the encounter

A modern telling of the B-attitudes.. 140 characters at a time:

Blessed are those who don’t have it all together.

Blessed are those who have run out of strength, ideas, will power, resolve, or energy.

Blessed are those who ache because of how severely out of whack the world is.

Blessed are those stumble, trip, and fall in the same place again and again.

Blessed are those who on a regular basis have a dark day in which despair seems to be a step behind them wherever they go.

Blessed are you, for God is with you, God is on your side, God meets you in that place.

The gospel is the counter-intuitive, joyous, exuberant news that Jesus has brought the unending, limitless, stunning love of God to even us.

via @realrobbell

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We often want to hear the Sermon on the Mount as a nice story — but nothing to be taken literally.

For one couple in Northern California, Jesus’ sermon was something they based their life around.

From the ChristianNewsWire:

At a time when many are looking for authenticity and purpose, yet shying away from the Church, author Bob Waymire offers a hopeful new book.

“Shepherds of the Valley: How Love Looks in Shoe Leather” tells the inspiring story of Wendell and Marilyn Seward, whose authentic faith influenced thousands of lives around the world from a humble setting in a valley in the mountains of Northern California.

Whether in the home, the church, the school, or the community, the Sewards were known as champions for many whom society marginalized. For nearly 40 years, they taught in public schools, pastored churches, served separately as mayor, and took into their home more than 100 teenagers and adults, many recovering from addictions.

Pursuing a dream of world missions, the Sewards experienced deep disappointment before God fulfilled their dream in unexpected ways. Though they knew difficulty in their own home and family, through a willingness to serve others, the Sewards etched the love of God on countless hearts.

“Shepherds of the Valley” details dozens of individuals, churches, and communities transformed by this unassuming couple living out the Sermon on the Mount in daily life. Their story is a proclamation that unconditional love, generosity, and hospitality do break down barriers, provide power to live, and transform lives.

Mike Yaconelli, founder of Youth Specialities, once said, “The Sewards have quietly ministered to thousands of people all over the world. Wherever Wendell and Marilyn go, they bring life, energy, hope, and healing.”

And Evangelist Luis Palau observes, “The Lord has used this couple to reach out to hundreds of people all over the western United States. To me their lives have always been a tremendous example of how God can use lives totally given to Him.”

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Imagine living in a house with 20 people when you don’t enjoy entertaining people. Yikes!

The Generous Husband writes…

A few months ago my bride and I attended a meeting on “new monasticism” – living in intentional, multi-family groups. Yeah, that can be a commune in all the ugly ways, but it can also be something good. But I only mention it here because of something said to me by the man who owned the house in which we met. This fellow, a bit older than I, said he did not like entertaining – and I commented on how odd that was given that he regularly had a group of 20 or more in his home. He then said “I am learning to die to my preferences.”

I think that’s a lot of what we as followers of Christ are called to do.

It would be my preference to hoard all my money and say, “I worked for it. I’m not giving you a dime. You go out and earn your own.”

It would be my preference to say, “I’ve had a hard day – I don’t want to fix a meal for another family.”

It would be my preference to say, “You’ve wronged me too many times – so I’m off the hook – I don’t have to love you anymore.”

It would be my preference to say, “Honey, I don’t care what you want anymore – it’s all about me and what I want.”

But I think Jesus asks more of his followers… even when things aren’t going the way we’d prefer.

If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously. - Matthew 5:39:42

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. – Phil 2:1-4

Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. – Romans 12:9-10

or the New King Jimmy puts it this way:

Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.

What preferences do you have trouble dying to?

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