echoes of redemption

Having someone close to you who can speak wisdom into your life is indispensable.

They are the one who can help you seen the forest through the trees. Validate you when you have a problem, passion or dream that needs to be encouraged. Keep you on track when you find yourself caught in the threads of anger or un-forgiveness.

A few years ago I was thinking about this kind of relationship in generalities. I really didn’t have anyone in my life who was doing this. Which is dangerous.

At first I was a little upset at God that he would not have put someone in my life to do this – then I realized that I hadn’t been actively pursuing this kind of relationship. So my thought was, what if this person is already in my life and I’m just not leaning in to the friendship?

So I took an inventory of my friends and realized that one guy in my life was consistently able to see the big picture. That he inspired me to do bigger and greater things when we talked. That he would listen to me rant, rave and curse – and without judging me, guide me back toward center.

I just needed to lean in to the friendship.

But it wasn’t long before I realized that just like I needed someone in my life, I also need to be that person for someone else. So I began to look around.

And two other incredible friendships developed.

It’s too easy to float through life and not lean in to the friendships God has placed in our path. And that hurts us all – because we are at our best when we do life together.

Quick note: Our hearts and prayers are with those devastated by the massive earthquake in Haiti. Over the next few days, as aid organizations make public their plans for recovery, we will post them on this site.

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Washing someone’s feet is a Biblical act of servanthood – a visceral example of what real servanthood looks like and a model for how we should serve other people.

Of course our problem comes in when we stop with the idea of foot-washing as an example and fail to practice it as a model.

I have been part of a few foot-washing ceremonies. We would all take off our shoes, pick someone in the room and wash their feet. It was challenging to push past the awkwardness and touch someone else’s feet, and we were told that’s what servanthood looks like. However, pushing past the awkwardness is only the beginning of what servanthood looks like.

If we were really serious about serving one another in sacrificial ways, we wouldn’t need foot-washing ceremonies. They are facade’s at best.

In our culture we don’t wear sandals (like they did in Jesus time), we have sewage and animals live in different places that humans (so we’re not stepping in feces) and hygiene is (generally) a standard practiced by the people in our culture.

So what good is it to someone to wash their feet in the modern west?

None.

There are, however, needs all over the earth that desperately need to be met… and meeting those needs will take true sacrifice, true servanthood.

On top of that, there are also needs right where we are. If you gathered a group of people together now, someone would be in deep financial need. Someone else would be struggling with infertility. Anther with cancer. Another with an oppressive boss. And all of these needs could be met by the people in the room, all of these people served – if we were willing to sacrifice by living lives that wash people’s feet.

So maybe the church should stop literally washing feet and start washing the feet of the world.

by Brian Dormaier from TheyCallMePastorBryan

It is said, that once Jesus visited a town in Texas during the late 1980’s.  He didn’t visit the churches, but he was there, in the town’s slums, caring for the poor and healing the sick.  There was a very rich and very successful televangelist in the town and he was excited when he had heard Jesus was visiting.

This televangelist was so excited that even though he would usually avoid the slums at all costs, he decided he must go.  He knew Jesus would be there, bestowing great wealth on the faithful who had given to his ministry.  When the televangelist arrived, he saw the appreciative looks on the faces of the crowd who had gathered around Jesus.  He knew his hunch was correct.  Jesus was bestowing great wealth.

The televangelist wrestled his way through the crowd to get to the front.  He fell, getting his designer suit dirty, but at last he had made his way to Jesus!

“Jesus,” he said, “what must I do to receive my reward for my faithfulness?”

Jesus responded “Have you sought to love God and to love your neighbors?”

Excitedly the televangelist responded “Lord you know I have proclaimed how you desire to bless us if we will just have faith in you, and I have done my best to do so.”

“Well then,” Jesus responded, “there is only one thing left. Sell everything you have, your mansions, your plane, your cars, your designer clothes, and use that money to care for the poor. Then come and follow me and you will receive your reward.”

The televangelist was dejected.  He turned, fighting his way through the crowd, trying to get back to his BMW. “This man is not Jesus, but an impostor.” he thought, “Jesus would realize all these things I own are His reward to me for having faith.”