the street
I lay in my bed and see the people on the street. My imagination goes wild. What might it be like to be one living on the street? To have no cool place to lay my head at night. No shelter from the storms that come. To have no privacy, no real space to call [...]
the mini-fridge
I stand up and stretch my legs for a moment. I need to do it more often, because having a desk job like mine can easily result in poor circulation (causing a whole bunch of other health problems). Somehow I feel like staring at the computer monitor for too long is beginning to make me [...]
hunger pains
Read Matthew 14:13-21 Working in the church I have seen and interacted with people living in complete poverty. Over the years I have given a family a basket of food from the food pantry when they come knocking on the church door at 4:45 on a Friday afternoon and I have ordered a pizza for [...]
rocked by abandon for God [an interview with @aaronrgillespie]
![rocked by abandon for God [an interview with @aaronrgillespie]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/aaron-gillespie-100x100.jpg)
Aaron Gillespie is rock and roll to the core. He’s the former drummer for Underoath, and the current front man for The Almost. And now he has a new solo project out called Anthem Song. I recently had the opportunity to catch up with Aaron and talk with him about what inspired this new project, [...]
fragility. chins up.
I usually read the news every morning, but today I was rushed and skipped it. Then during a break at work, I sneaked a peak at Facebook. Praying for Japan said a friend’s post. Nice of her, I thought. Wait. Maybe something happened in Japan? I didn’t mean to live under a rock but this [...]
an awkward introduction
I’m new to this site. And as a contributing author, I feel it only proper to introduce myself. “Hi, my name is Duane Scott… and I have a thing for squirrels.” I hold out my hand to you, waiting patiently for you to return the hand shake. I notice the subtle cock of your eyebrow, [...]
be ready [compassion and christian ethics]
![be ready [compassion and christian ethics]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/helpinghand-100x100.jpg)
I recently posted some questions that seemed to hit a sensitive spot for lots of people. See it here: can you give me a ride? [a question in christian ethics] While I wanted to generate some discussion around this question, I never expected it to spark as much interest as it did. But that was [...]
[the idea camp] closing session
![[the idea camp] closing session](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/icdc-thumb.png)
Who: Abandon Films, Greg Russinger (Just One), Jonathan Olinger (Discover the Journey), Nicky Yates (charity:water), Gregg Helvey (Kavi the movie), Larry Martin (IJM) Greg Russinger: Just One was started by a group of people who were concerned about the needy and marginalized in Ventura. After asking the question, “what can we do?” one guy [...]
[the idea camp] a conversation on home(less)
Who:Mark Horvath and Shannon Moriarty Kids who are homeless experience post-traumatic stress disorder at twice the rate of veterans returning from war. Issues like this can be dealt with by providing stable housing for children. The results on kids are devastating, but it is easy to deal with. Before they need ‘the church’, they [...]
[the idea camp] morning general session
Who:Leroy Barber (Mission Year), Deidox, Kevin Lum (Sojourners), Mark Horvath (InvisiblePeople.tv), Shannon Moriarity (Change.org), James Pearson (WikiChoice) // Leroy Barber: Many of the environmental problems in our country are in the poorer neighborhoods. This is why it is important to help ‘the hood’ go green! Projects doing things like cleaning up the neighborhood, [...]
[the idea camp] jesus wants to save christians
Who: Don Golden God is the God of people who suffer. The moment that we stop crying out is the moment that we start going in the wrong direction. As you are working out your salvation, you need to connect with people who are afflicted. If you understand where God is in these four locations through Old [...]
[the idea camp] evening general session
Who:J. Mark Brinkmoeller (ONE), Kadita “A.T.” Tshibaka (Opportunity International), Armando Fullwood (Global Need), Dave Gibbons (Yangdang) J. Mark Brinkmoeller: In the United States we have the gift of citizenship which means that we have the ability to speak out. God asks everyone who walks the earth to take care of our planet… it’s not just [...]
[the idea camp] in but not of the movement(s)
Who: J. Mark Brinkmoeller (ONE) What are the movements that you are a part of? What are some of the key differences between being a part of a movement and being a part of an organization? Movements are ‘bigger’ than organizations. Several organizations can be part of the same movement. Movements typically have a [...]
[the idea camp] missions in the burbs
Who: Dave Ferguson (NewThing Network) In what ways is your church engaging in the community? What is (or is not) working? Why? Some responses… One church responded that they really don’t connect in their own community. It is easy to see the great needs in places around the world (like in India), but we seem to [...]
[the idea camp] opening session
Who: Marta Urquilla (Corporation for National & Community Service), Blair Burns (IJM), Holly Burkhalter (IJM), Mark Batterson (National Community Church), Dave Ferguson (New Thing Network) Marta Urquilla: The White House is looking to the faith community to step up to be a part of the solution in several areas including community, recovery, and family. She [...]
the idea camp: compassion and justice
There is an exciting event coming up at the end of August in Washington D.C., and I’m actually really bummed that I won’t be able to attend in person… It’s called The Idea Camp. The way Charles Lee describes it is, “The Idea Camp is a collaborative movement of idea-makers who facilitate free hybrid conferences [...]
poetry [compassion]: compassion, where art thee?
![poetry [compassion]: compassion, where art thee?](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/homeless-cold-thumb.png)
by Renee Small Cold, trembling hands And feet; No coat, no blanket, Sense of defeat. Is anyone there? Can anyone see? The homeless, the poor… This is me. Oh, I ask, Compassion , Compassion Where art thee? Achy, fragile body And limbs; No money, no doctor, Life dims. Is anyone there? Can anyone see? [...]
poetry [compassion]: deeply touched
![poetry [compassion]: deeply touched](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/deeply-touched-thumb.gif)
by Terry Critchfield Without touching, I was deeply touched. No audible words were spoken but I heard her cry. An innocent and momentary glance revealed a soul that had lost its way. Compassion reached out with empathy and gentle smile. Brokenness embraced a sliver of hope and time stood still. About the [...]
video [compassion]: compassion
![video [compassion]: compassion](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/compassion-anita-thumb.gif)
by Anita Gerbig About the author: Anita Gerbig works as a Physical Therapist Assistant at a Rehab Hospital in Sarasota, FL. She is married and has two girls which are a joyous handful. She enjoys serving God from church to outreach to feeding the homeless in downtown Sarasota.
poetry [compassion]: concept of compassion
![poetry [compassion]: concept of compassion](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/concept-compassion-thumb.gif)
by The Bible and Jonathan Janssen About the author: Jonathan Janssen is 31 years old and just graduated with his BA in English from California State University Baskersfield. He has been happily married for five years and both he and his wife work with special needs kids at local high schools. He writes all types of things, mainly plays, and [...]
poetry [compassion]: compassion through life
![poetry [compassion]: compassion through life](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/peter-statue-thumb.gif)
by Carol Dee Meeks Perhaps Peter was as normal as we. He often lost sight of God’s purpose and goals for following God brings persecution and misery. It’s hard work soothing out His Holy molds. As Peter watched the Servant wash the Twelve’s feet he thought it as slavery, an uncomfortable feat. But then [...]
poetry [compassion]: stilling storms
![poetry [compassion]: stilling storms](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/calm-the-storm-thumb.gif)
by Keith Wallis Mary, outside a tomb, carrying ointments and a storm of grief, hears the voice that calmed the waters in tones of comfort: ‘Be still and know that I am God’. At an Emmaus home, over broken bread, in a storm of confusion, hear the voice that calmed the waters in [...]
poetry [compassion]: safety
![poetry [compassion]: safety](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/hand-reaching-thumb.gif)
by Keith Wallis A lifetime ago traffic’s roaring battlefield held me death row captive, nowhere to hide, no way to survive. I turned my back to oblivion awaiting the inevitable stamp of death. A moment ago the future was a closed book the past – another lifetime about to be forgotten just an imprint [...]
poetry [compassion]: oh how we lie to deny you
![poetry [compassion]: oh how we lie to deny you](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/walk-rain-thumb.jpg)
by Carole Turner Fire why? Burn inside. Fly Fly Fly. Oh How I cry. How I lie, to deny. Where’s the pain? The Rain. It’s all the same. Say it again. Again. Go and don’t look back. Pack, pack, pack. And hate what you took. Leave it there. Have no fear? Have no fear. [...]
