassed down a small wooded hill to the side of an abandoned state-owned building. We found a pile of brush and settled between the brush and the building sharing the blanket. As soon as we settled in, a police car came behind the building patrolling the area. This happened about 5 times over the next several hours, and the lights became increasingly closer as they passed directly over us. Around 4am we decided it would be safer and warmer to just walk the streets until morning. Once we thought the officer was out of sight we made our way back up to the street. We walked back into the downtown area, which had become a ghost town where only the trash collectors were seen. In search of warmth and a place to thaw out our feet, we walked towards the parking deck. We discovered a men’s bathroom that was locked by a homeless guy asleep inside, so we claimed the women’s bathroom, locked the door, and stayed there long enough to thaw out. We then made our way to another parking deck, laid out the blanket and sat there next to a powerful stench of urine until about 6am.

The Sunday morning sun was finally beginning to peak out as we made our way to the Mercy House to meet up with the other guys who were waiting for the van from the Church of St. Peter the Fisherman. The van would take us to get breakfast at the church and then drop us off at the library to board the ROCK Church van. We never made it to breakfast because the van never showed up, so we just made our way to the library to wait until 8:30am when the ROCK van would show up. On boarding the van, Anthony and I kept a low profile so Stuart, the driver, didn’t realize who we were. As we were driving, I began to ask Stuart several questions quizzing him about the church and what they do to help the homeless. When we arrived to the church I took off my sunglasses and told him he passed with flying colors.

I am so grateful for the men of the streets who welcomed us with open arms. They demonstrated love in a world that rarely returns it. They gave me a glimpse of the heart of Jesus that I’ve rarely seen. Their sense of generosity, vulnerability and community were overwhelming. While on the streets, I felt more at home with the homeless than with anyone else. If Jesus was a man with no place to lay His head then I am confident He was among great company. Thank you Jesus for coming as a man, and not just any kind of man, but a man who had no claim to the things of this world. You’ve shown me that all the riches in the world do not amount to the power of a half-drunk prayer beneath a bridge on a cold night. I am here because of you and for you. You are the beginning and the end of my existence and everything between. Keep my heart simple in its love for You and my feet ever ready to carry You to the darkest places. Thank you for these new eyes. I love you.

FAITH CHECK

Put a check mark in the blank by each statement you believe.

I BELIEVE:

_____ The Bible is the inspired word of God and Christians should believe and apply the scriptures in every area of their lives.
_____ When a person confesses their sins, believes in Jesus Christ and accepts Him as their Savior, they are forgiven and cleanses from the sins of their past and they are no longer guilty or condemned.
_____ When Jesus was beaten before His crucifixion, the stripes on His back were for our physical healing. When we are sick, we are supposed to ask the elders of the church to pray for our healing and are to pray for each other to be healed.
_____ God is our provider and Christians should trust Him to meet their needs.
_____ The Bible instructs us to honor God with tithes and offerings and we should tithe our income and give offerings in addition to the tithe.
_____ As Christians, we should be generous to the poor in practical ways that minister to their needs.
_____ Every Christian is part of the body of Christ, the church and should use their gifts to serve in the church.
_____ As a husband, I am supposed to love my wife as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it.
_____ As a wife, I am supposed to submit to my husband as unto Christ and respect him.
_____ As parents we are to lead our children by our examples, teach them the Bible at home and train and discipline them to obey God and His word.
_____ As children and teenagers, we are to honor our parents and obey them.

James 2:14-26
The only way to know if you have real faith is to see if there are actions in your everyday life to prove the things you claim to believe. James said the only way we can prove our faith to ourselves and others is by our actions.

FACE THE TRUTH

• Are there areas in your life where your actions or inaction contradict what you say you believe?
• Is your faith evident to people around you by your actions?

WE DARE YOU TO…

• Take this Faith Check List and give yourself a grade for each statement you checked saying you believed. Use the traditional school grading system, A B C D F.
• If your actions prove that belief in your daily life, give yourself an appropriate grade.
• If your belief is not proven by actions in your daily life, be painfully honest and give yourself an appropriate grade.
• Using your Bible, make a scripturally sound, practical, attainable plan for developing corresponding actions in your daily life for each belief.

DOUBLE DOG DARE

• Make your own Faith Check List using the things from this list and adding others that you believe to be true according to the Scriptures.
• Grade yourself on your list.
• Ask your spouse, parent or close friend to grade you on the actions in your daily life that prove what you say you believe. Compare their grades to the grades you gave yourself and ask them to share why they gave you the grade on each belief.
• Using your Bible, make a scripturally sound, practical, attainable plan for developing corresponding actions in your daily life for each belief.

This week, we’re bringing two games of TRUTH & DARE to you. He is round two of your favorite test of faith…

FACE THE TRUTH

Oh yeah, this week we’re throwing a barrage of truth questions at you. Are you ready? Take a deep breath and face the truth…

• Does prejudice exist in your heart?
• Do you judge people positively or negatively based on race, color, culture, nationality, education, title or financial status?
• Do you trust one people group more than another?
• Do you stereotype people based on appearance?
• Have you turned a deaf ear and blind eye to prejudice in your family or sphere?
• What have you done proactively to deal with prejudice in your own heart or your sphere?

WE DARE YOU TO…

Find someone who is proactive about crossing boundaries that divide people. This person should be someone who is not afraid to tear down racial, cultural, educational or financial walls to connect with people different from themselves. Now that you’ve found them, swallow your pride and ask them to help you overcome your fear and timidity and expand your world.

You can do it. We believe in you.

Too easy? Then we…

DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU TO…

So, you’re one of the brave ones who dare to take it to the next level. If you believe you’re ready, here is this week’s DOUBLE DOG DARE.

Examine your life and the dynamics of your comfort zone. Take some time to identify the deliberate, proactive things you are doing to destroy prejudice and discrimination.

Make a list of current, meaningful relationships you have outside your race, culture or community. What organizations or activities are you involved in that promote unity?

Now it gets difficult. This week, reach out to someone you’ve been distant from because of latent prejudice. Pursue unity and reconciliation where you see division, strife, fear and distrust caused by race, culture or ethnic differences.

TRUTH

James 1:26, 3:1-18
Real faith brings discipline and control to our tongues. Our words can wound and destroy or heal and restore and our faith or lack thereof will determine the character of our words.

FACE THE TRUTH

• How have you belittled, wounded or offended others with your words?
• How sharp is your tongue?
• How quick are you to judge, condemn or criticize?
• Are you reckless and careless when you talk?
• Do you offend and embarrass people with crude and course humor?

WE DARE YOU TO…

If these truth questions trouble you, we dare you to go to those you have hurt or offended with your words. You know who they are. Now take a deep breath… and ask for their forgiveness. Don’t make any excuses or try to downplay the significance. Say, “I’m sorry that I said ___________. It was wrong. Will you forgive me?”

Search the scriptures for passages that instruct us about our words and memorize them. Incorporate them into your daily devotions until they become disciplines.

Once you’ve got the dare mastered move up to the next level…

DOUBLE DOG DARE

Ask someone you interact with on a daily basis if they have observed you being insensitive, crude, reckless or careless when talking with others. When they answer, don’t say, “You misunderstood” or “That’s not what I meant.” If they feel you were careless with your words, that’s good enough for you. Remember, you trusted them enough to ask.

Ask them to hold you accountable to get it right. Ask for their help to make your words a true expression of your faith.

FACE THE TRUTH

Oh yeah, this week we’re throwing a barrage of truth questions at you. Are you ready? Take a deep breath and face the truth…

• Does prejudice exist in your heart?
• Do you judge people positively or negatively based on race, color, culture, nationality, education, title or financial status?
• Do you trust one people group more than another?
• Do you stereotype people based on appearance?
• Have you turned a deaf ear and blind eye to prejudice in your family or sphere?
• What have you done proactively to deal with prejudice in your own heart or your sphere?

WE DARE YOU TO

Find someone who is proactive about crossing boundaries that divide people. This person should be someone who is not afraid to tear down racial, cultural, educational or financial walls to connect with people different from themselves. Now that you’ve found them, swallow your pride and ask them to help you overcome your fear and timidity and expand your world.

You can do it. We believe in you.

Too easy? Then we…

DOUBLE DOG DARE YA

So, you’re one of the brave ones who dare to take it to the next level. If you believe you’re ready, here is this week’s DOUBLE DOG DARE.

Examine your life and the dynamics of your comfort zone. Take some time to identify the deliberate, proactive things you are doing to destroy prejudice and discrimination.

Make a list of current, meaningful relationships you have outside your race, culture or community. What organizations or activities are you involved in that promote unity?

Now it gets difficult. This week, reach out to someone you’ve been distant from because of latent prejudice. Pursue unity and reconciliation where you see division, strife, fear and distrust caused by race, culture or ethnic differences.

***BONUS***
This week, we’re bringing two games of TRUTH & DARE to you. Check back online this Wednesday for round two of your favorite test of faith…

FACE THE TRUTH

What was the last difficult trial you faced with patience, wisdom and joy?

WE DARE YOU TO

Get somewhere alone in a quiet place and review a very difficult test or trial. Changing a flat tire in the rain doesn’t count. What shook your world, threatened your peace and security or caused you to question your faith?

Got it? Good.

Make notes and define the test, the issues and people involved as well as the outcome. Then write a personal report of how you responded. Make a list of areas you succeeded. Make another list of areas where you came up short. Using your Bible, write a plan for success when your faith is tested again.

Too easy? Then we…

DOUBLE DOG DARE YA

Ready to take it up another notch? We dare you to…

Think back to a very difficult test or trial in your not too distant past, one where you really struggled, and make a list of people who were close to you and that situation.

Go to 1 or 2 of them and ask for their honest evaluation of the following:

• Was I joyful, or did I complain?
• How did I treat you or others?
• Was I patient or impatient?
• Did I act like a mature or immature Christian?
• Was I a good witness of my faith in how I conducted myself?

Tosha Holland 10/26/08

Connie Green 10/26/08