Hunger...let's call it what it is!

One of my favorite food establisments here in the Eastside is the Wilde Rover in downtown Kirkland. I can usually be found there once a week enjoying their amazing nachos and conversing with their really cool servers. One reason I like going to the "Rover" as we regulars like to call it :) is that they provide free newspapers for patrons to read as they sit at the bar. Most days, I go for the Seattle Times but on this particular day in December all that was left was the New York Times. I enjoy the news and reading the papers, but the NY Times is an entirely different level of news...I mean you really have to like the news to find this paper interesting! Anyways, I went straight to the commentary page and found a very intersting article about hunger here in America and what our governement is doing about it. Before I go any farther you need to know that I am not in any way bashing our government or our current administration...I'm simply expressing concerns. Currently in America there are about 11 million americans who each month do not have the money to provide enough food for their families. The 23 largest cities in America have all recorded record increases in emergency food requests from citizens according to a recent US Conference of Mayors. In Fairfax County, Virginia the health department cracked down on the people who cook meals for the homeless from their homes and churches because they don't have commercial-grade kitchens! But maybe the most disturbing of all to me is the fact that our Dept. of Agriculture has taken the word "hungry" out of it's verbage and replaced it with "very low food security". Who are they kidding? Changing the language will never change the facts, and we as the church should not be convinced that these people who for whatever reason don't have enough food aren't sometimes hungry! Let's call hunger what it is...hunger! I have learned recently that the people of Fairfax County fought hard and the health department backed off and these kind people are back to cooking meals for the homeless. It's stories like this that makes it easy for me to pick on politics and it's leaders, and not see the good that's taking place in churches and shelters. I pray that we as a church can continue to be a voice in our community and continue to serve as many needs as possible. Remember what Mother Teresa once said..."small things done in great love can change the world". I believe we can change the world with Jesus...as long as we're not blinded to the real hurt and needs all around us.

Peace and Love to you.
Rex

Good Friends...

Just got home from our Nooma Night / small group and I'm really encouraged by the love and commitment these people have for each other and Redwood Hills. We had such a fun time tonight eating and talking about some great stuff! I love our church and the good friends who have come into my life in the last 8 months...

Peace and Love to you,

Rex

Extreme Makeovers

A couple years ago a buddy of mine was telling me that his favorite show was Extreme Makeover, Home Edition. He said that every time he watched it he cried. I said he was a sissy for crying over just another lame reality tv series. It wasn't 2 weeks later that I found myself on the couch watching one Sunday night, the very show I had made fun of. I have to confess a secret about that night...I cried. Since then I watch this show most every Sunday and still I cry. I can't help it...there's something about seeing people getting a second chance! Tonight I watched as a hispanic family in Chicago walked into an absolutely beautiful home...complete with state of the art appliances and plasma tv's, this was an over-the-top makeover. During the "walk through" part of the show the mother stops and breaks down in tears of joy, beginning to reflect on their family's hardships...She too is amazed at second chances. It's at this point that I begin to think about the scripture in 1 John where it says "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us". God in his mercy has given me so many second chances and each time he forgives and restores me he lavishes his love on me! God takes what was old, and nasty and creates beauty and value...it's amazing to me. May we all find ourselves amazed at God's work in our souls.

Peace and Love to you,
Rex

Things I've been thinking about lately...

That Redwood Hills is entering one of its most important and promising years in its brief history...

It's lame that the Hawks are playing Sunday at 10am! Well, I don't pay for my DVR for nothing...

I'm sick and tired of the media feeding America's scarcity mindset...generosity could change the world if we just accepted the truth about our abundance!

I'm amazed at God's faithfulness to my family during this past year of change...

Spring Training begins in a few weeks and my beloved Mariners are going to suck bad!

I'm learning to trust God deeper through seeing how much my boys trust me...

I'm feel strongly that God wants Redwood Hills to reach out to women who are victims of domestic violence in the Eastside...but I have no idea how!

The Office begins new episodes this Thursday...the legend of Dwight Shroot continues!

Peace and Love to you,
Rex