Thousand Acre Church

New Orleans is sticky.  The air is humid… sticky.  And, every place in this town that I’ve seen has some kind of charm in it.  That’s making it hard to think about going home next week.  I’d almost rather just send for my wife and children and stay down here.   This place is STICKY.  Someday, maybe I can convince all the people I love in GR to move to NO.

The work here is challenging.  Its hot.  I’m TOASTED.  And it ain’t from hanging out on Bourbon St.  There is a lot of work yet to do.  The recovery organization we’re working with still thinks it will take 10-12 yrs to complete the recovery effort.  How many neighborhood groups will I have the chance to come with down here and work with over the next so many years?  I hope at least a few.

The coolest thing that I’ve experienced so far is the chance to work with a team of volunteers.  Each of us has a different skill set, and everyone finds a way to participate in the work being done in a unique way.  This trip would not have worked the same without ALL of the people that came.

Something that I’ve been thinking about on this trip is my tendency to seek buy-in or “permission” from the leaders that I’ve worked with in my church and elsewhere in GR.  I’m thinking more and more, “Why the crap do I need permission to pursue positive change for the world?  Why would I want to subject my passion and initiative to the likely shatting that I would receive from people in ‘authority’ that know ‘how things work around here’?”  It was keeping me up last night (along with some cabin snoring).  So, I’m looking for a crew somewhere that is about changing the world, one house at a time.  I’m looking for a new community of God’s people who share God’s passion for making things right.  I’m looking for justice, plenty, and peace.  And I’m not going to be concerned about your endorsement; but if you want to “go after it” too, then let’s talk shop.  How are we going to do this thing when the church endowment runs dry?