AFRIKAN

This is something I created to evoke the suffering of the African people - Poverty, Hunger, Genocide, Child Slavery, Human Trafficking, AIDS, Torture, etc.

Created using coffee, nails, acrylic paint, and an Ethiopian coffee sack.

It took me over a month to put this together, and the final stages, on my knees in the hot sun weaving the sheet of canvas into the sack, threading the rusty nails into the weave, were cathartic as I imagined bare shoulders in the heat of the African sun, bare feet on a wet loading dock, black weathered hands loading heavy sacks full of coffee beans into the ships hold for travel to American warehouses...and I felt connected to their sufferings, like walking into a spider's web and discovering an invisible world, a hidden connection between us all...
kg

Nice Surprise

This is a nice surprise. My friend Scott Laumann just informed me yesterday that he found this article on ChristianityToday.com, which originally appeared in Outreach Magazine. Apparently I am quoted in an article about Servant Evangelism, although, for the life of me, I don't think I was ever aware of this until yesterday.

Here's the link:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/outreach/articles/servantevangelism.html

And the quote:
Keith Giles, outreach director for The River in Tustin, California, adds to Sjogren's insights: True compassion is something you cannot argue against," he says. "People who are resistant to the Gospel are open to works of service and compassion. This becomes a path for them to take Jesus seriously, outside the theoretical framework or intellectual argument."

This is at least two years old...and I never knew about it?!

Wha...?

kg

PATTERN RECOGNITION

I've got a few days to kill until I start my new job at Ingram Micro (August 13), so I'm reading a few books checked out of the new library here in Orange. First, "Pattern Recognition" by William Gibson, is a sci-fi set in 2003, which only underscores the fact that we are living in the future today. It's really not a sci-fi, although Gibson is immortalized for writing "Neuromancer" which predated the Internet and, if you read it today for the first time, you would think he ripped off "The Matrix"...until you looked at the publication date and realized that he wrote his book a good ten years before Keanu ever said "Whoa".

It's funny to me how a good book, in this case a great book, can influence your way of seeing the world and moving through space. The book's protaganist has a gift for sensing "Cool". She is hyper-sensitive to marketing and is psychologically offended by logos and advertising, which is why she can sense the "next big thing" before it crests the horizon. Her sensitivity to brands and iconographic advertising has made me more aware of how enslaved we all are to marketing. Branding is pervasive. You cannot stand anywhere without being marketed to. You cannot wear anything without being told, on the outside as well as on the tag, who made it and that it is "Cool" to have one.

The character in this book is so oversensitized to logos that she clips the tags and removes the logo from her clothing, her glasses, her watch, her shoes, her computer, etc. It almost made me want to do the same.

It approaches something called by Richard Foster, "The Discipline of Simplicity". I believe there is an inherent human desire for simplicity, and yet at the same time a hunger for something beyond ourselves. Marketers (and I am one) take advantage of the human desire for something beyond ourselves and twist that into a desire for a product that will fill that emptiness. This is why television commercials and glossy magazine ads suggest, or even overtly declare, that owning or using the product in question will make you popular, or fulfilled, or beautiful, or complete in some way that you are now aware you are not.

It's easy to say that one desire is of the flesh and one desire of the Spirit. I know I've talked that way in the past myself, but now I think this is wrong. I believe that the desire for simplicity is a desire of the soul, and the desire for something beyond ourselves is also a desire of the human soul. Both are "of the Spirit" or Spiritual desires because this is what makes all of us Human.

Marketing plays one of these desires against the other. We are told we can fill our empty places with stuff, and so we try to do that, while at the same time our desire for simplicity disappears beneath a mound of receipts and boxes of junk in our garage.

There is a point, and I believe it is early on, when the things we own begin to own us. Once this happens, we are hooked and we continuously create mental shopping lists of things that we want or need or desire. I do this. You do this.

What if we could silence the coarse whisper for "more"? What if we could close our eyes and strain to hear that faint echo for "Less" instead?

A friend of mine used to regularly "De-Accumulate" his life. He would come to work with a box of goodies he had decided he no longer needed and start passing them out as gifts for his co-workers. I have a lot of cool stuff in my garage that I inherited from him this way.

I think the concept of "De-Accumulation" is a good one, but maybe we could modify it a bit? Maybe we could find people who really need what we don't need? Maybe no one really needs our junk? Maybe we could stop buying and start sharing?

These thoughts have lingered on the fringes of my brain for years now. When we moved into this house about a year and a half ago, as I was moving box after box of my junk into a storage unit, I found myself apologizing for the obscene amount of garbage I had acquired. My friends all told me to stop apologizing. I remember taking a sweep of the orange and white storage farm we were in the middle of and realizing that, in our society, we all own so much junk we have to pay someone to keep it for us in the event that we ever need it. There is a multi-billion dollar industry built around the American acquisition sensibility. Do they have these things in India or Africa, I wondered? Probably a few, I thought, but I'm sure we Americans have more, as usual.

How has the shopping mall replaced the cathedral? How have we allowed the pursuit of happiness to become an endless hunt for more objects and gadgets and trinkets and adornment? Maybe it was when the Church started entertaining us? Maybe it was when we realized that people would buy products created just for Christians? I'm not sure of the timeline, but I do know that we are now living in a Pop Christian Consumerist Culture and I want off the merry-go-round.

Maybe I'm recognizing a pattern too? Maybe the character in Gibson's book is helping me to see something that's been there all along?

Either way, it's worth exploring.

Now, this is way too long. I had intended to talk about the other three books I'm reading, and update everyone on the first "House Church Leaders" meeting we had last month, and share a few thoughts on Marriage that came to me yesterday morning as I was awakening from an over-caffeinated slumber...but not now.

Time for my second cup of coffee.

Peace,
kg

YESSS!!!!

As promised, here's a photo of me jumping in my front lawn.

Today I accepted a very, very nice offer from Ingram Micro to work as a Copy Writer in their Marketing Department.

I start on Monday, August 13th.

PRAISE GOD!!!

kg

ANOTHER AMAZING WEEK

On Thursday of this week we had an "Arts and Worship" night at The Mission. Our group all spent time together worshipping in song, and then we went outside and all of us worked together on a giant shower curtain (seen here on the wall where we meet each week) where each of us added our thoughts, drawings, feelings, on the idea of community and "Christ in Us". It was such an amazing time!

Saturday morning Wendy and the boys and I lead our second "Kids Club" meeting for the neighborhood kids. This week we talked about what it means to "Love our Neighbor". I was reflecting on how it's less important to get our program down and more important that we model and live out the messages we proclaim. When I was young I can remember going to a Good News Club and the way I knew that Jesus loved me was that the ladies who lead that group loved me first. That's what we're trying to do here on our street...model the message of "Love Your Neighbor" more than we preach it...and if we do preach it we need to act it out in practical, tangible ways.

Saturday afternoon we lead our monthly motel service to the kids and their families at the California Studio Inn. We had a bounce house, puppet show, ice cream, and sang songs together. It, as always, blessed me more than anyone else, I suspect.

Saturday night our dearest friends, Lito and Ruthie came over and the ladies went to see "Wicked" while the Dads hosted the kids for home-made pizza, some Looney Tunes and Charlie Brown cartoons, and hung out until after midnight.

This morning we hosted our Sunday Morning house church and had an amazing discussion time about God's heart for the poor, when and how to give to those in need, and what it means to love others...(sensing a theme here?)

Tonight we're having The Wrights and The Swopes families over for some Southern food (fried okra, hushpuppies, etc.) and some deeper relationship time.

My life is good.

Tomorrow I hope to finalize my salary negotiations with Ingram Micro and then I will start my new job at Ingram Micro on Wednesday as their new Copy Writer in their marketing department.

Over a year out of work, and now I return to the company I left four years ago in order to seek out my pastoral calling. God had to lead me on a journey to discover that I could be a pastor without working at a Church...in fact, now I want to return to Ingram so I can be a minister to my co-workers, and learn to befriend people, and serve others, and still pastor our house church and serve in our community and love our neighbors.

God has brought me full circle now.

He is good.

Peace,
Keith

AMAZING WEEKEND

 

What an amazing weekend this was. I don’t think I’ve had so much back-to-back stuff going on before and enjoyed it all so much.

 

On Saturday morning Wendy and I hosted our Second Annual “KID’S CLUB” in our den with our two boys and a couple of the neighborhood kids.

We sang songs, played games, and talked about how Jesus commands us to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Next week we’ll talk about how we’re also called to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

 

Saturday night we hosted the very first local House Church Leader’s meeting in our home. We had one couple from Bellflower, and one leader from Cypress, and one potential leader from Fullerton join us for pizza and some really amazing and encouraging share time. We all agreed to do it again next month and to continue inviting other house church leaders to join us. We talked about how God had called each of us to step into the House Church, and shared our testimonies over lemon cookies and good coffee. Next time we want to talk about how we can help new house church leaders understand how to go about starting and leading a house church, but at the same time, to avoid a “This is how it’s done” set of “Right Way” instructions. One thing I think we all love about House Church is the fact that it’s truly Organic. There is no right way or perfect way to do house church. In fact, no one ever seems to do it just exactly the same as anyone else…and I love that! In fact, I think it would be tragic if anyone took The Mission model and tried to duplicate it exactly in their own home. I honestly believe it would kill any sense of spontaneity or individuality in the group. Every group is different. Every leader is different. So, next time we want to discuss the best way to provide guidelines without turning it into a set of step-by-step instructions.

 

On Sunday morning we probably one of our best house church meetings ever. My son, Dylan (11), read from 2 Chronicles and our entire discussion for the morning flowed from that one chapter. We ended up sharing about God’s heart for the poor, and discussed the mystery of healing and miracles, and even had time to weep together and encourage one of our sisters in Christ who is loosing a dear friend to cancer. That’s Church my friends!

 

Last night we ran over to The Wright’s house for dinner and some very encouraging discussions ensued about how we can really build a stronger, and deeper, sense of community within our house church. It was amazing for me to find out that they had been wrestling over these issues and wanted to become more invested in the leadership of the Mission. What a blessing!!

 

This morning one of our dear Mission family’s, The Pannell’s, left for Ecuador for a six week missions trip. They’ve got a blog which I’ve linked off of our Mission House Church page. How exciting it is to send out our first Missionaries from The Mission! I have to admit we really had very little to do with this, other than to pray for them and to encourage them to take the steps that The Father has already laid out in front of them. But, still…what an awesome thing it is to see so many of our Mission Family discovering their own Mission Field and stepping into it like this!

 

So, as I think about what God might have in store for us, our family, our house church, our ministry, etc., I am very encouraged by what I’ve seen and experienced these last two days.

 

I am even more encouraged to pray for God’s blessing and direction as we continue to minister and to worship and seek Jesus in this way. I know I have never in my life enjoyed following Jesus than I do right now.

 

God is good.

 

Peace,

Keith

 

NEW JOB? ALMOST THERE.....

Well today I had my third interview with the good people at Ingram Micro. Isn't a third interview (the second one this week, btw), a good thing? I think so...

Anyway, I've got a little sample copy writing assignment to complete and send over to them later. Assuming they like what I do, it's highly possible I'll get an offer from them early next week. I think so...

So, please keep praying and I'll keep everyone posted.

If I get this job a photograph of me jumping into the air for joy will be posted here in the next few days.

Gotta go do some copy writing now....

peas,
kg

NON-CON DATE AND LOCATION ANNOUNCED!

[Subversive Underground] Presents:
The Non-Con 2008
"A Conference for people who never want to attend another conference again."

WHEN: March 14 & 15, 2008
WHERE: Triangle Square in Newport Beach, California

WHAT: A two day conference in March of 2008
with facilitators: JACKIE PULLINGER (Missionary and author of "Chasing The Dragon") and DAVID RUIS (Songwriter and author of "The Justice God Is Seeking")

WHAT IS THE NON-CON?
*An intentionally small gathering of 100 people who are curious about living out their faith outside their comfort zone.
*A time for serving the poor in the community together.
*A dialog-driven, interactive discussion with front-line practitioners of Justice and Mercy.
*Shared meals.
*Simple worship with one guitar in the center of our circle.
*Time for Artistic expression and interaction.

WHY "Non-Con"?
*The aim is to create something unlike any previous conference experience. We want this to be small, hype-free, intentional and interactive where everyone who attends is free to speak, to minister and to become involved with our leaders, and others.

FIND OUT MORE ONLINE
at WWW.NON-CON.COM

THE GOSPEL: FOR HERE OR TO GO?

Last year I set a personal goal to finish writing at least one book project. I ended up writing two book projects.

This year my goal was to publish at least one of those books. In about a month I will self-publish my first book, "The Gospel:For Here Or To Go?" through Lulu.com.

At the moment, Neil Cole (author of "Organic Church") is helping me to edit the book and he has also promised to write a forward to the book for me, since the idea for the book came from a series of six articles I ran over at his website last year.

The complete book is about a hundred pages long and includes about nine new chapters, in addtion to the previous six articles (which were mostly re-written for the book version).

If all goes to plan, I will soon offer the book online here at my website, as well as to the faithful subscribers of my weekly e-newsletter, [Subversive Underground]. If I can I'll try to offer the subscribers a little bonus above and beyond the regular online purchase.

Later this year, or early next year I will make the second book project available, "The Power Of Weakness: God's Amazing Plan To Change The World" which is largely made up of material that has never appeared online or in print in any form. This book is about 90% complete right now.

Looking ahead to a third book project, it is my intention to compile the current ongoing series of articles, "Top 10 Things Every Christian Should Know (But Probably Doesn't)" into a book eventually, as well as other collections to come of my interviews (with Matt Redman, Todd Hunter, Dallas Willard, John Fischer, etc.), and articles compiled by subject like social justice, spiritual formation, and Christian Culture.

For now, the first book project is enough to keep me very busy. I'm very excited about getting it published and made available to everyone.

Thanks to everyone who has encouraged me and my writing over the years.

I hope this first book can help people to see God's calling on every Christian's life to be a missionary wherever God has planted you, and provide practical coaching on how to fulfill that calling in your actual life, neighborhood and workplace.

More later...
kg

SHANE CLAIBORNE'S COMMUNITY DESTROYED BY FIRE

Philly Fire Destroys Simple Way Community Center
"Fabric of our community life changed forever."
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/

DONATION INFO AT
http://www.thesimpleway.org/

**More from Shane's "Simple Way" blogsite-
This morning, a 7-alarm fire consumed an abandoned warehouse in our Kensington neighborhood in Philadelphia. The Simple Way Community Center at 3200 Potter Street was destroyed as well as at least eight of our neighbors’ homes. Over 100 people were evacuated from their homes, and 400 families are currently without power. Despite this tragedy, we are incredibly thankful to share that all of our community members and every one of our neighbors is safely out of harm’s way.

This fire will forever change the fabric of our community. Eight families are currently homeless, and in many cases have lost their vehicles as well as their homes. One of our neighbors, the Mahaias Family, lost their three cars as well as the equipment one family member uses for her massage therapy business. Teenager Brian Mahaias is devastated not because he has lost his belongings, but because he fears that this fire will force him to move away from this neighborhood that is his family as well as his home.

*More in link at
http://www.thesimpleway.org/

*thank god no one seems to have been injured - but there's a great opportunity here to help our brothers and sisters in their hour of need.

peas,
kg

REFORMATION OR REVOLUTION

REFORMATION OR REVOLUTION?
by Keith A. Giles

Many in the House Church movement are calling themselves “Revolutionaries” (mostly due to Barna’s book of the same name, I am guessing). However, this name disturbs me to be quite honest. I mean, I resonate with the sort of images such a word conjures up. I love the rebellious, subversive nature of the word. I love to challenge the status quo and to throw off man-made entanglements in order to get at the meat of the matter.

However, I feel that the term “Revolutionary” also carries the connotation of conflict. I do not want to be part of an uprising. I do not want to join a movement where violence and screaming and conflict rules the day. I’d rather be part of a “Reformation” where we can have an open dialog with those in the organized church about the things we are passionate about. I’d love to see the traditional church have a change of heart in many areas and embrace some of the community and family-based forms of fellowship we enjoy in the House Church, for example.

Still, there are various barriers to this sort of discourse among brothers and sisters in the Church. Here are some of my thoughts about that.

LEAVING THE CHURCH?
We, followers of Jesus, ARE the Church. Church doesn't make us Christian. A Church is a body of Believers, not a building, or an institution, or an organization with a non-profit status. According to the Scriptures, YOU are God’s building (1 Cor 3:9), and YOU are God’s Temple where the Spirit of God lives (1 Cor 3:16), and YOU are an important member of the Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27).

So, at the risk of repeating myself, if you are a follower of Jesus, you cannot “leave the Church” if you stop attending a service at a building on Sunday morning. You ARE the Church. The only way to “Leave the Church” would be to renounce your faith in Christ and to go you own way, abandoning your hope in The Way.

Many suggest that those of us in the House Church Movement have “left the Church”, which is of course, impossible. We have simply responded to God’s calling on our lives to “Be the Church” rather than to attend one.

I have been a licensed and ordained minister of the Gospel for over 16 years. I currently pastor a house church called "The Mission" in Orange, California. My reasons for leaving the organized church (but not "The Church") were honestly based on a calling of the Holy Spirit to step out and lead a group of people who would give 100% of their offerings to the poor. The only way to accomplish this was to have a house church.

However, as I've continued forward on this journey outside traditional church, I'm noticing that there are plenty of things that are just "not right" about the way our institutional churches work. As I share this, I know I need to confess that there are scores of very good, Jesus-following, Disciple-making, Social Justice oriented churches out there who are doing incredible work and are surrendered to Christ and are doing awesome Kingdom-building in their community. I admit this. Not every traditional church is broken. However, there are a few fundamental problems inherent in this traditional system which I feel need to be addressed and brought out into the open.

I guess I want to have a Family Talk about our household of faith among my brothers and sisters in Christ.

So, let’s talk.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH TRADITIONAL CHURCH?
We exploit people. We elevate a select group of leaders (and giftings) above everyone else. We have a man-made system of organization that deviates from the family-based group that was inspired by Jesus and promoted and built by the Apostles in the New Testament. We have become a "Sermon and a Song" each week in order to entertain the masses and keep them coming back and dropping money into the plate. We have largely abandoned our calling to care for the orphan and the widow and to remember the poor and instead we have focused our resources inward and spent millions of dollars on carpet and pews and flat-screen monitors and sound systems and designer coffee, etc.

I believe we have to get back to the basics. I believe that if we want the sort of community that we read about in the book of Acts we will have to do what they did; share everything, meet weekly in our homes, allow everyone to speak and teach equally, encourage everyone in their gifting and honor them as our own flesh and blood, read and study the Word of God, make disciples, and share our money with those who are in financial need among us.

At least, that's a good place to start.

OPEN DIALOG?
How do we have an honest conversation about the institutional church without slinging mud or unpacking our garbage from a bad experience?

I believe there are some very fundamental problems with the traditional church system, although I have friends who are lead pastors and family members and dear friends who are active and vital members of a traditional church. So, how do I critique these problems without it sounding like I'm calling them "false" or attacking the Bride?

There has to be a place where followers of Jesus can have an honest discourse about the very real problems within our organized church, and to do so with civility and clarity.

I think, to begin with, we have to get beyond the idea that we cannot criticize a man-made system for its flaws and excesses. The Church system is separate from The Church Body. We ARE the Church. I am not critical of the people of God, but I am critical of the system and structure of the organizational unit.

I believe it is time for a structural reform and a paradigm shift. I think the Holy Spirit has already begun to implement such a shift as He has called thousands of people to leave the organized church and start House Churches in their community. People are breaking bread with their actual neighbors. They are opening their living rooms up to people who would never go to an organized church service. The Gospel is being preached and lives are being changed. Best yet, we are learning again how to be disciples and how to make disciples, as Jesus commanded us.

For me, house church has been the greatest thing I've ever done with the word "Church" on it.
Watch the video clip below if you want a better picture of the Movement being lead by the Holy Spirit (not Barna or Cole or Simpson) here on my website.

I hope I can share these things without offending someone who is not in a house church. I hope I can be honest about what I see and hear without being accused of "attacking the Bride".

Martin Luther, in his day, saw a church that had strayed from the Biblical framework, adding man-made conventions to what God intended and it pained him to see it keeping the masses from The Gospel, and from Jesus. He spoke out. He criticized the Church for these practices and became very vocal and eventually even lead a reformation of Christians who felt they could no longer find God in the Church, so they left to find God.

I, for one, am glad that Martin Luther had such courage. I wonder if we need another one just like him today? Or maybe we just need a safe place, a neutral ground, to speak honestly and openly about our flaws and admit that some things in the traditional church really are broken.

I confess I struggle with this. I struggle with how to lovingly express these ideas and how to reconcile these thoughts in my own head.

Let the dialog begin…

Kg

NON-CON '08

[Subversive Underground] Presents:
The Non-Con 2008 -
"A Conference for people who never want to attend another conference again."

WWW.NON-CON.COM

A two day conference in March of 2008
with facilitators:
*JACKIE PULLINGER (Missionary and author of "Chasing The Dragon")
*DAVID RUIS (Songwriter and author of "The Justice God Is Seeking")


WHAT IS THE NON-CON?
*An intentionally small gathering of 100 people who are curious about living out their faith outside their comfort zone.
*A time for serving the poor in the community together.
*A dialog-driven, interactive discussion with front-line practitioners of Justice and Mercy.
*Shared meals.
*Simple worship with one guitar in the center of our circle.
*Time for Artistic expression and interaction.

WHY "Non-Con"?
*The aim is to create something unlike any previous conference experience. We want this to be small, hype-free, intentional and interactive where everyone who attends is free to speak, to minister and to become involved with our leaders, and others.

FOR MORE INFO:
WWW.NON-CON.COM

GOD IS ON THE MOVE

This makes my heart beat faster! It's an awesome look at the House Church Movement around the world. What I love is that this movement is not built on a person's book or because of a personality or a celebrity leader, it is built on the individual calling of each person who has heard the voice of the Holy Spirit to leave the traditional structure of church in order to really "Be" the Church.

Love it!
kg

OUR POOR

Poverty in America has once again become a hot topic these days. That's probably because the election campaigns are all in full swing now, I suppose.

As I hear what people are saying about poverty in America, I always have to mention that, although poverty in our country may not be as "severe" as what we see in Africa or India, etc., it is not any less poverty.

For example, if you were to give air conditioning or color television to one of those families living in a cardboard box in the Sudan, would they cease being poor? Of course not. And families in America with color tvs and air conditioning are no less poor because of their level of comfort. They are still poor. And they are "Our Poor".

I belive that there is a Biblical difference between how we are called to serve the poor in other countries and "our poor". The poor in India, Mexico, Ethiopa, etc. are seriously, desperately poor. No one argues that. This is why I've served on the board for groups like Arms of Love (www.armsoflove.org), a ministry that builds orphanages in the poorest nations of the world to provide homes for street children who live in the city dumps and are forced into prostitution, etc.
So, please, let's be clear; I'm not saying don't help the poor who are "out there".

But the poor in your city, in my city, down the street from me, they are "our poor", and what we're called to do, Biblically, is something about it. Not to solve poverty. Not to cure it. Not to erase poverty forever, but to do what we can to help a few, in the name of Jesus and with the compassion of Jesus.

Actually, as I've said before, the point of serving the poor is not to "cure" or "solve" poverty, but to befriend people who are in need and to learn to love and serve them as we would serve and love Jesus. We are the one's who are most changed in that relationship, by the way.

The quote from Jesus in Matthew about "the poor you will always have with you" was Jesus referencing Deuteronomy 15:7-11. You should seriously read this passage. The point is that God, the Father, is commanding the Jews to not have a hard-heart or a closed fist towards the poor, the stranger, etc., but to give generously, freely to the poor among them. At the end of the passage, God say, "There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."

That's what Jesus means when he says what he does in Matthew.

Read Matthew 25. At the Judgement Seat of Christ the one criteria is whether or not those who call him "Lord" had any regard for the poor, the hungry, the thirsty, the homeless, the prisoner. The Sheep almost unconsciously care for these poor, not because they think it will get them into Heaven, but simply because they have genuinely been transformed into the people of God. The Goats, who also call Him "Lord", have the same unconscious attitude, but towards the existence of the poor or their needs.

The people of God, redeemed by the Blood, saved by Grace, seem to have an inability to walk past someone who is naked, poor, hungry, thirsty, lonely, etc. and do nothing. They cannot do that. It's not in their new nature.

We have a Biblical mandate (and it's alllll over the Scripture, both Old and New) to care for the poor..."our poor"...and that takes more than writing a check.

Again, this is my very biased conviction. I've been hammered by God on this issue and I cannot let it go because it won't let me go.

Do you know what the sin of Sodom is? Read Ezekiel 16: 49. It's not what you think. "Now this is the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy. They were proud and did detestable things before me. Therefore, I did away with them as you have seen."

Wow.

How about this one?

Galatians 2:10- "All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do." (Paul being sent out as the first missionary by Peter, James and John).

or...

{God is speaking of King Josiah:}
"He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" (Jeremiah 22:16)

Wow.

"Is that not what it means to know me?"

What does it mean to "Know" God? This verse suggests that it means to care for the poor and the needy.

and of course we could also look at, Isaiah 58:6-7, Amos 5:21-24, 1 John 3:17-18, James 2:14-17, etc., etc.

God has called us to care for the poor, not to justify their poverty or our lack of compassion by comparing them to the "real poor" in third world countries.

So..how are we doing with serving and loving and befriending "Our Poor"?

kg

SOLITON SESSIONS 2007

SOLITON SESSIONS INFO

 

Hello everyone,

This is your friendly reminder that the Soliton Sessions are just 2 months away. Can't believe this is our 5th year together, truly amazing. Read the updated information below. Looking forward to seeing you...

Visit our site at

www.solitonnetwork.org

 

Soliton Sessions in Ventura, California

August 9-12th

 

Conversation: "Dangerous Living"

 

Guides:

Kester Brewin (UK)

Pete Rollins (N IRE)

Christine Pohl (US)

Ched Myers (US)

Barry Taylor (US/UK)

and many others, including you!

 

Cost:

$100.00 per person (which takes care of evening common meals, and 'gift' to cover guides and hosting)

Two ways to pay;

1. By check. Make check out "the bridge" and send it to PO Box 909, ventura, ca 93002. Please send a list of people names.

2. By Pay Pal, there will be a $5.00 service charge included. go to website for this www.solitonnetwork.org

 

Location of SESSIONS:

This year we are sharing times of learning, friendship, conversation at HUSH Restaurant and Lounge in downtown Ventura.....

Check out this amazing space www.hushlounge.com

 

During the evening we shall dine together in a house.

Any and all questions regarding places to stay, the schedule, or any other inquiries contact Greg Russinger at 805-701-0079...

 

PS The Soliton site will be under construction for a few days, needing a face lift, will send another email letting you know of its progress...

 

Blessing...

soliton network

www.solitonnetwork.org

 

 

 

HYBRID? (A Response)

My good friend, Brent Kollmansberger sent this response to me today and it is so brilliant I needed to share it with everyone.

My initial question to Brent dealt with my frustration at seeing so many Christians who attend traditional churches being abused and mislead and basically not cared for or pastored properly.

This is not a criticism, this is a fact. I can give you the names and phone numbers of the people I am speaking of. They are going through severe emotional and spiritual crisis and their churches and their pastors are totally useless and unavailable to help them or disciple them.

This makes me angry. So, I quietly complain to my friend Brent to bounce some of my ideas off of him.

Quickly, my ideas were: A)Build a better traditional church or B)Host a local conference for pastors to kick them in the butt over these issues somehow or C)Morph a house church into a “Hybrid” church (which is basically something between a traditional church and a house church and I’m not even sure what that looks like to be honest).

Brent’s response to me is below. I find it inspiring and dead on-target. Whether you agree or not, I share it with you here.

Kg
***
FROM BRENT KOLLMANSBERGER
TO KEITH GILES
6/01/07

Hey Keith,

"SO...what WOULD help facilitate change?"

I think the real question is not what WOULD facilitate change, but what
IS facilitating the change?

Just a few short years ago there was no house church movement in the U.S., and all the people that are now
gathering together with other believers in the context of house churches were part of traditional churches. So why did you change? What has so completely shaken me and altered my spiritual direction?

What is causing these believers to share with you their stories of abuse and
dissatisfaction with traditional church? The answer is simple. The
Holy Spirit. God is facilitating the change himself. God is drawing
people in directions that cannot be followed in the traditional church.
Everyone I speak to who is now part of a house church has a completely
unique story about their discovery of house church or more broadly -
their spiritual awakening.

We may see the spiritual corruption and the wounded spirits caused by
our religious organizational culture, but to charge right in and try to
fix it may be presumptuous on our part. God is already working on it,
and he is already using us to play a part. I'm trying to learn how to
stop asking and demanding of God what he wants me to do, and instead
simply tell God that I am here and available for him, and listening
should he desire me to do something for him. I think of myself as a
ready reserve. I'm standing by, refreshed and ready to go. If I
already dove in on my own and am super busy waging war, I'll never hear
God tell me what he really wants me to do - or I won't be available to
do it. I think that's the real problem of identifying a need, seeing
that I have the skill set and presuming that I'm supposed to solve the
problem. This is what it would mean if you launched a seminar or
crusade - unless of course God spoke and told you to move.

Before we can honestly talk about fixing a traditional church or
creating a hybrid church we need to clearly articulate what exactly is
wrong with the traditional church in the first place. We then need to
focus on what behaviors and principles do encourage true spiritual
development. If a house church doesn't create an atmosphere where
spiritual life can be modeled and practiced, then it too needs to be
fixed.

I'd like to believe a traditional church can be fixed without becoming a
house church network, but since the professional clergy themselves are a
big part of the problem I don't think many of them will sign up. The
key would be admitting what power, prestige and money do to us humans
and stripping those things away and enabling elders to share in ministry
together with mutual accountability. The next difficult hurdle would be
to recreate the church culture so that all believers are encouraged and
expected to minister to one another. This would be amazingly difficult.
It would be far easier to start a new traditional church with this DNA
from scratch.

Now, concerning a hybrid organizational structure - I'm sure you are
already familiar with cell churches. These are churches where much of
the ministry is conducted in small home groups, but they maintain a
large building for weekly celebration meetings. The large meeting ties
everyone to a common identity and places them beneath the senior pastor.
Their strength over a traditional church is that members may be allowed
and encouraged to minister to one another within the small groups. By
liberating saints to BE saints God is able to get more work done by
working through all of the body. Their weakness is the organizational
bureaucracy that exists solely to maintain control over this partially
decentralized organization, and the inevitable jockeying for position
and power that accompanies it. I believe this whole control, career and
pride thing is poison to anyone who would attempt to lead a church.

I see the current church situation as very similar to that in Jesus day.
Jesus didn't waste any of his energy reforming or fixing the existing
church culture. He didn't spend his time trying to get people to leave
the existing church structure and join him. Instead he went to the
sinners, the poor and the uneducated - those whose needs were not
getting addressed by the existing church system and he planted seeds of
the kingdom - whose DNA had nothing to do with the existing church
system. As his work grew, so did the jealousy and venom directed at him
from leaders of the religious system of his day. In time, the seeds he
planted grew so large that the traditional church of his day became more
and more irrelevant until its destruction 70 years later was just a
formality of what had already occurred in the spirit.

If the house church / organic church system cannot replicate what Jesus
did in the lives of the disaffected - sinners who are not members in
good standing of traditional churches, then I do not believe it is the
answer. We need more than a reformation of how we do church - one more
model of doing church. The church needs to be able to facilitate
spiritual reproduction in the fertile soil of the broken lives all
around us - and to do so naturally without conscious effort - its just
what and who we are. House church may just be the best organizational
vehicle to help facilitate this, but if it fails it will become just
another stepping stone toward the true spiritual awakening God is
drawing us to.

Wow - look what you drew out of me. I'm going to have to meditate on
these things.

God bless. Your friend and fellow adventurer,

Brent
***

BEAUTY AND TRUTH

BEAUTY AND TRUTH
By Keith Giles

Many of you may already be familiar with the controversy surrounding the work of art known as “Piss Christ” created by Andres Serrano a few years ago.
The scandal took on a fever pitch when protesters discovered that the work had been paid for under a Government Grant to the National Endowment for The Arts. This gave detractors leverage within the political arena to demand it be removed from public galleries, boycotted and banned.

Many in the religious community also maligned the work because of its controversial subject matter, but mostly I suspect because the conservative leadership of their political party declared it to be officious and therefore, “Un-Christian”.

To me, this work is one of the most poignant and powerful works of religious art ever created. It may not be “Politically Correct”, but it certainly is “Spiritually Correct”.

The photograph depicts Jesus submerged into the artist's urine (symbolizing our filth) while on the cross. This is exactly what Jesus did when He humbled Himself, left the splendor of Heaven and submitted His life, even unto death on the cross in order to rescue us.

I can’t think of a more accurate artistic representation of the incarnation than this. What better symbol of the love of Jesus for us than that He would willingly be born into a place that reeked of our filth? Wasn’t his birth in a stable?

What better illustration of God’s love for us than that He would submit to being immersed in our filthiness, our sin, in order to liberate us?

I love Serrano’s work because I think it’s one of the most profoundly evocative works of real art that I’ve ever seen involving the Divine in collision with the corruptible flesh of mankind.

If only a Christian artist could create such a powerful and true work of art…

kg

ALL WE NEED IS LOVE

ALL WE NEED IS LOVE by Keith Giles

I've never been a big Beatles fan, but I think they were on to something when they suggested that "All We Need Is Love". According to Jesus, this is our main calling, to love one another. We are to be a people who are known for our extravagant love. We are commanded to go so far as to love even our Enemies.

As you may imagine, love is not an easy thing to do. I've discovered that love is only easy until you start trying to put it into practice and then you suddenly realize that it costs more than you're willing to pay, it asks more than you're willing to give, and it hurts more than you thought possible.

Love is not for the faint of heart.

In 1 Corinthians 12 and 13, the Apostle Paul reveals to us that love is actually the greatest of all spiritual gifts. Without it, we are empty and our efforts are useless. Love, the sort of love we are called as followers of Jesus to share with others, is a supernatural force that we must be filled up with by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Human love is conditional. It is based on the principal of mutual exchange. I will love you if you will love me. But the love of God, the love that Jesus commands us to share, is unconditional love. It is sacrificial love. It is love that is given regardless of attitude or position or what can be gained.

This is the sort of love that is kicking my butt right now.

At the beginning of this year I shared with our House Church a vision for us to walk through "Concentric Circles of Love" where we would begin with our own families, and then radiate outward to our church family, and then our neighbors, our co-workers, and then to the community around us.

I still believe this is God's heart for us, but now I think I realize that, without a sincere miracle from God, none of us will ever get beyond the first circle. I know that I'm quickly realizing my capacity for love is not as deep as I first imagined.

I'm encouraged, however, that Paul's assertion regarding love is that we cannot do it on our own. We are not expected to have within us a love that is equal to God's love. But, if we will humble ourselves and seek His face, and ask God to fill us with His kind of love, He will.

God's desire for us is to be known as people who love like He loves. He has commanded us to live this way. He knows we can't accomplish this by ourselves, so He is faithful to fill us with His perfect love when we admit that we don't have it.

I'm learning now that, every day, I need to ask God for His Holy Spirit to fill me with His Love for others. It's part of the daily surrender, the daily dieing to self, the daily conversion to Christ, that all of us must seek if we are ever to be the people He is calling us to be.

Conversatio Morem!

Peace,
Keith
http://www.MissionHouseChurch.com

MY FIRST BOOK

Yesterday I spent some time formatting my first book project, “The Gospel: For Here Or To Go?” for publishing.

 

It’s shaping up great!

 

Today I got confirmation from a good friend, who just happens to be a published author himself, that he will write an introduction to my book and even help me proof it.

 

It helps to have friends, doesn’t it?

 

I’ll probably self-publish the book and offer for sale as a link off of this main website.

 

Details soon.

 

Keith

 

 

 

 

 

PURPOSE?

Sometimes I wonder about my role in the Universe. What is my purpose in the grand scheme of things?

 

Last night during our Mission House Church meeting, we prayed for a friend of mine who works at a very major animation studio (which shall remain nameless). He has received a very specific calling from God about his place in the company and several of his concepts are being pursued for development.

 

As we prayed for my friend, I began to reflect on what my overall “Kingdom Footprint” looked like. Maybe I assume it must be something epic and world-changing because of my inflated ego?  Probably.

 

Is my major calling to write and publish a book? I’m working to self-publish my first book project sometime this year with another one already finished for next year. Is that it? Or is my calling to pastor people like my friend who are stepping into the National spotlight with a chance to communicate the values of the Kingdom to the adolescent mind? Maybe my calling is just to be a good husband and father who learns humility and finds the Grace to love people the way Jesus did?

 

I think this speaks to my previous [Subversive Underground] article about my concept of “Greatness” and God’s definition, which are wildly opposite it seems.

 

I do have aspirations of publishing my books and helping others to really grasp the Gospel of The Kingdom and walk it out in their everyday life. I am blessed that I get to write my little e-newsletter each week and have 150 or so people read it and (hopefully) get blessed by it. I am blessed that webzines like TheOoze.com and Ginkworld.net and SeedStories.com regularly publish my articles.

 

I do have a calling to continually pastor our House Church. I am blessed that God has poured out His Grace and Favor on our Mission House Church this last year. I am blessed to see people really beginning to see the Kingdom and walk in it every day.

 

I do have a calling to be a Godly husband and father. I am blessed that my wife and I are cradled in the loving arms of God our Abba every single day. I am blessed that my sons know and love God and that they have such a simple and sincere faith in Jesus. I am blessed that God has continually taught me how to walk daily in the Spirit and that He still has patience with me as I stumble through my walk of faith.

 

God has been showing me lately that there are Kingdom concepts that I understand but have yet learned how to actually implement effectively. Such as “Loving One Another” and “Blessing Those Who Persecute You”. 

 

Loving others is really kicking my butt right now.

 

Loving my friends who are caught in adultery has brought a rift in our relationship. Loving my brothers in Christ has meant risk and truth and accountability. I am learning that life outside my comfort zone, although essential for Kingdom Life, is hard and very…uhmm…”Uncomfortable”.

 

Still, we follow on and seek His face.

 

“…where else can we go? You have the words of life.”

 

Kg

 

 

 

 

 

TOP 10 THINGS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW (But Probably Doesn't)

TOP 10 THINGS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW (But Probably Doesn’t)

By Keith Giles

*The articles published so far on my [Subversive Underground] E-Newsletter and also online as part of a monthly

series over at www.GinkWorld.net

 

10- The Christian Sub-Culture is not healthy for you

9- The Kingdom of God is NOT the American Dream

8- Obedience to Jesus is NOT Optional

7- Work is not a bad word

6 – We ARE the Church!

 

*So..have I missed anything so far? Anything you think belongs on this list?

 

I've already established the entire Top 10 in advance, but I'm curious if any of you have an idea for this series that

I might have missed...or that might end up in "Another 10 Things Every Christian Should Know" series to follow?

 

Let me know...

Keith

EMAIL ME AT: "elysiansky" (at) "hotmail" (dot) "com"

 

PROVERB

He who knows not and knows not he knows not; He is a fool. Shun him.
He who knows not and knows he knows not; He is simple. Teach him.
He who knows and knows not he knows; He is asleep. Wake him.
He who knows and knows he knows; He is wise. Follow him.
- Anonymous

STOP CHRISTIAN CONSUMERISM

I just LOVE this!

http://stopconsuming.org/STOPresolution.html

Join the cause!

I'd love to network with this guy for the upcoming
Non-Con '08 in March.

Check it out and support this, please..

http://stopconsuming.org/STOPresolution.html

kg

FROM THE VAULTS

FROM THE VAULTS

*NOTE: This article is available on my blog at the link below. It originally appeared a few years ago in GQ Magazine and was written by Walter Kirn, who willingly spent several days immersed in the Christian Bubble (or Sub-Culture) which he calls "The Ark". Great insights. Cutting commentary.
Enjoy!
kg
**

"What Would Jesus Do?" by Walter Kirn
(Originally Published in GQ Magazine)
http://subversive1.blogspot.com/2005/01/what-would-jesus-do-by-walter-kirn.html

WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?BUT MORE, IMPORTANT, WHAT WERE JESUS' FITNESS SECRETS? IF YOU WERE ONE OF THE GROWING MILLIONS OF AMERICANS LIVING IN THE MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR CHRISTIAN ALTERNACULTURE
—IN WHICH EVERYTHING IN MAINSTREAM CULTURE GETS CLONED AND THEN
BLEACHED OF "SINFUL" CONTENT—YOU'D KNOW. WALTER KIRN SPENDS
SEVEN STRANGE DAYS WALKING IN THE SHOES OF THE FAITHFUL.

DAY ONE: RESOLUTlONS
Today I will pray for Jewel, the singer-songwriter, "that Jewel's artistry in music and poetry will draw her audience into an encounter with truth." Tomorrow I'11 pray for Paul Allen, the
Microsoft billionaire, "that Allen and others working on the leading edge of interactive media will pursue their objectives with integrity." And later this week, in the manner and order prescribed by Praying for the Worlds 365 Most Influential People: 5 Minutes a Day to Change Your World, I will pray for Michael Crichton, the author/producer; for Jesse Helms, the North Carolina senator; and for Bill Nye, who hosts TV's Bill Nye the Science
Guy.

Today I will start reading Desecration, the ninth installment of the Left Behind series, a best-selling fictional treatment of the Apocalypse that pits the heroic Rayford Steele ("original member of the Tribulation Force3 against the cloven-hoofed Nicolae Carpathia ("self-appointed Global Community potentate3. Today I will dine on foods from What Would Jesus Eat? by Don Colbert, M.D., heeding Dr. Colbert's solemn warning that "eating a diet
high in salt, low in fiber, very high in fat and sugar, and virtually void of nutrients is not the way Jesus ate. Today I will ask my daughter, Maisie, 3, to pick out a video from the Bibleman
series, a live-action superhero saga for kids directed by and featuring Willie Aames of Eight Is Enough and Charles in Charge fame.

Today I will plug in my TVGuardian, a handy electronic chaperone whose "patent pending, award winning technology" filters out "95% to 100% of foul language from TV shows" and replaces objectionable phrases like She's such a #%&#h! and Oh &#!t! with She's such a
nag! and Oh crud!

Today I will leave behind the fallen world of secular American pop culture and enter the self-contained parallel universe of American Christian pop culture, within which I've vowed to dwell, exclusively, for seven days and nights, watching PAX instead of NBC and letting Pat Robertson be my Tom Brokaw. But first, before I do any of these things, I will read from my new prayer book and ask God "to bless Jewel with safety, meaningful relationships" and, of course, "success."

DAY TWO: ADJUSTMENT
I wake aboard the Ark....

MORE IN THE LINK:
http://subversive1.blogspot.com/2005/01/what-would-jesus-do-by-walter-kirn.html

GOOD TO ME

GOOD TO ME

I just wrote a new worship song this Thursday called "Good To Me" that's based on Zephaniah 3 where it says that "God delights in you. He sings over you. He will quiet you with His love"...which always blesses me.

Anyway, for some reason my [Subversive Underground] is being delayed by the fine folks at Feedblitz, I think. This week's article was written and posted on May 2nd and as of today, May 5th at 9:44pm PST it has still not been sent out to our 150 faithful subscribers....sorry.

I've done a few little tricks of my own to jump-start the feed. Hopefully those work and tomorrow morning the latest [SU] will send. If not, people will assume I've flaked off a week, which I most certainly have NOT!

(ahem)

Anyway, for those of you who have been praying for me (and you know who you are)...I've FINALLY got a full-time job!!

YIPEE!!

Today I accepted a full-time sales position at a company in Fullerton that designs, manufactures and distributes high-pressure cleaning systems for professional-grade industries and carpet cleaners.

Yes...very, very sexy isn't it?

So, if I do well in this new job (and I pray that I will) the potential is that I could make some very serious money. (Oh please, oh, please, oh please!!)

Don't stop praying!

I've got about 4 different [Subversive Underground] articles brewing at the moment...wanna hear what they are?

OK!

One is on "Lopsided Community" and how the modern/traditional church in America has misunderstood what true community should look like and the dangers of doing so.

Another is on my personal struggle with Constantinian Models of Church and balancing this with grace and love towards my brothers and sisters in the Traditional church model. *This is a tough one to write about since I admittedly struggle with my feelings and opinions on this very issue.

Another is on "Real Forgiveness" as Jesus teaches it and let me warn you in advance, the teachings of Jesus on forgiveness would make your Sunday School teacher explode into tiny pieces. No...seriously.

And the other one is Part 6 in my ongoing series "Top 10 Things Every Christian Should Know (But Probably Doesn't)" over at Ginkworld.net right now. Parts 10 through 7 are online now...at least I was told that part 7 posts this weekend.

I'll probably be posting a lot more over at TheOoze.com in the coming months. They seem to like my writing and I get a LOT more response from readers over there too. I like feedback. It's really one of the main reasons I started this blog and the [SU] newsletter...and the [SU] Forum (which only Martin G. and two other guys in Africa ever post at...but that's another story.

So...this post is also a test to see if the new blogger feature of email posting actually works or not. My first test from my hotmail account came out wonky so I'm trying another web-based email account for this one.

Cross your fingers.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Peas,
Keith

RECOMMENDED READING LIST FOR NON-CON '08

I've just posted a list of articles and books for our reading list as we await the Non-Con '08 with Jackie Pullinger and David Ruis over at the website:
http://www.non-con.com

Take a look!

kg

To Believe

Sometimes I've been so focused on discovering what it means to die to myself, and to take up my cross, and to endure suffering as a means to humility, that I forget that God is good and that He loves me and that He takes delight in me.

Somehow both things are true. I need to endure suffering. I need to humble myself. I need to discover the power of Christ in the depths of my own weakness. Yet at the same time, God's love for me is legendary. It is beyond imagination and expression.

Because I can become numb to God's amazing love for me, I sometimes also forget that He loves to bless His children. He loves to give them good gifts. He loves to make them smile.

I've been out of full-time work for about ten months now. Because I've been so fixated on dying to myself, I've started to assume that God really doesn't want to bless me with a great job. When people pray for me and ask God to bring me a job beyond my imagination, or better than my wildest dreams, I unconsciously smirk inside. I seriously doubt those words. I appreciate the sentiment. I am grateful for their kindness. But I doubt the truth of the words in the prayers about God's intentions toward me.

I suspect that God will give me a job that just barely covers rent and bills. Something mundane and possibly even painful and uncomfortable. I mean, the whole reason my family and I have been enduring all of this pain and difficulty and challenge for these 10 months now is all to teach me how to carry my cross and humble myself, isn't it? So, why would my job, whatever it is, whenever it comes, be any different?

I don't know. But, this morning, around 4am I couldn't sleep and I got out of bed. I walked to our den and knelt down in front of the sofa. I prayed and asked my Abba, my Daddy, to please provide a good job for me, soon. I prayed and I asked Him for a job I would really enjoy. I prayed for a place where I could use my gifts and talents and still provide for my family here in Orange County.

As I prayed I began to take courage. I began to feel hope rise up within me again. I recalled a verse from James that says, "You have not because you ask not" and so I started to ask God, from my heart, for what I really hoped for; A new job, a good job, and soon.

I wish I could say I am now totally convinced that all will work out for the best. Right now I think I do. I have a small hope. But, still, something inside me isn't so sure that my season of enduring pain is really about to be over so soon...

Excuse me, I think I need to go back and pray a little more.

peace,
keith

A LETTER FROM JACKIE PULLINGER

A Letter From Jackie Pullinger

I got this email today from my hero, Jackie Pullinger. She's our main keynote speaker for next year's NON-CON '08 (http://www.non-con.com) and the author of "Chasing the Dragon" from Regal Books. She's a missionary to street children and drug addicts and prostitutes in Hong Kong.

***
Dear Keith,

Thank you for your email. Yes, I am still planning to join you next year. I will be in San Jose 14th - 17th September and Fesno 21st and 22nd September.

Here is some of our news.

I have a frequent dream. I mean it is really a dream. At least twice a month I dream of the Walled City. It is never quite like the Walled City was but similar, as the whole place looked like a parody of a film set. I always seem to be walking down yet more dark lanes and I'm always doing the same thing - looking for rooms or little apartments to rent. This is either for me to live in or for poor people to live in or some of our teams to live in to reach the poor or a place for people to meet in. My latest one was last night when I was in a very dark place and for the first time I was rather afraid it might be filled with cockroaches, but it was so dark, I wouldn't be able to see.

My fortieth anniversary and the musical dance production of Chasing the Dragon have stirred up many of these Walled City memories, so I did a count. Since I've been in Hong Kong I have personally lived in 29 different places and the last one is nearly 10 years so you can see how often I moved. We then did a count up of how many my friends and I have rented to help addicts get off drugs or rehabilitated families or send teams out in this country alone, we've counted up 159 and we may have forgotten a few.

The latest one is we need to move our factory. As you know we have up to 65 teenagers with us at any one time called 'GoGetters'. They are called non-engaged youth in Hong Kong. That means they have fallen out of the school system and no school will take them. They are considered delinquent, but have actually been neglected and certainly disparaged. They come to live with us and after a few days will all believe in Jesus and then they want to stay for a long time. When they have settled down, and have started to feel safe enough, we send them back to our own school programme, as the Hong Kong system has not helped them. Right now our lease is up and we cannot continue to rent that place, so we are looking for a new place, factory or warehouse. Pray that we'll find the one.

Tenders for the construction of the next phase of Shing Mun Springs should be going out in the next month or two. You know Government wheels move extremely slowly, but we desperately need more places for these teenagers to live in. We've got Probation Officers and Social Workers queuing up and as yet have not been able to take many girls.

Our India team set off last Thursday for Mumbai, where they'll start by learning Hindi and getting to know people and seeing what Jesus develops. Eventually we hope to have teams placed in the countries that go along the Opium Trail to China. On the China front we can't report any official news still, but unofficially there are some wonderful openings and stuff going on and lives being changed. So maybe we'll never be officially within the system but we are still hoping and praying.


This comes with much love

Jackie
***

MUSTARD IN ORANGE

If you live in Orange County, California you're invited to join me and a few of the men from The Mission (our house church in Orange) tonight at 7pm for our first Men's Gathering. We're meeting at The Mustard Cafe in Orange, just south of the Orange Circle on Glassell. The plan is to meet every-other Tuesday together to encourage and pray for one another.

If you're curious about visiting our house church, this will be the place to come and get to know some of our leaders.

So far our Thursday night meetings have been consistently great and our Sunday morning services together have really started to grow quickly too. Soon we'll have to seriously discuss a second group...hmmm...

Can't wait to see what God does next!

Peas,
Keith

WHERE DO OUR TAX DOLLARS GO?

WHERE DO OUR TAX DOLLARS GO?
By Matt Fiedler

With the income-tax return filing deadline quickly approaching, taxes are near the top of many Americans’ minds. Since the government collects taxes in order to finance public services, tax season is a good time to examine where the tax dollars go.

All told, the federal government spent a bit less than $2.7 trillion dollars in fiscal year 2006, representing about one-fifth of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or slightly less than the historical average for the last three decades. [1] As shown in Figure 1, about three-fifths of federal expenditures went to three areas, each of which comprised about one-fifth of the budget:

Defense and security: In 2006, some 21 percent of the budget, or $557 billion, went to pay for defense, homeland security, and security-related international activities. While more than $100 billion went to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the bulk of spending in this category reflects the underlying costs of the Department of Defense and other security-related services.

Social Security: Another 21 percent of the budget, or $549 billion, went to Social Security, which provided retirement benefits averaging $964 per month to 34 million retired workers (and dependents of retirees) in the last month of fiscal year 2006. Social Security also provided survivors’ benefits to 6.6 million surviving children and spouses of deceased workers and disability benefits to 8.5 million disabled workers

(MORE IN THE LINK BELOW)
http://www.cbpp.org/4-10-07tax2.htm

CHRISTIANITYVERSION 0.0

CHRISTIANITY VERSION O.O
By Keith Giles

A friend recently brought an article in the September 2002 issue of GQ magazine to my attention. (Also posted here on this blog, btw). The author, Walter Kirn, an unbeliever himself, wrote a blistering yet painfully honest article called “What Would Jesus Do?” that explored the little Christian ghetto that many of us live in. His morbid curiosity compelled him to explore this world that was almost exactly like the one he lived in, but without any substance. He described how he discovered product after product that essentially cloned the mainstream culture and leached it of sinfulness, and, as a byproduct, all relevance and meaning.

He noted, “What makes the stuff so half-assed, so thin, so weak and cumulatively so demoralizing … has nothing to do with faith. The problem is lack of faith. [The Christian subculture] is a bad Xerox of the mainstream, not a truly distinctive or separate achievement. Without the courage to lead, it numbly follows, picking up the major media’s scraps and gluing them back together with a cross on top.”

What would happen if, instead of trying to create our own sanitized version of the world, we simply set ourselves apart from it? I can’t help thinking that the most radical thing that a modern Christian could ever do is simply to act out the things that Jesus told us to do—things like loving our enemies, giving freely to anyone who asks us, forgiving everyone no matter what and being gracious with everyone around us would have a much more powerful impact on the culture than Christian breath mints ever could.

Isn’t it more important to be set apart from the culture and to be known by how we are “unlike” the world? I feel like its time for Christianity Version 0.0 to be launched. It’s time to make a difference by being different.

Ever wonder why Christianity isn’t taken very seriously in today’s society? Why “Christian” has become synonymous with “cheesy”? Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims seem to command much more respect from the average person than do Christians. Maybe it’s because Buddhists and Hindus don’t create their own little versions of the world we live in for their own benefit and consumption.

Our attempts to copy the culture, albeit in a sanitized version, have failed to impress the world. We have everything from Christian radio and television to Christian coffee and candy. We have the Dove Awards, the Christian version of The Grammy Awards. We have Christian music, a subculture that creates the same music, but with a “message.” We’ve become a faith that emulates rather than impacts.

We’ve tried so hard to show the world around us that “Christians can rock too” and that “Christians can be just as funny and cool” as they are … just a little more “holy.” The end result seems to be that the world sees no intrinsic difference between them and us, except maybe for the packaging and the lack of quality.

Where did we get this idea from? Certainly not from Jesus. Jesus was relevant to His culture. He spoke their language. He told stories that they could relate to in order to illustrate truth. He didn’t create a sanitized version of the popular culture. He didn’t instruct us to do so, either. If anything, Jesus created a movement that was intended to be counter to the culture, not a sanitized version of the same. He was more interested in creating a people that were known for all the ways they were different, not the ways they were the same as the world … only better.

Ask yourself something. Can you name the top five most effective, culturally relevant ministries to come out of the body of Christ in the last 10 years? You know, the one’s that have had a profound, lasting impact on the culture by modelling the character of Jesus?

No? For the life of me, I can’t either.

Time to create a version of Christianity that isn’t a version of anything at all. It’s time for Christianity version zero point zero.

Someone hit the reset button …
***
[Keith Giles is one of the world's greatest enigmas. Ruggedly handsome, and yet surprisingly gentle and compassionate with small animals, Keith actually has a very weak grasp of reality and often talks to himself in the bathroom mirror. He's currently writing two books about spiritual formation and missional life. He and his wife and two boys are on an adventure leading a house church called "The Mission" in Southern California.
***
NOTE: this article was written about two years ago, but I think it's worth repeating. BTW, I spoke to Walter Kirn soon after writing this and it turns out he does profess faith in Christ, but he wrote this when he was the fiction editor at GQ in order to provoke the Body of Christ to change its tune. I had always intended to interview Mr. Kirn, and he consented to one, but I never got around to doing so. Maybe one day..?


Love to hear your thoughts...
kg

of iron [poem]

"of iron"

of iron in my
blood on the ground
to the floor
and the smell
of death and the taste
of tears in my mouth
a screaming prayer
hope a glimmer
of light
beneath a door
locked with a chain
or iron in my heart
on my wrist
burning scars
of shame
deeper than I
ever
believed

by keith giles
*written for "Freedom Day '07"

CLOSE TO HOME

CLOSE TO HOME by Keith Giles

I've recently become aware of a growing number of under-age prostitutes here on the streets of central Orange County. What alarmed me most was that I could find no Christian ministry that was currently addressing this need. No Church, no para-church organization, not even a secular non-profit, was trying to help these girls get off the streets.

I called one prominent Christian ministry and they told me they could only help a girl if she had a valid I.D., a social security card and was over 18 years of age. What if I find a girl on the streets who is sixteen and wants to get off the streets? Do I send her away? What if she is from China or Mexico or Thailand and she’s been brought here against her will? What then? There was no answer.

Another friend who works closely with the homeless here in Orange County told me that if I wanted to raise funds to care for these girls I couldn’t call them prostitutes. "Emphasize their homelessness, or call them single moms, or categorize your ministry as being to under-age addicts, but you'll find that Churches here will not give money to help prostitutes". That burned me.

At first I was greatly disturbed, even angry, that not a single Christian church or ministry would take the time to reach out to these girls and help them, or at least extend the compassion and love of Jesus to them. Isn't this exactly where Jesus, our Lord, would be if He were walking the streets of Orange County today? Then I realized that I did know about this problem and I was also unwilling to drop everything and make this my ministry. I am still left wondering what to do about this. Is it my personal calling to act on behalf of these girls? Am I only to raise awareness and challenge others here in Orange County to get involved? I still don't know.

I've often said that I am an activist. (Most recently in this week's [Subversive Underground] article "Immune" for instance).

For me, it's impossible to call yourself a follower of Jesus and become passive about injustice.

But I am only one person. I have a family I can barely provide for each month. I am pastoring a small house church and trying to love and serve the families on our street as an incarnational missionary. I have been serving a local motel where families live in poverty for over four years now. There are several individuals and families that I am committed to serving and helping and loving into the Kingdom of God already. How could I possibly add a ministry to prostitutes to my schedule? This is not a part-time, weekend ministry. This would consume my life and monopolize every hour of the day.

What I do know is that a significant part of my personal calling is to write about what I see and experience and learn. There's no doubt in my mind about that. At the same time, I constantly feel a tension between being a writer who spurs others on to action and being a practitioner of compassion and justice myself. I never want to be someone who writes about issues but never gets involved.

Maybe that's why this issue concerns me so much. I feel a strong compulsion to speak out and raise awareness on the issue of teenage prostitution on Harbor blvd, but I know that I personally can't do very much to go out and minister to them myself on a daily basis.

I took a small team out to the streets of Santa Ana twice last year to try to get to know these girls and share the love of Jesus with them. It was a drop in the bucket and required a large level of committment from all of us.

For now I continue to pray and ask the Lord to show me what He is calling me to do about this.

How do I reconcile my calling to love others with my calling to pastor this house church and be a good father to my children?

This is my challenge. I cannot let this go.

More later...
kg

What counts for eternity?

"What counts for eternity?
Only that good which is done for the love of doing it.
Only those plans in which the welfare of others is the master thought.
Only those labors in which the sacrifice is greater than the reward.
Only those gifts in which the giver forgets himself"
-Henry Van Dyke