Walk Across Alabama

Last night was special! I missed it because of military duty, but it was something! Last night our summer staff for the camps arrived in Tuskegee. They will spend the next 10 days training here, then split to there sites for a week of setup before they begin hosting the youth work teams. So, what happened last night?

It was a down home party. Potluck dishes, a comfortable Alabama Spring afternoon, some live music-even a bit of line dancing and this was all organized by some of the families we have served with by repairing their homes. ARM is designed as a family based ministry. We do not view the families we serve with as “projects” or a number…they are, well, our friends.

Christ called us to be in ministry “with” people. Many times you hear people say we are going to minister “to” children in Africa or be in ministry “for” the homeless. Prepositions can say so much. If we are not in ministry “with” or participate in ministry “by” others…we could be a bit short sighted. Why is this? Ministry “to” has a paternalistic connotation and assumes people can do nothing of very little for themselves and need the advice and expertise of what we have to offer to them. It is the “savior on the white horse syndrome”. It can be extremely damaging. Ministry “for” is a bit softer and is more maternalistic. It tends to feel sorry for people, does not create opportunities for people/clients to participate in the actions and again sees people more as projects. The name of Christ or Immanuel means “God With Us”. We are actively engaged in Christ’s saving work and further expression of grace. Ministry “with” and “by” allows participation by all parties, sees us all as agents of change, and creates a more holistic approach being in mission together.

So, on Thursday night, we call came together and our families gathered with us to prepare savory down home dishes, pick some tunes on a guitar, and even have some spirited line dancing. This was closed in prayer. Our notion of fellowship was taken to a new level. Imagine these kinds of celebrations breaking out across our state. White, black, low income, moderate income, young, old, and much more just coming together to celebrate and share. That looks like the “party” that the angels could get excited about. All these things are another reason to walk! Just a few weeks away!

See you on the walk!

I have enjoyed so much my daily walks and the things I get to think about and notice. This weekend I have been in Alexander City. On weekends when we have National Guard drill, this is where I stay. Alex City has an amazing Sports Plex which is basically a large park with all kinds of recreational facilities. It blends this with walking trails, ponds, and tons of trees. It makes it a pleasant experience just to walk through…and so a few notions came to mind as I took time to walk through this area. Mainly, I noticed the ways that God reveals His presence to us; and that He uses His creation to signal his all encompassing love.

As I began my journey, I came across a water wheel gently spinning through a stream. As its paddles dipped into the cool creek; it scooped up water, poured it over its top, and started the cycle all over again. Water has so many meanings; purification, life, and of course the symbol of our baptism. I was reminded of Christ who taught us that when we become His followers, one of the symbols is to be baptized. As we go under the water, or are sprinkled, it signifies our dying to our self and our old life and rising again new as Christ resurrected. On this afternoon, I remembered the new life given through Christ and the gift of my baptism.

The second thing I noticed was the tops of the pine trees. With it being spring, there are signs of new life flooding all around us. If you have allergies, then you are not impressed with the swollen tufts of pollen engulfing the trees. But, look closely- as this occurrence will be gone shortly…but as you gaze at the very tops of the trees, the styluses form small crosses. The tree branches seemingly raise their boughs in praise to their Creator. And near Easter, these pine trees take on the sign of the cross. What an incredible witness of God’s presence.

Thirdly, well this one will seem odd…but other things catching my attention were the cars, picnic tables, buildings, and all the things we haven been able to create. God made us with an incredible ability to make invent, dream, and create-something He knows all too well about. And so I was able to say thanks for the intelligence he gave us and the opportunity to dream and make items that help enhance our life experience. To take this one step further is to put these items in their proper place. All these things are God’s and belong to Him; he’s just allowed me to use them. I don’t have permission to hoard them for myself but rather to share and use them for His glory. 

So, just a few thoughts for you as we get closer to June 8^th. I know this is a bit long for a blog but just a few thoughts for the walk.

Just five weeks away!!!! See you on the walk.

One of the great things about working with ARM is travelling and visiting different churches. You learn so much by worshipping with different faith communities and participating in various worship styles. This morning I went to Moundville, AL-just outside of Tuscaloosa, to a little, country church snuggled off of County Road 45- Stewart United Methodist Church. I always enjoy visiting this wonderful congregation. Walking into this church is like stepping into Grandma’s kitchen-something has been cooking in the back and everyone smiles and greets you like they have known you all of their life-like a family reunion and you are meeting your third cousins. Although it only has about 45-50 people worshipping with them, it has one of the most vibrant and spirit filled choirs I have ever heard. They sing big and it is just…well…fun!

Today was so special as I had been asked to speak about ARM, our walk, and the amazing endeavors we have this summer. I told a bit of our journey and shared a personal story about one of our families who after having a work team replace their roof, began attending a church and also now send ARM a $20 money order once a month- a huge act of faithfulness on their part. The pastor, Rev. Reba Wiley, who is a fire ball, preached on Luke 24, The Hands and Feet of Christ. It is a passage where Jesus has to show his disciples his wounds on his hands and feet because they think he is a ghost. The scars on His hands and feet, authenticated and verified who He was. She of course challenged us to be the extension of Christ’s hands and feet. I began thinking that eventhough we don’t carry the wounds from his crucifixion, we certainly should have His hands and feet…hands that love and reach out in service, and feet that are willing to carry us to where ever He calls. At the close of the service, we sang the hymn “Are You Able”, which begins “Are You Able”, said the Master, “to be crucified with me”….

After the worship service, a young girl about age 14 or 15, came up to speak with me. She was excited about the walk but told me she would be on a mission trip when we started…then she began to tear up…the second week of the walk she would be attending a camp…her tears turned into an all out sob. Somehow, the stories I shared plus the words from her pastor…but mainly the work of the Holy Spirit-grabbed her heart. As she fought back the tears trickling down her face, she handed me a $20 bill and said she wished she could do more…but that this was all she had.

My heart melted and I teared up with her, hugged her neck, and just repeated “thank you”. The story of the widow’s mite comes to mind. Jesus blessed these simple acts that were done out of complete abandon. I was touched by the faithfulness of this youth. She felt she gave so little-yet she gave it all. As we walk across Alabama, I pray we all have that kind of simple faith and give as we can. We are his hands and feet…reach out….go

Blessings and see you on the walk!

My training plan is coming along well. I’m not rushing it although we are less than 8 weeks from beginning this journey. This week so far I have logged in 17 miles of walking- tomorrow I will add seven more miles to have a total of 24 for the week. Today was a light morning with just two miles and some different weights to mix it up. I am looking forward to my early morning walk tomorrow.

So, what does this have to do with callouses? The first two weeks of training, my feet burned after treking about three-four miles without stopping. The balls of my feet were on fire! I was so sore, I had to rest them on the following day. It’s like guitar players who have to build callouses on their fingers as they are playing before the strings stop hurting them. But now..the callouses are there and my feet no longer burn…it’s a great feeling.

But callouses are not always good. The scriptures warn against a calloused and hardened heart. Sometimes we can become so desensitized to the pain and suffering around us and see so much, that it no longer pricks us to reach out. The opposite side is that we are so isolated or boxed into our own worlds…that we don’t see…can’t respond and thereby become calloused. On a moral level, we can travel down a spiral of sin to the place that we can no longer feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit…our heart has become calloused.

For those of us walking, let’s keep the callouses on our feet -but realize that as we walk on behalf of families in Alabama who struggle under the weight of poverty, who have inadequate housing, and need the touch of Christ-we must keep our hearts soft and from becoming calloused. I pray we have compassion-which in Latin means “with suffering”- we empathize and also do the means necessary to help.

Blessings to you and see you on the walk!

Matthew 13:15 (NIV) For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.

Another round of storms moved through the country and again ravaged the South East. Alabama once again took a beating. During the Good Friday service at church we were forced to stop in the middle of worship and move to a safer side of our building…the rain and sound of hail thundered on the metal roof as the sirens wailed. Fortunately, it passed over us with no issues. But today I received a call from a family. They live on the outskirts of Auburn and were calling on behalf of their parents. Just this past week they had paid off a mobile home for their family…on Friday night it was destroyed by the stom. When I asked how their home was as well, he commented that he had lost several shingles but he couldn’t tell if the structure had been compromised but it didn’t seem to be leaking. However, he was very frustrated. He carries home owner’s insurance. His deductible was rather high-$1000. The kicker is that there is a wind and hail clause and therefore….the damage isn’t covered. He is insured through AIG-the famous insurance bank that received millions of dollars in bail out money and took their corporate staff on a $400,000 retreat-that AIG. So, this family is helping their parents who are now homeless and dealing with the damage of their own home.

It is these situations that keep us walking, keep us praying, and help us know that the body of Christ must come together to serve. Will you walk with us?

It is Holy Week…a special week to be very intentional about what Christ experienced as He prepared to make the most sacrificial move the world has ever known. As we draw closer to Good Friday and Easter, we literally begin to follow Jesus’ footsteps. On Thursday night, I am attending a Sedar meal at the Auburn Wesley Foundation. This is the traditional Passover meal that was the core event during this time. Afterwords, I will be part of a watch service at my church and spend some time praying-remembering the exhaustion and confusion of the disciples in the garden as Jesus prepared for his persecution and death.

Following in Jesus’ footsteps- walking with Christ-demands and expects a level of sacrifice and commitment that only those who follow and serve can understand. Why is this? Not because of rules, expectations, or a list of do’s or don’t…but because of love. True love hurts. True love sacrifices. True love is vulnerable. And in the end, true love brings joy that words do not do justice.

As we walk in the footsteps of Christ through Holy Week, I think of our walk in June. The walk is not a cupcake experience. It will have it’s ups and downs, rain and sun, good days and maybe some bad. I’m not sure. What I do know is that we do this out of love. It is love for our brothers and sisters who are marginalized, love for those who are stuck in poverty, love for children who are the most susceptible in poverty situations. Jesus didn’t have a large list of rules-just two. Love God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. I pray we have the courage to walk with Christ as we walk across Alabama. Have a blessed Holy Week.

See you on the walk!

While I was in Iowa, we stopped at a Starbucks. As I was waiting for my 2 pump Grande Mocha, I peered down at the daily copy of the New York Times. On the front page was a picture of a large group of individual sized dome tents outside a small river in California. I mused about what seemed the modern day Hoovervilles-but then I glanced at the picture’s caption. That is what these were being called. As you may recall, in the early years of the Depression under Herbert Hoover, people had no work, had no money, were forced out of their homes,  and therefore set up small tent communities along railroad tracks and creeks. They became known as “Hoovervilles”. I was saddened to think that the same things were happening again and people were losing their homes.

The day we left Iowa was cold, gray, and some snow had begun to fall. It was dreary and a bit meloncholic. As we crossed a river in Des Moines, I looked through the barren trees along the banks and winced. Along the river were about 10 small domed tents huddled together with bits of laundry hanging from the tent lines. On top of one of the tents was a battered and dirty US flag. This wasn’t some picture in a newspaper-this was real. It painted a haunting image of what life is like for some people. When a thin piece of canvas is the only thing holding off the cold, when your neigbors can hear your conversation, when their is no bathroom or clean running water…and this is America in the 21st Century….does anyone see and does anyone care?

Sitting from even my comfortable office with all the modern day technologies at my fingertips…I wondered who was going to these families? Who is going to walk among the tents, sit inside them, and hear the stories of these families…who is going to care…does our faith and belief in Christ have anything to say to them? I hope it does.

I haven’t seen any “tent cities” in Alabama yet. But I’ve seen alot of shacks and alot of brokeness. Again, does our faith have anything to say to them? I believe so…and we plan to walk among them, take steps with them, and communicate a love that is immeasurable- as Paul writes in Ephesians 3:17-19 ” I and I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ”

We will walk together to share this love and to prevent the notion of “Hoovervilles” in our communities. We’ll walk to end poverty housing in Alabama.

See you on the walk! lisa

Jesus said, “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles” Matthew 5: 41 NIV. Back in the day when the Romans had occupied the land that we know as Jerusalem, it was a requirement to carry a soldier’s bags for one mile. The Jews despised this practice and the Roman government in general. So, imagine the shock that as Jesus talks about loving your enemies-he gives some concrete examples. You’ll show someone you love them when you go beyond the stated requirement and beyond the law.

I think Jesus was saying when you walk,  ”walk this way” -with an attitude of love. When I think about our walk, I am reminded that justice means simply taking something that is wrong and making it right. It is for the woman who hires a contractor, pays him up front, and then he never shows up to do the work or only half finishes it. It is for the predatory lenders like every Cash Advance place you see on the corner that is charging 400% interest and keeping people in poverty, not helping them…. so as we walk-we walk in the way of Christ and that is with love, compassion, and understanding. We aren’t forced-but definetely motivated because of His love.

Hope you are starting your training and I’ll see you on the walk!

As some of you may know, I’ve been in Iowa for a few weeks wrapping up some National Guard training. I’ve been involved in a planning and team development exercise that has been a great learning experience and somewhat fun. I guess what I realize is that I’m just not a big fan of cold weather. Never have been-most likely never will be. So, my training has been about 2 miles every other day for the past two weeks. Not exactly the 20 miles/day I need to be working toward. But, that is ok. Beginning this weekend, the training begins.

Also-this week we are also launching our sponsorships for Sonshine Kids Day Camp. This camp in Livingston (West Alabama) provides children with a safe place to learn about God, play, and have enrichment opportunities. It is a positive intervention into children’s lives. Knowing the hardships that children in poverty face make sour walk that much more critical. We walk so that we can repair homes but also so we can be play a positive role in a young child’s life. Christ’s message of love is SOOOO HUGE…and it takes all of us to continually and daily communicate it.

Would you like to walk? There is an information meeting next Thursday April 2nd 6:30 PM at Auburn UMC RM 102 in the Britt Building. It is for those in the Auburn/Opelika area interested in the walk. Are you coming with us??? Then this is the meeting you can come to. Blessings to you all and see you on the walk!

One of my first memories of ARM was a lady named “Ms. Lard”. Kinda a strange name, most likely a slave name given when she was young. Ms. Lard was 93 years old and lived in a remote area in West Alabama. We found out it was raining in her bathroom and her kitchen floor was about to cave in. Students from the Auburn Wesley Foundation came and reroofed her entire house-not just the bathroom, fixed her floor, and made sure her stove was working corrrectly. In turn, she told us stories of growing up in the deep south-how she could grow anything and how hard she had to work. I learned alot from Ms. Lard. As the students prepared to depart after a hard week of work, we circled up to pray….as we were closing…she interupted and said she had to pray for us and ask God’s blessing on the group. It was very touching and meant so much. Ms. Lard is why we are walking…to help those who are alone…to build friendships and relationships across our state. Come walk with us!